Unfortunately, toothpaste is often a place where we compromise on taste, texture and even odor to avoid using something less. If you’ve ever tried toothpaste for any amount of time you know what I’m talking about.

The first thing to remember when choosing a toothpaste is that some products are much better than others. The toothpaste that contains fluoride is fantastic for growing your teeth. Fluoride is the only ingredient to the toothpaste that actually builds stronger teeth. It’s one of the most cost effective yet effective products on the market for keeping your gums and teeth healthy.

Be sure to look for ingredients grooming choosing best toothpaste that are considered safe for use by everyone. There are over 70 approved toothpastes with fluorine in them. The majority of these products use other types of _chemicals as a base to make up the formula, but because fluoride is such a new substance in toothpaste the federal government requires manufacturers to list fluoride as a component of the toothpaste formula. So if a product doesn’t contain fluoride then it isn’t a good choice for you.

Brush after brushing. Brushing with water or another non-flavored cleanser doesn’t clean the inside of your mouth and won’t make your mouth feel fresh as you brush. You need to have a nice clean-looking mouth to do this. While toothpaste doesn’t do much to clean your teeth, adding a good quality mouthwash, like Brevior or DAP, will help get rid of the plaque that may build up in your mouth and get more nourishment for your teeth.

Avoid sugary drinks or juices. If you use juice, coffee or soda after brushing, you are just strengthening the plaque that already exists and may not go away. Simply drink water instead.

Brush and floss after every meal. Flossing and using a soft toothbrush are crucial for getting to those hard to reach places on your teeth and keeping those stains from forming. This is the time when the top layer of the toothpaste will help your teeth stay strong. When you’re done flossing and brushing, it is always a good idea to start cleaning the rest of your mouth with a soft toothbrush, rinse out your mouth and start flossing.

And lastly, floss before you eat. There are many times when there is a lot of food stuck on your teeth and sometimes flossing can help you remove food particles from your teeth. Flossing before eating also helps the food to stick to your teeth so it is easier to remove the food when you eat. It doesn’t take long for your teeth to be dirty so brushing and flossing at least twice per day is highly recommended