Your dentist is there to help you maintain a high standard of oral health, from preventing cavities to encouraging healthy gums. Proper teeth brushing is a huge part of this continued care, and the experts at Coulee Family Dental in La Crosse, WI, know that the right toothpaste is a crucial part of this routine. Here they explain what to look for when buying a toothpaste for everyday use.

Look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance

You have a large variety of toothpastes to choose from online or at your local grocery store, so how do you know which one to get? Your dentist makes it simple for you: just look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The American Dental Association has issued guidelines on which ingredients effective toothpaste must contain to earn their seal of approval.

All toothpastes must contain fluoride as well as other active ingredients known to improve tooth sensitivity, whiten teeth, reduce gingivitis, or remove tartar build-up. While toothpaste often has flavoring, a toothpaste with the ADA seal of approval cannot contain sugar. Finally, the seal also means that manufacturers of approved toothpastes have provided scientific evidence demonstrating their safety and effectiveness.

Which Toothpaste Should You Buy?

You can look at this list of approved toothpastes from the American Dental Association to help you find the right one. Here are some of the brands that show up on this list and are proven to fight cavities:

• AiM®
• Colgate®
• Crest®
• Paradontax®
• Freshmint®
• Sensodyne®
• Tom’s®
• Oraline®

Many of these brands have different types of toothpaste. For example, some are meant to freshen your breath, some are designed to whiten your teeth, and others are especially made for children.