Toothpaste is easy right? You just pick a tube and go. There isn’t anything more to it, is there? Well, let’s take a look and see if it is really that cut and dry. There are a lot of choices out there and we want to make sure you have your best smile on.

Wow, that’s a lot of money spent on toothpaste, so many different brands to choose from…. Then you have all your different types within the brands; whitening, anti-cavity, tarter control, sensitive formula, anti-gingivitis, natural, and made for kids.  Do you even know what these are for?

Let’s Break it Down so You Know What They Mean to Your Teeth:

• Whitening – very common, helps to remove stains, but doesn’t affect the natural color of your teeth. They are not the safest options either. They usually contain abrasive ingredients and can wear down your enamel.
• Anti-Cavity – the majority of these options will contain fluoride. This can help make your teeth stronger by adding a layer of protection. However, it can be harmful if swallowed regularly.
• Tarter Control – this is the best choice to control tarter control build up before it turns to plaque, which is harder to remove.
• Sensitive Formula – if you experience pain or discomfort when eating or drinking hot or cold foods this is a good one for you.
• Anti-gingivitis – helps to reduce bacteria and can be effective at stopping gingivitis at its source (bacteria can be the cause of cavities as well.)
• Natural – these will contain only natural ingredients such as peppermint oil, bamboo, stevia extracts, and baking soda.
• Made for Kids – this one is pretty simple, it’s made specifically for kids. Think of it as a training toothpaste. It is designed so that it can be swallowed and not be harmful. It has less fluoride and of course yummy flavors.
• Fluoride – That’s a pretty big debate, we will let you talk to your dentist about this one and get their opinion.

Did you know that more toothpaste isn’t always better? A pea sized amount is the perfect amount. Why you ask? More than that can actually do more harm than good. Too much toothpaste can damage your tooth enamel and lead to heightened sensitivity.

Looking for a fun project this weekend? Try making your own toothpaste, it’s fun, try it! It is rather simple too. All you need is baking soda, sea salt, filtered water, and peppermint extract. That’s it! Well, a container to store it in is needed. Take 2/3 cup of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of fine sea salt, 1-2 teaspoons of peppermint extract (depends on how peppermint-y you like it) and mix with filtered water to your desired consistency. Then store in a plastic tube, container, or glass jar and use daily.