Since there are so many alternatives of toothpastes, selecting the appropriate toothpaste may occasionally be complicated. It’s critical to pick the best toothpaste for your needs to maintain good oral hygiene. Since most individuals brush their teeth every day, using the appropriate toothpaste can help to keep adults and children’s mouths healthy. Good thing is that parents may easily avoid serious difficulties that could happen to their kids by actively participating in their child’s dental health routine.
What are the main ingredients in toothpastes?
In general, toothpastes are present in different forms like gel and paste, they can also be present as powder or tablet.
Whatever the form is, there are some ingredients that are basic and always present in toothpastes, these agents include the following:
1- Fluorides:
Fluoride is the most effective active ingredient present in toothpastes, it helps in the formation of dental enamels.
2- Abrasive agents:
These are particles that help remove plaque from teeth, thus reducing the accumulation of tartar (calcifications) which help minimizing the risk of gum diseases.
3- Flavoring compounds: To encourage the use of products, flavoring agents are added, most used agents are peppermint and wintergreen and others
Unflavored toothpastes also exist as an option.
4- Other agents:
Agents like humectants, thickeners, and detergents are present in toothpaste to help provide the best efficacy.
What are the different types of toothpastes?
You’ll discover when you’re searching that toothpaste makes a variety of promises like preventing cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitivity, tartar (calculus), whitening, and breath refreshing and others.
There are many types of toothpastes available in the market, which can be divided into the following major groups:
1- Fluoridated toothpastes:
This is the most popular variety of toothpaste; it accounts for over 90% of all toothpaste available and is known to prevent cavities and tooth decay.
Because it includes fluoride, it not only strengthens your tooth’s enamel but also remineralizes teeth that have previously had minor deterioration.
2- Teeth-whitening toothpastes:
Everyone is susceptible to tooth stains and yellowing, which can be caused by eating and drinking certain things.
Whitening toothpastes include cleansers and abrasives; like silica, pyrophosphates, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide; these agents help in removing stains and reduce yellowing on the surface of the tooth thereby lightening the color of it.
3- Sensitivity toothpastes: For people who suffer from sensitivity, there are specific types of toothpastes to use,
sensitivity toothpastes include ingredients like stannous fluoride, potassium nitrate and strontium chloride, these ingredients work by desensitizing nerve ending in tooth thereby calming them, making them less sensitive to cold and hot.
4- Herbal toothpastes:
For people who don’t prefer having chemicals in their toothpastes, herbal toothpastes are the perfect choice; as they don’t contain chemical ingredients as other types of toothpastes. However, they contain fluoride as it’s the active ingredient that will help protect teeth.
5- Smokers toothpastes:
The main difference between regular toothpastes and smokers’ toothpastes is the amount of abrasives included, as smokers usually have stains and yellowing more than normal people.
6- Kids toothpastes:
Children’s toothpastes mostly do not contain as many abrasives and chemicals as other toothpastes, also, they contain less fluoride, as children are susceptible to ingesting some of the ingredients.
Children’s toothpastes come in fun, colorful and tasty flavors to make brushing an enjoyable experience for them.
How to choose the appropriate toothpaste?
Depending on your case you can choose the appropriate toothpaste for you, for example, if you have no dental diseases, fluoride toothpaste is the suitable choice for you and will be sufficient, and if you have conditions as gum diseases and sensitivity, your dentist will recommend a sensitivity toothpaste for you, and so on. It’s important to make sure that the toothpaste you’re choosing is approved by the food and drug administration and authorities. Also, even if you choose the appropriate type of toothpaste, it’s important to have habits and a whole lifestyle that help maintain good oral hygiene and health
