I’m a Beauty Director Who Takes Her Smile Seriously—This Is the Only Toothpaste I’ll Use

If you were to ask for my number-one beauty tip, it wouldn't be to wet your beauty blender before using it or to powder your lip liner so it actually stays put (though I do suggest those two things very often). Instead, it would be to find a toothpaste that actually works for you. It doesn't matter that you've perfected your lip combo and plumped your pout; if your teeth feel sore, sensitive, or stained when you smile, you're likely not showing up as your best self.

For too long, I put off figuring out the root cause of my tooth woes—a sharp pain every time I drank cold beverages, receding gums, stubborn stains—and stuck to the toothpaste, whitening products, and mouthwash I'd used for years. It wasn't until a dentist performed a sensitivity test on my teeth, which involved blowing air directly onto my pain spots (would not recommend), that it became evident something had to change. My dentist suggested Sensodyne Clinical White Stain Protector Toothpaste, and I haven't looked back since.

Despite the fact that Sensodyne is the #1 dentist-recommended toothpaste for sensitive teeth, and my dentist quite literally recommended it, I was a little hesitant to try it at first. In my naïve mind, the brand was for older people—I was far too young to have sensitive teeth! My dentist assured me sensitivity knew no age, and that the current toothpaste I was using was not only stripping my enamel and eroding my gums, but also likely causing my pain in the first place. She said I should notice a change immediately after brushing with Sensodyne and experience full relief within days. She also assured me that enamel protection and stain protection could go hand in hand—I didn't have to forgo a bright smile for strong teeth. As someone who drinks upwards of three cups of coffee a day, this was a non-negotiable.

The first time I tried out the toothpaste, I expected a grainy, sticky texture that didn't foam or give me that super clean feeling I wanted. But this formula was minty and refreshing.

The next morning, I decided to order an iced coffee—something I normally avoided because cold beverages gave me a sharp shooting pain that started from the tips of my teeth up into my gums—and was surprised to find my pain was much more manageable. That night, instead of skipping the cup of tea my husband offered me (hot drinks bothered my finicky teeth as well), I drank it with ease.

A week passed, and then another, and after a month of using Sensodyne's Clinical White Stain Protector Toothpaste, my pain was virtually gone. I was also surprised at how much whiter my smile looked since stopping my typical white strips and mouthwashes filled with hydrogen peroxide. Plus, I was able to stay more consistent with Sensodyne than with whitening toothpaste, which would cause my pain, so I saw much better results.

The true test came when I traveled for the first time without my Sensoydne. Forced to use another brand of toothpaste, I worried all my symptoms would come rushing back. In reality, they were much milder. When used over time (twice a day for about eight weeks), Sensodyne provides long-lasting protection for both sensitivity and surface stains. I was able to make do with the toothpaste available at the hotel for a few days, and then go right back to my Sensodyne routine when I got home without any problems.

I recently went in for my biannual dental check-up, and for the first time in years, I wasn't threatened with gum surgery. I also wasn't in pain during my sensitivity test, and my dentist even playfully scolded me because she believed I had been using white strips again.

At the office last week, I found myself discussing my love for Sensodyne with my coworkers and was surprised to find nearly every other fashion and beauty editor around me also uses and praises the brand. I guess it's not just my best-kept beauty tip after all.