The Only Toothpastes Dentists Use
Updated: Mar. 24, 2021Taking care of your teeth starts with the right toothpaste. We polled dentists to find out which toothpastes they actually use themselves. Here are their picks.
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Best for kids: Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry Natural Toothpaste
“The flavors are fun for the kids, and I appreciate that there is an appropriate amount of fluoride in it. As a dentist, the fluoride for the cavity protection is key, but my kids don’t need the fluoride every time they brush so I like that I have the choice of the fluoride or fluoride-free with Tom’s toothpaste. My kids are in a town without fluoridated water, so we use the anti-cavity version with fluoride in the morning, and the fluoride-free formula in the evening because they chew their prescription fluoride tablets after brushing. Plus I love that there’s none of the extra artificial stuff, like glitter, in it. ” —Elizabeth DiBona, dentist at DiBona Dental Group in Exeter, NH. Look out for these cavity symptoms you shouldn’t ignore.
Best for whitening: Crest 3D White Foaming Toothpaste
“It is my favorite due to its foaming and cleaning action. This toothpaste tastes great, it effectively whitens without causing sensitivity and has fluoride, and it is also great for gum health, gentle stain removal, and preventing cavities.”—Kevin Sands, a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills, CA, and Dubai.
Best for whitening: Apa White Toothpaste
“My toothpaste substitutes hydroxyapatite for fluoride. Hydroxyapatite, one of the building blocks of tooth enamel, is a much better ingredient for re-mineralizing teeth and helps to rebuild the tooth’s surface. This toothpaste also contains Ultrapolish Technology which helps to clean surface stains for a noticeably whiter smile, and is able to prevent plaque and tartar buildup without the use of fluoride.”—Michael Apa, a celebrity cosmetic dentist in New York City and Dubai. Don’t miss the 9 things dentists want you to know about teeth whitening.
Best all natural: Hello Sensitivity Relief
“My favorite toothpaste is the Sensitivity Relief from Hello Products. I love it because it’s a great tasting toothpaste that has natural ingredients such as aloe and coconut oil, but it’s paired with a highly effective desensitizer—potassium nitrate—and not just a bunch of chemicals like other brands in the market. Natural toothpaste is better than others since they contain all of the highly effective active ingredients that provide clinically proven results without combining them with potentially less healthy ingredients that have no clinical benefits—they just provide texture, flavoring, preservation.” — Lawrence Fung, a cosmetic dentist at Silicon Beach Dental in Los Angeles.
Best for sensitivity: Spry Peppermint Xylitol Toothpaste, Flouride-Free
“I try to be as homeopathic as possible: Spry toothpaste is natural and has non-GMO ingredients that other kinds of toothpaste do not have. Most regular kinds of toothpaste contain sulfates that are proven to cause irritating canker sores. I avoid those and I do not recommend them at my practice. The xylitol [a sugar substitute] content helps to disarm the cavity-causing bacteria and stimulate saliva so your teeth get a better cleaning. The cranberry extract also helps with controlling mouth bacteria and reduces inflammation of the gum tissue.” —Chris Kammer, founder of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health. These are the best electric toothbrushes you can buy, according to top dentists.
Best customer reviews: Marvis Classic Strong Mint Toothpaste
“We love Marvis and see it primarily as a beautifully packaged luxury item that we give our patients as an extra perk. Patients love how it tastes and how fresh the mouthwash is. They have incredible flavors that are seasonal, and we put them in travel kits for all of our patients.” —Lior Tamir, dentist in San Mateo, CA.
Best for fast results: Crest’s Complete Whitening + Scope Toothpaste
“I really love the Crest’s Complete Whitening + Scope toothpaste because, besides all the bells and whistles, it leaves your mouth truly refreshed and feeling totally clean. Teeth feel perfectly smooth and polished (similar to a feeling after a professional cleaning with the hygienist) and the breath is refreshing and crisp. My favorite!”—Lana Rozenberg, DDS, a celebrity cosmetic dentist in New York City. Don’t fall for these 30 everyday mistakes that can ruin your teeth.
Best multitasker: Opalescence Whitening Toothpaste
“Opalescence Whitening Toothpaste is multitasking. It has great flavor, it’s non-abrasive, anti-cavity, removes stains, and it has fluoride. If you have sensitive teeth, there is also a sensitive version available.” —Victoria Veytsman, a cosmetic dentist in New York City.
Best stain remover: Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Baking Soda & Peroxide Toothpaste
“A baking soda- and peroxide-based toothpaste that adds another element of whitening as the peroxide can lift stains and whiten your teeth.” —Neil Hadaegh, a dentist in Beverly Hills, CA. Check out the other shocking diseases dentists find first.
Best gentle toothpaste: Rembrandt Deeply White Fresh Mint Peroxide Fluoride Toothpaste
“Most whitening toothpastes use abrasive particles to scrub off stains and ultimately damage the enamel. This is my favorite toothpaste because it is low in abrasiveness.”—Carly LeVine, a dentist in Pacific Palisades, CA. Here’s what else your dentist needs you to start doing for better teeth.
- Elizabeth DiBona, dentist at DiBona Dental Group in Exeter, NH.
- Kevin Sands , a cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills, CA, and Dubai.
- Michael Apa,a celebrity cosmetic dentist in New York City and Dubai.
- Lawrence Fung, a cosmetic dentist at Silicon Beach Dental in Los Angeles.
- Chris Kammer, founder of the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health.
- Lior Tamir, dentist in San Mateo, CA.
- Lana Rozenberg, DDS, a celebrity cosmetic dentist in New York City.
- Victoria Veytsman, a cosmetic dentist in New York City.
- Neil Hadaegh, a dentist in Beverly Hills, CA.
- Carly LeVine,a dentist in Pacific Palisades, CA.
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