What is the difference between the 5 yuan and 25 yuan toothpaste in the supermarket? How to choose? Don't waste money anymore!

Many people may have seen promotions like this: the blogger's whole family uses a certain toothpaste, and their teeth are as white as if they had just done cold light whitening, and they all emit blue light... Clicking on the link, I saw that the price is more than 80! A box of toothpaste is so expensive, is there diamonds in it? Nowadays, there are more and more types and functions of toothpaste. Whether in supermarkets or online, toothpastes of various brands and prices are dazzling. However, is the more expensive the toothpaste, the better? How should different people choose the toothpaste that suits them? If you are planning to stock up on toothpaste on "Double Eleven", don't miss this article~

01

When choosing toothpaste, don’t believe that “the higher the price, the better”

According to the "Guide to Oral Health of Chinese Residents" issued by the former Ministry of Health in 2009, the basic functions of toothpaste are: to enhance the friction of brushing teeth, help remove food debris, soft plaque and dental plaque, help eliminate or reduce bad breath, and make the breath fresh. The basic ingredients of toothpaste generally include: abrasives, moisturizers, foaming agents, thickeners, flavors, preservatives, etc. Although the ingredients of toothpaste are complex, the most important ingredient is abrasives. Common abrasives on the market include silicon dioxide (hydrated silica), calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, etc. Among them, calcium carbonate has large crystal particles, is hard when rubbed, and is easy to scratch, so it is not recommended; calcium phosphate has less damage to the tooth surface, has appropriate cleaning force without damaging the teeth, and has little irritation to the oral mucosa. It is mainly used in medium and high-end toothpaste; silicon dioxide (hydrated silica) is relatively mild and can be used. The comprehensive quality ranking of abrasives is: calcium phosphate>silicon dioxide (hydrated silica)>calcium carbonate.

Two toothpastes of different prices in the supermarket, the left one is 9.9 yuan, the right one is 29.9 yuan, the difference in abrasives is not that big. Image source: taken by the author

For people with relatively healthy oral health, any toothpaste that meets national standards can achieve the purpose of cleaning the oral cavity. The effect is not very different, and there is no need to choose based on efficacy and price. Among functional toothpastes, there are categories such as anti-caries, anti-plaque, anti-sensitivity, relief of gum-related problems, stain removal and whitening. Regarding these functional toothpastes, we are often misled by advertising and marketing, mistakenly believing that they have some "magical" effects. Are these true?

02

Can whitening toothpaste whiten your teeth?

First of all, we need to figure out why teeth turn yellow. For healthy teeth of normal people, the dentin is yellow , and the enamel on the surface is translucent, so the teeth will appear light yellow. Of course, everyone is different, and the degree of yellowness is also different. Some people are more warm white, while others are more yellow. A large amount of pigment deposition is produced during the development of teeth. For example, long-term medication causes tetracycline to be deposited in the dentin, making the teeth turn yellow, brown or dark gray, which is called tetracycline teeth; living in high-fluoride areas, excessive fluoride in drinking water will cause fluorosis, etc. This type of endogenous discoloration that causes dentin discoloration can only be improved by medical whitening. No matter how expensive whitening toothpaste is, it has almost no effect. The pigments in the food and beverages we usually eat and drink (such as coffee, tea, curry, smoke stains, etc.) are deposited on the surface of the teeth, causing the teeth to turn yellow. This type is called exogenous coloration. Functional whitening toothpaste can reduce the deposition of these pigments and dirt to a certain extent, helping to restore the teeth to our own color. Whitening toothpaste has a stronger whitening effect than ordinary toothpaste because it contains more and stronger abrasives and chemicals. Commonly used whitening ingredients can be divided into two categories according to the different chemical reaction modes: bleaching agents and adsorption-type phosphorus-containing compounds. The most widely used bleaching agents are hydrogen peroxide and urea peroxide. However, peroxides are highly irritating and have an irritating effect on the oral mucosa, so they are not suitable for frequent use. Patients with oral ulcers should not use them. The main representatives of chemical adsorption are polyphosphates, such as sodium polyphosphate, sodium phytate, sodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tetrapotassium pyrophosphate, etc. This type of compound can make it easier to separate the teeth from the pigments on their surface, and has a certain effect on preventing the formation of tartar and the deposition of pigments. They are generally placed in better whitening toothpastes.

In general, whitening toothpaste containing effective ingredients will have a certain maintaining and alleviating effect on teeth that have long-term exogenous pigmentation deposits, but don't imagine that you can achieve white teeth with just a tube of toothpaste, which is impossible.

03

Toothpaste for sensitive and sore gums

Does it really work?

It helps, but it's not a substitute for treatment.

People with sensitive teeth may have defects or micropores on their teeth, which transmit the stimulation of hot, cold, sour and sweet to the dental nerves, causing sensitivity and pain. Strontium acetate and strontium chloride in anti-sensitive toothpaste can form a protective layer on the outside of the teeth, closing the small pores on the surface of the teeth, thereby alleviating tooth sensitivity.

If your teeth become temporarily sensitive after filling or cleaning, you can use some anti-allergic toothpaste. Usually, the symptoms of tooth allergy will be alleviated in about a week.

Tooth sensitivity and red, swollen and bleeding gums are actually manifestations of periodontal disease, which cannot be treated by toothpaste alone. Even if there is some effect, it is only a temporary solution and not a permanent cure. You should go to a dental hospital for treatment in time, and never be superstitious about toothpaste and folk remedies. Medicated toothpaste is not recommended for long-term use.

04

Will fluoride toothpaste cause dental fluorosis?

Dental fluorosis, also known as dental fluorosis, is a dental disease caused by excessive intake of fluoride during tooth development. If children drink water with too much fluoride before the age of seven or eight or take in too much fluoride through other means, it will cause incomplete development of tooth enamel. This phenomenon is prone to occur in certain areas and is an endemic disease.

But in fact, fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that can strengthen the hard tissue of teeth and remineralize early caries. People over the age of 7 who use fluoride toothpaste that meets the standards can make the outermost layer of teeth stronger, which not only prevents caries, but also does no harm to the body. Adults are recommended to use fluoride toothpaste regardless of whether they have fluorosis or not.

Children under 3 years old should use fluoride toothpaste according to their needs and under the guidance of a doctor. The amount of fluoride toothpaste used is about the size of a grain of rice. The amount of fluoride toothpaste used by preschoolers is about the size of a pea. In general, toothpaste is just a tool to assist us in brushing our teeth. Only by using a scientific method ( horizontal vibration brushing method , also known as the "Bass brushing method") every morning and evening to brush the teeth in place and use dental floss to clean the teeth can we truly maintain a good habit of oral hygiene. The specific operating instructions are:

① Hold the brush handle and place the brush head on the neck of the back teeth on one side of the mouth, with the bristles at an angle of about 45° to the long axis of the tooth, and the bristles pointing in the direction of the tooth root (upward for maxillary teeth and downward for mandibular teeth). Apply slight pressure so that part of the bristles enter the gingival sulcus and part of them are placed on the gums.

② Start brushing your teeth in groups of 2 to 3 teeth, brushing the same area at least 10 times with short horizontal vibrations, then turn the toothbrush toward the crown and continue brushing the lips (cheeks) and tongue (palate) of the teeth;

③After brushing the first part, move the toothbrush to the next group of 2-3 teeth and reposition it, making sure to keep an overlapping area with the first part, and continue brushing the next part;

④ When brushing the tongue surface of the upper front teeth, place the brush head vertically on the tooth surface, make the front bristles touch the gum margin, and brush from top to bottom. When brushing the tongue surface of the lower front teeth, brush from bottom to top;

⑤ When brushing the occlusal surface, point the bristles towards the occlusal surface and brush back and forth in a short distance with a little force.

There is no need to choose an expensive toothpaste. Ordinary toothpaste is enough for daily use. If you have pain, sensitivity, or other problems with your teeth, you should seek medical attention in time. Delaying the treatment will not be worth the loss. I wish everyone can have healthy teeth~

References:

[1] Tian Yu, Huang Qiang, Liu Yue. Physical and chemical properties and common types of toothpaste abrasives - the influence of abrasives on toothpaste paste and research progress [J]. Toothpaste Industry, 2008, 18(003):50-53. [2] Chen Minshan, Jiang Shan, Gao Yan. Development of whitening toothpaste and research on its whitening effect [J]. Oral Care Products Industry, 2014. [3] Oral Health Guide for Chinese Residents [J]. Chinese Journal of Geriatric Stomatology, 2010, 45(1):4-10. Author: Chunhua

Review｜Si YanChief Physician, Peking University School of Stomatology