How to Pick The Right Toothpaste

It's important to brush twice a day, but what toothpaste is best to use? The drugstore shelves are full of choices and we're barraged by media claims that the right toothpaste can help you eliminate cavities, rid yourself of tartar buildup, bad breath, and gingivitis, and restore discolored teeth to a pearly white.

In a recent University of California Berkeley Wellness Newsletter, the various claims for toothpastes are examined. We recommends that you approach toothpaste advertising with great skepticism.

Tips for use

We recommend that you look for the following when you select a toothpaste:

* Always buy toothpaste that contains fluoride.

* Be careful when considering toothpastes that claim they can whiten your teeth. These toothpastes use abrasives that can create sensitivity. In fact, toothpastes that prevent tartar buildup - because tartar is the most significant cause of tooth discoloration - do more to whiten teeth than these specialty whitening brands.

* Most toothpastes that say they combat bad breath merely mask the smell. If you have chronic bad breath, it's time for a visit to the dentist.

* Another clue that it's time to see the dentist is if you're sensitive to hot or cold food and drink. Rather than masking the symptoms, find out if there's a cause, such as decay or a cracked tooth. If you do need a toothpaste to help you limit sensitivity, your dentist will help you select one. Such toothpastes usually need a week or two of regular use before you feel a difference.

* We believe that the abrasive qualities of baking soda are too harsh for extended use. And using baking soda alone, without fluoride, is not recommended. Flavors such as cinnamon can irritate your mouth. If you find it does, try switching to a different brand.

* Natural toothpastes - as long as they contain fluoride - can be safely used.

* You don't need more than a dab of toothpaste. But it's important that you brush twice a day and reach every surface of your mouth with that dab, using either an electric or manual toothbrush. Whatever you may choose, we recommend you brush with soft, nylon, rounded bristles.

Dr. Jan Linhart, D.D.S. of Manhattan is one of America's top restorative dentists, according to the Castle Connolly Consumer Guide, the Consumers' Research Council of America, and his patients. Dr. Linhart has mastered the most challenging cosmetic and surgical dental procedures, including porcelain laminate veneers dental implants and laser tooth whitening Over the years, Dr. Jan Linhart has been profiled in a number of prominent magazines, journals and newspapers, including New York Magazine, Dental Economics, Newsweek and InStyle magazine. For more information about choosing the right toothpaste or other oral health related concerns, please call us at 212.682.5180 or contact us through our website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jan_LinhartHow to Pick The Right Toothpaste