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Dentist in Mt Kisco, Westchester County, NY 10549
Toothpaste
"The use of fluoride-containing dentifrice (toothpaste) is critical for dental caries prevention." U.S. Surgeon General's Report
- Is it important to use toothpaste?
- What important active ingredients do toothpastes contain?
- Why is fluoride an important ingredient of toothpaste?
- Is fluoride in toothpaste safe for children?
- What are desensitizing agents?
- Why are anti-bacterial agents necessary in toothpaste?
- Why are plaque and calculus reducing agents necessary in toothpaste?
- Why are abrasives used in toothpaste?
- Why have whitening toothpastes become popular?
- What claims do different toothpaste manufacturers make for their products?
- What are the natural alternatives to conventional toothpastes?
1. Is it important to use toothpaste?
- It is. Toothpaste protects, cleans and polishes teeth. It makes oral hygiene more efficient.
- It has a fresh taste and smell, and freshens the breath.
- Modern toothpastes contain ingredients which are crucial to oral health. Brushing twice a day with toothpaste is essential to maintaining a healthy mouth.
2. What important active ingredients do toothpastes contain?
- Some or all of the following may be included in the same toothpaste:
- Plaque and calculus reducing agents
- Anti-bacterial substances
- Fluoride
- Breath fresheners
- Desensitizing agents
- Abrasives
- Whitening ingredients
3. Why is fluoride an important ingredient of toothpaste?
- Fluoride can reduce and even prevent tooth decay:
- It rematerializes (hardens) the initial softening of tooth enamel in the decay process.
- It increases the resistance of teeth to decay.
- It decreases the formation of decay-inducing acid in dental plaque.
- Most toothpaste contains fluoride.
4. Is fluoride in toothpaste safe for children?
- There are toothpastes with a suitable fluoride content for children, but these should be used sparingly and wiped away with a muslin cloth for children under two years old.
- Before using fluoride toothpaste, children should be able to rinse out the toothpaste after their teeth are brushed. The amount of fluoride swallowed after rinsing is not significant or harmful.
- Only a pea-sized "blob" of toothpaste should be used for small children, and their brushing should be supervised up to the age of six.
- Toothpastes are for brushing teeth and should not be swallowed. This is worth remembering, particularly with children.
- Try to minimize the swallowing of toothpaste.
5. What are desensitizing agents?
- Desensitizing agents make the dentine in a tooth less sensitive to hot and cold, and to sweet flavors.
- Dentine is normally covered by the enamel over the crown of a tooth and by the cementum over the roots.
- When the enamel layer near the gum margin has worn thin, the dentine becomes exposed.
- The same applies when the cementum of the roots has been worn away.
- Teeth then become sensitive to temperature changes or to sweetness.
- The main desensitizing agents are strontium and potassium chloride.
- Regular use of toothpaste containing desensitizing agents will diminish or even cure the problem.
6. Why are anti-bacterial agents necessary in toothpaste?
- Anti-bacterial agents help to prevent the formation and build-up of bacteria and plaque, which cause decay and gum disease. Bacteria are normally present in the mouth.
- Triclosan is one of the main anti-bacterial agents used in toothpaste.
7. Why are plaque and calculus reducing agents necessary in toothpaste?
- Plaque is the main cause of gum disease and tooth decay.
- Brushing twice a day with toothpaste that contains plaque-reducing agents, will help to control plaque.
- Plaque can harden into tartar or calculus, which can only be removed by a dentist.
- An anti-calculus agent may help to prevent plaque from hardening on the teeth.
8. Why are abrasives used in toothpaste?
- Abrasives are used to remove stains from teeth and make them look whiter and cleaner. Abrasives usually contain fine sand which assists the cleaning.
- Toothpastes that are designed for smokers with nicotine-stained teeth usually contain abrasives.
9. Why have whitening toothpastes become popular?
- Whiter teeth are seen as more youthful and attractive.
- Teeth naturally darken and yellow with age.
- Whitening toothpastes can gradually lighten the color of the teeth, or can maintain the lighter color achieved by other whitening treatments.
- These toothpastes usually contain mild abrasives and/or bleaching agents.
10. What claims do different toothpaste manufacturers make for their products?
- Toothpastes perform a number of functions. Here are some of the manufacturers' claims relating to:
- Breath freshening
- Freshens breath.
- Freshens breath for longer.
- Protects against bad breath.
- Has a natural breath freshener.
- Tastes fresh and minty.
- Removes bacteria build-up that can cause bad breath.
- Prevention of decay and gum disease
- Reduces cavities and plaque.
- Helps stop adult tooth decay.
- Helps retard and prevent decay on roots of teeth and along gum lines.
- Has an anti-cavity oral cleanser.
- Helps prevent gum line erosion.
- Remineralizes and strengthens tooth enamel.
- Has anti-bacterial (germ-fighting) ingredients.
- Reduces plaque and tartar.
- Promotes healthy teeth and gums.
- Fortifies weak and sensitive gums.
- Helps fight receding gums.
- Sensitive teeth
- Formulated for people with sensitive teeth.
- Clinically proven relief from the pain of sensitive teeth.
- Tooth whitening
- Whitens teeth.
- Dramatically whitens teeth.
- Gentle whitening for people with sensitive teeth.
- Clinically proven to significantly whiten teeth.
- Restores teeth to their natural whiteness.
- Helps restore ageing teeth and gums to a healthier, white and younger look.
- More whitening, less abrasion.
- Lower in abrasion. Leaves no rough surfaces for stains to adhere to.
- Removes stain and reduces stain build-up.
- Gently yet effectively removes stains.
11. What are the natural alternatives to conventional toothpastes?
- There are many types of toothpaste which contain natural ingredients, and claim to be natural toothpastes.
- These contain no harsh abrasives, synthetic sweeteners or artificial flavors or colorings.
- Some common natural ingredients in dental products are:
- Tea Tree oil
- Baking soda
- Wintergreen
- Aloe Vera
- Echinacea
- Claims made for natural toothpastes are:
- Made from fresh herb extracts and essential oils in an all natural base.
- All natural. Contains fresh plant extracts.
- Contains no saccharin or artificial sweetener.
- 100% natural, no detergents, no artificial colorings and cruelty free.
- Soothing and stimulating.
- Anise flavor will freshen your teeth.
- Non abrasive.