Tooth paste Ingredients
Toothpaste is made up of many ingredients, each with their own purpose.
These are usually:
Surfactants
Abrasive agents
Thickening agents
Flavours
Humectants
Solvents
Buffers
Colour
Fluoride
Hydroxyapatite
Tooth sensitivity control
Calculus (tartar) control
Teeth whitening agents
Surfactants
Surfactants make foam during brushing, which spreads the toothpaste in the mouth. They have a detergent action that also breaks up dental plaque and loosens sticky food particles from the teeth. Surfactants also reduce the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
Commonly used surfactants include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (adinol), and a combination of surfactants are often used.
Toothpastes for young children may foam less, compared to toothpastes made for adults.
Abrasive agents
Most cleaning action during toothbrushing comes from abrasive particles in toothpaste, which physically remove stains from the teeth surfaces.
Examples of abrasives in toothpastes include calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate salts, alumina, silica, and magnesium carbonate.
Thickening agents
Thickeners or binders give the paste consistency and stop the ingredients from separating. They include mineral colloids, natural gums (e.g. xanthan gum), seaweed colloids (e.g. carrageenan) or synthetic cellulose. Without a binder present, the toothpaste would separate into a liquid and a solid that would need to be mixed before use.
Flavours
A range of flavours are used, such as spearmint or peppermint, for breath freshening benefits. Mint flavours are used with a non sugar sweetener, such as xylitol, sucralose, or sodium saccharin, to balance the taste of the main flavour.
Humectants
Humectants keep water in the toothpaste, to stop the tooth paste drying out, for example, glycerol and sorbitol perform this role. They contribute to the overall flavour, and with added water hold the other ingredients together in a paste or gel form.
Solvents
Water is a solvent or carrier for other ingredients of the toothpaste to make the toothpaste flowable and hydrates the thickening agents. The water and humectant make up approximately 75% of the volume of toothpaste.
Buffers
Buffers stop the toothpaste from being acidic, which would damage teeth. Examples of buffers include trisodium phosphate, sodium citrate, sodium hydroxide and pyrophosphates.
Colours
Ingredients such as titanium dioxide make toothpaste appear white in colour. Some toothpastes contain food colours to give them a special colour.
Fluoride
Fluoride is the key ingredient included in toothpaste to help prevent tooth decay.
There are three types of fluorides you may see listed on toothpaste tubes. These include sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP), sodium fluoride (NaF) and stannous fluoride (SnF2).
Toothpaste designed for children from 18 months to 6 years usually has 500 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride present. Toothpastes for children 6+ years and adults will usually have 1000 or 1450 ppm of fluoride.
Hydroxyapatite
Hydroxyapatite is the main mineral component of tooth enamel, and is included in tooth pastes as a source of calcium, to repair tooth structure. It can be used with fluoride, or on its own.
Tooth sensitivity
Ingredients that help to treat tooth sensitivity work in two ways.
The nerves in the teeth are settled so they are not triggered by cold.
A barrier is created over the sensitive area, which stops it from responding to stimuli.
Ingredients in desensitising toothpastes include potassium nitrate, arginine and calcium carbonate, strontium chloride, stannous fluoride, and calcium sodium phosphosilicate.
Calculus (tartar) control
Calculus, or tartar, builds up on the surface of the teeth if dental plaque is not cleaned away, with excess minerals in the saliva entering the plaque causing it to calcify (harden). Calculus cannot be removed from the teeth with a toothbrush and must be removed by a dental practitioner who performs a professional cleaning of the teeth, known as a scale and clean.
Ingredients such as pyrophosphates, zinc citrate and sodium hexametaphosphate can help to reduce the build up of calculus.
Teeth whitening
Some toothpastes include sodium hexametaphosphate, which resists stains from the surface of teeth.
Hydrogen peroxide is added to toothpastes that aim to lighten the colour of teeth, at levels from 1 to 5%.
Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid, referred to as PAP, is another ingredient found in toothpastes aimed at whitening teeth. This is organic peroxide that acts like a bleaching agent.
Charcoal
The main ingredient in charcoal toothpaste is activated charcoal which is made from oxidised substances like wood, coconut shells, bamboo and various other substances. Activated charcoal is porous and may absorb and remove toxins.
If you are using charcoal toothpaste to help whiten your teeth though, it may do more damage than good.
If you are interested in whitening, it is best to assess your teeth with a dentist for options that may better suit your needs for whitening your teeth and maintaining good oral health.
Charcoal toothpaste is abrasive and might help to remove surface staining such as tea, coffee, wine, and may wear away tooth enamel exposing the dentine layer, causing teeth to appear more yellow. It may also increase sensitivity if used daily. Most charcoal toothpastes do not contain fluoride, that helps harden enamel and fight dental cavities. Charcoal toothpastes may increase staining around existing dental work such as fillings, crowns, veneers, especially near the gum lines, because it is a messy, black colour. No long term studies have been done on charcoal tooth pastes, and they are usually more expensive than regular fluoride toothpastes.
Toothpastes with the ADA's Seal of Approval give peace of mind with a guarantee that it is safe, works well and delivers
Best Dental Care
For optimal dental health maintain good home care by:
tooth brushing with regular fluoride toothpaste twice a day
flossing/ interdental cleaning at least once a day
eating a healthy and balanced diet, and limiting sugary snacks and acidic drinks
drinking water throughout the day
maintain routine dental examinations and hygiene appointments every 6 months