Toothpaste Is Important And Amazing
Created on March 30, 2016
Brushing our teeth has been a hygienic and social necessity for hundreds of years, although minus some of the important and amazing “helpers” we have today, such as toothpaste. There is a large selection of toothpastes on the market to help you take care of your teeth and remove the bacterial film and plaque that build up on your teeth after eating.
Have you ever thought about what’s in this revolutionary product you use to clean your “pearly whites”? If so…here’s the short list:
Detergents – Toothpaste foams because it contains a detergent which breaks down substances on your teeth allowing them to be dissolved and rinsed away with water. Detergents in toothpastes are mild and won’t irritate your sensitive oral tissues. Sodium lauryl sulfate is the most common detergent in toothpaste and is also found in other beauty products that foam, such as shampoo.- Humectants and Binders – Humectants are a combination of ingredients that retain moisture in the toothpaste and binders keep all the ingredients from separating. If toothpaste didn’t have these components, it would dry out and require stirring before use.
- Abrasives – One of the main reasons to use toothpaste is to make the action of brushing more effective. In order to remove stains, you need a substance with a little graininess. Abrasives or mild polishing agents, clean while preserving your tooth enamel. The abrasives in toothpaste may include hydrated silica or calcium carbonate. Abrasives won’t clean your teeth without the scrubbing action of a toothbrush and brushing without an abrasive-containing toothpaste will not adequately clean and polish your tooth surfaces and will not remove stains.
- Flavorings – Toothpaste would taste awful without the addition of flavoring agents. That’s why you’ll find various natural and artificial flavorings in your toothpaste.
- Fluoride – Introduced into toothpaste formulas in 1914, fluoride is the most valuable component in toothpaste. It strengthens tooth enamel and makes your teeth more resistant to decay because it is actually incorporated into your tooth’s enamel structure.
If it’s been awhile since your last dental visit, call us to schedule an appointment, today. We want to be your go-to Springfield dentists: (413) 241-3264.
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