Toothpaste is a product used for cleaning teeth, removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, suppressing halitosis, and delivering active ingredients to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Here are some details about toothpaste:
Ingredients:
- Abrasives: These insoluble particles are designed to help remove plaque from the teeth. Representative abrasives include particles of aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, various calcium hydrogen phosphates, various silicas and zeolites, and hydroxyapatite.
- Fluoride: Fluoride in various forms is the most popular and effective active ingredient in toothpaste to prevent cavities. Sodium fluoride is the most common source of fluoride.
- Surfactants: These are detergents that help to loosen and remove debris from the teeth. Common surfactants include sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium N-lauryl sarcosinate.
- Flavoring agents: Toothpaste flavors typically come from sweetening agents, such as saccharin or sorbitol.
- Humectants: These are the ingredients that keep toothpaste from drying out and becoming crumbly. Sorbitol is a flavoring agent and a humectant.
- Preservatives: These are added to toothpaste to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage.
Positive aspects:
- Toothpaste helps to remove plaque from the teeth, which inhibits the accumulation of tartar and helps to minimize the risk of gum disease.
- Toothpaste delivers active ingredients, such as fluoride, to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
- Toothpaste can help to suppress halitosis.
Negative aspects:
- Some toothpastes may contain ingredients that cause or contribute to tooth decay, such as sugar.
In summary, toothpaste is a product used for cleaning teeth and delivering active ingredients to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Toothpaste contains abrasives, fluoride, surfactants, flavoring agents, humectants, and preservatives. Toothpaste helps to remove plaque, inhibit the accumulation of tartar, suppress halitosis, and deliver active ingredients to help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. However, some toothpastes may contain ingredients that cause or contribute to tooth decay.