10 Best Toothpastes for Sensitive Teeth in 2025 (Dental Hygienist-Reviewed)

There are many different potential reasons as to why sensitivity occurs. It can be caused by brushing your teeth too roughly, grinding your teeth in your sleep, a diet that contains acidic food and drinks, GERD, gum recession, and more. Luckily, there are also ingredients that can help lessen teeth sensitivity. 

These include potassium nitrate, which blocks the transmission of pain to your brain, and fluoride, which strengthens tooth enamel and acts as a protective layer. Another helpful ingredient for reducing sensitivity is strontium chloride, which blocks the openings of the channels underneath your enamel so hot and cold sensations can't reach your nerves.

Sugar and acid can interact with the bacteria in your mouth, and in conjunction with other variables such as age or inadequate brushing, can cause cavities and tooth decay. Fluoride toothpastes for sensitive teeth are good for remineralization, the process of naturally strengthening tooth enamel. 

Calcium phosphate, which can be found in dairy products, is also great for remineralization. In fact, pastes containing this ingredient have even proven better for remineralization than fluoride toothpastes in some studies. 

Magnesium can be a beneficial ingredient for repairing enamel. Magnesium deficiency is common in the western portion of the world, and teeth with higher magnesium content have been shown to be less prone to decay.

Jaeyoung says, "There are two main ingredients that help to remineralize teeth: Fluoride and Nano-HAp. Remineralizing teeth means filling nanoscopic cracks and grooves on a tooth's surface and rebuilding areas where decay is beginning. Fluoride is a very popular ingredient in toothpastes in the USA and mostly works externally creating a shield that fights the acids created by plaque.

Nano-Hydroxyapatite (Nano-HAp) is another beneficial ingredient that penetrates deeper into the teeth and works internally. Hydroxyapatite is a biologically acceptable material that naturally occurs in our bones, teeth, and saliva and makes up 97 percent of our tooth enamel.

Lab-made Nano-HAp is an ingredient that is used in Japanese enamel restoration toothpastes that help remineralize teeth. It's interesting to note that the first medical application of hydroxyapatite was in 1970 by NASA for astronauts who experienced loss in bone and teeth mass.

In 1987, Sangi Co. Ltd. in Japan acquired the patent from NASA and have been using hydroxyapatite as the main ingredient for their toothpastes.

For consumers who are allergic to fluoride and are at higher risk for fluorosis (too much fluoride exposure leading to permanent white spots on teeth), Nano-HAp may be a better alternative to use for young children and pregnant women. Apagard Premio Toothpaste is a popular Nano-HAp product that can be easily found online."

Many people decide to avoid ingredients like fluoride and triclosan in their toothpaste. In particular, triclosan has been shown to alter hormone regulation in animals and might be harmful to the human immune system, despite also having been shown to aid efforts to prevent gingivitis.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is a common ingredient in toothpaste that makes it foamy. It's a cleaning agent that's often naturally-derived and can be found in a wide variety of products from shampoos to detergent, and it helps clear food debris from your mouth and in between your teeth.

The National Institute of Health and the FDA both say that though SLS is a safe compound for personal care products, people who suffer from mouth sores will most likely develop extra irritation from using toothpastes with SLS. 

Many brands use this ingredient, but certain companies, such as Tooth Builder and Twice, make a point to advertise that their paste is SLS-free.

Charcoal toothpastes have made a comeback in popularity as of late. Many people seek them out because they are supposed to be natural and good for whitening teeth.

However, despite aiding in removing surface stains on teeth and improving breath, there are plenty of downsides to these types of pastes. They can wear down enamel, cause extra gum sensitivity, and they lack the fluoride that helps prevent cavities.

These abrasive toothpastes aren’t good for people with sensitive teeth, in addition to having unknown long-term effects.