A surgeon-led guide featuring Sensodyne, Colgate, Oral-B, Parodontax, Curaprox & more

If you’ve ever typed “which toothpaste should I use?”, “best toothpaste for sensitive teeth” or “toothpaste for implants” into Google and ended up totally confused, you’re in the right place.

Shelves and online shops are full of options:

Sensodyne, Colgate, Oral-B, Parodontax, Elmex, Curaprox, Biorepair, Listerine toothpastes…

Whitening, sensitive, herbal, charcoal, “pro gum”, “pro enamel”, “implant care”…

The problem is simple:

Most people choose toothpaste by marketing slogan,

not by what their mouth actually needs.

I’m Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Dr Ali Direnç Ulaşan, clinical director and owner of Milim Dental –

Turkey’s first Health Tourism Authorized boutique dental center, located about a 1-hour drive from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

In this article, I’ll explain how to choose the right toothpaste for you, using real examples from well-known brands like Sensodyne, Colgate, Oral-B, Parodontax, Curaprox, Elmex and others – in a way that is:

SEO-friendly (“which toothpaste should I use”, “best toothpaste for…”)

Patient-friendly (clear, simple, no sales tricks)

Focused on health first, brand second

1. There Is No Single “Best Toothpaste” – Only the Best for You

The most important rule:

There is no universal best toothpaste.

There is only the best toothpaste for your teeth, gums and implants.

When we help patients choose at Milim Dental, we don’t start with brands; we start with questions:

Do you have sensitive teeth?

Do your gums bleed when brushing?

Do you have dental implants, crowns or veneers?

Have you had many cavities in the past?

Is your main concern whiter teeth, stronger teeth or healthier gums?

Once we know this, choosing between Colgate vs Sensodyne vs Oral-B vs Parodontax vs Curaprox becomes much easier.

2. Fluoride Toothpaste: The Baseline for Most Adults

For most adults, the safest general rule is:

Use a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.

Whether you pick Colgate Total, Oral-B Pro-Expert, Elmex Anti-Caries or another reputable brand, fluoride helps:

Remineralise enamel (repair early damage)

Reduce risk of tooth decay

Make teeth more resistant to acid attacks from food and bacteria

Check the box for fluoride content – usually around 1,350–1,500 ppm for adults.

From this baseline, you can choose a specific line:

Fluoride + sensitivity (e.g. Sensodyne, Elmex Sensitive, Oral-B Sensitive)

Fluoride + gum care (e.g. Parodontax, Colgate Gum Health)

Fluoride + whitening (e.g. Colgate Max White, Oral-B 3D White, Curaprox Black Is White)

3. Best Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth (Sensodyne and Friends)

If you feel a sharp pain with cold, hot or sweet, you probably search for

“best toothpaste for sensitive teeth” or “sensitive toothpaste reviews”.

Here, brands like Sensodyne, Elmex Sensitive, Oral-B Sensitive, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief are common choices.

Look for:

Ingredients such as potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride

Labels mentioning “sensitivity relief” or “for sensitive teeth”

How to use sensitive toothpaste correctly:

Use it every day, not just occasionally

Don’t rinse too much after brushing – leave a thin layer on the teeth

In strong cases, your dentist may ask you to:

Put a little Sensodyne (or similar) directly on the sensitive area

Leave it on for a few minutes

At Milim Dental, we frequently recommend Sensodyne, Elmex Sensitive or Oral-B Sensitive after treatments like teeth whitening, gum surgery or exposed root surfaces – always as part of a full plan, not as a magic fix.

4. Best Toothpaste for Gum Problems (Parodontax, Elmex, Colgate, Oral-B)

If you notice:

Bleeding when brushing

Swollen, red gums

Bad breath that doesn’t go away

your main issue is likely gum disease, not the tooth structure itself.

Popular gum-focused options include:

Parodontax (very gum-focused branding)

Elmex Sensitive Professional / Elmex Erosion Protection (for specific cases)

Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair

Colgate Gum Health or Colgate Total with gum protection

Important:

No toothpaste – not Parodontax, not Colgate, not Oral-B – can replace professional cleaning

if you already have plaque and tartar under the gum.

The correct sequence is:

Professional scaling and root planing if needed

Improved brushing + interdental cleaning

A gum-focused toothpaste (Parodontax, Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair, etc.) as a supporting tool

For some patients, especially those with implants or crowns, we also suggest Curaprox Enzycal or SLS-free toothpastes to reduce mucosal irritation.

5. Toothpaste for Implants, Crowns and Veneers

If you search “toothpaste for implants” or “best toothpaste for crowns and veneers”, you’ll see many claims.

The truth:

There is no single magic “implant toothpaste brand”,

But some features matter more when you have implants, zirconia crowns, e.max veneers or full-arch bridges.

You should look for:

Fluoride – to protect any remaining natural teeth

Low abrasivity – to avoid scratching ceramics and zirconia

Gentle formulas – SLS-free if you are prone to ulcers or irritation

Suitable examples (depending on your case and dentist’s preference):

Elmex Sensitive / Elmex Enamel Protection

Curaprox Enzycal series

Oral-B Pro-Expert / Gum & Enamel Repair

Some Sensodyne lines (for combined sensitivity + protection)

The real key for implants is not just toothpaste, but:

Correct use of interdental brushes around implants

Possible use of a water flosser

Regular professional checks to avoid peri-implantitis

At Milim Dental, we customise implant hygiene instructions (including toothpaste choice) for each patient’s prosthesis design and risk profile.

6. Whitening Toothpaste: Colgate, Oral-B, Curaprox & What They Can Actually Do

Whitening products are SEO gold:

“best whitening toothpaste”, “Colgate whitening”, “Oral-B 3D White”, “Curaprox Black Is White”, etc.

But let’s be honest:

Whitening toothpaste removes surface stains (from coffee, tea, smoking)

It can help maintain results after professional whitening (e.g. Philips Zoom)

It cannot replace in-office whitening if you want real shade change

Common whitening options:

Colgate Max White / Optic White

Oral-B 3D White

Signal White Now (in some markets)

Curaprox Black Is White / White Is Black (charcoal-based pastes)

Be careful with:

Highly abrasive formulas, especially if you have sensitivity, thin enamel, implants or ceramic work

Aggressive charcoal toothpastes that may scratch surfaces over time

Our typical recommendation:

If you want true whitening, do it professionally first

Then use a gentle whitening toothpaste from Colgate / Oral-B / Curaprox to maintain the result

7. Charcoal, Herbal & “Natural” Toothpastes – Nice Idea, But…

SEO and marketing love terms like “natural toothpaste”, “charcoal toothpaste”, “fluoride-free toothpaste”.

From a clinical point of view:

Charcoal toothpastes can be too abrasive if overused

Many “natural” or herbal pastes do not contain fluoride, which most adults still need

“Fluoride-free” is only appropriate in specific medical contexts, not just because it sounds cool on Instagram

If you like Curaprox herbal lines, Aloe Vera toothpastes or similar:

Use them as part of a plan, not as your only defence against decay

Ask your dentist if a fluoride-containing version would be better for you

Avoid extreme abrasivity, especially with implants and ceramics

8. Simple Cheat Sheet: Which Toothpaste Should You Use?

Here’s a quick SEO-friendly summary that patients love:

Best toothpaste for sensitive teeth

→ Sensodyne, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief, Elmex Sensitive, Oral-B Sensitive

(choose one; use twice daily)

Best toothpaste for gum problems

→ Parodontax, Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair, Colgate Total / Gum Health

(plus professional cleaning)

Best toothpaste for implants, crowns, veneers

→ Low-abrasive fluoride toothpaste like Elmex, Curaprox Enzycal, selected Oral-B or Sensodyne lines

(plus interdental brushes and regular checks)

Best whitening toothpaste (for maintenance)

→ Colgate Max White, Oral-B 3D White, Curaprox Black Is White

(after professional whitening, not instead of it)

General use if you have no special problems

→ A reputable fluoride toothpaste from Colgate, Oral-B, Elmex, Sensodyne, Curaprox, etc.

(the brand is less important than your brushing technique)

9. Final Word from a Surgeon-Led, Boutique Clinic

When patients ask me:

“Doctor, which toothpaste should I use – Sensodyne, Colgate, Oral-B, Parodontax, Curaprox… which one is best?”

my answer is always:

“Let’s first understand your mouth,

then we choose the brand that fits your needs.”

At Milim Dental, we don’t sell toothpaste on the shelf as a business model.

We prescribe toothpaste – like a small but important part of a much bigger oral health plan.

If you want a shortcut, here it is:

Choose a fluoride toothpaste from a reputable brand

Match it to your main issue (sensitivity, gums, implants, whitening)

Brush twice a day for 2 minutes, with the right technique

Add interdental cleaning and regular professional check-ups

Do that consistently and, whichever brand you finally pick –

Sensodyne, Colgate, Oral-B, Parodontax, Curaprox, Elmex –

your teeth, gums and implants will thank you far more than any logo ever could.