What Makes a Good Toothpaste?

What You Should Look for in a Toothpaste

Toothpaste has been the basis of oral health routines for thousands of years, dating back to ancient of civilizations. Although we put this substance on our toothbrush every day and use it to clean our teeth, many of us do not know what this concoction is made up of or what we should look for when choosing the right toothpaste. Many different pastes on the market feature some of the same ingredients, and for good reason – here are some of those common ingredients and why they are important.

Abrasives

Most toothpaste will include some mild abrasives to help remove food particles and stains from the teeth. Additionally, these abrasives help to remove sticky plaque that can do damage to the teeth if left in place. The goal with including abrasives in toothpaste is to make them strong enough to remove debris and plaque from the tooth’s surface without being so strong that they damage the enamel of the tooth or the tooth’s surface. Some common abrasives that are found in toothpaste include baking soda, calcium carbonate, hydrated aluminum oxides, dehydrated silica gels, and phosphate salts.

Fluoride

Fluoride has been tested numerous times and has constantly been proven to help prevent tooth decay, which is why it is a key ingredient found in almost all toothpaste products. Fluoride has an effect on the bacteria that is found on teeth that is directly related to tooth decay but is also tasked with incorporating into the tooth’s structure – by doing this, fluoride is able to make the tooth’s surface more resistant to acid and decay as well as helping to repair enamel that may have already been damaged by the acids in the mouth. Toothpaste in the U.S. contains fluoride at approximately 1,100 parts per million.

Detergents

The detergents found in toothpaste help to create a foaming action when brushing that allows the paste to coat the teeth. This foam reduces the surface tension on the tooth’s surface, which makes cleaning easier overall and helps to stop debris and food particles from reattaching to the teeth when the foam is spat out. Detergents in toothpaste can include sulfate (SLS), sodium lauryl (dodecyl), and sodium N-Lauryl sarcosinate. Those who have had issues with developing canker sores in their mouths may have an allergy to SLS, but there are SLS-free toothpaste options available on the market as an alternative.

If you need help picking a toothpaste, you can always visit your dentist for advice? Avoiding the dentist because you don’t have insurance? Then it is time to sign up for a New Hampshire discount dental plan like Wellness Dental Plan. To learn more about this plan that can save you as much as 20 percent off your bills, click here.

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