Toothpaste is a gel used to clean the surface of the tooth.
It is usually applied to a toothbrush and used to remove the What is plaque? from the surface of the teeth.
Most toothpastes contain fluoride. Many studies have shown that fluoride can help strengthening the surface of the tooth and help to combat tooth decay. It is usually in the form of sodium fluoride.
The toothpaste usually contains:
- Abrasive material: to help cleaning the surface of the tooth from stains and plaque.
- Flavours: Saccharin or Sorbitol. To make the toothpaste taste better especially for children.
- Thickening agents.
- Foaming agent called sodium laureth sulfate: This makes the toothpaste foam in the mouth.
- Humectants: ingredients that prevent the toothpaste from drying out. Among these we can find glycol, glycerol and sorbitol
Other chemicals that could be added to toothpaste are:
- Hydrated Silica
- Titanium dioxid
- Carrageenan
- Sodium Saccharin
- Limonene
- Xanthan gum
- Sodium Gluconate
- Stannous fluoride
- Propylene Glycol
- Sodium hexametaphosphate
- PEG-6 (emollient)
- Chondrus crispus powder
- Copernica Cerifera Cera
- Steareth – 30
- Amyloglucosidase
- Citric acid
- Lysozyme
- Lactoperoxidase
- Colostrum
- Lactoferrin
- Zinc gluconate