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Last Updated on February 16, 2023
10 Best Toothpaste For Braces To Smile Fresh and Clean
You have to keep up with strong dental hygiene even when you have braces. Trying to find the right product for you and your braces can be overwhelming when there are hundreds of toothpaste brands out on the market. Which ones are good for braces, and which ones are not as effective?
When you have braces, you need a toothpaste that can help you fully clean every part of your tooth, including any parts covered by the braces. Your toothpaste needs to be able to get rid of the residual food particles and bacteria trapped in your mouth. It needs to be able to protect your mouth while the braces are working to fix your teeth.
Without the right toothpaste, food and bacteria will continue to be trapped in your teeth and under your braces. This can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Knowing which toothpastes are the best for braces will help you select the best one to keep your mouth clean.
These toothpastes will help you stay out of the dentist for anything other than your regular checkup.
Our Shortlist: Best Toothpaste For Braces
CloSYS Fluoride Toothpaste: Best For Braces
This toothpaste has a gentle mint flavor to make the brushing process more pleasant with your braces on. The CloSYS Fluoride toothpaste works to clean the whole mouth, including underneath your braces, while fighting cavities and plaque buildup.
We love how this toothpaste is both powerful in cleaning your mouth but still gentle to care for sensitivities. This toothpaste works great for those with braces that need something to get underneath the metal brackets while being gentle enough not to irritate sensitive teeth.
Highlights:
- There are no harmful ingredients in this toothpaste as it is SLS-free, triclosan-free, sulfate-free, and gluten-free
- Has a balanced pH for gentle cleaning
- Freshens your breath with its minty flavor
- Has anticavity fluoride for strong cleaning while still being gentle on the teeth
Pros:
- Great for sensitive teeth
- Affordable price
- Strengthens teeth
- Prevents cavities
- Clean ingredients
Cons:
- Contains artificial sweeteners, not good for those with sensitivities
- Can stain clothes
Colgate Cavity Protection: Best For All
Colgate has been a favorite of many dentists for a long time. This brand has also come out with many different kinds of toothpaste over the years. One of the best toothpaste for braces from the Colgate brand is its Cavity Protection toothpaste. This toothpaste has been ADA-accepted and is clinically proven to protect your teeth against cavities while also strengthening your teeth.
The Colgate Cavity Protection toothpaste will work its way underneath your braces brackets to give your entire mouth a strong cleaning experience. It will prevent cavities from forming underneath your braces which could cause a more painful experience the next time at the dentist.
Highlights:
- Contains real mint grown in the United States
- Professional level of cleaning
- Gluten-free
- Anticavity fluoride
- Strengthens enamel
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Very common toothpaste brand, easy to find
- Fluoride for professional cleaning with braces
Cons:
- Not as gentle on sensitive teeth; a bit harsher
- Not sulfate-free
Crest Gum Detoxify Deep Clean: Best For Gums
When you have braces, it is still just as important to make sure that your gums are getting clean. It can be more challenging to clean your gums when you have braces, and that is where the Crest Gum Detoxify Deep Clean toothpaste comes in. This is a powerful toothpaste that will clear away plaque in those hard-to-reach places that come with braces.
Have a healthy mouth starting from your gums with this toothpaste. Even with all the space that your braces take up, this toothpaste will get around all those spots to give you a clean mouth.
Highlights:
- Can reverse gingivitis
- Neutralizes bacteria and plaque
- Comes as a foam to sink into spots hard to reach with a toothbrush
- Clinically proven to give you healthy gums
- Cools the gums, great for any irritation you have
Pros:
- Very affordable
- A common toothpaste brand, easy to find
- ADA accepted
- Fluoride activated for strong braces cleaning
- Uses a flip cap for one-handed opening
Cons:
- Contains harsher ingredients such as sulfate
- Crest has a very strong minty flavor which can be too much for some people
LAVERA Sensitive And Repair: Best Vegan Toothpaste
You shouldn’t have to stop using vegan products when it comes to your toothpaste. LAVERA is known for being a plant-based vegan toothpaste that is organic to cater to those who want to protect the environment down to their toothpaste choice. This toothpaste is great for those with sensitive teeth and will be great for those who need a gentle cleansing under and around their braces.
Highlights:
- Vegan ingredients list
- Repairs the problems in your mouth by preventing cavities, removing plaque, and protecting your gums
- Gives you fresh breath with a gentle minty flavor
- Strengthens enamel
- Uses primary ingredients of chamomile and fluoride
- Relieves inflammation
- Made for sensitive teeth
Pros:
- Vegan
- Organic
- Gentle flavor
- Affordable
Cons:
- Small container (75 grams)
Colgate Total: Best To Prevent Cavities
We are back to Colgate toothpaste which is extremely common and can be found in any grocery store and online. Colgate Total takes care of everything your mouth could ever need, which appeals to its name. If you have braces, you need a toothpaste that can take care of everything from preventing cavities to getting sensitivity relief. Colgate Total makes sure that your teeth are properly taken care of without you needing to take extra steps.
Highlights:
- Fluoride activated for strong cleaning
- 42% more sensitivity relief after consistent use
- Whitens while also cleaning
- The minty flavor that isn’t too intense
- Fights bacteria for 12 hours
- Removes and prevents stains
- Prevents gingivitis
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Very easy to find in stores
- Takes care of teeth, gums, enamel, under braces, and more
- Gives you a deep clean, keeping your teeth healthy even with braces on
- Fights bacteria everywhere in your mouth
Cons:
- Whitening can be irritating to some sensitive teeth
- Contains sulfate
Crest Braces Care: Best To Keep Away Dental Problems
It’s always nice when you can find a toothpaste that is specifically formulated for brace care. With Crest, you can find toothpaste to help with any needs that you have, and that includes toothpaste to take care of your braces. Crest Braces Care aims to help protect your teeth against all of the problems that become a higher risk when you have braces, such as plaque buildup and gingivitis.
Highlights:
- Fights plaque and gingivitis
- Fights against staining and bad breath
- Strong minty flavor
- Fluoride base
- Strengthen enamel
Pros:
- Made specifically for braces
- Affordable
- Anti-bacterial
- Prevents problems associated with braces
- Can be used by kids 6+ along with adults
Cons:
- Harder to find in stores
- The flavor can be too much for some users
Sensodyne Pronamel Multi-Action Sensitive Teeth: Best For Sensitive Teeth
Having sensitive teeth with braces makes things extra difficult when you want to find the perfect toothpaste. Sensodyne Pronamel is known for caring for sensitive teeth and has become a pleasant and affordable option for people with braces. The Multi-Action toothpaste is similar to the Colgate Total toothpaste, only this time, it is for people with sensitive teeth.
Highlights:
- Fluoride base for optimal plaque fighting abilities
- Free from artificial colors
- Protects your teeth against the acid that is in food
- For sensitive teeth and works to reduce sensitivity
- Strengthens enamel
- Whitens while cleans
Pros:
- Great for those who want optimal cleaning but have sensitive teeth
- Super affordable
- Top qualities of protecting against acid erosion
- Gives you fresh breath
- Helps when suffering from mouth health problems
Cons:
- Some report not liking the flavor
Sensodyne Pronamel Daily Protection Sensitive Teeth: Best To Keep Strong Teeth
Sensodyne has made several kinds of toothpaste that are great for braces as they are gentle but super effective. While the previous toothpaste fights against all the issues you could face while having braces, this daily protection toothpaste focuses more on your everyday needs. The Sensodyne Pronamel daily protection toothpaste aims to provide strong enamel and strengthen the enamel that has weakened over time.
Highlights:
- Minty fresh toothpaste
- Delivers minerals directly to your enamel to protect from acidic erosion and to strengthen
- Good for sensitive teeth and provides sensitivity relief
- Fluoride-based for optimal cleaning
- Fights cavities and prevents them from showing up
- Low abrasive
- Strengthens teeth from the inside out
Pros:
- Great for those with sensitive teeth
- Removes plaque from hard-to-reach places
- Helped numerous people with several kinds of mouth health problems
- Very affordable
- Highly recommended by dentists
Cons:
- Some report not liking the flavor
- Some report difficulties with removing the cap
ORTHOCARE: Best For Kids
This is another toothpaste that is formulated for those brushing with braces. ORTHOCARE is formulated by orthodontists for those with braces so your teeth can be protected even with braces on. This toothpaste has unique and colorful packaging with the iconic ORTHOCARE smiley face. Made for kids, this toothpaste is safe for young braces but can also be used by adults.
Highlights:
- Made for kids with braces
- Nice minty taste
- Anticavity fluoride based
- Prevents and fights against cavities
- University research-based formula
- Incorporates Amino Power for stronger cleaning
Pros:
- Highly recommended by dentists and orthodontists
- Made to be safe for kids
- Makes dental hygiene for kids fun and easier
- Pleasant taste
- Fun packaging
- Flip cap for easy opening (great for younger kids to use)
Cons:
- High price
- Some kids have reported an aftertaste.
Hello Naturally Whitening Fluoride: Best To Keep Braces Strong
Finally, we have one last natural fluoride toothpaste that we think is great for those with braces. The Hello toothpaste surely has some more aesthetically pleasing packaging, making the brushing experience pleasant for both your teeth and your eyes. This toothpaste is vegan with mint grown on local farms. If you want a toothpaste that is great for your toothpaste and the environment,
check out the highlights for Hello Naturally Whitening Fluoride toothpaste.
Highlights:
- Calcium mineral formula blends to whiten teeth
- Farm-grown peppermint and tea tree oil for minty fresh flavor
- Prevents and fights cavities while strengthening enamel
- Anticavity fluoride based
- Peroxide-free, dye-free, SLS-free, paraben-free, preservative-free, gluten-free, and triclosan-free
- No artificial sweeteners
- Cruelty-free
Pros:
- Organic and vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Strong cavity-fighting power while being natural
- Aesthetically pleasing packaging
- Farm grown mint
- Whitens teeth naturally
- Affordable
- Highly rated by customers and dentists
- Flip the cap for easy opening
Cons:
- People have had difficulties squeezing the tube, especially when the tube is half empty
Can I Use Any Toothpaste With Braces?
There are so many different kinds of toothpaste available on the market, each with its benefits that they proclaim they are the best at. It can be overwhelming to find the perfect toothpaste when you have braces and there are many good options.
While we highly recommend using one of the toothpaste listed above if you have braces, know that there are many more kinds of toothpaste you can use. As long as the toothpaste has fluoride and is CDA-approved, it will work to clean your teeth while you have braces.
Is It OK To Not Brush Your Teeth With Braces?
Taking proper care of your dental hygiene is vital when you have braces. This means that you should be brushing your teeth every day, twice a day, to keep your teeth healthy while you have braces on.
Spend 2 minutes brushing your teeth in the morning and then again at night using a fluoride-based toothpaste. When you are first brushing your teeth with braces, the process may take you a little longer as you are getting used to brushing around the braces.
Don’t skip brushing your teeth! When you have braces on, your teeth are more susceptible to cavities and decay because the metal can trap food pieces against your teeth which allows the bacteria to eat away at your teeth.
Do You Floss Or Brush First With Braces?
You may be used to flossing your teeth after you brush them (if you are currently flossing, which you should be.) However, when you have braces, it is more beneficial to floss your teeth before you brush.
If you floss first, you will be removing more of the leftover food particles in your mouth. Then, when you are brushing your teeth, the toothpaste will be able to reach more of your teeth and clean them better. It also helps increase the fluoride concentration in the toothpaste to reach your teeth.
Should I Brush My Teeth Before Or After Breakfast?
This is a classic debate that has pinned people against each other for a while. For those without braces, brushing before or after breakfast can be a preference without large consequences. However, for those who have braces, the answer to the question is clearer.
You don’t want to have food particles trapped against your teeth underneath your braces all day. In the morning, brush your teeth after you eat breakfast. This will remove the food particles and bacteria from your mouth. In fact, you should always brush your teeth after meals if you have braces to keep your mouth bacteria-free.
How Often Should I Use a Water Flosser With Braces
When you have braces, the normal methods of flossing are much more challenging and time-consuming. That is why many dentists will recommend that you get a water flosser when you are wearing braces. It is easier for the water to get in and around your teeth and braces so the process will take much less time.
With braces, you should be using a water flosser several times a day. It is recommended to clean your teeth after every time you eat, which includes using your water flosser. This will keep your teeth nice and healthy.
What Is The Best Toothbrush For Braces?
We recommend that you use an electric toothbrush when you have braces. While the manual toothbrush is fantastic and works for many people, with braces, you need the extra power that an electric toothbrush can provide.
Electric toothbrushes with rotating heads work to get underneath the metal on your braces and push out any trapped food particles. Rotating heads clean faster with more power to get rid of all the bacteria in your mouth and spread the toothpaste throughout all areas in your mouth.
The Oral-B series has some great electric toothbrushes that have worked well with cleaning braces.
Can Brushing Damage Braces?
If you are worried that your toothbrush is damaging your braces, there is no reason to worry. Braces are made out of tough metal that doesn’t get damaged too easily without a lot of force. Most toothbrushes are designed to be powerful, but gentle enough not to damage your teeth or gums.
Electric toothbrushes typically have a sensor that realizes if you are brushing your teeth too hard and will prevent you from doing so. However, even if you brush too hard, you still won’t damage your braces. No matter what, the metal of your braces will wear down over time, but don’t let that prevent you from brushing your teeth.
You should brush your teeth several times a day and have to replace an occasional bracket than suffer from dental problems after not brushing your teeth.
What To Consider When Buying Toothpaste For Braces
Not every toothpaste is created equal. When you have braces, you have extra dental hygiene needs that require you to pay more attention to the products that you’re buying. While we have provided you with a list of the best toothpaste for braces if you want to look at other toothpaste brands, keep the following topics in mind to buy the toothpaste that will work well with your braces.
Fluoride Content
Fluoride is a required ingredient when you are looking for toothpaste for braces. This is the ingredient that cleans your teeth and removes the bacteria/plaque from your mouth. If you don’t have braces, you can get away with toothpaste without fluoride, but dentists all around will strongly suggest using toothpaste with fluoride in it.
In most toothpaste, fluoride is the primary active ingredient. With different kinds of toothpaste, you may see different concentrations of fluoride, but it’s still there. It keeps the enamel on your teeth strong, prevents cavities, and keeps your teeth looking fresh when you have braces.
ADA Approved
ADA stands for “American Dental Association.” This is the organization that will declare which toothpastes are of high quality and safe to use. The ADA is over 80 years old, so they have had plenty of experience seeing which toothpaste is of high quality and which ones aren’t.
Look for toothpaste that has the ADA stamp of approval so you can make sure you have toothpaste that has been declared safe and effective. These kinds of toothpaste will keep your mouth from building up plaque and can reduce sensitivity.
Tartar Control
Tartar and plaque are your biggest enemies when you have braces. They can get trapped between your teeth and the metal of the braces, keeping harmful bacteria pressed against your teeth for extended amounts of time.
When you have tartar on your teeth, the bacteria will eat away at the bone and can lead to increased teeth sensitivity, cavities, gingivitis, tooth decay, and more negative outcomes. Find a toothpaste with fluoride that states that it has quality tartar/plaque control. This will let you know if the toothpaste is strong against tartar and, therefore, good for people with braces.
Conclusion
If you are new to having braces, figuring out the best way to take care of them is a lot of work that can require some trial and error. With this list, you have one less thing to worry about as you know which toothpastes are good for those with braces.
Check out the products on this list to find the toothpaste right for you. However, if you don’t like the options we have listed, make sure to follow our short buying guide to know what to look for when buying toothpaste.
Everyone benefits from having strong dental hygiene, and that doesn’t stop when you have braces. Keeping your mouth clean keeps your body clean, and that cleanliness starts with your toothpaste.
