Often, the market may surprise you by offering the same good old product within a new packaging. But you may only know about it by the very feel you get or from your personal experience of the product performance. After all, who does care to take a magnifying glass and study the small letters which combine together to form the list of ingredients?
But if you can really bother to go through the information, then you will definitely have some guidance to influence your purchase of a newly introduced product. And this is of greater importance in the area of choice of personal products of everyday use such as your toothpaste. Have you ever bothered to know about the ingredients which you rub against your teeth every day? Here is a gist of the ingredients that compose most of the toothpastes available in the market:
- Fluoride: Fluoride is the most important component of toothpastes of all the brands. It is the ingredient which deposits itself in the tooth enamel and forms a protective shield against acids synthesized by mouth bacteria and the ones contained in foods, carbonated soft drinks and fruit juices. Fluoride appears in toothpastes in the form of compounds like sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate. The fluoride content is much higher in toothpastes prescribed for specific issues like cancer and dry mouth.
- Abrasives: The cleaning power of toothpastes is attributed to the presence of abrasives like alumina, silica, calcium carbonate and calcium phosphates. These ingredients are responsible for removing plaque and stains and for polishing the tooth enamel. But toothpastes with a high abrasive content will actually damage the tooth enamel rather than doing any good. This may also lead to tooth sensitivity. So it will be your objective to look for less abrasive toothpastes.
- Detergents: The toothpaste gets its foaming effects due to the presence of detergents. It is this foaming action which keeps the toothpaste in our mouths. The common detergent used is SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate. But this compound is known for causing mouth ulcers in susceptible individuals.
- Thickeners: Thickeners like cellulose gum, carrageenan and xanthan gum shape the texture of toothpaste. These components determine the thickness of your toothpaste.
- Flavoring Agents: Some detergents like the SLS have unfavorable tastes and to cover that up, some formulas are provided with rich and strong flavors. Saccharin is a commonly used flavoring agent.
- Humectants: The moisturizing agents which protect your toothpaste from drying out are collectively known as humectants. The common humectants include water, glycerin and sorbitol. Xylitol is an uncommon ingredient which is known for promoting the anti-cavity activities of fluoride.
- Sweeteners: Sweeteners like saccharin enhance the taste of toothpaste. Most of these sweeteners are synthetic in nature, but their contribution toward cavity formation has been found to be negligible.
- Preservatives: Preservatives like methyl paraben, sodium benzoate and ethyl paraben are added to toothpastes to prevent the growth of microorganisms. The presence of preservatives in toothpastes eliminates the need for refrigeration.
- Coloring Agents: Coloring agents like artificial dyes are used to bestow pleasing colors to toothpastes. The popular red, green and blue toothpastes get their colors from these coloring agents. The common white color of toothpastes is due to the presence of titanium dioxide.
We commonly choose to buy toothpastes on the basis of old name and fame. Normally we keep attached to our choices which we have been using throughout our childhood. But of course, some specific conditions will influence our product usage. For example, toothpastes with potassium nitrate are the best options for dealing with tooth sensitivity while those with tryclosan, zinc citrate and pyrophosphates are effective solutions to fight gingivitis. Your dentist will be able to guide you on your product choice as per your personal needs.
