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Know your toothpaste

          Know your toothpaste
Toothpaste is used everyday in almost every house all over the world. But have you ever thought what all things does a toothpaste have? Which toothpaste is best for you? Let's have a look below.
Know your toothpaste
There are many types of toothpastes available in the market. First let's have a look on ingredients common in all toothpastes.


  1. ) Abrasives: They constitute 40% - 50% of a toothpaste. Abrasives along with your toothbrush help cleaning the tooth surface. They remove plaque, debris and some surface stains from the teeth. Some common abrasives used in toothpaste are calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, calcium phosphate. Nowadays, silicone oxides, aluminum oxides and granular polyvinyl chloride are commonly used. These abrasives are rough enough to Clean the surface of tooth but gentle enough to avoid damage to its surface.
  2. ) Water: 20% - 40%
  3. ) Humectants: They help maintain moisture in the toothpaste thus preventing it from drying out.  Glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol, propylene glycol are commonly used.
  4. ) Foaming agents: They are detergents like sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). They create foam upon the surface of teeth and improve the cleansing action of toothpaste by distributing it evenly.
     Some of you might suffer from frequent mouth sores or mouth ulcers after using toothpaste, it may be due SLS. If it is so then look for an SLS free toothpaste.

5. ) Thickening agent: Synthetic sodium carboxy methyl cellulose is used to maintain texture of a toothpaste.

6. ) Preservatives:  Benzoic acid

7. ) Flavouring agents: 2% essential oils like peppermint, spearmint and Wintergreen are used. Other synthetic flavours like bubblegum, lemon, vanilla and orange are used.

8.) Sweetening agents: Sachharin, sorbitol, mannitol imparts sweet taste to the toothpaste.

9.) Fluoride: This is the most important ingredient to look for when you choose your toothpaste. It is the key ingredient which helps fight cavities. It makes your teeth stronger and also helps in remineralizing the damaged tooth surface. Flouride in the form of sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride or olaflur is present.

Other components to know in your       toothpaste :
  • Triclosan:  It is an anti bacterial agent and a common ingredient used in toothpastes. It reduces tartar and bad breath and also prevents bleeding of gums.
  • Xylitol:  Prevents cavities and also prevents toothpaste from drying out.
  • Sensitivity toothpaste: If your teeth are sensitive to hot and cold beverages then look for a toothpaste containing strontium salts, sodium fluoride or potassium nitrate. 
  • Whitening toothpaste: They contain abrasive particles like hydrated aluminum oxides, mica, silicas, calcium carbonate which polish your teeth. According to some dentists, toothpastes with RDA (Relative dentin abrasivity) value more than 50 should not be used daily. Bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide are used in whitening toothpastes.
     Although whitening toothpastes are often claimed safe for daily use, but long-term use should be avoided as they may cause sensitivity.

So choose your toothpaste smartly!!

Hope you like the article " Know your toothpaste".... 

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