The Five Things That Make Your Toothpaste Great

For hundreds of years, brushing one’s teeth has been a social and hygienic necessity.

Today, you are fortunate in that there is such a wide selection of toothpastes to help in removing the nasty film that builds up on your teeth overnight and between brushings.

Have you ever wondered what’s in the toothpaste you use to polish your “pearly whites”? If so, here is the short list:

1. Detergents: Toothpaste foams because it contains a detergent which breaks down substances on your teeth allowing them to be dissolved and rinsed away with water. Detergents in toothpastes are mild and won’t irritate your sensitive oral tissues. Sodium lauryl sulfate is the most common detergent in toothpaste and is also found in other beauty products that foam, such as shampoo.
2. Abrasives: One of the main reasons to use toothpaste is to make the action of brushing more effective. In order to remove stains, you need a substance with a little graininess. Abrasives or mild polishing agents, clean while preserving your tooth enamel. The abrasives in toothpaste may include hydrated silica or calcium carbonate. Abrasives won’t clean your teeth without the scrubbing action of a toothbrush and brushing without an abrasive-containing toothpaste will not adequately clean and polish your tooth surfaces and will not remove stains.
3. Humectants and Binders: Humectants are a combination of ingredients that retain moisture in the toothpaste and binders keep all the ingredients from separating. If toothpaste didn’t have these components, it would dry out and require stirring before use.
4. Fluoride: Introduced into toothpaste formulas in 1914, fluoride is the most valuable component in toothpaste. It strengthens tooth enamel and makes your teeth more resistant to decay because it is actually incorporated into your tooth’s enamel structure.
5. Flavorings: Toothpaste would taste awful without the addition of natural and artificial flavoring agents.

If it’s been awhile since your last dental visit, give us a call, today, and get your spring off to a smiling-great start: (561) 627-9000.