General Dentistry: What Types of Toothpastes Are Recommended?

General dentistry focuses on preventative treatments that help keep your teeth and gums healthy. Brushing and flossing are the foundations of preventative dentistry, and the type of toothpaste that you use can make your brushing sessions even more effective.

General dentistry tips: Finding the right toothpaste for you

With so many different types of toothpaste to choose from, figuring out what type works best can be overwhelming. Let us take a detailed look at the common types of toothpaste that dentists recommend.

1. Fluoride toothpaste

General dentistry uses fluoride to re-mineralize teeth with procedures like fluoride treatments. Fluoride helps fight off tooth decay and lowers the risk of infection. It can even help reverse tooth decay in its demineralization stage. Dentists often recommend using fluoride toothpaste when brushing, particularly if a patient is prone to tooth decay or has a sweet tooth.

2. Tartar control toothpaste

Tartar control toothpaste helps reduce the accumulation of tartar deposits on teeth surfaces. Tartar is calcified plaque, and it cannot be removed by brushing or flossing. It contains bacteria and acids that damage teeth. Tartar can also make its way into gum pockets, infecting the tissues there. Tartar deposits are removed during teeth cleaning sessions performed by a dentist.

3. Whitening toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste helps eliminate surface stains that form on teeth, like those caused by the tannins in foods and beverages or tobacco smoke. These products contain whitening agents that remove stains on teeth while providing a barrier that helps prevent new stains.

Whitening toothpaste will not drastically improve the color of teeth as much as teeth whitening treatments, but they can help maintain the results of such treatments. Whitening toothpaste should only be used a couple of times a week to avoid damaging enamel.

4. Desensitizing toothpaste

These contain active ingredients, like potassium nitrate. It reduces the painful sensations that people with sensitive teeth experience when their teeth are exposed to hot and cold foods or beverages. More significant issues like tooth decay usually cause teeth sensitivity, so dental care is needed for a more permanent fix to the problem.

5. Gum disease

People who have been diagnosed with gum disease should explore toothpaste explicitly made for fighting the infection. These products reduce plaque formation in the mouth and help slow down the progression of periodontal disease.

6. Non-fluoride toothpaste

These are great for small children who are likely to swallow toothpaste during brushing sessions. It is also excellent for people who have been diagnosed with fluorosis.