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We all know we're supposed to see our dentist twice a year, but does that mean we're supposed to pay twice as much for toothpaste too? Are store brands good enough?
Visits to the dentist can wreak havoc on your wallet, especially if you stop in for anything beyond routine care.
Dentists generally recommend cleanings and exams twice a year, so it’s up to you to perform routine maintenance between visits. But what works best when you’re selecting toothpaste:
The first thing to look for when evaluating the quality of a generic toothpaste is the seal of acceptance from the American Dental Association. It provides you with assurance that the product is worthwhile.
As the ADA’s website says: A product earns the ADA Seal of Acceptance by providing scientific evidence that demonstrates the safety and efficacy, which the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs carefully evaluates according to objective requirements.
You should take things a step further and compare the active ingredients in the cheaper product you are considering with that of a brand-name product to see if the two are similar.
For example, fluoride has been shown in studies to be effective at reducing cavities. It does so by strengthening the enamel of your teeth each time it is applied to the surface via your toothbrush. Fluoride also facilitates the removal of plaque and helps hedge against the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. All ADA-approved toothpastes contain this ingredient.
Other beneficial ingredients to look for, suggests the ADA, include:
Once you’ve checked the label for active ingredients, speak with your dentist about the product you’re considering. Also, inquire about low-cost alternatives that are just as effective.
You may find that your dentist doesn’t necessarily prefer one brand over another, as long as your toothpaste has that all-important fluoride and other key ingredients. DailyFinance notes: Four out of five dentists say brand doesn’t matter, so anything beyond those two ingredients is likely increasing the retail price of your toothpaste. As a quick rule of thumb, avoid special features or additives that sound fancy. There’s no reason to pay more when many product[s] contain [the] same or similar active ingredients.
There are other ways to save on the cost of toothpaste without reducing the quality of care you’ve giving your teeth:
Finally, look at the comprehensive list of toothpastes that have been accepted by the ADA. You will find that multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns and hefty price tags don’t necessarily equate to higher-quality products.
Slideshow: How to get through a cleaning when you're terrified of the dentist (Courtesy: Refinery29)
![<p>Whirring drills. Crying kids. Masked dentists shoving their gloved hands in your mouth. Chemical smells wafting through an office. For lots of people, <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/article/what-is-dental-anxiety-and-phobia" href="http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/basics/dental-visits/article/what-is-dental-anxiety-and-phobia">going to the dentist</a> is more like a scene from a horror film than a routine checkup, and it can cause intense and sometimes irrational feelings of fear.</p><p>Dental anxiety is very common, and can <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.refinery29.com/types-of-phobia-treatments" href="http://www.refinery29.com/types-of-phobia-treatments">grow into a full-blown phobia</a> for some people, says <a data-cke-saved-href="https://kenmazeyphd.wordpress.com/about/" href="https://kenmazeyphd.wordpress.com/about/">Ken Mazey</a>, PhD, a clinical psychologist and contributing lecturer on the psychology of fears at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Dentistry. People with dental phobias might avoid going to the dentist altogether, he adds, which can cause a whole slew of other issues. But why are some people so sensitive to the dentist, while others are totally chill?</p><p>"The reasons vary depending on the personality and experience of the person," Dr. Mazey says. You might have had a traumatic experience at the dentist as a child, which then sets the stage for an anxious reaction in the dentist office, he says. Or if your older sibling or parent always freaked out before the dentist, you could pick up on those anxieties and come to fear the same scenarios.</p><p>But even if you don't have a phobia-level fear, getting your teeth cleaned can feel like a violation of your sense of boundaries. "You have a stranger going into your mouth, poking around with all kinds of instruments, [while you're] in a reclined and vulnerable position," he says. "So the nature is intrusive and inherently anxiety-provoking — at least momentarily."</p><p>Luckily, there are some effective coping strategies that you can try the next time you're sequestered to the dentist chair. "Anxiety has a cognitive and emotional component, so coping strategies have to address the different levels of the response," Dr. Mazey says. "It's not an overnight thing, because you have to learn how to take care of yourself and integrate bad experiences in a way that won't haunt you," he says. And, triggers can be unpredictable, so learning to anticipate and react to them can take some time. But walking into the office armed with some techniques can be hugely helpful <a data-cke-saved-href="http://www.refinery29.com/panic-attack-aftercare-tips" href="http://www.refinery29.com/panic-attack-aftercare-tips">when your anxiety does strike</a>.</p>](https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AApaGUb.img?h=410&w=728&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f&x=567&y=254)
