Does the higher price-tagged toothpaste mean that it is better than cheaper toothpaste?
A luxurious and economical car are different rides but they get you to the same place where you want to go. Regarding toothpaste, it really depends on your expectations. Cost and experience will be different but do they all accomplish the same goal?
Is it Brand or Ingredients?
There are two types of toothpaste ingredients:
Active ingredients are the workhorses. These have the primary role in protecting teeth and gums, improving breath, fighting bacteria, etc.
Inactive ingredients affect the brushing experience from taste, shelf life, texture, feel, and sensation. These do NOT play a direct role in oral health and provide insignificant health benefits regardless of the brand. In determining which toothpaste to use, the decision should be based on 1) active ingredients and 2) overall experience.
What is the Best Toothpaste with Fluoride?
Two different brands of toothpastes with the same concentration of fluoride are equal in effectiveness regardless of a toothpaste's cost. Thus, any difference between 2 brands' inactive ingredients play less of a role in protecting teeth. If brushing your teeth solely for cavity prevention then Ultrabrite, Aim, and Colgate can be just as effective as the most expensive counterparts in the U.S. market: Oxyfresh, Ollie, or CariFree; although, the more expensive likely will provide a better experience.
What is the Best Toothpaste WITHOUT Fluoride?
Claimed benefits are all over the map between these luxurious and budget toothpastes. Fluoride is the only known ingredient to prevent cavities. If you are using a toothpaste without fluoride then it is solely based on a subjective preference that will differ from person to person but know any of these will have minimal impact on cavity prevention. The least expensive fluoride-free pastes on the market are Freshmint, Burt's Bees, and Xyliwhite while the astronomically most expensive natural toothpastes are ORL, LivFresh, and Paragon!
What is the Best Sensitivity Toothpaste?
All "sensitivity" toothpastes contain the exact percentage of potassium nitrate--the compound that desensitizes teeth. If you are brushing for relief ONLY, any "sensitivity" labeled brand works just as good as another. If using for other reasons see for yourself the difference between the least expensive (Colgate Sensivites and Crest Plus) vs the most expensive: Sensodyne Pronamel, Twice, and Ollie.
Conclusion
If you are debating between two toothpastes with the same active ingredients, choose the cheaper one! Otherwise, the decision would be wholly dependent on the taste, experience, and cost. If you want a higher quality toothpaste with a more enjoyable taste and experience, choose a more expensive toothpaste. All ranges of costs will get you there, it just depends on what vehicle you want to drive.
What is the price of your toothpaste?