...to be so confused by toothpaste

[5Foot5]

Or at least why there has to be so many, many varieties.

I just nipped in to the supermarket to but some more toothpaste, usual brand (comes in a red box). It suddenly struck me as I was dithering over which one to get, how many choices there are and how impossible it is to know what distinguishes them all from each and which to get.

Just taking my usual brand as an example (also begins with a 'C') I counted no fewer than 17 different options with names that all seemed to be some permutation of "Total", "Advanced", "Whitening", "Sensitive" or "Fresh" together with the odd maverick variation like "Gel" or "Stripe". I mean can someone tell me what the actual difference is between "Total Whitening", "Advanced Whitening", "Total Advanced Whitening" and "Deep Clean Whitening"?

I can feel a letter to the manufacturers coming on!

And that is just one brans; the others all seemed to have many varieties to but to a lesser degree.

Does anyone know why?

yes, chlorhexidine- won't the brushing just brush it away?

yes- taste disturbance, staining of teeth, burning sensation on tongue- also find lots of salivation immediately after spitting it out

My dentist told me Corsodyl can stain your teeth and advised me NOT to use it

we only advise corsdyl post surgery, wouldn't advise it long term!! other mouthwashes are a bit of a waste of money i'm afraid, water will do as good a job :)

I wouldn't use corsodyl or toothpaste - both a waste of money

Shalli - speak to your dentist. Doesn't sound like you should continue using it

I did mention the staining, she just said it would fade eventually or she could remove it (at a price)- the taste thing would be good if you were trying to lose weight, it puts you off eating!

Triclosan is safe, yes. It is helpful in treating gum disease. Some people may want to avoid it or may react to it, that doesn't make it harmful.

Also even if a few people can go without the extra fluoride in toothpaste, for those who don't brush properly or don't have fluoride in tap water, toothpaste is absolutely not a waste of money and is a healthcare essential. Tooth decay is the cause of many heart problems btw, dental hygiene affects bodily health generally.

Shalli the staining is normal for corsodyl and will go away eventually. It does warn you of this on the packaging!

sounds like triclosan is what we need

Myrtle it appears not everyone agrees triclosan is safe

newyorkorthodontists.net/triclosan-dangers-side-effects-in-toothpastes-and-mouthwash/

If people don't brush their teeth properly, how the hell is toothpaste supposed to help?

I alternate
White glo smokers to remove staining
Dawood and tanner - because it's not mint flavour (I get lime) and it doesn't burn my mouth

acs.healthology.com/dental-health/dental-health-news/article4535.htm

Brushing without toothpaste removes more plaque in the above study

I like the idea of no toothpaste!

No toothpaste is fine if your risk of decay is low. I can't over emphasise how important fluoride is in preventing decay and slowing it down once it's got started.

It's really irresponsible to be advocating not using toothpaste - only your dentist/dental hygienist would be suitably qualified to tell you that you don't need it.

It's really irresponsible to be advocating not using toothpaste - only your dentist/dental hygienist would be suitably qualified to tell you that you don't need it

It is not irresponsible at all. Plenty of qualified dentists advocate using no toothpaste

I suspect that's a bit like saying plenty of qualified scientists refute the theory of human-caused Climate Change. yes there may be 100s of such people, but they still add up to a tiny % minority opinion.

Can we all just agree that clean teeth & low sugar diet are good things? I know I often only brush once a day and eat too much sugar.

acs.healthology.com/dental-health/dental-health-news/article4535.htm

Brushing without toothpaste removes more plaque in the above study for the people who think toothpaste is absolutely necessary

if people do not brush 100% properly at least the fluoride in paste will offer some protection as will suing mouthwash unfortunately iwantsun the average patient can not or doesnot brush properly and what advice might be suitable for someone like yourself with low caries and gum diseazse risk will not translate across the board to those with higher risk hence it is not responsible to suggest everyone would be better without paste most would benefit from paste but if they hate the taste etc brushing without can be adequate provided the brushing technique is improved

Teacup can paste really help if someone does not brush properly because it will mean fluoride does not reach all the teeth?

teacup

www.apjtb.com/zz/2012s2/99.pdf

Lots of people in many countries use a toothstick to clean their teeth without toothpaste and have perfectly healthy teeth. Are they not responsible people?

Just shows toothpaste is not necessary

I'm a dentist BTW.

iwantsun in lots of countries where they use toothsticks, parents aren't convinced their children need to snack on shit sugary food six times a day and they don't drink fruit shoots or "very diluted juice". Same for the adults. The comparison doesn't work between countries with different economic statuses.

so toothpaste will protect childrens teeth while they are being fed shit sugary food six times a day, drinking fruit shoots and very diluted juice?

Sorry not convinced