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Toothpaste Reviews
Updated January 2007
We discovered several sources that tell consumers that any toothpaste will do as long as it contains fluoride and has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. In fact, a "How should I choose oral care products?" query on the ADA website is answered simply, "Choose products that carry the American Dental Association Seal of Approval." Even the sites and publications which do make recommendations acknowledge that any approved toothpaste will benefit the consumer. Choices based on taste or consistency preferences are valid, and will not greatly affect oral health. Simply going through the process of brushing twice daily, for at least two minutes each time, will increase the health of your teeth and mouth, regardless of which brand is chosen. However, there are differences when it comes to abrasiveness. Experts say that abrasives are responsible for removing stains, but a toothpaste that's too abrasive can irritate sensitive teeth. Your toothbrush can also make a difference here. A low-abrasive toothpaste won't help you if you use a stiff brush. In addition to sources that say most toothpastes will do the job, we also found reviewers who do recommend specific products. These include Consumer Reports, which conducted the most exhaustive comparative test of toothpastes that we came across (the magazine tests 41 different kinds of toothpaste). Other credible review sources include DentalResource.com, DentalZone.com and the website of the Loyola University Health System. We also found good coverage of toothpaste at Choice.com, the website of an Australian consumer magazine. There's been an explosion of toothpastes that have the word "whitening" in
their name. However, experts insist that no toothpaste can change the color
of your teeth -- they can only work to remove stains so that your natural tooth
color shows through. Reviewers' tests show that no product actually "whitens" teeth.
Neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the ADA actually defines what "whitening" means,
so any manufacturer can use the term on product labels. The only way to substantially
whiten teeth is to see your dentist and receive a professional whitening treatment
or try an over-the-counter whitening kit (see our report on teeth whitening
for
more). The products chosen most often by reviewers simply do a good job of cleaning
teeth. We found some recommendations for organic or natural toothpastes, such
as Tom's of Maine, Burt's Bees and Jason's Natural. These,
however, are not always readily available in grocery stores, and they do not
do any more or less for your oral health. But if choosing planet-friendly or
preservative-free products is important to you, they are an option. If you haven't tried them before, some natural toothpastes take some getting
used to, mainly because they don't usually contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a
chemical used to make most toothpastes get foamy. Like fluoride, sodium lauryl
sulfate is somewhat controversial, even though the FDA and the vast majority
of dental experts say it is safe (see The Buzz below). If you don't want toothpaste
with fluoride or SLS, there are plenty of them out there.
We read some interesting comments for Burt's Bees Cinna Mint (*est. $4.25 for 3.5 oz.) . Like many natural toothpastes, this product doesn't contain any fluoride or sodium lauryl sulfate. Burt's Bees toothpaste does contain natural chlorophyll and parsley, and the package says it will turn your toothbrush green. Users say it's just weird to have a green-tinted toothbrush. Some users say it tastes good, but a few say it has a clay-like taste. While many people like Tom's of Maine natural toothpastes, the Tom's Sensitive (*est. $5 for 3.5 oz.) gets some odd comments for its consistency. This formula does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate or fluoride, but it does contain potassium nitrate, which is an ingredient proven to help those with sensitive teeth due to receding gums. Many users say the solids tend to separate from the liquids in this toothpaste, giving a weird part runny/part solid consistency that isn't pleasant. Users like other Tom's of Maine formulas much better. ... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
If we look at reviewer consensus by brand, Colgate leads the pack. Experts recommend Colgate Total most often. For sheer cleaning ability, Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening outperforms 40 other toothpastes in the most comprehensive roundup we found, and we've included it in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. As for those with sensitive teeth, experts recommend formulas that contain potassium nitrate, such as Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive. Advertisement
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© 2008 ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
