Shopping for the right toothpaste can be overwhelming because of the number of types available on store shelves. Since toothpaste is necessary to improve your oral hygiene, it is important to find one that works best for you and your mouth.

“When you’re shopping for toothpastes, you want to make sure that you are looking for ingredients that make you healthier,” says Erinne Kennedy, DMD, a dentist and spokesperson of the American Dental Association (ADA). Dr. Kennedy recommends looking for active ingredients like fluoride and hydrogen peroxide that will keep your mouth clean and free from disease.

We researched dozens of toothpastes and evaluated them for key ingredients, flavor, cavity prevention and other dental benefits, and price. Each of the toothpastes chosen in this article was determined to be the best of these factors.

Here are the best toothpastes on the market today. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste at Amazon This teeth cleaning solution is made with a handful of effective ingredients, including flouride, to give you the most thorough clean. Best Budget: Crest Pro-Health Pro at Amazon This toothpaste foams in your mouth, giving you that satisfyingly clean feel post-brush—all at an affordable price. Best Whitening Toothpaste: Arm & Hammer Extreme Whitening Toothpaste at Walmart High levels of peroxide work to fight against those pesky set-in stains, while fluoride keeps your teeth sparkling and clean. Best for Gum Disease: Parodontax Toothpaste at Amazon This toothpaste uses stannous fluoride to help prevent bleeding gums and deter plaque. Best for Sensitive Teeth: Sensodyne Fresh Impact Sensitivity Toothpaste at Amazon Contains potassium nitrate to soothe inflamed nerves, so you can have a painless brushing experience. Best for Bad Breath: TheraBreath Fresh Breath Toothpaste at Walmart Its sodium fluoride formula strengthens teeth and eliminates bacteria that can cause bad breath. Best for Dry Mouth: Biotene Fluoride Toothpaste at Amazon Its alcohol-free formula helps prevent dry mouth after use.

Best Overall: Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste with Fluoride

View On AmazonView On Walgreens Pros

• ADA accepted
• Contains fluoride
• Fresh mint flavor

Cons

• Watery texture

The Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste has the ADA’s seal of acceptance for a reason.1 It contains fluoride, which is a leading active ingredient used by dentists to strengthen teeth and prevent tooth decay. This makes it a key ingredient for people who are looking to avoid cavities and remove any of the bad bacteria in the mouth that can cause decay or disease.

Additionally, the toothpaste comes in a refreshing mint flavor that will leave your mouth smelling fresh for hours to come after brushing. The best part is that the toothpaste is an affordable option for any budget.

Active Ingredients: Fluoride | Uses: Clean teeth and prevent cavities

Expert Insight

“The ADA seal means that toothpaste has been independently tested to ensure that the fluoride and the ingredients in it are not only safe but they’re efficacious and they work. By doing that you’re ensuring that the toothpaste you’re using is safe and effective.” — Julius Manz, DDS, ADA Spokesperson.

Best Budget: Crest Pro-Health Pro Active Defense Deep Clean Toothpaste

View On AmazonView On Walgreens Pros

• Fights plaque and bacteria
• ADA accepted
• Contains .454% fluoride

Cons

• Can have a drying effect on lips

Protecting your teeth should not have to come with a hefty price tag. The Crest Pro-Health Pro toothpaste makes brushing your teeth affordable, all while promoting a healthy oral hygiene. The toothpaste contains the active ingredient of fluoride, which works to fight any plaque build up on the teeth and prevent unwanted cavities.

Additionally, the toothpaste is an activated foam product, which means that it will foam up when brushing your teeth. This is essential to get the active ingredients to touch every surface of the mouth. After spitting out the excess, make sure to leave the remaining foam on the teeth so that the active ingredients can do what they are intended to do.2

Active Ingredients: Fluoride | Uses: Clean teeth and prevent cavities, plaque and bacteria buildup

What the Experts Say

“I typically have my patients use a new toothpaste for a couple weeks and then in about less than a month have them report back to me on how they think that product is performing. However, if you have a reaction or any discomfort to using a new product, you want to stop using that product right away and contact your dentist so that you don’t keep using a product that is causing you discomfort.” – Dr. Erinne Kennedy.

Best Whitening Toothpaste: Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste

View On WalmartView On Walgreens Pros

• Whitens teeth
• Contains .24% fluoride
• Helps prevent cavities

Cons

• May be irritating to sensitive teeth

Stubborn stains and yellowing of the teeth can put a damper on any smile. But luckily there are a plethora of toothpastes on the market that make whitening your teeth at home easy and affordable, such as the Arm & Hammer Extreme Whitening Toothpaste. The toothpaste contains a mixture of baking soda and peroxide, which together work to remove unwanted stains and whiten the teeth from the inside out.

Additionally, the product contains sodium fluoride as an active ingredient. So while the toothpaste is working to whiten the teeth, it is also strengthening the teeth and preventing tooth decay. Customers say they are left with a whiter smile after using the toothpaste and it doesn’t cause them any added sensitivity.

Active Ingredients: Fluoride, baking soda, peroxide | Uses: Clean teeth and prevent cavities; Whitens and brightens teeth

What the Experts Say

“There’s a common ingredient that helps with bad breath and whitening your teeth, which I think is the best of both worlds, and it is called hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide not only whitens your teeth from the inside out but it also impacts the bad bacteria in your mouth.” – Dr. Erinne Kennedy.

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Source: verywellhealth