Make Your Toothpaste Work for You

Here is a chart outlining which toothpastes (and/or rinses) are best to use based on your oral condition. If you don't have any conditions or concerns, then the first row applies to you. In the second column beside each oral condition, I listed a good toothpaste/rinse to use. Underneath toothpastes I put the active ingredient that makes it beneficial for each condition. Underneath oral rinses I put what the rinse does to benefit the condition. Remember to follow the instructions included in the packaging when using any products.

Always use CDA (Canadian Dental Association) approved products. A product is CDA approved when it has proven to achieve what it claims to achieve. For example, a toothpaste that claims to reduce tarter is only CDA approved if it has proven to reduce tarter through scientific evidence and research. 

Click here for a list of approved products, or look for this logo on your product:

Recommended Toothpastes

Oral Condition	Toothpaste and Active Ingredient
Healthy Mouth	Normal Crest, Colgate or Aim -Fluoride (small amount)
Caries activity (Cavities)	PreviDent 5000 with or without Boost -Plenty of fluoride MI paste (doesn't replace toothpaste) -Amorphous calcium phosphate (avoid if allergic to milk protein casein)
Exposed dentin or cementum (From gum recession) or Hypersensitivity	PreviDent 5000 -Plenty of fluoride Colgate Pro-Relief -Arginine (longer lasting than potassium nitrate) Sensodyne -Potassium nitrate
Gingivitis (Red, inflamed, and/or bleeding gums)	Crest Pro-Health -Sodium hexametaphosphate*
Periodontal Disease	Colgate Total -Triclosan**
Ulcers AVOID: alcohol, foaming ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and sodium	Salt and water rinse -Promote healing of tissues and kill bacteria Sensodyne -Free from sodium lauryl sulfate
NUG (Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis)	Baking soda and water rinse -Neutralize pH of mouth and kill bacteria
Demineralization	PreviDent 5000 -Plenty of fluoride MI paste (doesn't replace toothpaste) -Amorphous calcium phosphate (avoid if allergic to milk protein casein)
Acid Erosion	Sensodyne Pronamel -Potassium nitrate
Halitosis (Bad breath) AVIOD: products containing alcohol	Colgate Max Fresh -Essential oils (mints)
Xerostomia (Dry Mouth) AVOID: SLS and alcohol	Biotene (toothpaste and/or oral rinse) -Sodium fluoride
Head and Neck Radiation Therapy (Can cause dry mouth)	Biotene (toothpaste and/or oral rinse) -Sodium fluoride Baking soda-water rinse -Neutralize pH of mouth and kill bacteria
Supragingival Calculus (Tarter above the gum line)	Crest Tartar Protection -Disodium pyrophosphate* Crest Pro-Health -Sodium hexametaphosphate* Colgate Total -Triclosan**
Biofilm/Plaque	Normal Crest, Colgate or Aim -Fluoride (small amount) Listerine or Colgate mouthwash Proper oral homecare -Regular brushing and flossing
Material Alba	Disclosing solution – Agent Blue or Disclosing tablets -Shows you where the plaque is hiding Proper oral homecare -Regular brushing and flossing
Extrinsic Stain (Stains on the outside of the tooth that is rough and can be removed)	Baking soda and water rinse -Minor abrasive to remove rough stains Whitening toothpaste (Baking soda=least abrasive) -Hydrated silica or other abrasive agents

*Can cause tooth sensitivity               **Overuse can result in antibiotic resistant bacteria