All toothpastes are not created equal. In this article we reveal 3 tips to finding your perfect toothpaste. 

The humble toothpaste is often an afterthought when considering optimising your dental hygiene. Toothpaste has the basic functions of keeping your mouth and teeth healthy, white, and free from bad bacteria. Walk down any supermarket cosmetics aisle and you will be struck with the sheer volume of toothpaste options in front of you. Finding your perfect toothpaste is not as simple as picking out the brand with the flashiest packaging, largest shelf space or loudest promises. Contrary to common belief, toothpastes can vary significantly in terms of quality, function and suitability to your needs. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which toothpaste you should use:

Toothpaste - what is it really?

Do we really need toothpaste? If so, why? Toothpaste does much more than create a fresh and minty foam while we brush. A good quality toothpaste will also fight cavities, remove bad bacteria, remove and reduce plaque, and whiten teeth. Seen in this light, choosing a good toothpaste might be a much more important decision than at first glance.

Toothpastes have also become more sophisticated and advanced. The primary responsibility of battling cavities and plaque still should take precedence and be its top priority. Todays’ toothpastes can now not only prevent cavities but also whiten teeth, help with teeth sensitivity issues, as well as replace lost minerals and enamel. It's important to visit your dentist regularly and discuss your unique requirements with them. Understand what you need from a toothpaste and then choose wisely.  

Check Toothpaste Ingredients

This is probably the most important factor when selecting a toothpaste, and is often the most overlooked. Always check the ingredients before purchasing any toothpaste. Many cheap or inferior toothpastes use ingredients that are potentially toxic and harmful to the teeth and gums and produced in factories with substandard manufacturing practices. These chemicals can actually eat away at the enamel on the teeth, causing permanent damage or leach through the gums and enter your bloodstream. Chemicals to avoid in toothpaste include sugar, SLS, Triclosan, Propylene Glycol, Parabens or artificial sweeteners such as Saccharin or Aspartame. It is important to inspect the ingredients before deciding on which toothpaste to use. Remember - this is the product that will be in direct contact with the gums for up to 4 minutes a day.

Here is a list of a few toxic ingredients to know and avoid when seeing it listed as an ingredient in toothpaste.  

• Aspartame and saccharin
• Carrageenan
• Diethanolamine
• Parabens
• Propylene glycol
• SLS /Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
• Tetrasodium (Tetrapotassium) Pyrophosphate
• Titanium dioxide
• Triclosan

Bliss Oral Care Teeth Whitening Products sit at the opposite end of the spectrum. Their products are safe and effective and all sugar-free, focusing on whitening and cleaning teeth with health and safety in mind.

Understand the Hype

It’s understandable how people can find shopping for a good, quality toothpaste confusing. Many of the large commercial toothpaste producers use creative marketing jargon and false advertising to promise the world while compromising on your health.

Do your research. This may help defuse much of the misleading hype and over marketing that oftentimes makes choosing a quality toothpaste confusing. There are many nasty chemicals that are added to toothpastes on a commercial scale that users are consuming on a daily basis - don’t let this be you. Make sure the science and common sense back the hype and marketing. Don’t fall for the false promises. Many Toothpastes today claim to solve all your oral care needs in one tube from rebuilding enamel, whitening teeth and helping with sensitivity all at the same time. Some say they are cruelty free, or use activated charcoal or aloe vera. Toothpastes can do some or all of the above, but never all at once. It is important to find out how they do it - or at the very least, to find out if it is safe.

A good example of a product that you should put to the test is the Whitening Primer Toothpaste offered at Bliss Oral Care. Their toothpaste has been developed by dentists and manufactured in the UK, under strict quality controls. It is the smart choice shoppers should look to if they want to keep their teeth clean and healthy and correctly primed before applying their Leave-In or Dissolving Whitening Strips. Not to mention all of their products are vegan-friendly, free from sugar and nasty chemicals and are never tested on animals!

Conclusion

Toothpaste still plays a vital role in maintaining good oral hygiene. It has been proven that using a quality toothpaste in combination with brushing with a sonic toothbrush and flossing daily greatly improves oral hygiene. If so, it is essential that we choose a toothpaste that fits the needs of our mouth and teeth.  

But remember! Read the ingredients! Don’t just select a toothpaste based on cost alone. You could be exposing yourself to a whole host of nasty chemicals that are entering your bloodstream for 4 minutes EVERY DAY! Don’t let this be you.