When to start using a specialist sensitive toothpaste
Using a sensitive toothpaste may not be necessary if you only experience occasional sensitivity, but it is generally safe and effective. The main downside is that they tend to be more expensive than a regular toothpaste.
However, it's important to identify the root cause of your sensitivity to prevent potential long-term issues. If your dentist confirms no underlying issues, a sensitive toothpaste may be a good option if your symptoms are becoming bothersome.
How to choose a sensitive toothpaste
The best sensitivity toothpastes included on this page have been selected using the guidelines below. Take these into account if you select a different sensitive toothpaste:
- They contain fluoride (unless they are specifically in the fluoride free category)
- They contain one of the active ingredients for preventing and treating sensitivity.
- They are non abrasive (to avoid worsening any tooth wear related sensitivity). This means an RDA of 250 or below.
Different toothpastes do have different active ingredients for sensitivity. You need to give them a couple of weeks to see if they do have an effect.
If one particular paste doesn’t work, don’t fear - there are plenty more to try. For some people it is simply a case of trial and error to find the perfect sensitive toothpaste.
A final tip, is that over time you may become “immune” to the toothpaste (it has less of an effect). If this is the case, simply switch brands for a few weeks or months and then you can switch back again.
The best sensitive toothpaste: 5 good options
Here's a list of 5 sensitive toothpastes that I recommend. I then include some other options further down the page for specific categories — natural, whitening and fluoride-free.
I've also included a longer list of sensitive toothpastes at the bottom of this page.
GC Tooth Mousse Plus
GC Tooth Mousse Plus is significantly different to many of the other pastes available for tooth sensitivity, and is definitely worth a try if you have been unsuccessful with other toothpastes.
It has a truly unique formulation compared to other pastes on the market. It contains Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP), which increases the number of calcium and phosphate ions available to help block tubules causing sensitivity.
It works even better if you have trays (such as tooth whitening trays) to wear overnight. In fact, I recommend this to all patients to use for a week before starting tooth whitening with me.
Pros
- Active ingredient: Recaldent: calcium and phosphate ions
- Reduces sensitivity
- Five flavours available
- Contains fluoride
Cons
- Unsuitable if you have a milk allergy
Where to buy
Price comparison
- 40g tube
- Approx. $30 / tube
- $$$
BioMin F
BioMin F is an award winning sensitivity toothpaste.
This paste was developed in the UK, and is definitely worth a try if regular sensitivity toothpastes aren’t cutting it for you. In fact, studies have shown relief for up to 90% of patients suffering from sensitivity.
The only real downside of this toothpaste is trying to get hold of it - there are a couple of stockists available online who will deliver to you directly, or you may need to find a dentist who stocks the product.
Pros
- Active ingredient: calcium and phosphate ions
- Low abrasive toothpaste, with an RDA value of 68
- No animal-derived products
- No animal testing
- Contains fluoride for protection against cavities
- Suitable for daily use
Cons
- Only available online from select retailers
Sensodyne Daily Care
Sensodyne is known for its sensitivity toothpastes, but they use two different active ingredients: stannous fluoride or potassium nitrate. I have included Sensodyne Daily Care here as it is one of the cheapest potassium nitrate containing toothpastes.
The Sensodyne Daily Care range includes four different varieties: Original, Gentle Whitening, Extra Fresh, Deep Clean. They all contain Potassium Nitrate and so are all equally effective at reducing your sensitivity. The ingredients lists are largely the same, apart from:
- Extra Fresh contains additional ingredient CI 42090, which is a colourant.
- Gentle Whitening variety includes Pentasodium Triphosphate and Alumina to help reduce stains, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (a foaming agent)
- The Deep Clean variety is a gel as opposed to a paste, and additional ingredients compared to the original flavour include Pentasodium Triphosphate and SLS!
My recommendation would be to stick to Sensodyne Daily Care Original, or even the gentle whitening version to help reduce staining, and to avoid the paste with SLS and unnecessary colourants.
For an alternative, you could check out our list of potassium nitrate containing sensodyne toothpastes below.
Pros
- Active ingredient: potassium nitrate
- SLS free
- Contains fluoride
- Widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies
- Suitable for daily use
Cons
- Contains food colouring and dyes
- No information on animal testing or animal derived ingredients
Where to buy
Price Comparison
- 75ml per tube
- Approx. $10 / tube
- $$
Cedel Sensitive
This is one of only a few offerings from the brand Cedal. I have included it because it is one of the cheapest specialist sensitive toothpastes available, and is also vegan.
Pros
- Active ingredient: potassium nitrate
- Australian made and owned
- Contains fluoride for protection against cavities
- Widely available in stores and online retailers
- Suitable for daily use
- Affordable
- Vegan
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- None
Where to buy
Price Comparison
- 110 grams per tube
- Approx. $4.50 / tube
- $
Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief
Colgate Sensitive Pro-relief is one of the very few toothpastes making use of the beneficial effects of arginine. There are a number of different varieties of Colgate Sensitive Pro-relief, and you could try any one of the following (all of which contain arginine as the active ingredient):
- Enamel Repair
- Extra Protect
- Multi Protection
- Repair and Prevent
- Smart White
- Whitening
There is little difference between the ingredients lists of each of these products, so your preference may depend on what tastes better to you, or even what is on offer in the shops.
Pros
- Active ingredient: arginine
- Contains fluoride for protection against cavities
- Widely available in stores and online retailers
- Suitable for daily use
- Affordable
Cons
- No information on animal testing or animal derived ingredients
Where to buy
Price comparison
- 5.1 Ounce / 144 grams per tube
- Approx. $5 / tube
- $
Best natural toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Natural toothpastes are generally free from any unnecessary chemicals and artificial ingredients.
If you are looking for a natural toothpaste that is effective against sensitivity, my main recommendation here are:
Hello sensitivity with fluoride (view it here on iHerb). The active ingredient is potassium nitrate, and it also contains aloe vera. The paste is free from artificial sweeteners and flavors, and is also SLS free, as well as being vegan and cruelty free.
NFCo. Sensitive & Gentle Toothpaste (view it here on Nourished Life) — this contains potassium nitrate to actually help relieve sensitivity. It does not, however, contain fluoride, so I would recommend using this alongside another fluoride containing paste.
I have included a few other natural options in the list of sensitive toothpastes below.
Best whitening toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Actual whitening treatments can cause tooth sensitivity, but what about whitening toothpastes you can use at home? Well bear in mind that these will only remove stains, and will not lighten the overall colour of your teeth. But they may still give you the results you want.
You may want to avoid stannous fluoride containing toothpastes if you are concerned about staining. Generally, stannous fluoride is linked to staining on teeth, although manufacturers claim they can reduce this effect with the correct formulation.
Beware of abrasiveness with whitening toothpastes, which could make any existing sensitivity worse. But the following toothpastes contain active ingredients to help control tooth sensitivity whilst also improving appearance:
- Oral-B 3D White Therapy Sensitive Toothpaste (view it here on Chemist Warehouse) — the active ingredient is potassium nitrate for control of sensitivity, whilst also containing sodium fluoride for protection against cavities. According to Williamson Perio, the RDA is 152, which is well below recommended limits, but you potentially cause damage if used incorrectly.
- Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Whitening (view on Chemist Warehouse) — again, the active ingredient is potassium nitrate, with sodium fluoride for anticavity protection. The RDA is not easily available, but other Colgate Sensitive toothpastes rank under 100.
Best fluoride free toothpaste for sensitive teeth
One of the major ingredients that helps with sensitivity is actually stannous fluoride, so if you avoid this, you are limited to using a toothpaste containing either arginine, calcium phosphate ions or potassium nitrate.
Honestly, if you suffer from sensitive teeth and want a fluoride free toothpaste you should check out the reviews for:
- GC Tooth Mousse (view on Amazon) - this is the fluoride free version of Tooth Mousse Plus which made it into my best overall toothpastes.
- BioMin C (view it on the BioMin website) - contains patented calcium and phosphate technology which can aid remineralisation and provide some protection against decay as well as sensitivity.
Whilst I don’t recommend fluoride free toothpaste, as you miss out on the known anti-cavity properties of fluoride, I respect that some people may still wish to avoid toothpastes containing fluoride. I have included some other non-fluoride options in the list of sensitive toothpastes below.
Best sensodyne toothpaste
Big pharmaceutical company GSK produces Sensodyne and Pronamel, and it can be difficult to know which one is right for you. Below is some advice on how you can pick the variation of Sensodyne that is best suited to you:
- Look at the active ingredients. In the US Sensodyne and Pronamel have one of two active ingredients: potassium nitrate, stannous fluoride or Novamin. I have split these into a helpful table below. If one ingredient isn’t working for you, try switching to the other. The active ingredient is the main difference with the pastes.
- Decide whether to go for SLS-Free. This is worth considering if you suffer from sore gums or ulcers. I go into more detail in my post on the best SLS-Free toothpastes.
- Pick any other helpful ingredients, such as those for whitening. That being said, when it comes to whitening there won’t be much difference with these — they will only remove stains, not whiten the overall colour of the tooth.
To put it bluntly, there isn’t one single best sensodyne toothpaste (although I have included Sensodyne Daily Care in my list of overall best options). Other than the different active ingredients, there isn’t an awful lot of difference in the formulations, but there may be a big change in price!
| Stannous Fluoride | Potassium Nitrate |
|---|---|
| Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum: original, Whitening | Sensodyne Daily Care: Original, Gentle Whitening, Extra Fresh |
| Sensodyne Rapid Relief: Original, Whitening, Extra Fresh | Sensodyne Pronamel Daily Protection: Gentle Whitening, Daily Protection |
| Sensodyne Repair and Protect: Original, Whitening, Extra Fresh **+NOVAMIN** | |
| Sensodyne Complete Protection: original, Whitening**+NOVAMIN** |
Prescription toothpastes may help if off-the-shelf products don't work for you
Finally, if you have tried many different options and they aren’t helping, there are some specialist products you can get on prescription from your dentist or buy directly from your dentist’s office.
- Take home pastes. Contain stronger concentrations of ingredients, or ingredients not available in normal stores.
- Prescription only
- Colgate Neutrafluor toothpastes - Sodium fluoride
- Colgate Neutrafluor 5000 Sensitive Toothpaste - Sodium fluoride and potassium nitrate
- 3M ESPE Clinpro toothpaste - sodium fluoride
- Without prescription:
- VOCO Remin Pro - calcium phosphate, fluoride and xylitol
- VOCO ProFluorid Varnish - sodium fluoride
- Pola soothe - potassium nitrate and fluoride
- UltraEZ - potassium nitrate and fluoride
- Prescription only
- At the dentist’s office: the dentist can apply specials gels and varnishes such as:
- 3M ESPE Clinpro varnish - calcium phosphate and sodium fluoride
- Colgate Duraphat fluoride varnish
- Colgate® Sensitive Pro-Relief Desensitising Polishing Paste
- GC MI Varnish -calcium phosphate
Buyer's guide: understanding tooth sensitivity and how to treat it
In the sections below I've included some information about what causes sensitivity and how you can avoid it.
What is tooth sensitivity?
A short, sharp pain from the tooth in response to being exposed to hot and cold, or sometimes to sweet and spicy foods. Sometimes the sensitivity also occurs when the tooth is touched, e.g. when brushing the teeth.
What causes tooth sensitivity?
Ultimately, tooth sensitivity is caused by exposed dentin tubules (the nerves that sense pain lie within these parts of the tooth). A change in hot/cold/pH etc causes movement of the nerve within the tubule, which causes a pain signal to be sent to your brain.
The real question is how do dentin tubules become exposed?
Causes of dentin exposure (and therefore tooth sensitivity) include:
- Gum disease: Gum recession due to gingivitis and periodontitis.
- Damage at the gum line caused by over brushing. This can cause both gum recession to expose the dentin and also wears away the enamel on the tooth surface, to expose dentin.
- Grinding habits: Wearing away the enamel layer due to bruxism will expose the dentin tubules.
- Dental treatment: Tooth whitening can cause temporary sensitivity. Professional cleaning and fillings can also lead to sensitivity.
Key tips for avoiding sensitivity
- Gum health is key. Avoid gum disease to avoid gum recession. Brush twice daily and use some form of interdental cleaning every day.
- Avoid over brushing. Being mindful of how you brush to make sure you do not press too hard with the brush. Using an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor can help to monitor this.
- Minimise tooth wear by avoiding acidic foods and drinks.
- Use a specialised sensitivity toothpaste to manage any symptoms you may have.
Most people experience some sort of sensitivity at some point in their lives, and normally this is nothing to worry about. But if it carries on for over a week, or suddenly gets a lot worse, make sure you get it checked by a dental professional.
About the ingredients used in sensitive toothpastes
Arginine
Arginine is an essential amino acid, actually found naturally within the body. However the doses found in saliva are much lower than those found in toothpastes.
Arginine is used to treat sensitivity by blocking the exposed dentin tubules (where the nerves are exposed). Blocking these tubules and the exposed nerves prevents irritation of the nerve and so reduces tooth sensitivity.
The relief from a tubule blocker is relatively quick, and you can notice an effect almost instantly with some products.
Unfortunately, there are very few toothpastes on the US market which do contain arginine, so choice is limited. However you may also be able to buy arginine-containing products at your dentist’s office to take home.
Calcium and Phosphate Ions
Calcium and phosphate ions help to remineralize the outermost surface of the tooth with hydroxapetite. Ultimately this blocks the tubules, preventing irritation of the nerves within them. There are a couple of formulations you may have heard of, Novamin and BioMin, which have slight differences between them.
- Novamin - Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate - a “bioactive glass” which essentially releases calcium and phosphate ions. Some evidence shows Novamin is more effective than BioMin when it comes to blocking dentin tubules. What this means is that it may be more effective if there is gum recession exposing root dentin or where there has been enamel wear exposing the dentin.
- BioMin - Calcium FluoroPhospho Silicate - a “bioactive glass” which essentially releases calcium and phosphate ions, also containing fluoride.
Potassium Nitrate
Potassium nitrate prevents sensitivity by preventing the nerve from passing on the pain message from the tooth to the brain. It is a nerve calming agent.
Although it prevents the message being passed on, it does not treat the cause of sensitivity, so you could develop sensitivity once again.
It takes time for potassium nitrate to work, so there is no instant relief. You need to use these products for a few weeks to see if they work for you, and if they do help - do not stop using them!
Anecdotally the treatments work, and there seems to be a lot of evidence from manufacturers, but there is only limited evidence when reviewed independently by the Cochrane Collaboration.
Stannous Fluoride
Stannous fluoride treats the cause of sensitivity by blocking the ends of the exposed dentin tubules. This prevents the nerves found inside the tooth from being irritated when being exposed to hot or cold.
A tubule blocker like stannous fluoride has an almost instant effect in relieving you from tooth sensitivity.
Strontium Chloride
Strontium chloride treats sensitivity in teeth by blocking the message between the pain receptors and the brain. In other words, it is a nerve calming agent.
Strontium chloride doesn’t treat the root cause of the sensitivity and so you may develop tooth sensitivity again in the future.
You need to give it a couple of weeks for the effect of strontium chloride to build up before it can take full effect, and then continue to use it even if the symptoms improve.
At the time of writing, strontium chloride is not widely used in US toothpastes.
FAQ
Below are some common questions about sensitive toothpaste. If you've got any questions of your own, leave a comment at the bottom of this page.
Is Sensodyne or Colgate sensitive better?
How useful a toothpaste is to you depends on the active ingredient. You can pick between stannous fluoride or potassium nitrate for Sensodyne or Colgate. As this is a personal choice, neither is “better”.
Is all Sensodyne toothpaste for sensitive teeth?
All Sensodyne toothpastes contain either stannous fluoride or potassium nitrate and are useful if you suffer from sensitive teeth.
Can sensitive toothpaste cause sensitive teeth?
Not everyone gets a benefit from all sensitive toothpastes. One ingredient may work better than another for you. If you switch products and ingredients, you may lose the benefits from the other toothpaste. The new toothpaste hasn’t caused the sensitivity, but it is no longer helping. If you suddenly develop sensitive teeth, see a dental professional.
Does toothpaste for sensitive teeth work?
Yes, toothpastes formulated for sensitive teeth do work, but you may need to try different active ingredients to find one that works for you.
Are there any other products that could help with sensitivity?
As well as using a sensitive toothpaste, you could consider a sensitive mouthwash, or a prescription product from your dentist.
Other sensitive toothpastes
In case none of the products from our list above appeal to you, here are some additional sensitive toothpastes to consider.
When picking a toothpaste, I recommend considering the general advice on choosing a toothpaste from our toothpaste hub page.
| Name of Product | Anti-cavity protection | Active ingredient | Price Range | Also good for... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BioMin C | Calcium phosphates | Calcium and Phosphate Ions | $$ | |
| BioMin F | fluoride | Calcium and Phosphate Ions | $$ | |
| Cedel Sensitive | fluoride | Potassium nitrate | $ | Vegan |
| Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief | fluoride | Arginine | $$ | Whitening Available |
| Colgate Sensitive Multi Protection | fluoride | Potassium nitrate | $ | Whitening available |
| Macleans Sensitive | fluoride | Potassium nitrate | $ | |
| hello® sensitivity relief | Fluoride | Potassium Nitrate | $$$ | Natural SLS free Vegan |
| Grants of Australia Sensitive Toothpaste | nil | Potassium Nitrate | $$ | Natural SLS free Vegan |
| NFCo. Sensitive & Gentle Toothpaste | nil | Potassium Nitrate | $$ | Natural Organic SLS free Vegan |
| Oral-B Pro-Health | fluoride | Stannous fluoride | $$ | |
| 3D White Whitening Therapy Sensitivity Care | fluoride | Potassium Nitrate | $$ | Whitening |
| Sensodyne Daily Care | fluoride | Potassium Nitrate | $ | SLS free Whitening available |
| Sensodyne Sensitivity & Gum | fluoride | Stannous fluoride | $$ | Gum Disease Whitening available |
| Sensodyne Rapid Relief | fluoride | Stannous fluoride | $$ | Whitening available |
| Sensodyne Repair and Protect | fluoride | Calcium and phosphate ions (Novamin)Stannous fluoride | $$ | Whitening available |
| Sensodyne Complete Care | fluoride | Calcium and phosphate ions (Novamin) | $$ | |
| Sensodyne Pronamel Daily Protection | fluoride | Potassium Nitrate | $ | SLS free Whitening Available |
| Regenerate Enamel Science™ toothpaste | fluoride | Calcium and phosphate ions | $$$ | |
| Regenerate Enamel Science™ Advanced Enamel Serum | fluoride | Calcium and phosphate ions | $$$ | |
| Biomed Sensitive Toothpaste | HAP | Calcium and phosphate ions | $$ | Natural Non-mint Organic SLS free |
| GC Tooth Mousse | Calcium and phosphate ions | Calcium and phosphate ions | $$ | Non mint available SLS free |
| GC Tooth Mousse Plus | fluoride | Calcium and phosphate ions | $$ | Non mint available SLS free |
| White Glo Charcoal Deep Stain Remover With Sensitive Relief | fluoride | Potassium nitrate | $$ | Charcoal |
