A walk down the oral health aisle at your local Target will leave your head spinning at all the options. Fluoride toothpaste, desensitizing toothpaste, anti-plaque toothpaste, teeth whitening toothpaste, super-whitening toothpaste, micro-cleaning crystals; these all sound great, but should having good oral health really be this confusing? Factor in the dozens spearmint flavors and you’re looking at hundreds of toothpastes.
If you’re like most people, you’ll probably opt for the same middle-priced toothpaste you’ve bought for years; but is there something to be gained in those higher-priced toothpastes with all the fancy claims? The short answer is: not really.
An Australian study reviewed 17 of the country’s most popular toothpastes to find that, despite varying prices, most of them did the same job of teeth whitening. In fact, most of the brands (ranging in price from $1.27 to $8) contained approximately the same ingredients.
This vast price difference among such similar products boils down to marketing. Toothpaste manufacturers are always trying to outdo each other by coming out with the next big breakthrough in oral health. Clever wording, new ingredients, and attractive packaging all play a role in how much a consumer is willing to pay for healthy teeth. However, most dentists agree that it is better to invest in a quality toothbrush than to spend money on expensive toothpastes.
So what should you be looking for in toothpaste? In general, Dr. Wakefield of Dakota Dental recommends toothpaste with fluoride as the best option. Only a dentist can assess your oral health and determine which type of toothpaste your teeth will benefit from most.
The family dentists at Dakota Dental are ready to answer all your questions about toothpastes and will help you find the best option for your teeth. Contact the Apple Valley dental clinic to set up your appointment today!