The 9 Best Toothpastes to Reduce Sensitive Teeth

Best Overall

Colgate Sensitive Prevent & Repair Toothpaste

$15 at Amazon $12 $9 at Walmart $12 $9 at Walmart

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for maximum-strength effectiveness for reducing hypersensitivity, Asharie Campbell, DMD, a dentist at Circle City Dentists of Sebring in Sebring, Florida, says to give this one a go. It contains the highest allowed levels (5 percent) of potassium nitrate, the active ingredient that offers serious protection against sensitive teeth.

Our editor—who has very sensitive teeth and has tried many toothpastes in hopes of experiencing improvement—says this is the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth she has tried. It’s refreshing and gives the mouth a smooth, cleaning feeling, but most importantly, it really works. Other toothpastes she’s tried have had one downside or another, but this one checks all the boxes. It’s pleasant to use, feels and tastes great, and yields results. It even helped whiten teeth, which can be hard to find in a toothpaste for sensitivity.

The fluoride in this toothpaste also contributes to its effectiveness, Dr. Campbell says. Using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth that’s also formulated with fluoride, such as this one by Colgate, can prevent sensitivity from worsening by protecting tooth enamel. Fluoride can also help repair weakened parts of the enamel layer—this is known as remineralizing teeth, and there are studies to back it up.

It’s Worth Noting 

The taste of this toothpaste doesn’t last for a long time.

Product Details:

• Flavor: Gentle mint
• Key Ingredients: Potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride

Best Overall Runner-Up

Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste

$20 $19 at Amazon $13 at Target $13 at CVS

Why We Like It

There’s a reason why Sensodyne is the most recommended toothpaste for sensitive teeth by dentists—it works, and it’s vetted by experts. Kristen Klement Oldham, DMD, a dentist with Klement Family Dental in St. Petersburg, Florida, says that it’s her top recommendation because it’s specifically created with sensitivity in mind.

While there’s no shortage of Sensodyne toothpastes to choose from, they’re not all formulated with the same active ingredients. This one contains the maximum amount of potassium nitrate allowed, which has been shown to significantly decrease tooth sensitivity. It also contains fluoride to reduce cavities and a whitening agent to brighten teeth.

We noticed whiter teeth after just a few days of using this toothpaste, and after several weeks, there was a subtle but noticeable difference in overall sensitivity. It gave a smooth and cleaning feeling every time, and it was especially effective at combatting morning breath. We’re hopeful that the antisensitivity properties increase over time, but our editor saw enough improvements to continue using it long after the test was over.

It’s Worth Noting 

The minty flavor burned a little when we first started using this toothpaste. The burning sensation subsided the more we used this toothpaste, but those sensitive to strong flavors may prefer a more subtle formula.

Product Details:

• Flavor: N/A
• Key Ingredients: Potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride
  

Best Budget

Colgate Total Deep Clean Toothpaste

$24 $23 at Amazon $5 at Target $10 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Toothpastes designed for sensitive teeth tend to be pricier than regular toothpastes. Opting for this one by Colgate can save you a few bucks, and it contains the form of fluoride (stannous fluoride) that not only protects against cavities but also decreases sensitivity. What’s more, the tube is slightly larger, making it an even better value.

For us, this toothpaste did everything it’s supposed to do. It gave the whole mouth a deep cleaning and had our teeth feeling smooth and sleek—all without increasing sensitivity. We liked the pleasant flavor and feel, and we even like how the formula is white, so any mess on the bathroom counter is less of an eyesore than blue gel formulas.

It’s Worth Noting 

This toothpaste can best be described as basic. It does what toothpastes are supposed to do, but it doesn’t go above and beyond. We also found ourselves wishing the mild taste was a tad bit stronger.

Product Details:

• Flavor: N/A
• Key Ingredients: Stannous fluoride
  

Best Whitening

Crest Gum and Sensitivity Gentle Whitening Toothpaste

$20 at Amazon $9 at Target $18 at Walmart

Why We Like It

A lot of dental issues, including sensitivity, can be attributed to gum health, so taking proper care of your gums now will benefit you in the long run, Dr. Campbell says. She recommends a stannous fluoride toothpaste for reducing sensitivity as well as the reduced risk of gingivitis and gum disease, which can exacerbate sensitivity.

This Crest toothpaste is powered by stannous fluoride to target gum health, sensitivity, and cavity prevention. It also whitens teeth—our editor’s teeth were at least one shade whiter after using this toothpaste. Whitening toothpastes usually exacerbate our editor’s sensitive teeth and gums, but this one whitened teeth without increasing sensitivity. Our editor was so impressed that she ditched her usual Sensodyne for this Crest toothpaste.

It’s Worth Noting 

The minty flavor contributed to a tiny amount of tingling, but it was insignificant and didn’t bother us.

Product Details:

• Flavor: N/A
• Key Ingredients: Stannous fluoride
  

Best Total Care

Twice Oral Wellness Toothpaste with Fluoride

$22 at Amazon $7 at Walmart

Why We Like It

Potassium nitrate is considered the best ingredient for tooth sensitivity, and it’s the second ingredient in this toothpaste—right behind sodium fluoride. Together, the two reduce cavities and hypersensitivity. It’s also vegan-friendly and formulated with other ingredients that support oral health, such as anti-inflammatory vitamins and aloe. So, it’s pretty much designed to combat most (if not all) oral care concerns.

Our editor with sensitive teeth found the effectiveness of this Twice toothpaste comparable to Sensodyne. Where it really shined, however, was improving bad breath. Our editor noticed a drastic improvement in breath freshness—especially when combatting coffee breath. Overall, we really enjoyed the taste and smell, and it worked effectively to keep the whole mouth feeling clean.

It’s Worth Noting 

The consistency becomes very watery once you start brushing, which can become messy. It also didn’t do much for teeth whitening.

Product Details:

• Flavor: Wintergreen peppermint
  
• Key Ingredients: Potassium nitrate, sodium fluoride
  

Best Natural

Arm & Hammer Essentials Whiten & Strengthen Fluoride Toothpaste

$20 at Amazon $18 at Walmart View on Armandhammer.com

Why We Like It

After the very first use, we were amazed by this toothpaste. With its affordable price, it was already off to a good start, but its effectiveness really impressed us. Our editor with sensitive teeth finds many toothpastes too aggressive, but this one was surprisingly gentle. What’s more, it didn’t increase sensitivity at all. In fact, it gave a thorough clean, whitened teeth, and made our teeth feel stronger.

It’s a fluorinated toothpaste for cavity protection, but in true Arm & Hammer fashion, it also contains baking soda, which has tooth whitening properties. According to a 2017 review in The Journal of the American Dental Association, baking soda toothpaste effectively removes stains and whitens teeth, and it’s less abrasive.

It’s Worth Noting 

The mint flavor of this toothpaste is very subtle, which was a plus for our editor, but some prefer something with more punch. As a whitening toothpaste, it may also be too abrasive for some with very sensitive teeth.

Product Details:

• Flavor: Fresh mint
• Key Ingredients: Baking soda, sodium fluoride

Best Flavors

HiSmile Everyday SmileCare

$17 at Amazon $16 at Walmart View on Hismileteeth.com

Why We Like It

Toothpastes rarely come in flavors other than some form of mint. Kids’ toothpastes might have some fruity flavors, but they’re not exactly formulated for adults. For those of us looking for something a little more exciting, HiSmile has more than a dozen flavors to choose from, such as Coconut, Red Velvet, and Cotton Candy. We personally tried the Watermelon flavor, which was as sweet as it sounds. It wasn’t overly sweet but rather refreshing with a subtle mintiness.

While this toothpaste isn’t geared towards people with sensitive teeth specifically, it’s free from ingredients that increase tooth sensitivity. It also didn’t contribute to our editor’s sensitive teeth, which was a huge plus. We liked the unique color of the bottle, and we found ourselves looking forward to using this every day because it was pleasant to use.

It’s Worth Noting 

A little bit went a long way with this formula, but even so, the bottle is smaller than your typical tube of toothpaste. It contains just two ounces of toothpaste compared to the typical four to six ounces per tube. We also had some issues with the bottle—the pump was unreliable at times, and since it’s opaque, it’s difficult to tell when it’s running low.

Product Details:

• Flavor: Watermelon
  
• Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride

Best for Kids

Firefly Natural Anticavity Fluoride Toothpaste

$5 at Amazon $7 at Walmart View on Fireflytoothbrush.com

Why We Like It

Kids get sensitive teeth, too, so our editor tested this toothpaste on her children. Though her children don’t have sensitive teeth, this toothpaste went on smoothly. The kids enjoyed the sweet taste and found no issues with the texture. It’s fluorinated, so it doesn’t just taste great to kids—it also protects baby teeth from cavities.

Our editor’s children loved it, which likely goes a long way to making the tooth brushing routine more efficient. We also liked the packaging. The canister stands upright and dispenses toothpaste when you press the top. This was noticeably neater than trying to squeeze toothpaste from a tube—which, as we’ve all experienced, can create a mess on the counter.

It’s Worth Noting 

When our editor gave this toothpaste a try, she found the flavor alarmingly sweet. While not the target market, it didn’t taste great to an adult. 

Product Details:

• Flavor: Strawberry
• Key Ingredients: Sodium fluoride
  

Best Fluoride-Free

POPWHITE Whitening Primer Toothpaste

$20 at Walmart View on Popwhitesmile.com

Why We Like It

This toothpaste works similar to a color-correcting purple shampoo for blonde hair—the purple color cancels out yellow shades to make teeth appear whiter and brighter. Before the test was up, our editor noticed whiter teeth—not significantly so, but noticeably. 

Our editor has sensitive teeth and gums—so much so, in fact, that she can’t use certain products because they lead to burning and flaking along her gums. With that severity of sensitivity, our editor was concerned about how this toothpaste would affect her teeth and gums, but it was very well tolerated. She had no issues with increased sensitivity.

So, how does this toothpaste work? It’s free from fluoride, but it’s full of other beneficial ingredients, such as baking soda and coconut oil. It goes on easily, foams up nicely, and leaves teeth feeling smooth and clean. The purple toothpaste also didn’t stain any clothes or towels.

It’s Worth Noting 

Some people prefer fluoride-free toothpaste, but the American Dental Association and dentists recommend the active ingredient for both adults and children.

Product Details:

• Flavor: Mint
• Key Ingredients: Xylitol, baking soda, coconut oil