APAGARD Toothpaste Compared: M-plus, Smokin’, Serena and Premio

Choose APAGARD by care focus, then flavor: M-plus for the basic everyday option, Serena for coffee and tea stains, Smokin’ for tobacco-stain care, or Premio for higher mHAP content than the standard type. Within Premio, the practical choice is light mint versus the cooler Extra Mint flavor.

I’m Irene, a Taiwan-born, Japan-licensed pharmacist working in a Japanese drugstore. Let’s match the APAGARD (アパガード) names, flavors and pack sizes so you can choose a tube that fits your daily routine.

Checked 18 October 2026. All five are Japanese quasi-drugs (医薬部外品), sold as medicated toothpastes for everyday preventive care. They are not OTC medicines. This guide covers the Japanese versions; follow local labeling for products sold in other markets.

The quick comparison

“Higher mHAP” means the manufacturer describes the two Premio versions as containing more mHAP than APAGARD’s standard type. The current pages do not give a percentage, and this is not a multiple of whitening or cavity-prevention effectiveness. Flavor descriptions below are the manufacturer’s; they are not a measured irritation scale.

Match the complete box and tube

Use the full English and Japanese name, especially for Smokin’ and Serena, which both have pink accents. These are five Japanese retail options, not the entire APAGARD range: Soft, Royal, children’s products and other lines also exist.

M-plus: the everyday starting point

Look for アパガードMプラス. This is the standard formula, with mild peppermint flavor, in 130 g or 63 g. It is a straightforward starting point if you want the basic APAGARD option without a particular stain-care focus.

The large tube contains 25 g more than the other four large sizes here. That is a quantity difference, not an effectiveness rating. A first-time buyer may prefer the smaller tube to check the flavor before buying more.

Smokin’: tobacco-stain care with mild peppermint

アパガードスモーキン pairs macrogol 400 (polyethylene glycol 400) with polyvinylpyrrolidone, or PVP, for tobacco-stain removal. Its flavor is mild peppermint, like M-plus.

The other four also have a tobacco-stain-removal claim; Smokin’ differs in its targeted formulation, including PVP. Its name does not mean stronger mint, and removing stains does not remove the oral-health risks of smoking.

Serena: coffee, tea and wine stains, with jasmine mint

アパガードセレナ focuses on surface staining from drinks such as coffee, black tea and wine. It adds sodium metaphosphate as a cleaning agent and sodium citrate as a cleaning aid.

The flavor is jasmine mint, so it still contains mint flavoring. Consider it if drink-related staining is your main concern and a floral note appeals to you. Long-established stains may need professional cleaning rather than harder brushing.

Premio: higher mHAP with light mint

The gold-accented アパガードプレミオ is the higher-mHAP option relative to the standard type. SANGI describes its light-mint flavor as having a gentle sweetness. It is the Premio to consider if you prefer a less emphatically cool flavor.

All five contain mHAP and pearl-derived hydrolyzed conchiolin solution, listed as a luster agent. A “pearl” formulation is not exclusive to the gold tube, and the luster ingredient is not a bleaching ingredient.

Premio Extra Mint: choose it for the cooler flavor

The full Japanese name is アパガードプレミオエクストラミント. Like Premio, it is positioned as higher in mHAP than the standard type. SANGI emphasizes its cool, fresh mint sensation.

The listed medicinal ingredient names match those of light-mint Premio. Extra Mint gives you a different flavor choice; a stronger cooling sensation is not evidence of stronger cleaning, whitening or cavity prevention.

What mHAP, whitening and “no abrasives” mean here

mHAP means medicinal hydroxyapatite. The manufacturer describes its preventive role in removing plaque, repairing microscopic enamel-surface defects and supplying minerals to early demineralized areas. Remineralization does not mean filling an established cavity. A hole in a tooth or toothache needs dental assessment.

APAGARD’s whitening claim concerns brushing away surface deposits and caring for enamel to reveal natural tooth whiteness. It does not change the teeth’s intrinsic shade or provide the result of dental bleaching.

SANGI says it does not add ingredients for the purpose of abrasion. The ingredient lists still include calcium hydrogen phosphate and anhydrous silica as base ingredients. Do not reinterpret the claim as “silica-free” or zero friction. Gentle brushing still matters.

The manufacturer states that APAGARD contains no fluoride. If your dentist has recommended a specific cavity-prevention or fluoride-toothpaste regimen, check before changing it; the mHAP label alone is not a reason to replace that plan.

Everyday use: brush, rinse and spit

1. Put a suitable amount on a toothbrush. All five give about a 1 cm strip as a guide. This is not a fixed amount for every age.
2. Brush each tooth carefully, without forceful scrubbing. The manufacturer particularly emphasizes careful brushing before bed.
3. Rinse with water and spit out. APAGARD does not set a fixed rinse volume, rinse count or brushing duration. Do not intentionally swallow toothpaste.

These are daily toothpastes. You do not need to use all five as separate steps, and leaving paste on the teeth without brushing does not complete cleaning.

Children, dental work and ingredient preferences

• Children: the manufacturer permits use for children who can spit after brushing and notes that they can be sensitive to mint. Do not simply apply the general 1 cm guide to a young child; ask a dentist about an appropriate amount and children’s formula.
• Electric toothbrushes: SANGI generally allows use, but follow the toothbrush’s own instructions.
• Removable dentures: use the cleaning method recommended by your dentist. Check individual care instructions for special crown or implant materials and orthodontic appliances too.
• Foam or ingredient sensitivity: all five list sodium lauryl sulfate as a foaming agent. Check the full formula if you have reacted to an ingredient. Light mint does not mean fragrance-free, non-foaming or irritation-free.

Choose one you will want to use every day

Start with M-plus for the basics, Serena for drink-related stain care, or Smokin’ for its tobacco-stain formulation. For Premio, choose the light or cooler mint flavor you prefer. When buying for someone else, a photo of their full tube is more reliable than a color name. Compare pack size along with the local selling price; stock varies by store.

For another everyday range with a gum-care focus and different flavors, see the Clean Dental four-version guide. If the tube you have is a gum-symptom medicine, read Dent Health R versus Bb instead. Those are Japanese Category 3 OTC medicines with different application instructions.