Toothpaste Guide

Common Questions and Answers about Toothpastes

Toothpaste is a paste or gel that is applied to the teeth via a toothbrush or other mechanism to help people maintain good levels of oral hygiene.

Typical pastes, also known as dentifrices, provide anti-cavity protection, prevent halitosis, strengthen teeth, and remove stains, plaque, and food debris. Specialized varieties cover a wide spectrum oral care, from baby toothpaste all the way to remineralizing and whitening pastes.

Toothpaste Types

Whitening Tooth Whitening Toothpaste is generally formulated to contain chemical or polishing agents that remove stains in order to make teeth whiter. These products achieve this heightened level of brightness through a polishing action, rather than using bleaches or bleaching chemical reactions. They often focus primarily on surface staining rather than stains deep within the teeth.

Natural Toothpastes from companies like Branam or Tom's of Maine provide a way for people to maintain and improve their oral hygiene through the use of natural products that do not contain artificial chemicals or abrasives. Chemicals, such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, have the potential to cause tooth hypersensitivity.

Natural toothpaste derives its ingredients from various natural plant and mineral sources. These sources may vary between manufacturers, but result in essentially the same ingredients that are used for similar purposes. The table below illustrates some of the ingredients and their sources.

Remineralizing Toothpaste such as Tooth Builder, is designed to restore important minerals to the teeth, like calcium and phosphate, which are essential to good oral health. When there is an imbalance of these vital minerals, saliva is no longer able to maintain a neutral pH level, enabling bacteria to produce acids that begin to destroy tooth enamel and cause tooth pain. A dentifrice such as remineralizing toothpaste introduces higher levels of these minerals into the mouth, stimulating a healthy saliva flow and maintaining a pH balanced environment that is less inviting to harmful bacteria.

SLS Free Toothpaste that is SLS free does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a detergent that creates a foaming action when brushing your teeth. This detergent can irritate some individual's mouths, especially those with canker sores, tongue sores, mouth sores, hypersensitivity, or other conditions. Child and toddler toothpaste as well as many types designed specifically for mouth ulcers or sensitive teeth are often sodium lauryl sulfate free.

Halitosis Bad breath toothpaste is one of the most basic cures for halitosis. It is often formulated specifically to kill the germs that cause malodor or to promote the body's natural defense to such organisms. Bad breath causes vary from the chronic, such as health conditions, to the temporary, such as eating habits. Treatments vary by brand, ingredients, and the source. For example, Biotene increases saliva flow, reducing the number of micro-organisms breeding under dry mouth conditions. Other toothpastes, like BreathRx, use compounds specifically designed to target and destroy bacteria.

Toothpaste Ingredients

Below are listed some of the common ingredients that you may encounter on labels from toothpastes. The most common sources of each ingredient are listed at the right, however, sources may vary.

What is the purpose of baking soda? Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as Baking Soda, is a naturally occurring mineral used to whiten teeth and stop bad breath. It lightens by penetrating deep into tooth enamel, and eliminates breath odor by helping the mouth maintain good pH levels - reducing the organisms producing smells.

What is the purpose of fluoride? Flouride Toothpaste aids in the prevention of tooth decay in both children and adults by re-introducing minerals to de-mineralized teeth. Fluoride is absorbed by the enamel, strengthening teeth and helping to prevent future acid damage.

Is fluoride Safe? Yes, fluoride is a mineral that naturally occurs in water sources like lakes and oceans. When used appropriately, it is both a safe and effective nutrient. Organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA) support the fluoridation of drinking water to help improve the oral hygiene of entire communities.