Best Toothpaste in Nigeria

Toothpaste, a paste or gel dentifrice applied with a toothbrush, serves the purpose of cleaning and preserving the appearance and health of teeth. Functioning as an abrasive, it aids in the removal of dental plaque and food particles, contributes to the prevention of halitosis, and incorporates active ingredients, typically fluoride, to mitigate the risks of tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (gingivitis), thus promoting oral hygiene. Toothpaste varies in its effectiveness for maintaining oral health, and the best toothpaste in Nigeria differs in terms of composition and fluoride content.

Dental experts formulate toothpaste using a variety of components, with the primary constituents being abrasives, fluoride, and detergent.

• Abrasives: Insoluble particles, designed to aid in the removal of plaque from the teeth, constitute 8-20% of the abrasives in a typical toothpaste.
• Fluoride: Various forms of fluoride constitute the most popular as well as the most effective active ingredient in toothpaste for preventing cavities.
• Detergent: Many toothpaste brands incorporate sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or related surfactants (detergents), although not all of them do. SLS is a foaming agent which enables even distribution of toothpaste and in turn improves its cleansing power. Other personal care products, such as face cleansers and shampoo, also contain SLS.

The Best Toothpaste in Nigeria

There are several toothpaste brands in Nigeria that have become household names over the years.

Close Up

Unilever introduced Close-up in 1967 as an American toothpaste brand that is recognized as the pioneer of gel toothpaste in the world. Unilever, its parent company, actively oversees the global marketing of the brand, and it has held a license since 2003. The Close-Up toothpaste brand held a prominent position as the leading toothpaste brand in Nigeria from 1975 until early 2016 when Oral-B came into the market and became its competition.

Oral-B

Also an American brand of oral care products founded on January 13, 1950 and owned by Procter & Gamble since 2006. In 2016, the company introduced Oral-B into the Nigerian market, creating competition for the popular Close Up toothpaste. Oral-B has a range of products that include Pro Expert, Gum and Enamel Repair, Sensitivity & Gum.

Euthymol

LG H&H UK distributes Euthymol, a brand of antiseptic, fluoride-free toothpaste known for its bright pink colour and medicinal taste. The antiseptic composition of this toothpaste is thymol. It was launched in 1898 and is distributed by Johnson & Johnson.

Macleans

Originally introduced in the UK during the 1930s by the Maclean’s Company, this toothpaste brand, currently under GlaxoSmithKline, underwent ownership transitions through the Beecham Group and eventually SKB. Although once available in the US until the early 1980s, it is now exclusively marketed in Australia and New Zealand and manufactured in various countries. Macleans has been around in Nigeria for over 40 years and also produces toothpaste for kids.

Pepsodent

A minty-flavoured toothpaste, derived from sassafras, claimed to combat tooth decay in its advertisements, attributing this property to the alleged ingredient Irium. Irium, an alternative term for sodium lauryl sulfate, an affordable ionic surfactant, constitutes a key component. The Pepsodent Company of Chicago initially introduced it in the US in 1915, and Unilever later acquired the company in 1944. The toothpaste brand launched in Nigeria in 2011 and has remained committed to battling oral hygiene issues.

Sensodyne

GlaxoSmithKline markets this toothpaste brand specifically designed for individuals with sensitive teeth and/or dentine hypersensitivity. In 1961, the US and UK witnessed the launch of Sensodyne Original, the pioneering desensitizing toothpaste that incorporates strontium chloride. And in 2011, it launched in Nigeria. It proudly claims the top position as the number one dentist-recommended toothpaste for sensitivity.

Colgate

Colgate introduced its oral hygiene products to the market in 1873, a milestone reached sixteen years following the passing of the company’s founder, William Colgate. Colgate-Palmolive introduced and marketed the Colgate toothpaste in 1896, giving it the distinction of being the pioneer toothpaste in a collapsible tube. Before this innovation, the company sold it in glass jars starting from the year 1873. The brand produces other oral hygiene products such as dental floss, toothbrushes and mouthwash.

Longrich

Longrich is a reputable global direct marketing company with its roots in China, boasting a 36-year history. The company initiated its network in 2008 and has since expanded its product line to include over 2000 diverse offerings. Among these products are toothpaste, charcoal soap, sanitary napkins, and energy shoes. Longrich toothpastes are fluoride-free. treats toothache, weak gum and bad breath.

Read more on Nairasworth.com