Best Toothpaste for Braces: Top Picks for a Healthy Smile
What is the most vital element of the braces routine? Cleaning! You cannot get the best results out of your braces without good oral health. Speaking of which, brushing and flossing is the most important phase of braces maintenance.
However, when you go to a pharmacy and ask for the best toothpaste for braces, the chemist lists at least 1000 toothpaste meant for braces. But the question is: What toothpaste is best for braces? If you are also one of the searchers to this question, then you are just at the right place.
This blog will dive deeper into all the nuances related to finding the best toothpaste for braces. And that, what factors you should check out for, some of the best brands, benefits of a good braces toothpaste, etc. Time to dig in!
Contents
Key Features to Look for in Toothpaste for Braces
First things first. Follow what they recommend. They will suggest toothpaste that fits your braces treatment. When picking the best toothpaste for braces, check out these drivers.
It Must Be A Fluoride Toothpaste
Always pick the toothpaste that has a higher content of fluoride. Fluoride is an integral part of your teeth and bones. So, the presence of the same in dental products will ensure no external or internal changes harm your tooth enamel and keep them strong. It is also a good idea to go for a fluoride-based mouthwash to give an edge to your oral maintenance.
In fact, research by the European Journal of Oral Sciences reveals that the presence of fluoride in toothpaste can reduce teeth enamel demineralization.
Look Out For Tartar Control
Tartar means the hard substance caused due to plaque buildup in braces. Ignoring it can lead to serious periodontal disease and tooth decay. Therefore, make sure that your toothpaste can remove tartars from your teeth and maintain your oral health. Moreover, studies by The Journal Of Clinical Dentistry say routine brushing with a toothpaste having tartar-controlling capabilities can reduce staining concerns as well.
ADA Approved Toothpaste
American Dental Association (ADA): always check out of this approval sign when buying toothpaste for braces. ADA is the largest and leading professional dental organization that stamps its approval only when a dental product adheres to its quality and standards. So, you already know you are picking the best toothpaste for braces when it’s ADA-approved.
Protection From Sensitivity
Your braces toothpaste must help you fight sensitivity. While you undergo braces treatment, your teeth face newfound sensitivity in your mouth. With braces putting extra force and gums adjusting to foreign objects, over-the-counter measures like toothpaste should help give relief from this sensitivity.
Avoid Toothpaste With Whitening Products
Make sure that your toothpaste has absolutely no whitening products! Basically, the brackets and wires are cemented to your teeth. When you use whitening-induced toothpaste, it will make the free surface extra bright. This means when you remove your braces, there will be colored and discolored spots all over the teeth’s surface. Not ideal!
Additionally, research by Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry says whitening toothpaste can cause more dental abrasion than any regular one.
What Toothpaste Is Best For Braces?
Want to know what the best toothpaste for braces is? But don’t know where to start your exploration? To make your task easy, here are a few suggestions for your best toothpaste for braces.
Crest Toothpaste Gum Detoxify Deep Clean
This toothpaste is clinically proven for healthier and improved gum conditions. This toothpaste:
- Fights gingivitis
- Neutralizes plaque or bacteria buildup around gums
- Penetrates and cleans hard-to-reach places
Crest toothpaste is also formulated to give cooling to inflamed or sore gums for a refreshing cleaning.
Colgate Total Toothpaste
This toothpaste helps remove surface stains and prevent cavities. It also contains a high level of fluoride which further helps make teeth enamel strong, preventing tooth decay. It’s interesting to note how research supports the benefits of this toothpaste. The Journal of clinical dentistry study says that Colgate Total Toothpaste is an excellent solution to provide superior protection against gingivitis, caries, oral malodor, and so on.
Colgate Cavity Protection Toothpaste with Fluoride
Similar to the previous one, this toothpaste comes with a higher fluoride content. This will help strengthen your teeth and fight cavities when wearing braces.
Crest 3D Radiant Mint Toothpaste
It uses an enhanced formula that fights against cavities. It also ensures 90% removal of stains from the teeth surface and makes cleaning minty fresh.
Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste
This one has a gentle whitening formula that protects your teeth from erosion while removing stains. It helps harden tooth enamel and contains fluoride to prevent cavity buildup.
Oral-B Pro-Health Toothpaste
This toothpaste is known to:
- Prevent tooth decay, plaque, and gum disease
- Controls tartar and enamel erosion
- Ensures enhanced protection from sensitivity
Benefits of Using the Right Toothpaste for Braces
- Such toothpaste contains fluoride that helps prevent any kind of tooth decay and strengthens tooth enamel. This is especially vital if you are wearing braces since it’s anyway hard to clean teeth properly.
- We all know how brackets and wires of braces trap plaque and bacteria, leading to decay. The right toothpaste will contain the right elements to remove this plaque accumulation and prevent gum disease.
- Keeping a fresh mouth with braces becomes a very difficult task. Toothpaste for braces contains mint or similar flavors that help keep your breath fresh when wearing braces.
- The right toothpaste for braces helps reduce sensitivity from wires and extra pressure. It will also help reduce the risk of cavities, gum disease, or other oral health problems.
Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene with Braces
Maintaining good oral hygiene with braces is no cakewalk. All you need are the right cleaning materials up your sleeves and a good oral care routine. To kickstart your oral hygiene maintenance, follow these few quick steps.
- Brushing Right After Eating.
Use a soft, round-bristled toothbrush and clean your teeth after every meal and snack.
- Brushing At The Gum Lines Below The Brackets Of Your Braces.
Use interdental brushes or water flossers to clean your teeth.
- Use Antimicrobial Mouthwash.
Mouthwash is the solution to clean places where even toothbrushes and flossers cannot reach. A fluoride-induced mouthwash can be an excellent supplement to your toothpaste and ensure 360-degree oral care. Some of the orthodontic-recommended mouthwashes are:
- Periogen Oral Rinse – to eliminate dental tartar
- Crest 3D Mouthwash – to remove surface stains
- Colgate Mouth Sore Rinse – to prevent oral debris
- ACT Braces Care Mouthwash – ensures fresh breath
- Listerine Cool Mint – guarantees to kill 99.9% of germs
- Visiting Your Orthodontist For Regular Checkups.
It’s crucial to keep a check on your progress. Your orthodontist can identify signs of damage or distortions early on and change the treatment track if necessary.
Conclusion
In this blog, we have answered one most vital braces-related concerns: what toothpaste is best for braces? And you have also learned about the nuances of picking the best toothpaste for braces. Remember that brushing is the most crucial part of your braces maintenance. This means exploring and then learning what the best toothpaste for braces is not a choice. You need to pick the right one to ensure you get the best results from your orthodontic treatment.
Speaking of which, don’t go by assumptions when picking toothpaste for your braces. Always consult your orthodontists and go by their recommendations. Besides, make sure your toothpaste contains high fluoride, as it’s vital to prevent tooth decay. It should also control tartar and sensitivity to ensure complete cleaning and care.

Dr. Bill Redmond is a native of Southern California, the son of an orthodontist and the husband of a general dentist. That makes family gatherings pretty interesting…if you like teeth!