The adage is true. The first thing people notice about you is your smile, so you want to make it a great one. Along with your toothbrush, toothpaste is essential for keeping your pearly whites polished, your gums healthy, and your breath smelling fresh. But what makes a toothpaste brand effective? 

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you want to find a product with a fluoride concentration of at least 1,000 parts per million. Toothpaste can also contain ingredients that reduce plaque and tartar buildup, prevent tooth enamel erosion and gingivitis, lessen tooth sensitivity, and take care of cosmetic concerns like whitening teeth and freshening breath. If a toothpaste meets the ADA’s strict guidelines, it’ll receive the ADA Seal of Acceptance, letting you know it’s a safe and effective oral health care product for you and your family.

Your teeth are an investment. Let’s ensure you’re getting a proper return by finding the best toothpaste that’ll support your healthy teeth and gums, so you’ll feel confident flashing your pearly whites. Ready? Set? Smile!

1. Davids Spearmint Premium Natural Toothpaste 5.25oz

Davids Spearmint is a premium toothpaste made with naturally sourced and naturally derived ingredients, designed to whiten teeth, remove plaque, and freshen breath. Feel good about your teeth with this 100% vegan, cruelty-free toothpaste with no fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners and colors. Elevate your oral care with Davids!

$10.99

2. Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste 4oz

Do you want a brighter, whiter smile but think your teeth are too sensitive for the full whitening experience? Think again. This daily-use toothpaste gently whitens sensitive teeth while protecting your pearly whites from acid erosion, pain triggers, and cavities. All with a minty fresh taste you can feel.

$8.99

3. Hello Activated Charcoal Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste 4oz

Do you want a glossy, pearly white smile without harsh ingredients? This cavity-fighting toothpaste contains no irritating ingredients. Hello brand toothpaste uses activated charcoal (yes, the black stuff) to brighten your teeth alongside coconut oil and fresh mint, peppermint, and spearmint. It might be a little messy, but the deep clean is worth it.

$6.49

4. Colgate Optic White Advanced Teeth Whitening Sparkling White Toothpaste 3.2oz

Get a brighter, bolder smile with teeth whitening toothpaste containing 2% hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide is the professionally recommended whitening ingredient proven to deeply clean and whiten your teeth beyond surface stains. It’s perfect for daily use, enamel-safe, and its vegan formula contains fluoride for advanced cavity protection.

$8.29

5. Dr. Bronner's All-One Peppermint Toothpaste 5oz

Enjoy the bold flavor of Dr. Bronner's All-One Peppermint Toothpaste made with organic peppermint oil and menthol crystals to freshen breath while gently whitening teeth and removing plaque. Its low foaming formula contains organic aloe to soothe sensitive gums. This toothpaste is fluoride-free and cruelty-free with no artificial ingredients.

$5.99

6. Quip Mint Toothpaste 4.7oz

Get fresh breath while whitening teeth with a clean, eco-friendly toothpaste from Quip. Quip's mint flavor toothpaste has all the clean ingredients teeth need and none they don't. It’s a vegan and SLS-free formula approved by the ADA that contains cavity-fighting fluoride — now in a 100% recyclable plastic tube.

$5.99

7. Tom's of Maine Simply White Toothpaste 4.7oz

Give ‘em a razzle-dazzling smile, naturally. Tom’s fluoride-free toothpaste helps reduce plaque and prevents tartar buildup with regular brushing. It also uses authentic, naturally derived ingredients that contain no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or animal products. Its clean, naturally flavored paste will make you look forward to brushing. Go on, flash us a smile.

$6.29

8. Hello Kids Unicorn Sparkle Fluoride Toothpaste 4.2oz

Say “Hello” to Unicorn Sparkle fluoride toothpaste that tastes like rainbows and sunshine. It works brilliantly to prevent tooth decay, strengthen enamel, and brush away plaque. Its kid-friendly formulation uses natural flavors and sparkles, free from gluten, mint, SLS/sulfate, artificial ingredients, microbeads, parabens, and triclosan. Hello is also vegan and cruelty-free. Now that’s something to smile about! 

$5.99

9. Crest + Scope Complete Whitening Minty Fresh Toothpaste 5.4oz

Get the freshness of Scope mouthwash in toothpaste. Crest + Scope Complete Whitening Toothpaste has all the benefits of Crest’s anti-cavity toothpaste with the addition of Scope freshness. Kill millions of bad-breath germs and leave your breath feeling kissably fresh. This teeth-whitening toothpaste will gently remove surface stains to help whiten your teeth.

$3.99

FAQ

Which toothpaste brand is the best?

There are a lot of oral hygiene products on the market. How do you know which is the best toothpaste for you?

The best person to ask is a dentistry professional, either a hygienist or a dentist. They’ll be able to evaluate the state of your teeth and gums and make an informed recommendation. But until your next appointment, here are some suggestions to address the most common dental issues.

Best toothpaste for sensitive teeth: If you have sensitive gums, you need a toothpaste formulated with potassium nitrate to soothe irritated nerve endings and stannous fluoride to protect exposed dentin and prevent nerves contained within from triggering a pain response. Sensodyne has an entire line of toothpaste to combat tooth sensitivity. Why not try Sensodyne Pronamel Mineral Boost Whitening Action Toothpaste. Its gentle triple-action formula whitens teeth while helping to strengthen enamel and ease the pain of sensitive teeth.

Best toothpaste for bad breath: One of the wellness benefits of teeth brushing is fresher breath. But sometimes, you need a toothpaste designed to tackle halitosis head-on. Crest + Scope Complete Whitening Minty Fresh Toothpaste combines the power of toothpaste with mouthwash to kill odor-causing bacteria. 

Best toothpaste for braces: Braces are an expensive investment, so you’ll want to protect your teeth from tooth decay throughout the process. There’s no specific toothpaste for braces, but the best defense is cavity protection toothpaste with sodium fluoride that also offers tartar control like Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste. You also should avoid whitening products that only lighten the areas around your hardware. 

Best toothpaste for gums: If you experience tender, receding, or bleeding gums, you could be experiencing gum disease. Not only do you need to improve your oral health by adding flossing to your daily routine, but you also need a gentle toothpaste to help battle plaque and tartar above and below the gum line. Try Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste. It will help reduce the sensitivity of newly exposed areas of your teeth while battling tartar buildup and protect from cavities.

Best toothpaste for whiter teeth: Lots of toothpaste brands offer whiter teeth thanks to the addition of hydrogen peroxide. Colgate Optic White Advanced Teeth Whitening Sparkling White Toothpaste is one such toothpaste that’s safe to use daily. If you’re sensitive to peroxide, you can give Hello Activated Charcoal Whitening Fluoride Toothpaste a try. 

What’s the number 1 toothpaste?

The number 1 best-selling toothpaste brand in the world is Colgate. The Colgate line includes a range of toothpaste that addresses many dental concerns like tooth sensitivity, tartar control, cavity protection, and cosmetic whitening.

What's the healthiest toothpaste brand?

The healthiest kinds of toothpaste have received the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This symbol means that the product you’re buying meets strict ADA guidelines and contains the active ingredients proven to safeguard your oral health. If you’re looking for toothpaste made with natural ingredients, Tom's of Maine Simply White Toothpaste or Hello Kids Unicorn Sparkle Fluoride Toothpaste for your little ones are great options. Both products protect your teeth from cavities and tartar and are SLS/sulfate-free, without artificial flavors, colors, dyes, or sweeteners. They both taste great and are vegan and cruelty-free, so they’re as kind to animals as to your teeth.