It’s been emphasized over and over how vital good dental care is to everyone’s general health, and how everyone should be brushing their teeth at least twice a day using proper toothpaste as well as a high quality brush. Enough said. However, actually going about choosing the right toothpaste can be tricky. After all, there’s loads of them! That’s why we’ve put together this list of the things you should considered when purchasing toothpaste for your family.

Account for sensitive teeth.

Though sensitive teeth are typically an issue for older people, that doesn’t mean that kids can’t be hindered by it at some point, too. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of different toothpastes out there that are designed specifically to offer comfort to those combating this issue. The last thing you need when teaching your kids about regular brushing is for them to have a reason to not bother, and sensitive teeth would be as good a reason as any! So buy specialist toothpaste, and cut the problem off at its source.

Prevent, but don’t expect removal.

A great deal of toothpastes have a unique selling point: some will boast that they can stop tartar build up, others that they will whiten teeth following ongoing use. However, this is often misinterpreted as being able to remove the problems, which is something quite different. The toothpaste might prevent plaque build up, but only a proper visit to the dentist will get rid of plaque that’s already there. And if toothpaste really brightened teeth, celebrities wouldn’t be spending £300 odd each time on clinic treatments that did the same thing! By all means ensure your family maintains their dental health, but don’t expect toothpaste to act as a magic wand.

Collage via Polyvore

Look out for baking soda.

Baking soda is widely considered to be an essential ingredient in any modern toothpaste, so you should ensure that it is an active part of whichever brand you choose to use. Because of its qualities, more frugal people still actually just clean their teeth using solely baking soda, rather than bothering with toothpaste at all. Though this isn’t necessarily a sensible approach – you want protection as well as pure cleaning – it’s certainly a good indication as to just how important an ingredient it is.

Look for accreditation.

In absolutely any industry, there will be a body which certifies products to ensure they meet the highest quality standards. That’s no different in terms of toothpaste. The British and American Dental Associations both offer their own certifications of individual brands, so looking out for this is a sure-fire way of ensuring you get something of the necessary quality for both you and your family to use. Needless to say, a lack of certification should ensure it goes nowhere near your mouth! Go down to Kool Smiles and ask if you’re uncertain about a particular brand.

Work towards your individual needs.

The chances are that dental health will vary slightly across the family: that’s just the luck of the draw, really. However, this does mean that if you’re shopping for a larger family you should consider the merits of different toothpastes for different people. You don’t want to be buying special whitening for your six year old, or give your sensitive-teeth-afflicted husband a standard cheap brand. Fortunately, most supermarkets will have different offers on enabling you to get a few different versions without paying massively over the odds for them, so shop around, and tailor the toothpaste to each family member’s needs.