Which toothpaste is the right one?

Even the ancient Romans knew that a "cleanser" is recommended for cleaning the teeth. They used a tooth powder made of marble dust, pumice stone or crushed oyster and egg shells. Thus, the cleaning of teeth at that time functioned mainly by abrasion.

Abrasive particles are still a component of toothpaste today. However, great care is taken with the dosage, because too much abrasion can damage the teeth. The most important ingredient in modern toothpaste is fluoride, because fluorides strengthen tooth enamel and lead to a long-term reduction in caries. This has been scientifically proven, among others by the renowned Cochrane Collaboration, which evaluated 71 high-quality clinical studies in a meta-analysis.

Most important ingredient: fluoride

Accordingly, toothpaste should definitely contain fluoride, but that doesn't make the decision any easier. On the contrary. The choice is huge, because almost all toothpastes contain fluoride. However, if you take a closer look, you will quickly discover three types of toothpaste: universal toothpaste, sensitive toothpaste and whitening toothpaste. Children's toothpaste and toothpastes with herbal ingredients round off the range.

Universal toothpaste is for those who have no problems with their teeth or gums. Here it is mainly about complete protection of teeth and gums from caries.

Sensitive toothpaste is recommended for people with sensitive teeth. The sensitivity is often due to exposed necks of teeth, so that external stimuli, such as cold, are painful. In this case, the toothpaste should have a low abrasion (below 40) to gently clean the enamel of the exposed tooth necks.

In addition, sensitive toothpastes often contain stannous fluoride, an antibacterial agent that is supposed to help against caries and pain sensitivity.

High abrasion against discoloration

Whitening toothpastes promise users "radiant white teeth" or "extra white teeth." However, these toothpastes do not whiten, but simply have a higher abrasion. The higher abrasive content has the effect of sandpaper and helps to better remove more stubborn stains caused by drinking coffee, tea, nicotine or red wine. Ultimately, therefore, the so-called "whiteners" among toothpastes are primarily concerned with loosening plaque in order to bring back the natural whiteness of the teeth.

The abrasion, also called RDA value, should be between 40 to 80. Toothpastes with a higher value of up to 200 are not recommended, as too many abrasive particles can damage the teeth.

Children's toothpaste has a lower fluoride content compared to conventional toothpaste, up to about 500 ppm. Since smaller children in particular still swallow the toothpaste, higher fluoride doses could lead to stomach problems. Between the ages of six and twelve, a fluoride quantity of 1,000 to 1,450 ppm in the toothpaste is then already recommended. The taste of children's toothpaste is often sweet to motivate children to brush their teeth. Sugar, of course, is not included.

In addition, there are toothpastes with herbal ingredients. Popular are those with sage, chamomile, panthenol or rosemary, which are supposed to have an anti-inflammatory or antibacterial effect.

What else is important besides the right toothpaste?

A toothpaste tailored to your individual needs supports your personal oral hygiene, but other factors also play an important role. The professionally ground brush head of the electric toothbrush, for example, or the right brushing technique.