• Children 0 – 6 years old should use a pea size amount of toothpaste with 500ppm fluoride (see tube).

• Children 6 – 10 years old should use toothpaste with 1000ppm fluoride.

• Children 10 years old and adults should use a toothpaste with 1450ppm fluoride.

Your dentist may prescribe stronger toothpastes with 2800ppm and 5000ppm levels of fluoride if there is decay present in your mouth, such as Colgate Duraphat.

Duraphat as shown above is available at reception.

If children present with holes in their teeth, your dentist may recommend using a stronger paste.

Warning: Too much fluoride can lead to a condition known as Fluorosis, which appears as white patches on the teeth.  If this occurs, consult your dentist as soon as possible.

Proenamel toothpastes (e.g., Sensodyne Proenamel and Arm and Hammer with liquid Calcium) are designed to help rebuild the enamel of your teeth.  Your dentist may recommend these pastes if erosion (caused by acid in the mouth) is present on your teeth.

Sensitive toothpaste (e.g. Sensodyne and Colgate Sensitive) have special salts in them to reduce general cold sensitivity in the mouth and areas where gums may have receded.

Whitening toothpastes are slightly more abrasive and designed to remove extrinsic stains.  These are stains on the outside of your teeth caused by tea/coffee/smoking/red wine/curry etc…

Airflow treatment is available at the practice at a price of £50 to help remove these stubborn extrinsic stains.  This involves air, water and dust being blown on the teeth to remove the stain