Ranking the Best Toothpaste For Braces
There are so many more places for plaque to hide when you have brackets and wires in the way, so using the best toothpaste for braces is non-negotiable. We’ll share the top 5 options to keep cavities, gum discomfort, and staining at bay. Find the best toothpaste to use with braces below!
Quick Comparison of the Best Toothpaste to Use With Braces
|
Product |
Type |
Why It Works for Braces |
|
LIVFRESH Gum Protect+ |
Stannous fluoride + Activated Edathamil |
Dissolves plaque, protects gums, strengthens enamel |
|
Colgate Total |
Stannous fluoride |
Antibacterial coverage, widely available |
|
Sensodyne Pronamel |
Sodium fluoride |
Gentle on sensitive teeth, supports remineralization |
|
LIVFRESH Original Dental Gel |
Activated Edathamil (fluoride-free) |
250% better plaque removal, no abrasives |
|
Crest Gum Detoxify |
Stannous fluoride |
Targets bacteria along the gum line |
What Toothpaste is Best For Braces?
There are three main things to think about along your search for the best toothpaste for braces:
- It has to remove plaque from around brackets and wires
- It needs to protect your enamel from acid attacks
- It must keep your gums healthy while hardware gets in the way of brushing
As you can imagine, very few toothpastes actually do all three of those things at once. So, what toothpaste is best for braces?
Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride isn’t just in the best toothpaste for cavities. It can be your saving grace if you have sensitivity/discomfort or gum issues, too.
Plus, this mineral integrates itself back into the tooth structure, helping to reverse the early stages of white spot lesions. Braces are notorious for leaving behind these white spots when they finally come off.
Tip from the dental experts: Stannous fluoride > sodium fluoride. Look closely at the label!
Activated Edathamil Toothpaste
This one-of-a-kind ingredient is protected by 40 patents, so you’ll only find it in LIVFRESH products. What makes it so powerful is how it’s capable of dissolving plaque on a molecular level, allowing it to be effortlessly brushed and/or rinsed away. It also leaves behind a negative charge on the tooth surface so new plaque can’t stick as easily.
You can see why this is such an important ingredient in the best toothpaste for braces. Activated Edathamil vanquishes plaque on contact, so even just swishing the toothpaste around in your mouth will help get rid of the biofilm that hides where your bristles can’t quite reach.
Toothpaste for Sensitivity
You probably already know that braces come with sensitivity, as they’re shifting teeth through bone. The best toothpaste for sensitive teeth can make a world of difference. Look for ingredients such as stannous fluoride and/or potassium nitrate.
Best Toothpaste For Braces in 2026
Any of these options below could be considered the best toothpaste to use with braces. Choose based on what you need the most help with: plaque removal, gum support, or sensitivity. If it’s all three, pick LIVFRESH Gum Protect+.
LIVFRESH Gum Protect+ Toothpaste
Features stannous fluoride (0.454%) with Activated Edathamil for dual-action plaque removal and enamel protection. It’s clinically proven to help treat gingivitis as well, reducing gum swelling and bleeding 400% better than a leading ADA-approved brand.
Gum Protect+ is safe for brackets, wires, and all dental restorations. The foaming gel will reach around orthodontic hardware to cover the surfaces that would otherwise get missed by a traditional foaming toothpaste.
Colgate Total Toothpaste
Colgate Total provides antibacterial support for the teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums with stannous fluoride. You could make the case that this is the best toothpaste to use with braces simply because it’s everywhere.
You probably don’t have to drive more than a few miles to find it. It may not have the sophisticated formulation or clinical backing as LIVFRESH, but it’s a solid dentist-recommended toothpaste.
Sensodyne Pronamel Daily Protection Enamel Toothpaste
Pronamel gently remineralizes enamel with sodium fluoride. This could be the best toothpaste for braces if the sensitivity they cause has become unbearable. It’s low-abrasion by design.
LIVFRESH Original Dental Gel
What toothpaste is best for braces if you don’t want any fluoride? You need LIVFRESH’s original formula, because it still provides exceptional plaque control through Activated Edathamil alone - 250% better plaque removal, to be exact (according to clinical studies). It’s non-abrasive like the Gum Protect+ Formula and backed by 40 clinical studies.
Crest Toothpaste Gum Detoxify Deep Clean
Crest Gum Detoxify’s activated foam formula features stannous fluoride to fight bacteria along the gum line. Braces make this area notoriously difficult to clean. The Crest and Colgate formulas on this list are fairly similar, so you can look at them as basically interchangeable.
What NOT to Brush Your Teeth With if You Have Braces
We’ve mentioned that many of the formulas on this list are low-abrasive, because more aggressive formulas containing baking soda and other abrasives can actually damage the brackets holding your braces in place. They may scratch enamel around bonded areas, too. Look for a low RDA rating.
You should avoid whitening formulas as well. Not just toothpastes, but whitening mouthwash formulas, for that matter. They’ll whiten exposed enamel which is great - but then you have this sort of weird discoloration look when the braces finally come off. Save the whitening regimens for after the treatment.
Does the Toothpaste or Brushing Technique Matter More?
Setting yourself up for success with the best toothpaste for braces is only step one. Then, you have to make sure you’re using it correctly. This means brushing twice a day, of course. But technique matters, too.
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing at a 45-degree angle toward the gumline and using short, gentle strokes around each bracket. Better yet, invest in an electric toothbrush to remove the human error from oral care. You won’t have to guess how much pressure to apply.
You should fill in the gaps from brushing with the best mouthwash for braces. Even the best technique and toothpaste won’t get every bit of plaque and food hiding between brackets and wires. Stock up on all the oral care essentials at LIVFRESH today!
References
- American Dental Association. "Braces and Orthodontics." MouthHealthy.org. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/braces
- Tufekci E. et al. "Prevalence of White Spot Lesions During Orthodontic Treatment with Fixed Appliances." The Angle Orthodontist, 2011; 81(2):206-210. https://doi.org/10.2319/051710-262.1
- American Dental Association. "Toothbrushes." ADA.org. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/toothbrushes
