Is expensive toothpaste better than cheap toothpaste?  The easy and best answer is no.  For the most part the price of the toothpaste does not affect the effectiveness of the toothpaste.  However, you may find that there are some factors worth considering when purchasing toothpaste which eventually does affect price.

The number one item you should consider when purchasing toothpaste is whether it has fluoride or not.  Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel so it should be your first consideration.  Some toothpastes claim to have more fluoride than others but the difference is negligible.  Most dentists agree that if it's got fluoride and it's approved by the American Dental Association, you can't go wrong with it.  How regularly and how attentively you brush matters far more than what you brush with.

Tartar control toothpastes have an ingredient called tetrasodium pyrophosphate. This ingredient sponges up minerals in your saliva that would otherwise collect on your teeth and form tartar which is hardened plaque.  Tartar control toothpastes can't remove tartar, but they can limit the amount of tarter that is developed.

Some toothpastes advertise that they are for sensitive teeth.  Toothpastes for sensitive teeth use potassium nitrate to block nerves connected to your teeth. This works for people with receded gums.  However, if your sensitivity stems instead from cavities, habitual tooth grinding, or a root canal problem, then this feature will not help your pain.  You will need to find a solution larger than the type of toothpaste you use.

Other types of toothpaste advertise baking soda as an ingredient.  Baking soda does not help the cleanliness of your teeth.  However, you may like the feel or taste of the ingredient, but you will not have healthier teeth because of baking soda. 

Teeth whitening has become a very large fad recently.  Many types of toothpaste advertise the ability to whiten your teeth.  However, these toothpastes don't whiten your teeth any more than any other toothpaste.  Dentists can apply peroxide solutions to bleach your teeth, but the peroxide would have to stay on your teeth for several continuous hours before it made any difference.  Brushing with whitening toothpastes does nothing more than clean your teeth like any other toothpaste.

Of course, as noted above, any fluoride toothpaste will do an adequate job. For this reason, you may wish to buy a Walmart generic brand tartar control toothpaste, which is fluoridated, has tartar control, and is every bit as effective as every other toothpaste.  The price of the toothpaste does not for the most part have anything to do with the ability of the toothpaste to clean teeth.

You may want to consider other factors when purchasing toothpaste.  Most toothpaste is either a gel or a paste.  Gels use silica as an abrasive to help polish teeth. Pastes use calcium carbonate to accomplish the same task.  You may pick either according to your personal preference, but they both accomplish the task of cleaning your teeth. 

You may also want to consider the packaging of the toothpaste.  You may be willing to pay a little more to have the ease of a pump and not have to deal with a tube.  Tubes can be messy and they often require two hands where a pump can be managed with one.  This can affect the price, but it doesn't clean your teeth any better.

In summary, most toothpastes will accomplish the task required of cleaning your teeth.  The price is not a factor, but you need to make sure that your toothpaste has fluoride and approved by the American Dental Association.  Tarter control does help, but normally doesn't affect the price.