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 ascavity prevention,teeth whitening, andbreath freshening.
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.
Are Colgate and Crest the Same Company?
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The Best Toothpastes of 2023
Colgate
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 calledtriclosan. The company stopped using it amidst concerns that it could cause gut inflammation and endocrine disruption.
Is Fluoride Toothpaste Safe?
Crest
Crest also offers a large variety of toothpaste brands, including:
Studies have found thatstannous fluoridemight be better at fighting cavity-causing microbes than other kinds of fluoride.
Signs of Tooth Erosion
Staining of Teeth
Sodium lauryl sulfateis 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.
Will Polishing Get Rid of Teeth Stains?
Crest vs Colgate: Which Is the Better Toothpaste?
A 2019 review concluded stannous fluoride—the active ingredient in Colgate Total and Crest Pro-Health—had a more pronounced effect than other types of fluoride on reducing dental calculus build-up, dental plaque, gingivitis, stain, and halitosis (bad breath).
So either of these two options appears to be the best, and both Colgate Total and Crest Pro-Health have the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.
Do More People Use Crest or Colgate?According to Statista, in 2019 more people used Crest and chose Crest 3D White which had $263.9 million in sales.
Do More People Use Crest or Colgate?
According to Statista, in 2019 more people used Crest and chose Crest 3D White which had $263.9 million in sales.
Summary
Toothpaste is a key tool in youroral care routine. Dentists recommend that you use toothpaste with fluoride in it.
Crest and Colgate are two of the most popular toothpaste brands available. 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.
Whichever brand of toothpaste you choose, brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.
Should You Add Mouthwash to Your Oral Care Routine?
Frequently Asked QuestionsIn 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).
Frequently Asked Questions
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).
Best Methods of Teeth Whitening
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.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.2015.07.001Cheng 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.2016.10.030Pérez-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 Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019 Jul 1;24(4):e452-e460. doi:10.4317/medoral.22939Johannsen A, Emilson CG, Johannsen G, et al.Effects of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice on dental calculus, dental plaque, gingivitis, halitosis and stain: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2019 Dec 9;5(12):e02850. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02850Statista.Sales of leading toothpaste brands in the United States in 2019 (in million U.S. dollars).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/s12903-020-01079-6Additional ReadingHuysmans MC, Young A, Ganss C.The role of fluoride in erosion therapy.Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:230-243. doi:10.1159/000360555
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.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.2015.07.001Cheng 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.2016.10.030Pérez-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 Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019 Jul 1;24(4):e452-e460. doi:10.4317/medoral.22939Johannsen A, Emilson CG, Johannsen G, et al.Effects of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice on dental calculus, dental plaque, gingivitis, halitosis and stain: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2019 Dec 9;5(12):e02850. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02850Statista.Sales of leading toothpaste brands in the United States in 2019 (in million U.S. dollars).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/s12903-020-01079-6Additional ReadingHuysmans MC, Young A, Ganss C.The role of fluoride in erosion therapy.Monogr Oral Sci. 2014;25:230-243. doi:10.1159/000360555
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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.2015.07.001Cheng 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.2016.10.030Pérez-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 Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019 Jul 1;24(4):e452-e460. doi:10.4317/medoral.22939Johannsen A, Emilson CG, Johannsen G, et al.Effects of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice on dental calculus, dental plaque, gingivitis, halitosis and stain: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2019 Dec 9;5(12):e02850. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02850Statista.Sales of leading toothpaste brands in the United States in 2019 (in million U.S. dollars).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
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 Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2019 Jul 1;24(4):e452-e460. doi:10.4317/medoral.22939
Johannsen A, Emilson CG, Johannsen G, et al.Effects of stabilized stannous fluoride dentifrice on dental calculus, dental plaque, gingivitis, halitosis and stain: A systematic review. Heliyon. 2019 Dec 9;5(12):e02850. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02850
Statista.Sales of leading toothpaste brands in the United States in 2019 (in million U.S. dollars).
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
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