If you've ever shopped for toothpaste you know that there are many brands available.  Not only that, but every brand boasts different flavors like mint, cinnamon, spearmint, fruity flavors, etc.  In addition, they often have gels and pastes and claim to target cavity protection, whitening and tartar control to name a few.   The options are endless!  The option you choose depends largely on your preferences for taste and texture.  There is always a debate going on about which is better, but the truth is that they are all effective at cleaning teeth.
However, you hear all the time from dentists that you should brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day.   We all know that it is important to brush our teeth to keep them clean and healthy, but why with fluoride?  What is the big deal?
The American Dental Association (ADA) is responsible for approving toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, etc. for consumer use.  When a product has been approved, they receive an American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.  If a toothpaste bears the "ADA" seal, you can expect fluoride to be one of the major ingredients because it is an essential combatant against cavities and tooth decay.  They claim that it is more important that a toothpaste contain fluoride than to concern yourself over the consistency and taste of any particular toothpaste.
Weak spots on the teeth are where cavities form and fluoride strengthens these weak areas by encouraging "remineralization".   Fluoride is documented to be safe and very effective.  In fact, only small amounts of fluoride have been shown to achieve maximum benefits.  When used in small amounts on a regular basis it helps to prevent tooth decay. 
Fluoride is found naturally in water which has been shown to be the best source of fluoride.  Drinking fluoride water has shown to decrease the decay rate of teeth by over 50 percent.  Fluoride is also found in many different foods as well as in dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements.  Fluoride can be very effective when combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
Amounts of fluoride vary in water sources, so some people receive more or less than others.   Depending on this, a person's age and their risk of developing tooth decay, a dentist may recommend a patient take a fluoride supplement.  However, something to be aware of is that it is possible to overdose on fluoride.  Young children should not swallow toothpaste, especially if it contains fluoride because doing so can lead to them consuming up to four times the recommended amount of fluoride.  This can lead to the development of spots on their developing permanent teeth.  Proper toothpaste amount must be supervised and other forms of fluoride supplementations must be carefully monitored in order to prevent a potential overdose.
Topical fluoride is another way to get fluoride to strengthen your teeth.  It comes in the form of a gel or a foam and is applied to your teeth in the dentist's office after a cleaning.  Fluoride varnish is one of the newer forms of topical fluoride and has been documented to be safe and effective in fighting dental decay. 
In summary, fluoride has been proven to be an effective element in the prevention of cavities by strengthening weak spots on the teeth.  The people who benefit the most from fluoride are those at highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history of decay, high sucrose carbohydrate diet, orthodontic appliances and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.  However, regular use of fluoride can be a benefit for everyone.

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. 

Your oral health depends on you developing a thorough and detailed teeth brushing routine and it is best when this starts at an early age.  One of the greatest things you can do for your children is to teach them how to take care of their teeth at a young age.  The habits they develop when they are little will carry through their entire life.  It is essential to teach your children the correct way to brush and keep their teeth clean and healthy.  Here are some ways you can teach them and help them develop healthy habits.

    Begin cleaning their mouths when they are just babies.  Don't use a toothbrush before their teeth come in, or even in the early stages of the teeth coming in.  Take a soft, wet washcloth and gently clean their gums and tongue.  This will help keep their mouths clean from the beginning as well as getting the child use to having things in their mouth.
    Make the whole teeth cleaning and brushing process fun!  Children respond best to having fun while learning.  They will be more likely to obey and want to brush if they associate it with being something fun.  If they feel that brushing is a chore, they will avoid doing it.  There are several ways you can make it fun for them.  Start by brushing each other's teeth, your child will think it is funny to brush their parent's teeth.  You can also start by letting them brush the teeth of a favorite doll or toy before brushing their own teeth.  Just make sure you brush their teeth after so that they are thoroughly cleaned. 
    Make sure you are using no more than a pea-sized amount of toothpaste for your child.  If there is more toothpaste it will create excessive foam that will make it harder for your child to brush.
    Be sure to choose the right toothbrush and toothpaste for you child's needs.  Choose a child size toothbrush that will be easy for your child to use.  Again, make this fun for them by choosing a toothbrush with their favorite cartoon character or color!  Avoid toothpastes with harsh or strong flavors.  While you may think your own toothpaste has a subtle flavor, it may be too strong for your child.  They are more sensitive to flavors that adults are. 
    Make sure you are teaching them a routine.  Be sure to make brushing a regular part of the day.  Get them in the habit of brushing after every meal and every night at bedtime. 
    Be sure to teach them to brush the correct amount of time.  You need to be brushing for at least 2 minutes each time for it to be completely effective.  It may be fun for you and your child to make up a song that you can sing so they know how long to brush for!
    Have good oral health habits yourself.  Your children will be more likely to stick to having a good routine if they see that you stick to a routine yourself.  You can brush your teeth with your child and make it a fun family activity.
    If your child is resistant to brush their teeth, it will be effective to take your spouse or older children and brush your teeth while having a lot of fun.  Laugh really loud or put on music and dance.  Your child will see that they are missing out on having fun and will want to participate!

It is crucial to develop healthy oral habits at a young age.  Teach your children early on to follow a strict, but fun, brushing routine and it will continue to benefit them throughout their entire life.

Brushing and taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy.  It is important to know the best and most effective ways to brush so that you are taking the greatest possible care of your teeth.  Here are some tips on how to brush your teeth so you are keeping your mouth as healthy as possible.

o    Be sure to brush after every meal.  That may not always be possible, but make sure if the option is there that you take it.  It is essential to brush your teeth every night before going to bed.  You don't want food and bacteria to sit on your teeth all night.
o    Be particular in choosing a toothbrush.  It is best to choose one with soft bristles so it won't damage your gums.  You'll also want to choose one with a relatively small head so you can get to all the hard to reach teeth and places in your mouth.
o    Make sure you are replacing your toothbrush every three to four months.  Once it gets past this point, the toothbrush will be too worn and dirty to do much good.  Many toothbrushes come with a center that contains a dye that will gradually disappear to indicate when it is time to get a new toothbrush.
o    You may consider investing in an electric toothbrush.  The kind that has proven most effective is one that will rotate and has a back-and-forth motion. 
o    Press firmly at a 45 degree angle against the gums while brushing.  Brush back and forth in small circular motions. 
o    It is important that you aren't scrubbing your teeth too hard and vigorously.  If you push too hard, you may pull your gums away from your teeth or even scratch the enamel on your teeth.
o    Concentrate on brushing each and every area of your teeth.  Begin with cleaning the outer surfaces on both the top and bottom teeth, then move to the inner surfaces and finally, the chewing surfaces. 
o    Make sure you brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth strongly and thoroughly since this part of your teeth gets the most exposure to food. 
o    Pay extra special attention to your gum line where tarter is the most likely to build up and to areas around any fillings, crowns or other restorations.  Also make sure you are getting your hard to reach back teeth. 
o    Be sure to spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth.  Very few people take this long while brushing, or even realize it takes this long to be completely effective.  If necessary, keep a stopwatch by the sink or even sing a song to ensure you are taking the proper amount of time.
o    Make sure you thoroughly brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.  Brush it vigorously from the back to the front.  This will remove plaque and bacteria while eliminating bad breath.

While this can make it seem like brushing your teeth takes a lot of time and concentration, your oral health depends on you taking the necessary time to keep your teeth clean and healthy.  In the long run it will be worth it to take time out of your day to maintain a regular, meticulous teeth cleaning routine.  It will save you the money and pain that cavities and other serious oral problems can cause. 

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. 

Brushing and taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do to keep yourself healthy.  It is important to know the best and most effective ways to brush so that you are taking the greatest possible care of your teeth.  Here are some tips on how to brush your teeth so you are keeping your mouth as healthy as possible.

o    Be sure to brush after every meal.  That may not always be possible, but make sure if the option is there that you take it.  It is essential to brush your teeth every night before going to bed.  You don't want food and bacteria to sit on your teeth all night.
o    Be particular in choosing a toothbrush.  It is best to choose one with soft bristles so it won't damage your gums.  You'll also want to choose one with a relatively small head so you can get to all the hard to reach teeth and places in your mouth.
o    Make sure you are replacing your toothbrush every three to four months.  Once it gets past this point, the toothbrush will be too worn and dirty to do much good.  Many toothbrushes come with a center that contains a dye that will gradually disappear to indicate when it is time to get a new toothbrush.
o    You may consider investing in an electric toothbrush.  The kind that has proven most effective is one that will rotate and has a back-and-forth motion. 
o    Press firmly at a 45 degree angle against the gums while brushing.  Brush back and forth in small circular motions. 
o    It is important that you aren't scrubbing your teeth too hard and vigorously.  If you push too hard, you may pull your gums away from your teeth or even scratch the enamel on your teeth.
o    Concentrate on brushing each and every area of your teeth.  Begin with cleaning the outer surfaces on both the top and bottom teeth, then move to the inner surfaces and finally, the chewing surfaces. 
o    Make sure you brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth strongly and thoroughly since this part of your teeth gets the most exposure to food. 
o    Pay extra special attention to your gum line where tarter is the most likely to build up and to areas around any fillings, crowns or other restorations.  Also make sure you are getting your hard to reach back teeth. 
o    Be sure to spend at least two minutes brushing your teeth.  Very few people take this long while brushing, or even realize it takes this long to be completely effective.  If necessary, keep a stopwatch by the sink or even sing a song to ensure you are taking the proper amount of time.
o    Make sure you thoroughly brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.  Brush it vigorously from the back to the front.  This will remove plaque and bacteria while eliminating bad breath.

While this can make it seem like brushing your teeth takes a lot of time and concentration, your oral health depends on you taking the necessary time to keep your teeth clean and healthy.  In the long run it will be worth it to take time out of your day to maintain a regular, meticulous teeth cleaning routine.  It will save you the money and pain that cavities and other serious oral problems can cause. 

A good toothbrush plays a very important role in good dental hygiene.  Although having a good brushing technique, using a good toothpaste, brushing frequently and spending time cleaning your teeth every day, the type of toothbrush you use will also directly affect how well you remove plaque buildup on your teeth. 

You can find toothbrushes of all shapes, sizes, colors and brands.  Variations include tapered heads, boxy heads, angled heads, neon handles, handles with bending rubber, handles with your kid's favorite cartoon character, electric or battery operated, rubber bristles, indicator bristles, etc.  The options vary in price as much as they do in color.

Choosing the best toothbrush for you can be a challenge considering the wide range of options.  It is essential that the toothbrush be able to move freely in your mouth to clean every tooth surface and that the bristles be soft enough to not injure the gums.  Not every toothbrush is suitable for every mouth.  Age, size, braces, etc. are all factors that need to be considered when selecting toothbrush.  The following tips might be helpful in choosing a good brush for you.
    A good place to start looking is to consult your dentist and hygienist for a toothbrush recommendation.  After all, this is their profession and they have on-hands experience to know what works well and what doesn't.
    Bristles are the most important thing to consider when buying a toothbrush. Choose soft nylon bristles.  You will want bristles that will last long and be gentle on the gums even after vigorous brushing.  In addition, you will want to choose a bristle design that helps you to access the hard-to-reach places of your mouth.
    Select a toothbrush with a brushhead that is small enough to access the hard-to-reach areas.  The size of the toothbrush head should be appropriate to the size of the oral cavity.  In general, the size of a brush head which is the same as the diameter of a one-dollar coin will be suitable for adults.
    Pick a toothbrush with a comfortable handle. Many have non-slip grips, which make them easy to use even if wet.  The handle design is one option that should be determined by personal preference and habit. 
    There has been no evidence to prove that electronic toothbrushes work any more effectively than conventional ones. Both manual and powered toothbrushes clean the teeth effectively as long as they are used correctly.  However, people who are handicapped or who wear braces may prefer them.  If you choose to use an interdental brush or a powered toothbrush, you should consult your dentist first.
    Replace your toothbrush once every three months or whenever it becomes worn.  Regular replacement of toothbrushes contributes to maintaining a consistently high level of oral hygiene because research has shown that a new toothbrush can remove up to 30% more plaque than one that's three months old.  Many toothbrushes today have indicator bristles that fade over time and indicate when you need to change out toothbrushes.  These can be very helpful to know when to throw out the old one because it isn't always obvious.

An important thing to remember is that you should always change your toothbrush after recovering from an infection because bacteria in your mouth and saliva might have transferred to your toothbrush.  In addition, it is good practice to clean your toothbrush regularly with mouthwash to kill bacteria that naturally lives in the human mouth and thrives on toothbrushes.  A ten-minute soak in mouthwash every day can keep your toothbrush and mouth healthy and clean.

In summary, toothbrush options are as varied in color as well as they are in effectiveness.  Not every toothbrush is effective for every person.  To choose a toothbrush for you, follow these tips to assess what your toothbrush needs are.