There are so many different toothpastes on the market that they can take up a whole supermarket shelf and cause a great deal of confusion to the poor shopper. Should they get one that is said to brighten and whiten their teeth? What about tartar control and the myriad of other choices? Experts tell us that many of the claims for certain toothpastes are simply marketing ploys designed to grab a share of the market.

The most important factor in controlling tooth decay and maintaining good oral hygiene is the way we brush our teeth, not the product we use to do it with. However, the addition of fluoride is one factor that we can allow to influence our choice, as that is an important addition. Toothpaste that claims to remove tartar really doesn't. Tartar is really hard and formed from plaque; it needs the dentist to remove it. However, if this toothpaste removes the plaque - as most toothpaste does - then that will remove the cause of tartar to a great degree. Read the rest of this entry »