Toothpaste or no toothpaste?

Question

I just recently got a new dentist and the first thing that he asked me was "do you use toothpaste?" so I said that yes I did and he told me to stop using it. He said just to brush with warm water because using toothpaste is pointless.

So, I was just wondering if there actually are any benefits to using toothpaste (besides having fresher breath) or if it's just another way for companies to make money.

Answer 1

Actually, what you are supposed to do is brush first without toothpaste and then use toothpaste.  Sometimes the paste gets in the way of the plaque and the brush.  I don't agree with not using toothpaste.  Who doesn't love fresh smelling breath?

Answer 2

toothpaste has fluoride which strengthens your enamel...so i highly doubt that it's useless....

Answer 3

Occasionally a person can run into a professional who has different (weird) ideas. As far as cleaning your teeth, you do not need toothpaste. The brush does all of the work of breaking up the plaque.

Toothpaste:

1. gives a detergent action to suspend the small food particles and allow you to spit them out

2. has a mild abrasive but it does not do much

3. has fluoride to help strengthen the teeth. This is the main therapeutic benefit of using toothpaste.

4. flavouring...the other main reason for using toothpaste...to give your breath a fresh feel and smell.

So, as you can see there are good reasons for using toothpaste.