Translation guide
A substance for cleaning teeth, such as toothpaste, tooth powder, or gel. In Japanese, the most common and natural equivalent is 歯磨き粉 (hamigakiko), but other forms exist depending on the product type.
The most common way to refer to any substance used for brushing teeth, especially paste.
The standard, everyday word for toothpaste or tooth powder. Literally 'tooth-polishing powder', but used for paste as well.
I'm out of toothpaste, so I'm going to buy some.
Specifically refers to paste-type dentifrice, as opposed to powder. Used when distinguishing form.
These days, paste toothpaste is more popular than powder.
A more technical or formal term for dentifrice, often used in product descriptions or medical contexts.
This dentifrice contains fluoride.
Specifically a powder form of dentifrice, less common today but still available.
Despite the name containing 粉 (powder), this word is used for both paste and powder. Context clarifies the form.
In the past, dentifrice was mainly in powder form.
Explicitly means 'powder dentifrice', used when you need to emphasize the powder form.
A clear, gel-like toothpaste often marketed for specific purposes like whitening or sensitive teeth.
Commonly used to describe gel toothpaste. ジェル is from English 'gel'.
Gel toothpaste has less abrasive and is gentle on teeth.
In everyday conversation, 歯磨き粉 (hamigakiko) covers almost all types of dentifrice. You rarely need to specify paste, powder, or gel unless the form is important.
The English word 'dentifrice' is formal and uncommon. In Japanese, using a direct translation like 歯牙清掃剤 (shiga seisōzai) would sound extremely technical and unnatural. Stick to 歯磨き粉 or related terms.
Many tooth powders have high abrasiveness.