Choosing a Toothpaste: What’s the Big Deal?
Learning Objectives

Upon the completion of this course, the dental professional should be able to:

• Discuss the importance of toothbrushing, based on current oral disease prevalence, and the criticality of plaque removal in disease prevention.
• Explain the basis for the incorporation of agents in toothpaste formulation for disease prevention and treatment.
• Review the differences between the common fluorides found in commercial toothpastes.
• Describe the method of action and benefits of stannous fluoride as an antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agent in dentifrice.
• Identify other common toothpaste agents that address patient indications, both therapeutic and cosmetic.
• Describe how abrasivity is related to toothpaste safety.
• Recognize the importance of laboratory and clinical research in establishing and supporting toothpaste claims.
• Apply the understanding about toothpastes’ relative benefits to assist patients in selecting the best dentifrice to meet their unique oral health needs.