Which ingredients should toothpastes and other dental products contain, and which should be avoided?

Are toothpaste tubes labeled as recyclable actually getting recycled? See what a recent investigation found in our article about toothpastes, which includes our Top Picks for various types of toothpaste.

Can Theodent toothpaste, which contains theobromine instead of fluoride, help remineralize teeth and prevent cavities? Find out what research suggests in our article about toothpastes and other dental products, which includes our Top Pick for cavity prevention.

Can soft toothbrushes be more abrasive than medium or firm toothbrushes? Find out. Also learn if using an ultra-soft toothbrush is a good idea.

Does brushing with a charcoal-containing toothpaste remove coffee stains better than a regular whitening toothpaste? Find out what a recent study showed in the Abrasive agents section of our CL Answer about toothpastes.

Also see our Top Pick toothpaste for whitening surface stains.

For fluoride to work best, it is recommended that you spit out toothpaste rather than rinse, after brushing. A reader asked if the remaining fluoride poses a risk. Find out in our article about toothpastes and dental products.

We answered the following questions this week, all of which relate to our article about toothpastes and other dental products:

• Can hydroxyapatite toothpaste prevent cavities as effectively as fluoride toothpaste?
• Does chlorhexidine mouthwash affect blood pressure?
• Why do some toothpastes contain glycine, and is this ingredient beneficial?
• Are probiotics beneficial for oral health?

Also, find out the abrasiveness of two Fluoridex brand toothpastes.

Find out which foods and drinks are associated with tooth erosion in our article about toothpastes and other dental products.

• Should you floss before or after brushing? See what research shows.
• Does rinsing with hydrogen peroxide change the microbiome of the mouth? Find out.
• How abrasive is Crest Pro-Health Gum and Sensitivity toothpaste? Learn what its maker told us.

If you’re using a toothpaste for sensitivity but find that your teeth are still sensitive, it’s possible your toothpaste is too abrasive for you. Find out which toothpastes have lower or higher abrasiveness in our article about toothpastes and other dental products.

Also find out which types of toothbrushes are most abrasive.

Sonic and oscillating electric toothbrushes may be more abrasive than manual toothbrushes, but there are steps you can take to reduce this. Get the details in our article about dental products.

Also, find out which additional ingredients may help strengthen enamel when included in fluoride toothpaste.

Should people who drink water that has little fluoride take a fluoride supplement? Find out in the Fluoride section of our CL Answer about toothpaste and other dental products.

A recent study showed an increase in dental fluorosis in children in areas with fluoridated water. Should you be concerned? Learn more in the Fluoride section our article about toothpaste and other dental products.

Should you avoid coffee and tea after using whitening toothpastes or whitening strips? Find out in the whiteners section of our article about toothpastes and other dental products.

Did you know that it’s best to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to brush your teeth? You should also delay using mouthwash after brushing. Learn why in our article about toothpastes.

Also, learn if you should use toothpaste made with sea salt or hydroxyapatite.

Are toothpastes that contain nano-hydroxyapatite safe to use? Find out what research suggests in the Hydroxyapatite section of our CL Answer about toothpastes and other dental products.

Find out how abrasive Sensodyne Pronamel Mineral Boost Toothpaste is and whether we think it’s a good option for people with sensitive teeth, in our updated CL Answer about toothpastes and other dental products.

Can oral hygiene practices lead to increased or decreased blood pressure? Find out what research suggests in our updated CL Answer about toothpastes and dental products.

• SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) in toothpaste can be an irritant for some people. See which toothpastes don’t contain it but are accepted by the American Dental Association.
• Is it okay for a desensitizing toothpaste to be moderately abrasive?
• Are the artificial sweeteners in toothpaste a safety concern?

See our full article about dental products, including tooth whiteners.

Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste is marketed for reducing sensitivity and whitening teeth, but it's not our Top Pick for desensitizing or for whitening. Learn why and see which toothpastes we prefer for desensitizing and for whitening in our article about dental products.

Is Colgate Ultra Brite toothpaste a good option for whitening teeth? Find out in the Whitening Agents section of our article about Toothpastes and other dental products.

Also see our Top Picks for whitening toothpastes.

Can you use whitening toothpastes and strips on crowns, veneers, or other dental restorations? Find out in our article about dental products.

Also see our Top Picks among whitening toothpastes and whitening strips.

What type of mouthwash is effective for reducing bad breath? See our Top Pick and results of a recent study in the Bad Breath section of our CL Answer about products for dental health.

A CL Member asked why the label on a popular toothpaste warns that it should not be used for tooth sensitivity for longer than 4 weeks unless recommended by a dentist. Find out why this warning exists in our updated section about our Top Pick toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Some toothpastes include "hydroxyapatite", while others list "nano-hydroxyapatite." A CL member asked us if one form is better than the other. Find out in the Preventing cavities section of our article about finding the best toothpaste.

Be aware that many products that stimulate saliva production in people with dry mouth can cause gastrointestinal side effects. Learn more in the Salivary Stimulants section of our article dental products.

A CL member asked us to review the oral moisturizer Allday Dry Mouth Spray. Find out how it compares to other products, and see our Top Pick among them, in the Oral Moisturizers section of our article about the best toothpastes and other dental products.

Find out which toothpastes, oral rinses and lifestyle modifications may help reduce symptoms of dry mouth.

Can rinsing with salt water reduce plaque build-up or help with bleeding gums?

What are the pros and cons of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in toothpaste?

Find out which ingredients can help prevent gum disease and our Top Picks toothpaste and mouthwash for bleeding gums in our updated answer to the question about finding the best toothpaste.

We've added updated information about the abrasiveness of four more Sensodyne toothpastes, as provided by a company representative. Get the details in our article Which ingredients should toothpaste contain, and which should be avoided?

A recent study compared the whitening effect of a popular Crest peroxide whitening strip to that of two non-peroxide strips promoted as gentler on teeth. Find out which type worked best.

Does glycerin in toothpaste have any negative effects such as sealing in microbes or preventing remineralization?

Does edathamil in toothpaste help control plaque?

Find out which whitening strips are our Top Pick for reducing deep stains on teeth in our updated CL Answer about finding the best toothpaste.

Also see our Top Picks among toothpastes for:

• Whitening surface stains
• Reducing tooth sensitivity
• Preventing cavities

We answered the following questions this week as part of our broader article about "Which ingredients should toothpaste contain, and which should be avoided?"

• Can you safely use hydrogen peroxide rinses to whiten teeth?
• Is titanium dioxide safe in toothpastes?
• Is arginine helpful in toothpaste for sensitive teeth?

See our new Top Pick toothpaste for whitening surface stains, and see what we suggest for deeper stains. Also find out why we changed our mind about our previous Top Pick.

Is diatomaceous earth a safe abrasive ingredient in toothpaste? Find out what research suggests in our updated CL Answer about finding the best toothpaste.

Does mouthwash damage crowns and veneers? Ingredients in some mouthwashes can be problematic. We’ve added information about this to our article about finding the best toothpaste.

Can toothpaste with Biomin F, a "bioactive glass," reduce tooth sensitivity? Find out in our updated CL Answer about Finding the Best Toothpaste.

What type of toothpaste is best for crowns, veneers, and implants?

Can any toothpaste restore enamel?

We changed our Top Pick for anticavity toothpaste. Find out why in our article: Which ingredients should toothpaste contain, and which should be avoided?

Find out which toothpastes we think are best, based on their ingredients, for preventing cavities, reducing tooth sensitivity, or whitening, in our updated answer about toothpaste ingredients.

Is brushing with tooth powder as good as brushing with toothpaste? Find out what research has shown in our answer to the question: Which ingredients should toothpaste contain, and which should be avoided?

Which ingredients in toothpaste may cause mucus to build up in your mouth after brushing? Find out in our updated answer to the question: Which ingredients should toothpaste contain, and which should be avoided?