How to choose toothpaste from caries: we select the best option

It is quite difficult for an ordinary unprepared person to choose the right toothpaste from caries among their huge assortment in pharmacies. The variety of types and brands of toothpastes can confuse the buyer. At the same time, even buying a product from a high price category does not guarantee that it will be effective in a particular case.

Moreover, some people do not bother to choose at all, and take almost the first available option that is affordable, or what is currently most advertised on TV. It’s important to understand that sometimes such negligence can lead to deterioration of the teeth (for example, when making an unjustified choice of a product with high abrasive properties or when choosing a paste with a high fluorine content when this is contraindicated).

Generally speaking, tooth decay for tooth decay should be selected by agreement with the dentist. However, there are general rules for choosing the best option, guided by which you can independently choose a toothpaste that is optimal for you.

It is important to understand that the best toothpaste from tooth decay will be different for each person. The effectiveness of the paste largely depends on the individual characteristics of the person and the specifics of the cariogenic situation in his oral cavity.

Important!

Not every dentist will find out the causes of caries in a patient. Many doctors only treat teeth for caries, not trying to help carry out the correct prophylaxis, and the questions are answered standardly - poor hygiene, heredity ... Therefore, patients themselves need to undergo a short educational program on the properties and types of toothpastes in order to be able to independently choose the best option in the pharmacy.

 

Caries Toothpaste Requirements

All toothpastes from caries on the market are therapeutic and hygienic. Hygienic - this is mainly children's pastes, since they have nothing but cleaning components and some additional compounds that do not affect the purpose of their use.

Medical and preventive toothpastes not only facilitate the treatment of caries, but also prevent its occurrence again. This effect can be achieved in various ways:

1. Pastes with fluorides and calcium compounds are designed to strengthen tooth enamel. They are recommended for use with poor mineralization of enamel, since the teeth in such cases are especially susceptible to caries damage.
2. Toothpastes from caries, which contain antiseptics (for example, chlorhexidine), antibacterial enzymes (lactoperoxidase, lysozyme), or a special natural iron-containing protein lactoferrin - all these substances prevent the growth of cariogenic bacteria.
3. Pastes with papain and hydrogen peroxide, as well as highly abrasive pastes help to remove plaque on the teeth and inhibit the formation of tartar.
4. Desensitizing pastes (for sensitive teeth), as well as pastes with reduced abrasiveness, allow you to brush your teeth without undue stress on the enamel. Often products from this group contain potassium ions, which reduce the sensitivity of nerves in dentin, sodium fluoride and strontium chloride, which reduce the lumen of the dentinal tubules and the possibility of exposure to sensory nerves, as well as calcium and fluorine compounds for remineralization of enamel. Good pastes of this type can solve two problems: reduce the sensitivity of the teeth and conduct additional mineralization of enamel to protect against caries.
5. Pastes with herbal ingredients for the treatment of gums (Paradontax, Forest Balsam, etc.) for caries protection in cases where, due to soreness and slight damage to the gums, patients, especially children, avoid brushing their teeth in the cervical region, being afraid to once again injure the gingival margins. As a result, bacteria accumulate quickly in these areas and caries develops - cervical and proximal (contact), including multiple. Treatment of the gums and the disappearance of the pain syndrome allows a full-fledged high-quality cleaning of the entire surface of the teeth.

Important!

Special highly abrasive whitening toothpastes should only be used under the supervision of a dentist. Incorrect, as well as too frequent or too long their use can lead to an effect that is directly opposite to the desired one - the destruction of enamel and the rapid progression of caries.

In many modern pastes, components and properties are combined. For example, there are pastes that both strengthen enamel and destroy bacteria. This makes dental care easier for patients who know which tooth decay paste they need.

From the practice of the dentist

I am currently leading a patient (14 years old) who developed caries due to gum disease and lack of hygiene. He depulped 4 front teeth due to very deep carious processes and the initial stages of pulpitis. After filling with 50-80% of the tooth surface, I performed occupational hygiene and prescribed everything for gums + pastes (Paradontax) ... I haven’t prescribed any fluoride pastes yet, but I’ll appoint them with a pale pink gum and clean teeth in a month.

 

Pastes Splat

The Splat collection has over 30 toothpastes for almost any occasion, which allows dentists to choose from the company's products the most suitable for each patient. Interestingly, most of the company's products do not contain fluoride, so it is recommended that they be used by patients living in the Moscow, Tver, Tambov regions, most of Siberia and the Urals - wherever the amount of fluorine in drinking water is so high.

Splat Liquid-Gel is a paste designed to prevent the development of tartar and the prevention of caries.

It includes papain, which prevents the formation of plaque and tartar, xylitol and the antiseptic Biosol, which reduce the activity of bacteria, as well as the enamel-strengthening component of Calcis. Splat Liquid-Gel paste is recommended for intensive plaque formation. The price of a 100-ml tube of it is about 150 rubles.

Splat Biocalcium - a paste designed to restore tooth enamel.

Low abrasion, can be used for sensitive teeth, contains hydroxyapatite - a component of enamel, and papain to prevent the growth of bacteria on the treated teeth. It is used for weak mineralization of enamel and high sensitivity of teeth in the cervical region. A tube of paste Splat Biocalcium per 100 ml costs about 100 rubles.

 

President classic

One of the most versatile Presidential toothpastes - this is President Classic. This product contains fluoride to strengthen enamel, xylitol to protect against pathogenic microflora, and extracts of chamomile and sage for the prevention of inflammatory diseases of the gums.

President Classic paste has medium abrasion and is suitable for daily use in patients with normal tooth sensitivity. Good for caries prevention, and with the complex treatment of caries at the spot stage.

 

Lacalut aktiv

Lacalut Aktiv paste is intended primarily for the treatment of periodontal disease, but thanks to special components it also has an anti-carious effect. Its target audience is people with advanced caries complicated by gum disease or patients after treatment for subgingival caries.

Lacalut Aktiv contains aluminum fluoride to strengthen enamel, chlorhexidine as an antimicrobial component, as well as allantoin and bisabolol, which help relieve inflammation.

The paste is not recommended to be used constantly because of the possibility of suppressing beneficial microflora in the oral cavity. It is usually prescribed as part of a course for the treatment of periodontal disease for 1-2 weeks, and then replaced with agents that can be used continuously.

Lacalut Aktiv costs about 150 rubles per 100 ml tube.

 

Elmex Caries Protection (by Colgate)

Elmex Caries Protection is versatile and well suited for daily use. Its composition is based on aminofluoride, which provides enamel strengthening and protection against caries.

At the same time, the paste is low abrasive and does not contain antiseptics, which allows it to be used for an indefinitely long time. It is suitable for those cases when a person does not have a pronounced predisposition to caries, and can be used as the main means of preventing this disease.

Rinses well with the specified paste rinse Elmex Caries protection.

It contains the same aminofluoride, due to which the effect of using toothpaste is enhanced (it is recommended to rinse your mouth with a tablespoon of mouthwash once a day immediately after brushing your teeth).

The price of the paste is from 300 rubles per 100 ml tube.

From the practice of the dentist

Fluoride-containing toothpastes cannot be used for fluorosis, a disease associated with a supersaturation of fluoride in tooth tissues. When choosing toothpastes containing mineral components (fluorine, calcium, phosphorus, etc.), you need to understand that no one canceled the correct brushing technique. It is important to use manual skills to the maximum: clean all accessible surfaces of teeth for at least 4-5 minutes with a toothbrush and paste (2-3 times a day, or better after each meal), use additional dental floss (soaked in fluorides) and rinsing agents with fluorides.

It is advisable to coordinate a set of hygiene products with a dentist - therapist or hygienist. You need to understand that even a very expensive toothpaste with a carefully calibrated combination of anticariogenic compounds will not be effective without knowledge of home brushing techniques. Training and hygiene control can be done at the dentist.

 

R.O.C.S. Caribbean Summer - Expensive and Effective

R.O.C.S. The Caribbean summer is an adult-only toothpaste that has a comprehensive effect on enamel and serves to effectively prevent tooth decay. It includes:

1. Bromelain, effectively removing plaque in the early stages of its appearance;
2. Calcium glycerophosphate, which strengthens the enamel and reduces its susceptibility to the aggressive effects of acids produced by bacteria in the mouth;
3. Xylitol, inhibiting the reproduction of bacteria themselves.

At the same time, the paste does not contain fluorine and has low abrasive properties, which allows it to be used practically without geographical restrictions (that is, even in areas where there is so much fluorine in drinking water), as well as for patients with weak enamel.

The price of paste is perhaps its only serious drawback - a 74-ml tube costs about 350 rubles.

 

Glister paste: advantages and disadvantages

Perhaps, not a single toothpaste is so much argued by its supporters and opponents, as about Glister. Perhaps because it is manufactured by Amway, and distributors extol it by analogy with other products that they sell. But if you look at the properties of this paste as objectively as possible, then nothing extraordinary is found in it, although the paste has useful properties.

Glister contains fluorides and calcium compounds that help strengthen enamel. At the same time, the components of the paste have reduced abrasiveness, which contributes to its use primarily with poor mineralization of enamel.

However, reviews of some consumers indicate an increase in tooth sensitivity when using Glister, so it should be used for short courses and taking into account your own feelings.

Glister paste costs about 350 rubles per 150 ml tube.

 

When choosing a toothpaste, you also need to remember that you cannot blame it solely on success in the prevention of tooth decay. Even the best toothpaste from caries for a particular patient will be ineffective if you do not use it regularly and correctly. Only subject to the observance of systemic measures of protection against caries - a proper diet, diet, regular examinations by the dentist - the use of toothpaste will give the maximum result. Therefore, approach caries protection comprehensively and responsibly.

 

Useful video: why fluoride toothpastes can be harmful to health

 

How to brush your teeth: important nuances and practical tips