Why do you need to use toothpaste?

In my professional opinion, toothpaste is largely overrated. Most commercial toothpastes have fluoride, an ingredient shown to reduce tooth decay in children. Other than that, toothpaste is little more than mouth freshener. You can usually keep your mouth and teeth clean and healthy simply by brushing and flossing effectively (with or without toothpaste) every day and seeing your dental professional frequently. The key Word is 'effectively'. In my experience, most people do not brush long enough (at least two minutes).