Brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly for a hygiene appointment are important oral and general health habits. That’s why it’s important to make sure your toothpaste is up to date and that your flossing and brushing technique is on the right track, too.
Toothpaste does indeed expire, but using it past its due date is unlikely to cause harm. Rather, toothpaste simply loses its effectiveness after it expires.
What Is Toothpaste?
Toothpaste is a paste or gel typically used with a toothbrush to clean teeth and maintain oral health. The Canadian Dental Association recommends buying toothpaste with fluoride. Look for the CDA seal on your toothpaste to ensure it has been appropriately vetted.
Toothpaste’s Role
Toothpaste with fluoride is an excellent addition to your oral health toolkit. Toothpaste can help:
- Strengthen enamel (the outer material of your teeth), which can be affected by acids in food and drink
- Prevent cavities
- Remove plaque, a sticky substance that contains a lot of bacteria
- Remove stains (using peroxide)
- Give your breath a fresh, minty scent
Some kinds of toothpaste can also improve tooth sensitivity, prevent tartar, and whiten teeth. Opt for ones that can help with your unique dental goals in consultation with your dentist.
Can You Use Expired Toothpaste?
The main factor determining a toothpaste’s expiry is fluoride. Over time, fluoride can become less effective at its job. Fluoride’s main role is to prevent cavities and loss of enamel, which is important because enamel cannot grow back once it’s been degraded.
While it’s not necessarily unsafe, using toothpaste past its expiry date isn’t beneficial. Expired toothpaste may also have a different texture and contain bacteria and fungi.
How to Know if Toothpaste is Expired
The date printed on the tube tells you when toothpaste expires. The ingredients may also appear separated, the paste may be dry, and the texture and taste may be off.
How to Choose Toothpaste
Choosing a favourite toothpaste is a personal decision. You may have unique oral health needs or simply enjoy a certain flavour. Your dentist can recommend toothpaste products based on your personal health needs.
You can also consider the following factors:
- Fluoride: As mentioned before, the Canadian Dental Association recommends toothpaste with fluoride that bears the CDA seal.
- Abrasives: Agents such as calcium carbonate and silicates help remove food particles, bacteria, and stains.
- Sweeteners: Some toothpastes contain artificial sweeteners to boost their flavour; mint is not the only available flavour!
- Thickening agents: Gums and substances derived from seaweed help toothpaste maintain its thick texture.
- Sensitivity: People whose teeth are sensitive to hot or cold temperatures may consider specially formulated toothpaste containing potassium nitrate or strontium chloride, which can help prevent sensitivity.
- Whitening: While most toothpastes advertised for their whitening abilities don’t contain bleach, they may include abrasive substances to aid in stain removal.
How to Properly Brush Your Teeth
You can get the best or most expensive toothpaste available, but at the end of the day, proper brushing technique matters. Here’s how to brush your teeth, according to the Canadian Dental Association:
- Brush along the gumline: This is where your teeth and gums meet. Brush it at a 45-degree angle in gentle, circular strokes. Avoid brushing too hard, as this may lead to receding gums. The CDA also recommends using a soft brush with rounded bristles.
- Cover all surfaces: Brush everything, including each tooth's chewing surfaces and sides.
- Take your time: Brushing is a process that should take 2 to 3 minutes.
- Change things up: Vary your routine. This ensures you don’t miss spots.
Don’t Forget to Floss
People should brush their teeth at least twice daily and floss at least once daily. If you don’t floss, you end up not cleaning more than a third of your teeth’s surface. Flossing helps prevent plaque build-up, which turns into tartar within 24 to 46 hours.
Tartar can only be removed in a dentist’s clinic, so maintaining a good brushing and flossing habit will help you avoid unnecessary dental trips.
Take Care of Your Teeth
Did you know that oral health can affect your general health and well-being?
If oral health is neglected and gum disease develops, your risk of developing more serious diseases increases. Dental health is associated with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, pneumonia, and even preterm babies.
Good oral health also allows you to enjoy the fine things in life, such as eating, drinking, and socializing with a healthy smile.
Teeth Cleaning in Chilliwack, BC
You can be proactive about your oral health by scheduling regular dental check-ups and cleanings. At Vita Dental Wellness, your dental appointment will include:
- Visual examination
- Plaque and tartar removal
- Polishing
- Education
We understand that dental work can cause anxiety. Our team aims to provide a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere with a living room-like reception area, refreshments, ceiling-mounted TVs, and a children’s area with toys and video games.
Book an appointment today to experience our services yourself. We can’t wait to meet you!