|
| Toothpaste Ingredients | There are much more different ingredients, added in modern toothpastes, rather than there were several years ago. The majority of new ingredients are being introduced with the aim of making the protection against all possible dental problems more effective. Thus, here come the most common ingredients of toothpastes.
Fluoride. This is one of the most popular active ingredients in toothpastes, mostly because of its ability to help to prevent the development of cavities. As a rule Sodium fluoride (NaF) is used in most toothpaste brands, though some of them use Sodium Monofluorophosphate – SMFP (Na2PO3F). As for the concentration of fluoride in an average adult toothpaste, there is about 1000 to no more than 1500 ppm.
Antimicrobial agents. This toothpaste component is something, which helps fighting all harmful bacteria of dental plague. There are two kinds of antimicrobial agents available in the toothpastes:
Bactericidal agents, such as Triclosan kills harmful bacteria by inducing damage and lesions to its cell wall, which results in the death of this bacterial cell.
Bacteriostatic agents, such as Zink (either Zink chloride or Zink citrate), which is by inhibiting the dental plaque bacteria’s metabolism prevents its growth and further development.
It is usual that the average toothpaste would include one of the abovementioned antimicrobial agents, still only when there is a combination of bactericidal agents with bacteriostatic ones, the toothpaste may be considered as being effective to fight dental plaque and gum diseases.
Surfactants (detergents) and Foaming agents. These ingredients work by carrying debris, which accumulate in the mouth and between the teeth away. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS) belong to most commonly used foaming toothpaste ingredients.
Anti – tartar agents, such as Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (TSPP). These are the toothpaste, which are considered to be the water – softening agents, which work by removing magnesium and calcium away from the saliva in order they would not get deposited and accumulated in on teeth, which in its order, will prevent from tartar (it is calcified plaque) creation. Therefore, everyone should be aware that pyrophosphate does not work by removing tartar, it simply prevents it from forming.
De–sensitizing agents. These are the common toothpaste ingredients, which help to relieve tooth sensitivity. There are three de – sensitizing agents available nowadays:
Strontium chloride – blocks the tiny crevices (called microtubules) in such a way, that sensations from cold and heat are not able to reach the tooth nerve;
Potassium citrate and Potassium nitrate block the whole pain transmission mechanism between the tooth nerve cells.
Abrasives. Previously calcium phosphate (chalk) and alumina formed the abrasive base of every toothpaste. These substances have one great disadvantage – they react with other chemical ingredients. This is the main reason why in nowadays toothpastes they were changed into the following abrasives:
Silicon Dioxide, which is a transparent abrasive, widely applied not only in white toothpastes, but in gel ones as well;
Titanium Dioxide;
Baking Soda (Sodium bicarbonate). This is quite a mild and gentle abrasive component of toothpastes. Besides providing a mild whitening action, it also helps to keep an alkaline environment, which is not friendly for dental plaque bacteria development in the mouth.
Teeth Whitening agents. These ingredients are not included in every toothpaste, only in those, which are said to provide whitening effect. In this toothpaste there may be some extra whitening ingredients, such as Hydrogen Peroxide or Sodium Carbonate Peroxide, which gets broken down into Sodium Carbonate (washing soda) and Hydrogen Peroxide.
Flavor. There is an extremely wide variety of flavors, different toothpastes come with, such as mint, orange, herbal, etc.
Additional Ingredients. Such ingredients as herbs, calcium, mouthwash, vitamins, enzymes, coloring thickeners, water softeners, sweeteners, etc. are usually included into toothpastes as well, though it depends, as they are not considered to be the “standard” ingredients.
|
|
