The next time a patient innocently asks me, “What’s the best toothpaste to use?” I’m going to unleash a whole Chunky Soup can of “You Want The Truth? You CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!” Gosh, that’s such an overused movie quote. Sorry about that, but still.
If you’re a dental professional, isn’t this the most annoying question you get, day after day? Do you even care which toothpaste your patients use?
No. You don’t. Asking a dentist what toothpaste to use is like asking your physician which bar of soap or body scrub you should use to clean your skin. Your dentist and dental hygienist have never seen a tube of toothpaste that singlehandedly improves the health of all patients in their practice, and the reason is simple:
Toothpaste is a cosmetic.
We brush our teeth so that out mouths no longer taste like… mouth. Mouth tastes gross, right? It tastes like putrefied skin. It tastes like tongue cheese. It tastes like Cream of Barf.
On the other hand, toothpaste has been exquisitely designed to bring you a brisk rush of York Peppermint Patty, or Triple Cinnamon Heaven, or whatever flavor that drives those tubes off of the shelves in the confusing dental aisle of your local supermarket or drugstore.
Toothpaste definitely tastes better than Cream of Barf. And that’s why you use it. Not because it’s good for you. You use toothpaste because it tastes good, and because it makes you accept your mouth as part of your face again.
From a marketing perspective, all of the other things that are in your toothpaste are in there to give it additional perceived value. So let’s deconstruct these ingredients, shall we?
1. Fluoride.
This was probably the first additive to toothpaste that brought it under the jurisdiction of the Food & Drug Administration and made toothpaste part drug, part cosmetic. Over time, a fluoride toothpaste can improve the strength of teeth, but the fluoride itself does nothing to make teeth cleaner. Some people are scared of fluoride so they don’t use it. Their choice. Professionally speaking, I know that the benefits of a fluoride additive far outweigh the risks.
2. Foam.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is soap. Soap has a creamy, thick texture that American tongues especially like and equate to the feeling of cleanliness. There’s not enough surfactant, though, in toothpaste foam to break up the goo that grows on your teeth. If these bubbles scrubbed, you’d better believe that they would also scrub your delicate gum tissues into a bloody pulp.
3. Abrasive particles.
Most toothpastes use hydrated silica as the grit that polishes teeth. You’re probably most familiar with it as the clear beady stuff in the “Do Not Eat” packets. Depending on the size and shape of the particles, silica is the whitening ingredient in most whitening toothpastes. But whitening toothpaste cannot get your teeth any whiter than a professional dental polishing, because it only cleans the surface. Two weeks to a whiter smile? How about 30 minutes with your hygienist? It’s much more efficient and less harsh.
4. Desensitizers.
Teeth that are sensitive to hot, cold, sweets, or a combination can benefit from the addition of potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride to a toothpaste. This is more of a palliative treatment, when the pain is the problem. Good old Time will usually make teeth feel better, too, unless the pain is coming from a cavity. Yeah, I’m talking to you, the person who is trying to heal the hole in their tooth with Sensodyne.
5. Tartar control.
It burns! It burns! If your toothpaste has a particular biting flavor, it might contain tetrasodium pyrophosphate, an ingredient that is supposed to keep calcium phosphate salts (tartar, or calculus) from fossilizing on the back of your lower front teeth. A little tartar on your teeth doesn’t harm you unless it gets really thick and you can no longer keep it clean. One problem with tartar control toothpastes is that in order for the active ingredient to work, it has to be dissolved in a stronger detergent than usual, which can affect people that are sensitive to a high pH.
6. Triclosan.
This antimicrobial is supposed to reduce infections between the gum and tooth. However, if you just keep the germs off of your teeth in the first place it’s pretty much a waste of an extra ingredient. Its safety has been questioned but, like fluoride, the bulk of the scientific research easily demonstrates that the addition of triclosan in toothpaste does much more good than harm.
Why toothpaste can be bad for you.
Let’s just say it’s not the toothpaste’s fault. It’s yours. The toothpaste is just the co-dependent enabler. You’re the one with the problem.
Remember, toothpaste is a cosmetic, first and foremost. It doesn’t clean your teeth by itself. Just in case you think I’m making this up I’ve included clinical studies in the references at the end of this article that show how ineffective toothpaste really is.
• You’re using too much.
Don’t be so suggestible! Toothpaste ads show you how to use up the tube more quickly. Just use 1/3 as much, the size of a pea. It will still taste good, I promise! And too much foam can make you lose track of where your teeth actually are located.
• You’re not taking enough time.
At least two minutes. Any less and you’re missing spots. Just ’cause it tastes better doesn’t mean you did a good job.
• You’re not paying attention.
I’ve seen people brush the same four spots for two minutes and miss the other 60% of their mouth.
The toothbrush needs to touch every crevice of every tooth, not just where it lands when you go into autopilot and start thinking about what you’re going to wear that day. It’s the toothbrush friction that cleans your teeth, not the cleaning product. Plaque is a growth, like the pink or grey mildew that grows around the edges of your shower. You’ve gotta rub it off to get it off. No tooth cleaning liquid, paste, creme, gel, or powder is going to make as much of a difference as your attention to detail will.
The solution.
Use what you like. It’s that simple. If it tastes good and feels clean to you, you’ll use it more often, brush longer, feel better, be healthier.
You can use baking soda, or coconut oil, or your favorite toothpaste, or even just plain water. The key is to have a good technique and to brush often. A music video makes this demonstration a little more fun than your usual lecture at the dental office, although, in my opinion you really still need to feel what it is like to MASH THE BRISTLES OF A SOFT TOOTHBRUSH INTO YOUR GUMS:
A little more serious video from my pal Dr. Mark Burhenne where he demonstrates how to be careful with your toothbrush bristles:
Final word.
♬ It’s all about that Bass, ’bout that Bass, no bubbles. ♬ Heh, dentistry in-joke there.
Seriously, though, the bottom line is that your paste will mask brushing technique issues, so don’t put so much faith in the power of toothpaste.
Also you may have heard that some toothpastes contain decorative plastic that can get swallowed. Yeah, that was a DentalBuzz report I wrote that went viral earlier this year. And while I can’t claim total victory on that front, at least the company in question has promised that the plastic will no longer be added to their toothpaste lines very soon due to the overwhelming amount of letters, emails, and phone calls that they received as a result of people reading that article and making a difference.
But now I’m tired of talking about toothpaste.
Next topic?
I’m bringing pyorrhea back.
Trish Walraven RDH, BSDH is a mom and practicing dental hygienist in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. She brushes her teeth every morning and night with a major-label toothpaste because she likes the way it makes her mouth taste but at lunch you never know. Sometimes it will be with a dry toothbrush, or dipped in her leftover coffee, one time she even brushed with a starlight peppermint out of desperation.
Resources:
PubMed.Gov: Role of dentifrice in plaque removal: a clinical trial.
PubMed.Gov: Clinical studies to determine the effectiveness of a whitening toothpaste at reducing stain
PubMed.Gov: Factors contributing to adverse soft tissue reactions due to the use of tartar control toothpastes.
Vicky Flint RDH: The Truth about Toothpaste
DearDoctor.com: Toothpaste-What’s in it?
Trisha O’Hehir RDH: Dry Brushing -The Toothpaste Secret
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I agree with you Trish, to a point.
Today’s OTC toothpastes are designed primarily based on input from the marketing and sales gurus worried about their toothpaste division market share. People want wild flavors, colors, a “feeling” of clean, or a “feeling” of “natural”, or “Chiclet teeth in 30 days guaranteed” or whatever. It doesn’t matter if it really works, as long as it sells.
Well… for a product to truly reduce the oral bio-burden and have a positive health impact.. scientifically it simply can’t taste like birthday cake, come with sparkles, and tickle your tongue with a little citric acid.
It will be pH elevated reducing flavor sensations and rendering it colorless (boring), packed with xylitol which doesn’t taste as sweet as other alternatives (lame), contain neutral sodium fluoride (oh god, poison!), and possibly some really expensive nano-hydroxyaptitie or calcium and phosphate derivatives (is that covered by insurance?), and it may be accompanied by a really bad tasting antibacterial rinse that actually works and isn’t purple, green, or blue.
But that kind of product won’t fly off the Wal-Mart shelf no matter what 80’s pin up model spokesperson pushes it on HGTV… Some professionally designed products that rate low on “presentation”, “bouquet”, and “sensation”, but were designed to actually work by people who care about the products actually working… actually do work… but people don’t really want to buy that… unless it comes with multicolor stripes and is on coupon this week.
Good stuff DentalBuzz
Guys guys.
How about trying a “Miswak”?
I don’t like to explain itt, but i can assure you one thing.
It was used by the old babylonians as a toothbrush. It comes from a tree and contains none of these negative ingredients as mentioned above.
I’ve used for a week, and in my whole life my teeth has never felt better.
You can start seeing results in a matter of days.
And the best thing is, it costs 1/6 of the normal toothbrush.
100% natural.
Search for a Miswak.
Greetz!
What an incredible article!! Thank you, thank you. There’s a toothpaste called Livionex. I just started using it. It allegedly has all great ingredients and none of the toxic crapola the other ones have. Others: sodium laurel sulfate in your mouth–hello?! I will use it again, but it’s priced so high. It suggests only a pea size, but this paste doesn’t get that refreshing feeling from that little bit. And I don’t use more, because of the price. I’ll research your Miswak..thanks..Happy New Year
I am not a dentist or anything but a “miswak” originated from muslims. It is used in Islam as a toothbrush. Many muslims to this day still use miswak as it holds religious importance, and plus as you mentioned, it’s very cheap and effective. (happy New Years!)
Yeah… considering I’ve watched muslims wash their butts with their hand, then immeidately brush their teeth with the same hand afterward, I’m not going to take any dental suggestions from them.
Almost all toothpastes gave a PH around 5.5 which just happens to be the best environment to grow germs that cause cavities.
I disagree with you Trish. I use two toothpastes one with high fluoride to repair my teeth and one to make my teeth less sensitive. Neither of which are for cosmetic reasons
Yes, those two ingredients are addressed in this article, and while you may not personally use toothpaste for cosmetic reasons, that doesn’t change the fact that it is a soap with woo added to make us as consumers feel like we’re getting our money’s worth. Detergent companies make most toothpastes. My own toothpaste also has fluoride and sensitivity agents, as I believe that they have value, but when it really comes down to it, those ingredients are not going to save me if my brushing technique is lacking. That’s what this article is about.
What about the toothbrush, is there much of a difference between the cheaper ones and one of the $100 ones, is it worth the investment?
Do you wash your hands with just water? It’s good to kill the septic tank of a mouth. Just brushing will just spread the bacteria around. In the hospital we use Hibiclens before we do surgery. It’s the same thing as chlorhexidine and it’s good to get rid of germs.
What is causing the sensitivity?
Trish,
You really should try using Livionex Dental Gel. It has none of the ingredients that you mention above.
No fluoride
No foam
No abrasives
No desensitizers
No pyrophosphate
and No triclosan
And yet it virtually eliminates dental plaque, and produces healthy gums in a matter of weeks.
Try it!
I have tried it but not a fan of the way it tastes or feels. How do you get completely healthy gums even healthier? That’s one I’ve never been able to figure out. Back to the store brand I go.
🙂
Rajiv you are absolutely right! My checkups, after using this Livionex, have gone from a major ordeal to 10-15 minutes in the hygienist chair and no bleeding, no plague, and instead of every 3 months in the dentist chair, its now every 6 months! It is the best tooth gel out there and who cares that it doesn’t leave me with an over-minted taste in my mouth. That’s gone as soon as I drink or eat again!
Trish, good article. You don’t mention saccharin; a huge health concern. I have come across patients who show signs of sodium lauryl sulfate sensitivity and have recommended Clyssos (not sure I’m spelling correctly) with excellent results; no more sloughing of gum tissue. Triclosan is banned in Europe.. Patients want instant gratification, hence the need for the good tasting toothpaste. They need too remember that good oral hygiene consists of the partnership of good oral hygiene; brushing and flossing. Toothpaste is the dessert.
Sorry to tell you Cindy but Triclosan is not banned in Europe – you can find it in many toothpastes and other products.
Is there a brand where it can easily make the teeth whiter but at the same time it doesn’t taste bad at all.
Thanks for posting this!
Trish, great post. I’m always trying to educate my patients on the real meaning behind all this toothpaste marketing. I’ll be sharing this post with them as well. And, yes! Thanks for saying it: Toothpaste is a cosmetic. This puts FDA regulation of toothpaste ingredients (like microbeads and triclosan) into a different category. If you’re interested, I’ve put together a guide to safe toothpastes here: http://askthedentist.com/toothpaste-marketing/ as well as thoughts on triclosan: http://askthedentist.com/is-triclosan-toothpaste-safe/
Almost every patient i see ask me the same question about the best toothpaste. I get confused what to answer. Some of my patients even suggest me to use toothpaste of their choice LoL 🙂
Why is that happen if we are using quality toothpaste. ?
Trish, this post is excellent!! I broke away many years ago from toothpaste because of harmful chemicals. I did not know about the plastic however! Thanks for making it known to us!! I was using baking soda. But, my personal research has helped me to understand that baking soda is too abrasive! So, no baking soda or anything! I use JUST WATER and a toothbrush! A baking soda rinse can neutralize odours in the mouth if I feel the need. Thanks again!!!!
Glynis… That’s interesting it took you that long to find out it ( baking soda ) was too abrasive? And you’ve been away from toothpaste already how long, a few years? Are you doing flouride toothpaste homework or something? What didn’t you know then that you wouldn’t already two years later after the fact know, or care to know? You should be well into your wonderful experiment, or life – living flouride free. hell that long, there’d I think be no looking back. I wonder if what’s really happening is what everyone does. Questioning themselves. Realizing this is all doing more. Ehem. Harm than good maybe? I don’t know hmm maybe, don’t quote me on that…. But hey whatever brings you happiness. I just don’t know how if it’s that you quit toothpaste 2 years ago, and this article is about toothpaste and “harmful flouride” why you would necessarily be here of all places. All that back and forth can’t be a peaceful easy feeling.
I’ve heard about coconut oil being used in a method called “oil pulling”, where you swish for around 10-15 minutes. Is that right? Would you consider that to be effective? Either way, I’ll be looking for something with more natural ingredients that will improve the health of my teeth. Thank you!
Livionex was not good for me. I started using it at the end of Feb. When I went to my hygienist of 30 years yesterday she asked what I did differently. My teeth have never been more stained and much more tarter than ever before. I will not use it again. I only drink on cup of coffee and don’t drink red wine. It was the tooth paste. I do not recommend it. I have my teeth cleaned faithfully every 6 month, brush twice a day and floss too.
You’re better off brushing your teeth with a mouthwash containing fluoride.
I also used a tooth powder with xylitol, baking soda, and extracts of essential oils. It keeps my mouth far cleaner than store bought toothpaste.
And buy a tongue cleaner and clean your tongue. This is very important in regards to overall oral health. But it’s something you hear virtually nothing about.
Wow, what an attitude. You treat patients with that?
Excellent article that explains what most people don’t even realize when using toothpaste and brushing their teeth. Excellent dental hygiene is also important on so many levels. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and limiting sugary/acidic foods and drinks is important.
What about herbal toothpastes?
Hi Trish
Congratulations of getting Crest to remove the plastic, great job there.
I love rap video, I’m as convinced as you are about the importance of brushing properly. I used to be a once a day brusher and probably spent less than a minute or so brushing.
I’m now a complete convert to brushing and flossing properly and my teeth and gums look and feel so much better.
Going along your point number one about fluoride, I know some people that try to stay away from any toothpaste containing fluoride. However, the benefits do outweigh the risks like you said.
Gosh I learned more than I expected to from this article! In trying the different types of toothpaste I honestly have never noticed a difference. But even though I hate them, the harder toothbrush bristles really do make a difference because, like you said, they have to knock off the plaque! Who’d a thunk that doing the same thing as the dentist would have similar results!
I’m actually doing a science fair project on if homemade toothpaste is better for you or not than storebought toothpaste. Thanks for putting this out there, I’m researching info about the potentially harmful chemicals in toothpaste.
Thanks Trish!
I’m sorry but Trish is a quack.
First off, using a product because it tastes good should never be the reason. You should use a product because it is safe and effective. Also, when she states that she has used “leftover coffee” to brush her teeth is just plain stupid. Coffee stains your teeth and leaves your mouth smelling awful. If I lived in Texas I sure would not recommend her practice as a place for dental care.
Coffee is extremely acidic. I found this pretty moronic as well.
Did you actually READ the article? She says it doesn’t matter what toothpaste you choose so why NOT pick one that tastes good? The coffee thing, while it may be true, is obviously meant to be humorous (since it’s in her “about me” paragraph along with “starlight peppermint”); it reinforces her argument for the ineffectiveness of toothpaste.
@Steve, I think teeth can survive brushing with coffee every now and then especially if you rinse with water after. Seems less “moronic” than drinking coffee every day.
Hey Trish,
Decent article, I can’t lie, but I just wanted to add a few things for those taking your word as gold.
1. We don’t solely brush our teeth so our mouths don’t smell like ass. The removal of pathogens, especially those in bacterial plaque is why brushing is so crucial. You mouth feels/tastes better when those little suckers are not destroying tissues.
2. This article is for people with mild to no dental problems it seems. For instance, if you have an area of initial tooth decay, a high fluoride toothpaste/gel is more so therapeutic than cosmetic, and is used to remineralize that area faster with added protection. My point is if you are reading this article and you have moderate to severe dental issues, getting rid of certain toothpastes under certain pathological problems may do more harm than good.
3. I saw one comment saying they switched to a hard bristled toothbrush. Stop and Don’t! Thats one of the best ways to destroy your teeth and gums. Brushing with a hard brush can lead to abrasion and abfraction of hard tissues, and bleeding and recession of the gums. Only go for medium brush or use soft brushes for small children and those of you with sensitivity.
4. Please don’t think you can “use whatever you want” to brush your teeth. What Trish suggested is great, but if you’re planning on using highly acidic products like lime or lemon (because they really are good for overall health) think again. A pH of 5.5 is all it takes to dissolve the hard tissues of your teeth, a lemon has a pH of 4. So be logical and research you put in your mouth if you want to go all natural.
I think you’ve outlined everything else quite nicely, just wanted to add in those last points. 🙂 Thanks for the article and references, reading them now.
M-A
I think like many articles by professionals, the supposed threats that toothpaste pose to teeth/health are overblown. I mean really, people have been using toothpaste for years and years without any real problems. And now, for some reason, everybody freaks out at every chemical they read on the label. C’mon.
Also, why would you, as a healthcare professional, not care what toothpaste your patients use? Could it possibly be due to the fact that if they used a healthier toothpaste, you’d go out of business? Gee, way to set an example there…
Hi Trish,
I totally agree with you. Such a nice information you have shared. Your dental health is not depend on which toothpaste you use but how you brush your teeth is matters a lot. There is a concept called “Gentle Brushing” which is very important for your dental health. Thanks for the post.
Great article, Explains the reality of how to protect our teeth., Explains reality about toothpastes. Very good article.
I agree with KipNox. I am an orthodontic patient. I make extreme efforts to take care of my teeth and I am interested in learning about natural and commercial products. And I do ask my dentist and other professionals their opinion about products from time to time. They welcome it. If I can’t ask my dentist what toothpaste should I use than who can I ask? Now I have to feel like I’m imposing just for asking a question? If I look online all of the dentists disagree with each other about what products are best. So it’s confusing for patients to figure this stuff on their own. Otherwise the article is pretty good but my amateur opinion is that any toothpaste is better than none at all…unless you want yellow teeth.
A dentist here…this may have been addressed but what have you heard about theobromine? The research seems legit and I offered Theodent to my patients that freak out over fluoride. Just curious.
Dear Trish Walraven,
Thanks to explain each bit regarding toothpaste.
By profession, i was very close to dentists and some of clinics. I saw that many people complain blood issues while doing brush.
I think, some times we are rush while doing brush , or giving extra pressure . It may cause for bleeding .
Besides, Some companies toothpaste can change taste of mouth as well.
Happy Blogging
Cheers,
Ben
Hi Trish. Just wondering if you have any experience with Crest Prohealth flouride rinses? This is a bit of an embarrassing post but I don’t want this to happen to anyone else! I started using Crest Prohealth mouthwash about a month ago. Throughout that month I noticed some discolouration of my teeth. It seemed somewhat gradual and it was report card season so I had been drinking lots of coffee and some red wine. Anyhow last week two of my bottom teeth were turning very brown. I thought that the enamel had worn away. I am a chronic teeth grinder so I thought I had finally ground away my teeth permanently. So in my panicked state I started ensuring that I used that mouthwash every night and sometimes twice a day. Monday morning I made appointment with my dentist stating that the enamel on my teeth was turning brown and rotting away. I of course googled everything about gum disease, oral cancer, etc.. Totally freaking out. Yesterday morning I brushed and flossed and rinsed and then I noticed that I now had brown stains in between my two front teeth. At first I thought it was maybe purplish from the colour of the mouthwash so I rinsed with water and brushed and flossed and it was still there!! Now I really thought I was going to be wearing dentures soon. All my teeth were rotting!! To sum up this story.. Last night I decided to google crest Prohealth and brown teeth and there were many articles and chat groups and even class action law suits. My dentist confirmed for me this morning that the staining is surface staining he scraped some off to be sure. Thankfully I have a cleaning appt later this morning. My dentist told me he had heard about this happening with some listerine products too.
There is a small warning on the back of the bottle stating that using this rinse may turn teeth brown. I know that this mouthwash has not had the same effects on everyone who had used it but why risk it!?!? Read the labels of toothpaste and mouth wash! If it says it may cause browning of teeth you now know it can happen. In less than a month I went from white teeth to looking like I was smoking a pack a day and rinsing with Americanos!! Yes this staining is not damaging my teeth but for someone who had braces for five years and loves to smile it was very upsetting. Call me vain but I take great care of my teeth and didn’t feel like I deserved to look like I don’t.
Thanks for reading I hope this helps people avoid this product.
Update… Healthy teeth and gums. The brown stains have been cleaned away.. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I saw my clean teeth again! ???? My hygienist said that different people’s saliva (acid levels) can cause this to happen.. So like I said before it may not do the same thing to everyone. This seems to be most common in non-alcohol rinses that contain cetylpyridinium chloride.
Yes, cetylpyridinium chloride rinses can stain your teeth. The trick is to find a rinse that says “non staining” on them. Usually that means they contain glycerin. Check the label to be sure.
Crest pro health stained my teeth brown too. But just in between my teeth. Stannous fluoride is the most effacious but again it stains. Again glycerin is key. Unfortunately the mouth rinse doesn’t contain glycerin, but their toothpaste does. By the way, their toothpaste doesn’t stain the teeth but it is scarily abrasive. Stannous fluoride is also available as a brush on gel, but again they may stain.
I wore braces too and their toothpaste was my favourite. My mouth, and gums just felt so clean and fresh after brushing. I discovered my teeth have lost a lot of enamel as a result of overzealously scrubbing my teeth with it. My teeth have a yellowish cast now because of my dentin showing. Beware of any “whitening” toothpaste. It’s difficult to find one that isn’t. If you are going to use it, just a pea size amount is adequate. They are abrasive for that reason. And don’t scrub your teeth side to side. Up and down motion and the bass method for the gum line. The tooth structure is made up of vertical “rods” that can break if you saw them like trees.
I have to buy pricey non silica, 10% hydroxyapatite toothpaste and high strength fluoride mouth rinse now. The best mouth rinse you should ever use should be non staining, neutral ph of 7.0, 0.2% fluoride. Bonus, kills germs with a small amount of cetylpyridinium chloride with xylitol. It can prevent, even arrest cavities Most of my products l use are from the X Pur.
A lot mainstream of rinses like Listerine and the like are actually acidic and like any acid will leach minerals, soften your enamel and make your teeth porous and prone to decay. Yikes!
I also take cod liver oil and vitamin d supplements work with a sensible diet. I try to drink more water. Vitamin k (natto, leafy greens) and magnesium are important too. They all increase the chances of re mineralization supplied in saliva. Vitamin D is very helpful for sensitivity.
Brushing with a mixture of coconut oil and xylitol is a very good idea as they are all antimicrobial agents. Especially for infants and small children cause they are too young for fluoride anything (fluorosis) . Cod liver oil should be in their diet to DEVELOP and sustain healthy teeth.
This is such an honest, helpful article. My only beef is about the triclosan. As an antimicrobial, it makes sense that it will kill bacteria in the mouth and prevent gingivitis. Unfortunately, the effects of triclosan are not limited to one’s mouth. Triclosan may have its uses in hospital settings, but its widespread adoption in consumer products is linked to a variety of human and environmental problems, including the emergence of resistant bacteria and the destabilization of microbial communities that treat sewage. Here’s what Science News says about it: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/triclosan-may-spoil-wastewater-treatment
http://saveourbones.com/stop-brushing-your-teeth-until-you-read-this/
Even though this may seem like a “health nut” thing, it’s backed up by actual studies and research. You can use anything, but fluoride is not a nutrient or benefit. All the chemicals cause halitosis because your mouth is a self-cleaning orifice which needs only the abrasive action of a brush or chewing object. Wild animals don’t use toothpaste and do not get cavities, even the ones with human-shaped teeth. This is proof that humans have no idea what they are doing or talking about. I know the “going natural” movement is viewed as annoying or stupid, but when’s the last time you saw a wild animal get sick from eating raw meat not tainted with a toxic poison? When’s the last time you ever watches one use a chemical soap? We’re built to maintain ourselves, adding harmful ingredients that have no place in our bodies (poison control center warning is a red flag) is not all that smart. Actually, it’s stupid and cruel.
I thank you, though, for telling people that they don’t need it at all to brush with. I stopped using paste altogether and my mouth stopped reeking. This speaks loads about oral hygiene and how wrong modern medicine is about all these “necessary” things like extra vitamins. If you eat correctly, you don’t need vitamin supplements. Supplements are for deficiencies, not healthy people. If you’re deficient, you need to change your lifestyle (meaning those Doritos are NOT food, just flavor on crispy triangles).
Not starting a “you are all idiots” war like most health-centered people, and no, I’m not vegan, it’s bad for your teeth and the rest of your body. I base my rants on real scientific breakthrough and scrutinize the US agencies of health because of all the negative chemicals put into foods and products which were banned in other countries because of the detrimental effects on lab animals and humans.
May you have good health and keep your teeth for a long time.
Trish,
Starting off this article you use a metaphor that initially had me quit apprahensive about the rest of the content. A more accurate comparison would be a dermatoligist and a bar of soap or even an orthopedic doctor and a shoe.
The metephor was not my problem though. I just think if you ask a dental hygenist what tooth paste you should use they should be able to give you an educated recommendation. Lets be real, tooth paste is a hygenic product and you are a dental HYGENIST this question seems right up your alley.
Cute article, but the comments section seemed to contain more helpful information.
The article didn’t say anything that she couldn’t give a recommendation, just adding further information along with it
Are you implying a contradiction to her statement, or mad that she dismisses the question in the article because if you actually read it, you can see she considers toothpaste as a cosmetic (appearance) rather than hygiene (health by cleanliness); you can retort the idea, but the explanation is there, all you need to do is read
I’m glad you are not my dentist!! A good dentist should welcome such questions. It’s just that the people in this world have become sooooo preoccupied with their own lives they don’t care enough or seem to have any compassion for other people and what they may be going through. I don’t care if I was a dentist and even though I may not have the answer to “What toothpaste is the best to use?” I would still gladly and POLITELY answer their questions. No questions are dumb questions. The dumb comes from the people not willing to ask questions to find out what they want to know, and feel above answering a question they’ve been asked just TOO MANY times. Get over Yourself. Being a dentist doesn’t classify you as a celebrity, it’s another job. And you may be able to get education from college but how about going to a school for manners and helping others rather than questioning their questions. ….Boo hoo…Deal with it!
Stop being a pussy, never did she say she didn’t welcome those questions, just that it was personally annoying (not that she would say that it was annoying to a patients face/disrespect them); if you started actually thinking, you would notice that this article was made with obvious personality-driven not so serious moments (well attempt of such; point is, that you see the attempt/implying tone), which is why you see a rap video about toothbrushing included
Hi Trish, thanks for great article that you have introduced with us. Ideas and tips are really effective and helpful. Possibly the biggest danger of using toothpaste is misunderstanding what it does. Simply put, you do not absolutely need toothpaste to brush your teeth. You would get most of the same results from brushing without toothpaste as you do when you use it. For the most part, the function of toothpaste is to taste good, improve your breath, and make you believe your teeth are clean. But, thanks to clever marketing, most people think they need toothpaste for their oral health or that it can replace proper brushing technique. In reality, it is important to spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth, trying to get the brush onto every dental surface. The mechanical scrubbing of the teeth with a brush is what cleans them, not the paste on the brush. The toothpaste may help just a bit, but your teeth would probably have similar results even without the toothpaste if proper brushing is employed.
Absolutely dead on. Over 30 years I’ve seen the detrimental effects of excessive Toothpaste use and
their manufacturers good marketing techniques.
Bcos the tone of the article is (in my opinion only) so condescending and rude to patients I dismiss it–which may be bad for me, but hey–I’d rather listen to someone who respects me and talks to me like I’m a human being and not a massive inconveniant idiot for asking a question. (By the way, you do know those innocent patients asking you questions which make you want to scream keep you in a job).
I’ll continue with my Swedish dentist who is tooth obsessed, endlessly patient, shows research to back his claims-and advocates uing fluride toothpaste and rubbing it into the gums–without any of the rudeness above.
I actually use just baking soda, coconuy oil, and a tiny bit of cinnamon to brish my teeth. Is this ok? My teeth look and feel cleaner.
Not sure what Trish will say but I know that my hygienist and dentist would both say that if it makes you brush more often and you’re doing it correctly, then go for it.
No offense, but you’re a dental hygenist- you don’t even have a four-year degree. I’m stating this in regards to your dissmissal of the dangers of fluoride. Your lack of education speaks to your lack of yearning/valuing of edification. Harvard published a study that correlated high fluoride with reduction in IQ. Countries have out-lawed the chemical. Years ago, while still in college (a four-year university) I learned of flouride and retardation in mice. You are no chemist, biologist or even an open-minded consumer. However, your article did have a few good points.
Interesting “non-offense.” Many dental hygienists do have a four-year bachelor’s degree, actually, myself included, not to mention the hundreds of hours of continuing education required to maintain our licenses over our careers. With that said, I’ll continue to defend the overwhelming evidence that fluoride’s benefits far exceed the risks. Thank you for your responses.
Trish, Thank god for people like you and my hygienist! An intelligent reply to a truly stupid question! I keep toothbrushes all around my personal spaces so that I can brush when ever I feel moved or when my teeth feel like they need it. Before I started doing this I would brush MAYBE twice a day. Now I brush at least three and sometimes five times a day, very strictly in accordance with BASS of course. My hygienist always tells me what great hygiene I have and how good my teeth are for a person of my age, 60. Maybe I use toothpaste once a day, maybe not.
BTW, Do you know if brushing while driving is illegal in Maryland?
You mentioned baking soda. But did not elaborate on what it actually does. And you should. Because it does the most important thing that could ever be done to your teeth. It alters the pH. The problem with your teeth is the pH balance. Your whole body should be more alkaline by eating alkaline foods like fresh vegetables. But since our mouths are havens for acid due to the nature of modern diet and breaking down of food, we need to fix the pH to stop the problems. Toothpaste is very acidic. Extremely bad for you. PERIOD. It CAUSES all the problems you have. Take it away and you have taken away the fuel. But you still have to clean your teeth without ruining the pH balance. So you use baking soda because it is VERY alkaline. Slightly abrasive and WILL NOT hurt the teeth. Dissolves rapidly while brushing. So dont get it wet beforehand. your teeth stains will go away in less than a month. No tartar. No thrush. No swollen gums. Keep flossing. You can brush with it once a day and be far better off than before. Cavities will stop worsening. Guaranteed. I have 7 years of using it exclusively as proof that it works. And so does my wife and children. One of my kids still had some problems. And it puzzled me. It turned out that the toothbrushes they make for children SUCK. They are too soft and mushy. So I bought a firm brush like mine for them to use. Problem solved. Your enamel is stronger than dentists tell you. They are LIARS. And want to be paid over and over to drive that fancy car.
I must mention that Flouride is POSION. It does not strengthen your teeth. I was a Crest kid. And my teeth were always weak until I stopped using toothpaste and drinking flouridated water. Now they stay strong. Because they body is in charge of your teeth. Put your body and mouth in proper pH and keep your diet right. Your body will thank you by healing and caring for itself. Including your teeth.
Now by knowing these things. Just imagine how wide the misinformation highway really is. Dentists will say ANYTHING to get your business. Its why there are so many. TOO MANY. Same goes for doctors and lawyers. A bunch of greedy liars who WANT YOUR MONEY. GOD meant for us to live far simpler than we do. Being more self reliant. The tools are here. We just have a bunch of liars in the world trying to turn us into consumer cattle to be dependent upon their services. Sorry. But the TRUTH needs to be available. And I for one will help make that happen.
“Your whole body should be more alkaline by eating alkaline foods like fresh vegetables”
Time and again I see comments from people talking about how we should strive to make our bodies more alkaline or acidic (depending on which whacko is talking). Here’s the thing: YOU CAN’T. Your body maintains a tightly regulated blood pH of between 7.35 and 7.45. That is the pH required for the blood to transport oxygen and that’s a damned important function, don’t you think? Somehow manage to get it below 7.35 and you’re looking at acidosis, get it above 7.45 and you’re looking at alkalosis…and both of them can kill you.
Eating fresh vegetables is always a good thing because they help keep the system running efficiently but eating them (or not) won’t change the pH of your blood which is just as well since you’ll die if they did.
People think their mouths taste like something? It tastes like nothing to me. Like how water tastes like nothing. What the heck do you people have growing on your tongues that it tastes like something in there?
I cannot stand minty, stingy toothpaste that burns my mouth and makes it feel cold. So this article is great, but it’s not why I brush.
I brush because I was conditioned to by my parents and dentists from a young age. Now I spend more time flossing.
But I still need fluoride… and those rinses you can get are apparently not so great. The super strength one my dentist gives me twice a year makes me feel nauseous. Can’t win.
I was thinking the same thing. There’s something wrong if your mouth consistently, morning after morning, tastes like “barf.” Dry mouth rings a bell. Or worse. Tongue cleaning should take care of that. I’m totally with you on the fluoride thing. I can’t win either. Even standard OTC fluoride toothpaste makes me feel nauseous.
When I switched to a plant based diet (for health reasons) one of the first things I noticed was I no longer had a “cotton mouth” when I woke up in the morning. I recently decided to skip toothpaste but concentrate on brushing and flossing. I added to this just rubbing a wet wash cloth over my teeth at each brushing. My mouth and teeth now feel so clean in the morning that I’ve almost forgotten to brush on a couple of occasions. I was sure I had already brushed until I checked my toothbrush and noticed it was dry! My effort now is find a way (as natural as possible) to eliminate and then prevent the plaque buildup behind my lower front teeth (and in general).
toothpaste is a scam. I used several toothpastes as growing up, at least one cavity per year. Then switched to baking soda no more cavities in the past 5 years. Come on! it’s not that terrible anyway, way better than having to go to dentist and pay the bills.
This is without doubt the best article i have ever read regarding tooth brushing. More than excellent.
I have found in my practicing days that organic fluoride only in elmex (before it was bought by Colgate), and in only one of elgydium’s products, is my choice of toothpaste. No chemicals, and the softest in the abrasion index. Empirically less sensitivity, and a harder feel to the enamel under an instrument. But it is so hard to buy the original amine Elmex since they have put ‘Colgate’ in the tubes, and it is very easy to be confused and buy the elmex colgate instead of the original with amine fluoride (organic). Which i am sure is colgates intention. I think the greatest tooth paste around is plaque h.d. It shows you where you have left plaque with an easy to remove green stain, and with dauly use you, learn to clean only the plaque off your lovely enamel and not scrub them too death as you cant see plaque, it is invisable. It is a brilliant concept and not many people know about it. You must keep using it for a while as your memory will keep reverting your arm kto the way you used to brush, just use it (it is a normal toothpaste) twice a day. Ps i am not selling it or gaining anything from this comment, nothing at all. It is just an idea i had when i was practicing, and eternally removing plaque from the same place from the same patient every six months….the disclosing tablets are too messy for patients, with h.d. There is nothing extra to do.
Wow! This is a fantastic, eye-opening, informative article. I appreciate the personalized tone and will be on the lookout for more articles by Trish.
Hi,
This was too funny! You made learning how toothpaste works, the highlight of my Friday night lol
You’re a great writer!
This is woeful disinformation about the constituents of teeth cleaning pastes. Water is not a sufficient replacement any more than is sodium bicarbonate.
https://ndclist.com/ndc/48878-3120
“functionalized TCP” is critical to remineralizatoin.
Importantly, page 9 synopsis of one supporting study
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/767449O/espertise-tri-calcium-phosphate-tcp-scientific-results.pdf
“This paper discusses the development of a unique functionalized
ß-TCP (fTCP) using a solid-state mechanochemical process and
evaluates its fluoride compatibility and remineralization efficacy. The
authors conclude that fTCP intertwines synergistically with fluoride and
the enamel tissue to produce superior remineralization of the subsurface
lesion compared with fluoride alone.”
page 10 compares to water
I really don’t like this comment.
“ Asking a dentist what toothpaste to use is like asking your physician which bar of soap or body scrub you should use to clean your skin.”
Instantly unlikable writer. No, it’s like asking your ‘dermatologist’ what soap to use, which is relevant.
You specialised in teeth, probably because you couldn’t be a doctor. So if someone asks you the best way to care for their teeth? You can’t be surprised.
Thanks for sharing your opinion. Hyperbole is sometimes necessary to drive a point home, and your offense is understandable.
However, toothpaste is often peddled as much more than a detergent, whereas soap is known to dermatologists and consumers alike as PRIMARILY a detergent.
Cheap toothpaste leaves my mouth feeling like I’ve been chewing on glass shards and leaves a disgusting residue so I have to drink something, and even then the taste often takes a while to go away. I use a more expensive toothpaste that doesn’t do this. I’ve also noticed that it cleans better, when I used cheap brands, some of my teeth had plaque on them even after brushing. Now that I use this more “fancy” brand these teeth are just as clean and shiny as the rest. So I’d say there is a difference.
Hi Christina,
You’re right! There is a difference between toothpastes, especially if the surfactants in a cheap toothpaste leave your mouth feeling dirty. However, just about any toothbrush will clean teeth well, with or without toothpaste. If you like the way your mouth feels after you brush with a certain toothpaste, though, it’s such a huge motivating factor for daily self-care that sometimes that’s more important than anything! Yes, absolutely, stick with a toothpaste that makes your mouth feel cleaner and that doesn’t leave any undesirable residue.
Only reading this article now. Let me ask a question……….what would happen if you stopped using toothpaste completely? I dont mean stop brushing your teeth, still brushing with water, but what would happen if you stopped using store bought toothpaste? Has anyone tried this as an experiment over an extended period of time? The reason I ask is because I’ve stopped using mouthwash completely and this has had a fairly drastic effect on my mouth. I used to have sensitive teeth and every now and again, I’d get a bad flare up of this, my teeth or one of my teeth would be painful for a week or so. Ever since I stopped using mouthwash this has stopped, my teeth are no longer sensitive at all. At some times I would feel my breath was not fresh, which was more noticeable while wearing a mask. But since I ditched the mouthwash my breath is always fresh, even after eating. And my dental hygienist has noticed the difference when I go to get my teeth cleaned. She said there was less staining on my teeth, less plague and my gums were better in general. Anyway I was thinking about stopping using toothpaste to see if this had a positive effect. Again not stopping brushing or flossing but stopping using paste.
From the head line I thought that toothpaste is really harmful but it seem that people don’t know how to use thoothbrush and toothpaste as result causing damages to their teeth.
Article is useful but I would recommend to ask advise in your dentist.
If you are from South Carolina, Simpsonville you can visit Palms Dentistry to discuss this matters with professionals.
Leaving a quick link if case you interested
https://www.palmsdentistry.com/locations/simpsonville/
This post on remineralizing toothpaste is truly informative! It’s fascinating to learn how certain toothpaste formulations can actively help to restore minerals to our teeth, strengthening enamel and preventing decay. I appreciate the breakdown of key ingredients like fluoride, hydroxyapatite, and calcium phosphate, which play a crucial role in this process. It’s great to see an emphasis on the science behind these products, as well as practical tips for choosing the right toothpaste. Overall, this is a valuable read for anyone looking to improve their dental health naturally. Thanks for sharing such insightful content!