The best toothpaste

A paste that foams up as you brush seems like it’s getting the job done, but Swedish scientists discovered that the chemical that creates the foaming action (sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS), can irritate oral tissues and increase the risk of canker sores. “This can worsen odor since it creates an oral environment that allows bad bacteria to multiply,” says Edward Alvarez, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist in New York City. His advice: Switch to an SLS-free toothpaste with cinnamon bark oil. In addition to freshening breath instantly, the oil is proven to kill oral bacteria and eradicate biofilms (sticky plaque formed by bacteria that triggers damaging inflammation and intensifies odor). One to try: Auromère Foam-Free Herbal Toothpaste, available at drugstores and Amazon.com.