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Protection against sensitivity, cavities, and stains without irritating your teeth and gums aluminum fluoride
Brian T. Luong, DMD, is an orthodontist at Anaheim Hills Orthodontics and Santa Ana Orthodontics and Chief Dental Officer at Become Aligners.
Rich Scherr is an updates strategist and fact checker for Dotdash Meredith brands, including Health and Verywell. He is a seasoned financial and technology journalist who served as editor-in-chief of the Potomac Tech Wire for nearly two decades, and is a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun. He has also been a news editor for America Online and has contributed to the Associated Press and The Washington Post.
Many people suffer from sensitive teeth: A 2019 systematic review of research put the figure at 11.5% of people in the U.S. The severity of sensitive teeth can vary from person to person. Some people experience mild pain when eating ice cream, for example, while others experience severe discomfort, according to the Oral Health Foundation. Interestingly enough, women are more likely than men to suffer from sensitive teeth, as are people aged 20 to 40, per the Oral Health Foundation. Why? According to the American Dental Association, female hormones cause greater blood flow to the gums, which causes them to be more sensitive.
The causes of sensitive teeth also vary, Eunjung Jo, DDS, a dentist at Astor Smile Dental in New York City, tells Health. "Sensitive teeth are typically the result of worn tooth enamel [and] gum recession," Dr. Jo says. "Sometimes, however, tooth discomfort is caused by other factors such as a cavity, a cracked or chipped tooth, a worn filling, or gum disease." This is why thorough and regular dental checkups are necessary for good oral health.
Fortunately, there are ways to lessen the symptoms of tooth sensitivity, both at the dentist's office and at home. One such way is to pay attention to the type of toothpaste you're using since some are better than others for those with sensitive teeth. Two specific ingredients to look for are potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride. Below, you'll find the nine best toothpastes designed to help people with sensitive teeth. An orthodontist on our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article for medical and scientific accuracy regarding what to look for in toothpaste for sensitive teeth, their effectiveness, and other ways to reduce tooth sensitivity.
As the Senior Commerce Editor for Health and someone with sensitive teeth for years, I always opt for toothpaste made specifically for them. My dentist recommends any Sensodyne toothpaste for his patients with sensitive teeth, and I personally use Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste (our Best Overall Runner-Up) at home.
The mild whitening agents in that toothpaste don’t bother me, but some people may find any whitening toothpaste too harsh, even one made specifically for people with sensitive teeth. Keep that in mind when selecting a sensitive toothpaste.
What makes teeth “sensitive” anyway? You may have sensitive teeth if you feel pain when your teeth experience a temperature change. In some instances, this can be a symptom of an underlying problem, so Jessica Pharar, DMD, a dentist in Las Vegas, Nevada, says to see your dentist before using toothpaste for sensitive teeth to treat your symptoms. Once underlying issues have been ruled out, switching to a sensitive toothpaste may make sense.
—Jessica Wozinsky Fleming, Senior Commerce Editor
If you’re looking for maximum-strength effectiveness for reducing hypersensitivity, Asharie Campbell, DMD, a dentist at Circle City Dentists of Sebring in Sebring, Florida, says to give this one a go. It contains the highest allowed levels (5 percent) of potassium nitrate, the active ingredient that offers serious protection against sensitive teeth.
Our editor—who has very sensitive teeth and has tried many toothpastes in hopes of experiencing improvement—says this is the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth she has tried. It’s refreshing and gives the mouth a smooth, cleaning feeling, but most importantly, it really works. Other toothpastes she’s tried have had one downside or another, but this one checks all the boxes. It’s pleasant to use, feels and tastes great, and yields results. It even helped whiten teeth, which can be hard to find in a toothpaste for sensitivity.
The fluoride in this toothpaste also contributes to its effectiveness, Dr. Campbell says. Using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth that’s also formulated with fluoride, such as this one by Colgate, can prevent sensitivity from worsening by protecting tooth enamel. Fluoride can also help repair weakened parts of the enamel layer—this is known as remineralizing teeth, and there are studies to back it up.
The taste of this toothpaste doesn’t last for a long time.
There’s a reason why Sensodyne is the most recommended toothpaste for sensitive teeth by dentists—it works, and it’s vetted by experts. Kristen Klement Oldham, DMD, a dentist with Klement Family Dental in St. Petersburg, Florida, says that it’s her top recommendation because it’s specifically created with sensitivity in mind.
While there’s no shortage of Sensodyne toothpastes to choose from, they’re not all formulated with the same active ingredients. This one contains the maximum amount of potassium nitrate allowed, which has been shown to significantly decrease tooth sensitivity. It also contains fluoride to reduce cavities and a whitening agent to brighten teeth.
We noticed whiter teeth after just a few days of using this toothpaste, and after several weeks, there was a subtle but noticeable difference in overall sensitivity. It gave a smooth and cleaning feeling every time, and it was especially effective at combatting morning breath. We’re hopeful that the antisensitivity properties increase over time, but our editor saw enough improvements to continue using it long after the test was over.
The minty flavor burned a little when we first started using this toothpaste. The burning sensation subsided the more we used this toothpaste, but those sensitive to strong flavors may prefer a more subtle formula.
Toothpastes designed for sensitive teeth tend to be pricier than regular toothpastes. Opting for this one by Colgate can save you a few bucks, and it contains the form of fluoride (stannous fluoride) that not only protects against cavities but also decreases sensitivity. What’s more, the tube is slightly larger, making it an even better value.
For us, this toothpaste did everything it’s supposed to do. It gave the whole mouth a deep cleaning and had our teeth feeling smooth and sleek—all without increasing sensitivity. We liked the pleasant flavor and feel, and we even like how the formula is white, so any mess on the bathroom counter is less of an eyesore than blue gel formulas.
This toothpaste can best be described as basic. It does what toothpastes are supposed to do, but it doesn’t go above and beyond. We also found ourselves wishing the mild taste was a tad bit stronger.
A lot of dental issues, including sensitivity, can be attributed to gum health, so taking proper care of your gums now will benefit you in the long run, Dr. Campbell says. She recommends a stannous fluoride toothpaste for reducing sensitivity as well as the reduced risk of gingivitis and gum disease, which can exacerbate sensitivity.
This Crest toothpaste is powered by stannous fluoride to target gum health, sensitivity, and cavity prevention. It also whitens teeth—our editor’s teeth were at least one shade whiter after using this toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes usually exacerbate our editor’s sensitive teeth and gums, but this one whitened teeth without increasing sensitivity. Our editor was so impressed that she ditched her usual Sensodyne for this Crest toothpaste.
The minty flavor contributed to a tiny amount of tingling, but it was insignificant and didn’t bother us.
Potassium nitrate is considered the best ingredient for tooth sensitivity, and it’s the second ingredient in this toothpaste—right behind sodium fluoride. Together, the two reduce cavities and hypersensitivity. It’s also vegan-friendly and formulated with other ingredients that support oral health, such as anti-inflammatory vitamins and aloe. So, it’s pretty much designed to combat most (if not all) oral care concerns.
Our editor with sensitive teeth found the effectiveness of this Twice toothpaste comparable to Sensodyne. Where it really shined, however, was improving bad breath. Our editor noticed a drastic improvement in breath freshness—especially when combatting coffee breath. Overall, we really enjoyed the taste and smell, and it worked effectively to keep the whole mouth feeling clean.
The consistency becomes very watery once you start brushing, which can become messy. It also didn’t do much for teeth whitening.
After the very first use, we were amazed by this toothpaste. With its affordable price, it was already off to a good start, but its effectiveness really impressed us. Our editor with sensitive teeth finds many toothpastes too aggressive, but this one was surprisingly gentle. What’s more, it didn’t increase sensitivity at all. In fact, it gave a thorough clean, whitened teeth, and made our teeth feel stronger.
It’s a fluorinated toothpaste for cavity protection, but in true Arm & Hammer fashion, it also contains baking soda, which has tooth whitening properties. According to a 2017 review in The Journal of the American Dental Association, baking soda toothpaste effectively removes stains and whitens teeth, and it’s less abrasive.
The mint flavor of this toothpaste is very subtle, which was a plus for our editor, but some prefer something with more punch. As a whitening toothpaste, it may also be too abrasive for some with very sensitive teeth.
Toothpastes rarely come in flavors other than some form of mint. Kids’ toothpastes might have some fruity flavors, but they’re not exactly formulated for adults. For those of us looking for something a little more exciting, HiSmile has more than a dozen flavors to choose from, such as Coconut, Red Velvet, and Cotton Candy. We personally tried the Watermelon flavor, which was as sweet as it sounds. It wasn’t overly sweet but rather refreshing with a subtle mintiness.
While this toothpaste isn’t geared towards people with sensitive teeth specifically, it’s free from ingredients that increase tooth sensitivity. It also didn’t contribute to our editor’s sensitive teeth, which was a huge plus. We liked the unique color of the bottle, and we found ourselves looking forward to using this every day because it was pleasant to use.
A little bit went a long way with this formula, but even so, the bottle is smaller than your typical tube of toothpaste. It contains just two ounces of toothpaste compared to the typical four to six ounces per tube. We also had some issues with the bottle—the pump was unreliable at times, and since it’s opaque, it’s difficult to tell when it’s running low.
Kids get sensitive teeth, too, so our editor tested this toothpaste on her children. Though her children don’t have sensitive teeth, this toothpaste went on smoothly. The kids enjoyed the sweet taste and found no issues with the texture. It’s fluorinated, so it doesn’t just taste great to kids—it also protects baby teeth from cavities.
Our editor’s children loved it, which likely goes a long way to making the tooth brushing routine more efficient. We also liked the packaging. The canister stands upright and dispenses toothpaste when you press the top. This was noticeably neater than trying to squeeze toothpaste from a tube—which, as we’ve all experienced, can create a mess on the counter.
When our editor gave this toothpaste a try, she found the flavor alarmingly sweet. While not the target market, it didn’t taste great to an adult.
This toothpaste works similar to a color-correcting purple shampoo for blonde hair—the purple color cancels out yellow shades to make teeth appear whiter and brighter. Before the test was up, our editor noticed whiter teeth—not significantly so, but noticeably.
Our editor has sensitive teeth and gums—so much so, in fact, that she can’t use certain products because they lead to burning and flaking along her gums. With that severity of sensitivity, our editor was concerned about how this toothpaste would affect her teeth and gums, but it was very well tolerated. She had no issues with increased sensitivity.
So, how does this toothpaste work? It’s free from fluoride, but it’s full of other beneficial ingredients, such as baking soda and coconut oil. It goes on easily, foams up nicely, and leaves teeth feeling smooth and clean. The purple toothpaste also didn’t stain any clothes or towels.
Some people prefer fluoride-free toothpaste, but the American Dental Association and dentists recommend the active ingredient for both adults and children.
We tested these toothpastes for weeks, but before doing so, we consulted two practicing dentists on how to select and use toothpaste for sensitive teeth. Lena Varone, DMD, a New York-based cosmetic dentist, and Edmond R. Hewlett, DDS, professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry, provided instructions on how to test toothpaste.
Following expert instructions, our editors tested 12 toothpastes for sensitive teeth for at least two weeks. We tested them in our own homes by using them to brush our teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time, in line with the brushing technique recommended by the American Dental Association.
To determine our final list, we collected insights on the following attributes:
To find the best toothpastes for sensitive teeth, our search began by interviewing dentists. We first spoke to practicing dentists to learn more about what makes for an effective toothpaste for sensitive teeth.
Dentists we spoke to included:
Brushing your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth can help reduce sensitivity. Other interventions can include special mouthwashes and electric toothbrushes. It’s also best to avoid habits that contribute to sensitive teeth, such as aggressive brushing and extreme cold, hot, or acidic foods. If you don’t notice any improvements, it may be time to see your dentist about a prescription-strength toothpaste or custom-fitted night guard.
Yes, the right toothpaste can help relieve sensitive teeth. They work by sealing up the pores of the exposed dentin, which is usually the part of the tooth causing sensitivity and pain. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth are formulated with specific active ingredients, such as potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride, to alleviate hypersensitivity while also supporting overall oral health.
Sensitive toothpaste can be used just like regular toothpaste, so it’s safe to use every day. The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes at a time.
Lacey Muinos is a health and wellness writer. She covers topics ranging from nutrition to oral hygiene, and she’s reported on dental products like electric toothbrushes, tongue scrapers, and toothpaste. As someone with sensitive teeth herself, Lacey only uses Sensodyne toothpaste and has experienced relief.
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