For hundreds of years, brushing one’s teeth has been a social and hygienic necessity…and important in the prevention of gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath.
In the 18th century, the British included crushed china plates in their toothpowder recipes!
But today, you have a wide selection of toothpastes to aid in removing the nasty bacterial film or plaque that builds up on your teeth every 12 to 24 hours.
Have you ever wondered what is in this substance you use to scrub your pearly whites?
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 tooth enamel. The abrasives in your toothpaste may include hydrated silica or calcium carbonate. Abrasives won’t clean teeth without the scrubbing action of a toothbrush and brushing without an abrasive-containing toothpaste will not adequately clean and polish tooth surfaces and will not remove stains.
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 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.
FLUORIDE
Introduced into toothpaste formulas in 1914, fluoride is the most valuable component in toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to decay because it is actually incorporated into the enamel structure.
HUMECTANTS AND BINDERS
Humectants are a combination of ingredients that retain moisture in the toothpaste and keep all the ingredients from separating. If toothpaste didn’t have these components, it would dry out or require stirring before use just like paint.
FLAVORINGS
Toothpaste would taste awful without the addition of flavoring agents. That’s why you will find various natural and artificial flavorings and sweeteners in your toothpaste.
You know The Golden Rule of tooth care: Brush and floss at least twice a day! JUST DO IT!
