Hello Brusher!
We all know the dilemma: we stand in front of the supermarket shelf, see a lot of different toothpastes, and have no idea why one should be better than the other.
Different manufacturers, different areas of application, and a multitude of ingredients – an embarrassment of choice programmed. But as with many other products, we also have our favorite here.
Have you ever thought about what you smear on your teeth every day? Here we explain what you should consider when buying a toothpaste.
What is toothpaste for?
The question is relatively self-explanatory: you are probably here on our site because you care about your teeth and are looking for the best care. But what exactly does toothpaste do when it's in your mouth?
Toothpaste is composed of cleaning and abrasive particles that remove food particles, plaque, and other deposits from the teeth. Usually, all this is spat out with the remnants of the toothpaste at the end of the morning/evening ritual.
But toothpaste also contains active ingredients that protect and strengthen your teeth. Here, products sometimes differ significantly, as our oral cavities are very different from each other. For one, the problem is sensitive gums; for another, bad breath.
Here is a brief summary of the most important ingredients and properties that a toothpaste should (or should not) have.
What should you consider when buying a toothpaste?
The manna of dental hygiene is undoubtedly fluoride. Fluoride is responsible for strengthening the tooth structure and making it more resistant to acids and bacteria. But be careful: there are significant differences between toothpastes for adults, children, and teenagers.
Toothpaste for adults should have a fluoride content between 1,000 and 1,500 parts per million (ppm).
Young children up to the age of 6 should use a toothpaste with a fluoride content not exceeding 550 ppm. This is because too much fluoride can contribute to the formation of spots on sensitive baby teeth.
For teenagers and adolescents between six and twelve years old, there is a special junior toothpaste that contains the same amount of fluoride as adult toothpaste but has different properties otherwise.
Which toothpaste for bad breath?
Fundamentally, toothpaste should contain zinc and/or fluoride that remove plaque and prevent tartar.
But bad breath can have many other causes – one of which is certainly the lack of deep oral hygiene. By this, we mean: brushing your teeth twice a day, using dental floss, and cleaning your tongue. With this trio, you say no to bad breath.
If you still can't get rid of it, consult your dentist. After taking a look at your mouth and medical history, he or she will be able to determine what else might be the cause.
But as a guideline, we recommend: get up in the morning, brush your teeth, survive the day, brush your teeth, go to sleep – and repeat.
Which toothpaste for periodontitis?
You should use a toothpaste with a low or medium abrasion factor. The RDA value should be between 30 and 60 (for standard toothpaste, the value is around 80). Our promis paste has a value of 46, so very low and perfect for people who suffer from sensitive gums.
Nevertheless, you must ensure that the fluoride content is adequately high. Many toothpastes, especially for sensitive or diseased gums, contain lower amounts of fluoride. This way, the gums are protected, but the enamel is no longer sufficiently strengthened.
Which toothpaste during pregnancy?
Hormonal changes lead to dental problems in many women. In addition to bleeding gums, the enamel of pregnant women's teeth is more susceptible to cavities.
In addition to appropriate toothpastes, we recommend dental hygiene adapted to the situation. This means: use an extremely soft brush, maybe even a children's one – this way you protect both the gums and the weaker enamel.
Besides dental hygiene, you can also protect your teeth when eating: avoid products high in sugar and acid that have an even more aggressive effect during pregnancy.
What else should you pay attention to?
Abrasiveness
The higher the RDA value, the more abrasive the toothpaste.
As a rule, the value should not exceed 80. This refers to teeth and gums that are not particularly sensitive. If you are prone to or suffer from periodontitis, or if you use an electric brush, then you should aim lower, towards an RDA value of 50. The necks of the teeth exposed due to periodontitis have softer enamel and are more sensitive to excessive abrasiveness.
Discover our toothpaste promis paste
Whitening toothpastes
The image of white and shiny teeth is firmly rooted in our minds. Advertisements for whitening toothpastes support this fact – and make us a bit negligent.
Because it is precisely this type of toothpaste that usually comes with a high RDA value. Moreover, they do not always keep their promise and are not even an alternative to fluoride toothpastes.
One must be careful. If you have exposed tooth necks, use a particularly hard brush, or press too hard, you risk injuring your gums and teeth. We recommend discussing it first with your dental hygienist.
Ingredients – what should not be included
- Sodium lauryl sulfate – added to one in four toothpastes as a foaming agent to rinse away plaque more effectively. However, it is relatively aggressive and can irritate sensitive mucous membranes.
- PEG (polyethylene glycol) – added as emulsifiers, but can make the mucous membrane more permeable to harmful substances.
- Triclosan
- Parabens
- Microplastics (PE, PP)
Our toothpaste has the recommended low abrasiveness (46) and fluoride content, and is completely natural, organic, and also sustainable. Try it now.
If you suffer from gum problems, try our sustainable soft-bristle brush. Your gums will love it. Click here for the promis brush