It’s getting harder and harder for me to find toothpaste that doesn’t have stannous fluoride in it. Everything used to be sodium fluoride, and I didn’t notice the change until the last time I bought toothpaste and gagged on the terrible aftertaste. A look at the ingredients on the back of the box showed “stannous fluoride” as the active ingredient, and as far as I can tell it’s the only thing that’s different. I spent a long time in the toothpaste aisle at Target after that incident, and it looks like almost everything except the basic “tartar control” toothpastes either list it as an active ingredient or sneak it further down in the ingredients list. Why are the companies transitioning away from the usual sodium fluoride? Is it cheaper? Better at preventing decay or boosting whitening? The aftertaste is absolutely terrible!
Does anyone else notice a difference in the taste/aftertaste of toothpaste with stannous fluoride?
No, for now the regular Crest is still free of the offending nastiness, so I’m okay with that. I’m just wondering why it’s suddenly in almost every variety of Crest.
When you find a product you like, buy a lifetime supply because they will stop making it!
Thanks for the heads up. I’ve used regular Crest for the last umpty-ump years. Now, I’m going to run right out TODAY and buy my lifetime supply while I still can! And so should you!
Stannous, or tin, flouride is becoming more common because it’s better for your teeth than sodium fluoride. It “converts the calcium mineral apatite into fluorapatite, which makes tooth enamel more resistant to bacteria generated acid attacks. In toothpastes containing calcium minerals, sodium fluoride becomes ineffective over time while stannous fluoride remains effective in strengthening tooth enamel. Stannous fluoride has been shown to be more effective than sodium fluoride in reducing the incidence of dental caries and controlling gingivitis.”
I prefer stannous fluoride because I need the strongest toothpaste I can get, flavor be damned. And it doesn’t taste bad enough to warrant avoiding the cavity protection, unless your superpower is an immunity to future cavities (in which case you can just brush with delicious peanut butter! :p).
Smartassery aside, I recommend sticking with the stannous and just use less toothpaste. Avoid getting it on your tongue or roof and you won’t have to taste it. Afterward, brush your tongue and roof (or swish mouthwash) with something that tastes better, to get the flavor completely out of your mouth.
Intriguing… I don’t perceive any nasty taste at all…
(I kind of wish that I could simply swallow after brushing, as I have a mild phobia regarding spitting. But it isn’t as bad as my dislike of dental surgery!)
If I use sodium fluoride during the day in order to avoid the aftertaste, and stannous fluoride at night because it doesn’t matter then, will I still get the benefit (or at least some of it) of the stannous fluoride?