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Choosing the Best Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
Learn about the benefits of using sensitive toothpaste and how to reduce your teeth sensitivity with toothpaste.

Sensitive toothpaste

Reduce Sensitivity with Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste
How Does Sensitivity Toothpaste Work?
How to Choose a Sensitivity Toothpaste

If you have pain or tingling when you eat hot or cold foods or use a teeth-whitening product, you may have sensitive teeth, or teeth sensitive to whitening. You can still whiten your teeth by using gentler products, like a sensitive teeth toothpaste.

Using the right sensitive toothpaste can be a convenient and economical way to manage teeth sensitivity, allowing you to continue to indulge in the foods and beverages you enjoy most—including coffee, tea, ice cream and acidic foods.

Reduce Sensitivity with Sensitive Teeth Toothpaste

To help reduce teeth sensitivity, your dental professional may recommend using an over-the-counter sensitive teeth toothpaste like Crest Pro-Health that desensitizes your teeth by filling the exposed channels in the dentin.

There are several at-home teeth-whitening products available for those with teeth sensitive to whitening. If you have teeth sensitive to whitening, a teeth-whitening toothpaste such as Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy Sensitivity Care may be the best option for you. If you have teeth sensitivity caused by injury (chipped or cracked teeth) or decay (cavities), see your dental professional for proper treatment of your condition before using a sensitive teeth toothpaste or a teeth-whitening toothpaste.

How Does Sensitivity Toothpaste Work?

Sensitivity toothpastes work by either occluding exposed dentinal tubules (Crest Pro-Health) or by desensitizing the nerve endings in the dentinal tubules with potassium ions (Crest Sensitivity Protection). Sensitive toothpastes also contain fluoride, which has been shown to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent tooth decay. For a complete oral care routine, combine sensitive toothpaste with a soft-bristled toothbrush, mouth rinse, and wide, soft dental floss.

All Crest Pro-Health toothpaste products for people aged 12 years and older offer protection for sensitive teeth. In addition, Crest Pro-Health toothpastes are available in gel, paste, and night formulas. All Crest Pro-Health formulas can help protect sensitive teeth, so you can choose the one that suits you best. These toothpastes promote oral health by also fighting cavities, plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. All varieties of Crest Pro-Health toothpaste freshen breath, fight tartar and whiten teeth, too.

How to Choose a Sensitivity Toothpaste

A trip to the local drug store can be overwhelming if you're looking for toothpaste for sensitive teeth. There are options from various companies, each making different claims, so it can be challenging to know which to choose. Here are a few tips to help guide you through the difficult process of selecting toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

Active Ingredients: Look for a toothpaste indicated for sensitive.
Name Brand/Manufacturer: There are so many brands out there that you may want to stick with a brand you know and trust, like Crest Pro-Health.
Cost: Toothpaste for sensitive teeth doesn’t have to cost more than your regular toothpaste. In fact, many toothpastes for sensitive teeth cost around the same as your typical toothpaste.
ADA Seal of Approval: Many toothpastes for sensitive teeth don't feature the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval. However, four Crest Pro-Health toothpastes (Clean Mint, Smooth Peppermint, and Whitening Power) feature ADA acceptance for six important dental benefits: it fights cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitivity, stains and bad breath. All Crest Pro-Health toothpastes are triclosan-free.

According to a survey conducted by the American Dental Association, Crest, and Oral-B, 22 percent of 1,000 Americans aged 18 years and older reported experiencing teeth sensitivity to hot or cold food and liquids. If you have sensitive teeth, you are a perfect candidate for sensitive toothpaste. The right sensitive toothpaste can keep tooth sensitivity from interfering with good oral health. But don’t let sensitive toothpaste substitute for regular dental checkups, because sensitive teeth may be a sign of a more serious dental problem. Be sure to talk to your dentist about products for sensitive teeth.

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