Dentist exposes truth about toothpastes: How to choose right
Photo: How to choose the right toothpaste (Freepik)
Toothpaste is not the main factor in maintaining healthy teeth, and the bold claims on packaging often have more to do with marketing than reality.
Ukrainian dentist Iryna Pilkh shared tips on how to choose toothpaste and what to pay attention to.
How to choose toothpaste
According to the specialist, if you are choosing between buying a questionable, cheap toothpaste or skipping it altogether, it’s better not to buy it. The foundation of oral hygiene remains mechanical brushing, which can be done even without toothpaste.
The dentist emphasizes that no toothpaste can actually strengthen enamel, despite advertising claims. For active ingredients to truly affect enamel, they need to act for a long time under special conditions, something that cannot be achieved during ordinary daily brushing.
When it comes to cavity prevention, the key factor is clean teeth. Regular and proper brushing reduces the risk of cavities, not individual toothpaste ingredients. The effectiveness of active substances should be assessed individually by analyzing the composition.
How toothpastes can be harmful
Iryna Pilkh also warns that some components in toothpastes can be harmful, causing allergic reactions or irritation of the oral mucosa. At the same time, universal toothpastes do not exist: quality products rarely combine all functions at once, which is why the market offers separate therapeutic, whitening, and preventive products.
The dentist advises particular caution with whitening toothpastes. Whitening is achieved either through abrasive particles, which scratch enamel, or through acids.
Both methods can damage the tooth surface, and enamel, unlike other tissues, does not regenerate. Bacteria are more likely to settle in areas with micro-damage.
Using whitening toothpaste daily is not recommended. An optimal compromise is to use it no more than once a week and only under a dentist’s recommendation.
Earlier, we explained what you should do after every meal to keep your teeth healthy.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
