You use your toothpaste at least twice daily, but have you ever wondered why it cleans teeth effectively? Although there are many different toothpaste brands, most have some common ingredients. Learn how they work and how they help your dental health in Bowmanville.
Toothpaste has been around for thousands of years, but the current basic formula has been used for just a few decades. Most will contain fluoride, flavouring, detergent, humectants and abrasives.
Fluoride
Fluoride is an extremely useful ingredient because it helps fight cavities and is a mineral that helps to strengthen your tooth enamel. Using fluoride toothpaste reduces your susceptibility to developing cavities. When your tooth enamel is stronger, it is less likely to suffer from enamel erosion when exposed to acidic foods and drinks and the acid produced by bacteria naturally present in your mouth.
Flavouring
Without flavouring, your toothpaste probably wouldn’t taste very nice. The flavouring used in toothpaste is typically sugar-free, such as sorbitol or saccharin.
Detergents
Ever wondered why your toothpaste foams pleasingly? It is due to detergents, most commonly sodium lauryl sulphate. Also, the foam helps the toothpaste to coat your teeth more easily.
Abrasives
Abrasives are considered an inactive ingredient because they won’t reduce your risk of developing gum disease or cavities in Newcastle, but they are important for helping to scrub away food debris and plaque bacteria, as well as some surface stains. In ancient Egyptian and Roman times, abrasives commonly consisted of crushed oyster shells or eggshells.
Thankfully, the abrasives used today are much gentler, such as hydrated eliminates oxide, dehydrated silica gels and calcium carbonate. The abrasive in your toothpaste helps to scrub your teeth clean without damaging the enamel. However, choosing good-quality toothpaste made by a reputable brand is important. Some toothpaste, especially those that promise to whiten teeth, can contain harsh abrasives that could potentially damage your tooth enamel, especially when used for a long time.
Humectants
When you squeeze out your toothpaste, it should have a nice, moist consistency due to the addition of humectants. A humectant helps to trap moisture in the toothpaste and could be sorbitol, glycerol or glycol.
Choosing the Right Toothpaste
The choice of toothpaste can seem bewildering, so before you buy your next toothpaste, consider what you would like it to do, as some offer additional benefits. For example, some toothpaste has active ingredients that can help fight dental plaque and the early signs of gum disease, called gingivitis. If you are concerned about gum disease or have noticed your gums are bleeding, it’s always best to come and have a proper checkup so we can assess your gum health and provide treatment to help reverse the early stages of gum disease in Clarington.
Other toothpaste promises to whiten your teeth and can contain chemicals or polishing agents. However, be aware that any whitening toothpaste will only have a limited effect on the colour of your teeth, but it may give your smile a bit of extra sparkle. If you want greater impact, ask us about a professional teeth whitening treatment in Courtice. West Bowmanville Family Dental can help whiten your teeth safely and effectively using professional strength products not available to the public as they must be used under the supervision of a dentist.
Other toothpaste promises to desensitize sensitive teeth. Tooth sensitivity is a common problem where your teeth feel sensitive to changes in temperature or exposure to sweet or sour foods. Desensitizing toothpaste contains compounds that help block the sensations, preventing them from reaching the tooth nerve and must be used for several weeks to get the full impact.
