99p toothpastes which are just as good for your teeth as the top brands

A TOOTHPASTE costing only 99p a tube is as effective at protecting teeth as more expensive brands, it is claimed.

Research by Which? – backed up by l eading dentists – suggests that if a toothpaste has the maximum level of fluoride permitted it will keep teeth healthy.

While shops offer an enormous array of toothpastes, it is possible to find one with the optimum fluoride level of 1,450 parts per million for less than £1.

The consumer group and dental experts examined claims made by premium products and compared these to cheaper versions.

As a result, they are sceptical of the claims made by makers for their special formulations which are said to offer extra enamel protection or whitening effects.

A Which? spokesman said: ‘Fluoride is the key ingredient in toothpaste, protecting against and treating decay, as well as helping prevent acid wear.

‘There’s also reasonable evidence backing the active ingredients that are said to reduce sensitivity, such as potassium nitrate.

‘But some toothpaste claims we examined, such as enamel protec- tion, rely largely on fluoride – which means you do not necessarily need to buy a special enamel toothpaste to get the benefits claimed.’

The research indicates that, for example, Colgate Triple Action – currently costing 99p per 100ml at Tesco – is just as efficient as more glamorous brands.

Among the premium products tested were toothpastes that claim to restore enamel. Which? looked at Arm & Hammer Enamel Pro Repair Whitening with Baking Soda and Liquid Calcium, costing £5 per 100ml, and Sensodyne’s Pronamel Daily Protection at around £4.50 per 100ml.

But Which? said its experts ‘didn’t see long-term evidence of more protection from these speciality toothpastes than from a standard fluoride toothpaste’.

Which? also examined toothpastes for sensitive teeth, comparing Boots Smile Sensitive Freshmint at £ 1.35 per 100ml, and Sensodyne Daily Care at £4 per 100ml.

Both rely on potassium nitrate, which penetrates to the inner tooth and blocks pain receptors.

Which? said: ‘These two toothpastes contain remarkably similar ingredients and should – in theory – be equally effective.’

For whitening toothpastes, they compared Macleans White & Shine at around £ 2 per 100ml, with Colgate’s pricey Max White One, at £5.33 per 100ml. However, Which? s ai d: ‘ Neither manufacturer provided robust evidence to prove that i ts toothpaste meets i ts whitening claims.

‘Both toothpastes contain the abrasives silica and mica, which should remove surface stains – the sort you’d get from tea, coffee or red wine.

‘However, they are not chemical whiteners, such as hydrogen peroxide, which bleaches the teeth, and any whitening effect is likely to be relatively superficial.’

I t added: ‘ There is l i mited evidence to buy a whitening toothpaste instead of a standard fluoride one.’ Manufacturer GSK, whose brands i nclude Macleans and Sensodyne, said: ‘We have a strong track record in developing products that people trust and we invest significant resources in research and development to bring to market efficacious products that benefit people.’

Arm & Hammer insisted that the combination of fluoride and its patented liquid calcium technology is ‘ cl i nically proven’ to remineralise enamel and strengthen teeth.

As a result, it said, the product was proven to be more effective than a conventional f l uoride toothpaste.