Toothpaste Guide

For all the extras you'll find on a toothpaste label (foamers, binders, flavors) there are really only a few essential ingredients, says Daniel Mindiola, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania.

Follow these steps to figure 'em out:

Step 1.) Find a cavity fighter - Fluoride is the only ingredient approved to fight cavities. You'll see it listed as sodium fluoride or stannous fluoride, and it helps enamel patch itself up before decay can lead to a cavity.

Step 2.) Ask yourself: Do I have sensitive teeth? If you do, you'll need a desensitizer too. Arginine bicarbonate plugs the exposed pores in your teeth for immediate relief.

Step 3.) Now ask: Am I happy with the color? If not, add a brighter to your fluoride. Common ingredients include stain removers such as sodium tripolyphosphate or hexametaphosphate and hydrate silica. Often bleach or hydrogen peroxided is listed.

If you want it all some whitening toothpastes are formulated for sensitive teeth and will splashed across the packaging and if you check the label, you should find some combination of the ingredients listed above!


Article from the July/August 2017 Red Book magazine