Sensitive toothpaste is one of those “suitable for all smiles” options since it caters firstly to the most sensitive among us. “No whitening toothpaste is strong enough to dramatically whiten teeth on its own,” says Dr. Timothy Chase, DDS, of Smiles NY in NYC. “But if you’re looking to achieve a brighter smile, I would recommend Sensodyne Extra Whitening toothpaste. It is one of the least abrasive options out there with fluoride, whitening and anti-sensitivity ingredients, for those with sensitive teeth. Many of the other whitening toothpastes are too abrasive and can cause loss of tooth enamel. Sensodyne helps remove stains for a whiter smile with twice daily brushing.”
The Best Toothpaste to Counter Bad Breath
- Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride, zinc
- Flavor: Mild mint
“SmartMouth’s toothpaste fights the real cause of bad breath: sulfur gas,” says Bracy. “Many oral care products just mask bad breath with a mint flavor. This toothpaste contains zinc ions that bind to sulfur, eliminating a common source of bad breath.” If bad breath haunts you, then consider investing in SmartMouth’s oral rinse as well, since it also contains zinc ions. If you brush and rinse in the morning, you’ll have fresh breath all day, and if you do the same at night, you should wake without morning breath.
The Best Whitening Toothpaste
- Key Details: Senolytic hydroxy-peptide complex
- Flavor: Strong mint
Swiss-owned vVardis has been a chic addition to the toothpaste category these past few years, and its smile-brightening formula is powered by the brand’s patented “Senolytic Hydroxy Peptide 200” complex that helps reinforce enamel production better, faster, stronger, etc. The senolytic nature of that complex also helps nix any dead cells in your mouth that otherwise refuses to disappear (in essence, it ensures that all the cells in your mouth are vital, necessary, and productive, as well as reproductive), making this the first truly “anti-aging” toothpaste we’ve seen. Leave it to the Swiss, eh.
The Best Toothpaste for Cavity Protection
- Key Ingredient: Fluoride
- Flavor: Mint
Truth be told, using toothpaste is cavity protection in and of itself. So, while many on this list have their own specific targets, it’s this excellent baseline product from Colgate that promises the absolute essential: It prevents cavities by fortifying and rebuilding enamel thanks to its fluoride formula. Plus, this 6-pack of 6-oz. tubes is a steal…
The Best Premium Toothpaste
- Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride, Hydroxyapatite, Sodium bicarbonate, Hydrated silica
- Flavor: Eucalyptus, Cardamom, Honey, Menthol
The entire line of Swedish-owned Selahatin toothpastes reads like a fragrance assortment, since each recipe builds a flavor profile around various notes. In Eukalypse, you are smart to assume that eucalyptus takes center stage; it’s supported by refreshing menthol, spicy cardamom, and sweet honey. (You can even purchase the flavor as a fragrance…) Selahatin’s formula goes above and beyond by deep cleaning with sodium lauryl sulphate, exfoliating with hydrated silica, polishing with hydroxyapatite, fortifying enamel with fluoride, and brightening with sodium bicarbonate. It’s a naturally hydrating and anti-inflammatory paste, too, and is suited for sensitive smiles.
The Best Purifying Toothpaste
- Key Ingredients: Bamboo charcoal powder, Xylitol
- Flavor: Peppermint
