Here Are The Best And Worst Toothpaste Brands, Ranked
Toothpaste is a product we use every day, yet many of us are likely to stick to the same brand. While some types of toothpaste promote dental health, other brands on the shelf are ineffective and should be avoided entirely. For those who are unsure of their toothpaste brand, here are some of the best and worst-ranked on the market.
Best: Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Deep Clean
With the term "health" in the name, it's no wonder that Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Deep Clean toothpaste is one of the best for dental health.
The American Dental Association gave this particular toothpaste its coveted Seal of Acceptance. It helps with cavities, bad breath, sensitivity, plaque, gingivitis, and more.
Worst: CVS Health Rapid Protection Sensitive Anticavity
While generic brands can sometimes work just as great as name brands, that's not the case for CVS Health Rapid Protection Sensitive Anticavity toothpaste.
This product has received mostly mixed reviews from customers for not living up to expectations. It is supposed to prevent sensitivity and cavities, but ended up not having much "rapid protection."
Best: Colgate Total Whitening
According to NY Mag, Colgate Total Whitening Toothpaste with Stannous Fluoride and Zinc received almost 50,000 favorable reviews. Not only is this toothpaste gentle on teeth, but it's tough on stains.
One reviewer wrote, "I have sensitive teeth, but I also like the whitening power. After trying a different brand that really irritated my mouth, I used this one and have had zero problems, and my teeth have been staying white."
Worst: Tom's Of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening
One of the main reasons why Tom's of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening toothpaste received such a low rating is because of the ingredients.
This particular product contains sulfate, which is actually pretty common in toothpaste. It's used to make toothpaste foam, but it can lead to dry mouth, loss of enamel, canker sores, and more.
Best: Cali White Activated Charcoal And Organic Coconut Oil
One brand that has been building a good reputation is Cali White and their Activated Charcoal and Coconut Oil whitening toothpaste is a top seller.
This particular toothpaste has over 20,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. People love it for not being too harsh on sensitive teeth and for getting rid of tough stains.
Worst: Crest Complete Plus Cinnamon Expressions
Crest is usually ranked as one of the top toothpaste brands, but there are other factors besides dental health that would put Crest Complete Plus Cinnamon Expressions low on the list.
While this particular toothpaste can prevent cavities, plaque, acid erosion, gingivitis, and more, it received a bad rating for its undesirable flavor. One reviewer compared the taste to poison.
Best: Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening
Over 80 percent of reviewers gave Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening toothpaste a five-star rating.
Some people were hesitant about the flavor because they thought the baking soda and peroxide would make it taste bad, but most found the mint flavor refreshing. The toothpaste is also one of the cheapest on the market and delivers on whitening.
Worst: Sensodyne Complete Protection
Sensodyne Complete Protection toothpaste is advertised as being helpful for those with sensitive teeth, but it's important to check the ingredients in anything people put into their bodies.
Sensodyne toothpaste contains artificial sweeteners for flavor, but these can have negative side effects. Artificial sweeteners can cause weight gain, memory loss, kidney and liver complications, and headaches.
Best: Aim Cavity Protection
Those who need reliable protection from cavities should check out Aim Cavity Protection toothpaste. It was given the Seal of Acceptance by the American Dental Association.
Not only does this particular toothpaste protect people from cavities, but it also strengthens enamel, cleans teeth, and gets rid of bad breath.
Worst: GoldenDehon Propolis & Coral Calcium
One toothpaste product to stay away from is GoldenDehon Propolis & Coral Calcium. When it was reviewed on Amazon, most people gave it under four stars.
The packaging states that it doesn't use triclosan, but that ingredient has been illegal since 2017. Also, there are no guarantees it will whiten teeth or prevent cavities.
Best: Crest Pro-Health Advanced Gum Restore
Having healthy gums is a crucial part of dental health. One product that works wonders on gums is Crest Pro-Health Advanced Gum Restore toothpaste.
Not only can this toothpaste help with bleeding gums, but it's also great for protecting people from cavities. One reviewer wrote, "My gums are actually turning pink again!"
Worst: Rembrandt Deeply White With Peroxide
Those who use Rembrandt Deeply White with Peroxide toothpaste need to take another look at the ingredients. One of the most harmful in this product is parabens.
Parabens are used in toothpaste to keep it from going bad, but they can have adverse side effects. These can lead to extreme hormonal imbalances.
Best: Aquafresh Cavity Protection
When it comes to cavities, one of the most effective products is Aquafresh Cavity Protection toothpaste. It also promotes fresh breath, healthy gums, and strong teeth.
Aquafresh Cavity Protection has sugar acid protection as well, which is perfect for preventing sugary foods from rotting teeth. People can say goodbye to bacteria with the fluoride foam rinse.
Worst: Colgate Total Advanced Fresh And Whitening
Colgate is usually ranked high amongst toothpaste brands, but their Total Advanced Fresh and Whitening toothpaste needs some improvements.
The most important thing to note with this particular one is that it can't be used for more than four weeks, unless people get special permission from their dentist. Also, some complained it had a disgusting taste.
Best: Dental Expert Activated Charcoal And Coconut Oil
One of the biggest trends in toothpaste is charcoal. There are now several charcoal toothpaste options on the market, but one of the greatest is Dental Expert Activated Charcoal & Coconut Oil whitening toothpaste.
This particular toothpaste is baking soda-free, which makes it less gritty and doesn't leave a bad aftertaste.
Worst: CVS Health Fluoride-Free Antiplaque & Whitening
Generic options can sometimes be a gamble. One toothpaste option consumers have at CVS is the CVS Health Fluoride-Free Antiplaque & Whitening toothpaste.
This product claims that it can freshen breath, help fight tartar, and doesn't contain artificial dyes or sweeteners, but people complained it was too abrasive. However, it comes at a cheaper price than most kinds of toothpaste.
Best: Jason Healthy Mouth Anti-Cavity And Tartar Control
Those who are looking for a great natural toothpaste should consider getting Jason Healthy Mouth Anti-Cavity and Tartar Control toothpaste.
It's both fluoride and gluten-free and uses tea tree oil as an anti-microbial and an anti-septic agent ingredient. Other natural ingredients include grapefruit seed, perilla seed extract, and aloe vera.
Worst: Opalescence Whitening
One of the most dangerous ingredients commonly found in toothpaste are parabens and Opalescence Whitening toothpaste is known to have them.
While parabens preserve the product and prevent it from getting bacteria, they can cause hormonal imbalances. Not only does Opalescence contain a paraben called sodium benzonate, but it also has harmful synthetic colorings and toxic potassium nitrate.
Best: Lumineux Oral Essentials Whitening
NY Mag ranked Lumineux Oral Essentials Whitening toothpaste as the best natural whitening toothpaste on the market. Many reviewers were thrilled with how white their teeth were getting.
One reviewer wrote, "My teeth are still white. I've already purchased a second tube, so I won't run out. I'm looking forward to seeing what my dentist has to say because my mouth feels better than ever."
Worst: Marvis Royal Toothpaste
While most people turn to a specific toothpaste for dental health benefits, there are some that don't really have any.
Marvis Royal toothpaste says it will prevent tooth decay, but doesn't protect against cavities, gum disease, or anything else. However, it does come in a stylish tube with flavors such as orange, peppermint, and cardamom.
Best: Davids Premium Natural
Something that sets Davids Premium Natural toothpaste apart from other brands is that it's a family-run business. Davids is also extremely environmentally conscious and focuses on only using clean, natural ingredients.
Some consumers may hold off on Davids because of its higher price tag, but the fact they've been certified by the Environmental Working Group proves they are an ethical company.
Worst: Colgate Sensitive Complete Protection
Something to be wary of in Colgate Sensitive Complete Protection toothpaste are the number of sulfates found inside.
Colgate uses sulfates in this particular toothpaste to help it foam in the mouth, but it can have many negative side effects including intense stomach aches, diarrhea, and cramps if it's swallowed.
Best: Twice Classic Duo
Twice Classic Duo toothpaste does something most other brands haven't thought about doing before. They have two separate kinds of toothpaste with one for the morning and one for at night.
The morning toothpaste is wintergreen and peppermint-flavored to wake people up and the night toothpaste is vanilla, lavender, and mint-flavored to help people settle down. There are also many vitamins, aloe vera, and other dental health benefits.
Worst: Crest 3D White
Those who are trying to get whiter teeth may want a toothpaste such as Crest 3D White, but consumers need to take a better look at its ingredients.
Crest 3D White uses fluoride, which prevents tooth decay. However, there are several bad things fluoride can cause such as dementia, brain damage, hormone imbalance, muscle disorders, and more.
Best: Biotene Specially Formulated Fluoride
There are so many different dental issues Biotene Specially Formulated Fluoride toothpaste can solve. It's great for dry mouth, bad breath, stickiness in the mouth, chapped lips, and more.
There are no harmful ingredients, it won't irritate the mouth, and it can effectively prevent cavities. It's recommended to pair it with Biotene mouthwash.
Worst: Colgate Sparkling White
Colgate Sparkling White toothpaste may be good for whitening, but there are some other ingredients that can be quite harmful.
This specific toothpaste contains artificial sweeteners for a better flavor, but they can get into the bloodstream while people brush their teeth. This causes weight gain, increased bloating, and diarrhea.
Best: Apa Beauty White
While Apa Beauty White toothpaste is a bit pricier than most, it may be worth it. This toothpaste has calcium carbonate, which helps polish teeth.
There's also hydroxyapatite, which is great for strengthening enamel. It costs $25 for a 4.2-ounce tube, but the toothpaste will whiten and toughen teeth, fight bacteria, and freshen breath.
Worst: Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening
While there are some terrific whitening toothpastes out there, there are others that need to be modified. Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening toothpaste is known to use sulfates.
Sulfates are used to make the toothpaste foam, but cause aggressive side effects such as canker sores, dry mouth, and stomach aches.
Best: Boka Coco Ginger
Those looking for a reliable fluoride-free toothpaste should consider buying Boka Coco Ginger toothpaste. The flavor combines coconut, ginger, and chamomile.
Boka uses hydroxyapatite, which remineralizes and desensitizes teeth. There are no sodium lauryl sulfates, parabens, artificial sweeteners, or endocrine disruptors. This is a direct-to-consumer product, so it's not available in major stores such as CVS or Walgreens.
Worst: Sensodyne Whitening Repair & Protect
Fluoride is in several toothpastes because it helps prevent tooth decay. Those who use Sensodyne Whitening Repair & Protect toothpaste should know it contains fluoride.
However, there are numerous negative side effects of fluoride including arthritis and muscle disorders. Those concerned about negative side effects should do additional research and monitor fluoride intake.
