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Crest vs. Colgate: Similarities and Differences

Crest and Colgate are two of the leading brands of toothpaste in the United States. Both products want to be considered the most effective toothpaste on the market.

If you look at a tube of either brand, you'll see claims about all the major oral health categories, such as cavity prevention, teeth whitening, and breath freshening. Cellulose Acetate Butyrate Powder

Crest vs. Colgate: Similarities and Differences

The two brands of toothpaste are alike in some ways but very different in others.

This article will go over everything you need to know about Crest and Colgate toothpaste. You can use this information to pick the brand that's right for you.

Colgate makes several different kinds of toothpaste for adults and children. The active ingredients aren't always the same.

Colgate used to be made with an antibacterial called triclosan . The company stopped using it amidst concerns that it could cause gut inflammation and endocrine disruption.

Crest also offers a large variety of toothpaste brands, including:

Studies have found that stannous fluoride might be better at fighting cavity-causing microbes than other kinds of fluoride.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is an ingredient in most toothpaste, including Crest and Colgate.

The ingredient can cause some side effects. Sodium lauryl sulfate may:

Gum sloughing can be strange to experience but it's not harmful. However, it might make your gums more sensitive to certain things, like spices in food.

Crest and Colgate are two of the most popular toothpaste brands you can buy. While they are alike in many ways, they do have some key differences. The main difference between the two products is the type of fluoride that they use.

Toothpaste is a key tool in your oral care routine. Dentists recommend that you use toothpaste with fluoride in it. Crest and Colgate are two options that have fluoride in them—they just use different kinds.

Whichever brand of toothpaste you pick, brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.

In 2016, the FDA banned the use of triclosan in over-the-counter soaps and cleansers such as antibacterial hand soaps, bar soaps, and body wash. The FDA rule doesn't apply to toothpaste, but toothpaste manufacturers have voluntarily stopped putting triclosan in their products.

Stannous fluoride is an antimicrobial agent. It is very good at controlling dental plaque and treating gingivitis. Crest Pro-Health products use stannous fluoride instead of sodium fluoride (the fluoride in most toothpaste brands, including Colgate).

Wang CF, Tian Y. Reproductive endocrine-disrupting effects of triclosan: Population exposure, present evidence and potential mechanisms. Environ Pollut. 2015;1;206:195-201. doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2015.07.001

Cheng X, Liu J, Li J, et al. Comparative effect of a stannous fluoride toothpaste and a sodium fluoride toothpaste on a multispecies biofilm. Arch Oral Biol. 2017;74:5-11. doi:10.1016/j.archoralbio.2016.10.030

Pérez-López D, Varela-Centelles P, García-Pola MJ, Castelo-Baz P, García-Caballero L, Seoane-Romero JM.Oral mucosal peeling related to dentifrices and mouthwashes: A systematic review.Med Oral Pathol Oral Cir Bucal.2019 Jul 1;24(4):e452-e460.doi:10.4317/medoral.22939

Food and Drug Administration. FDA issues final rule on safety and effectiveness of antibacterial soaps. 

Parkinson CR, Milleman KR, Milleman JL. Gingivitis efficacy of a 0.454% w/w stannous fluoride dentifrice: a 24-week randomized controlled trial. BMC Oral Health. 2020;20(1):89. doi:10.1186/s12903-020-01079-6

Huysmans MC, Young A, Ganss C. The role of fluoride in erosion therapy. Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:230-243. doi:10.1159/000360555

By Joshua Austin, DDS Joshua Austin, DDS, is a general dentist in San Antonio, Texas. His practice focuses on general, family and cosmetic dentistry.  

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Crest vs. Colgate: Similarities and Differences

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