The act of brushing your teeth is the lynchpin of the oral hygiene routine. Likewise, toothpaste has become a staple of it.
There´s evidence toothpaste´s been around since as early as ancient Egypt. They used a mixture of powdered rock and vinegar as rudimentary toothpaste.
Nonetheless, we´ve come a long way since then, and modern toothpaste doesn´t only taste better, but it´s also easier to use.
Here, we bring you all there´s to know about toothpaste. So you can learn about its ingredients, benefits, and how toothpaste really cleans your teeth.
Toothpaste: A Helpful Guide
Brushing with toothpaste and rinsing is something you do at least twice a day. But what are the takeaways of using toothpaste? Is it really all that necessary?
On the other hand, could brushing your teeth without toothpaste be an option? Is it some type of minty, magical paste to keep your teeth healthy? Well, more or less.
First, modern toothpaste is formulated to clean your teeth, causing tooth enamel the less-possible damage. Some of the most common ingredients contained in modern-day toothpaste include:
Thickener agents
Thickeners are what give toothpaste its distinctive, uniform consistency. These ingredients are responsible for making toothpaste come out of the tube effortlessly.
Depending on its texture, there´re two common types of toothpaste. Paste toothpaste texture´s usually thicker and has solid colour. It also contains more abrasive ingredients.
Gel toothpaste has a smoother texture, which makes it, in turn, less abrasive. It also produces less foam.
Abrasive agents
These are integral to help get rid of plaque and food debris. Toothpaste´s abrasive ingredients must attack plaque and be gentle with tooth enamel to avoid causing damage.
Likewise, abrasive agents help polish your teeth´ surface, so they keep looking bright and clean after every toothbrush session.
Foam
Toothpaste includes ingredients like Sodium lauryl sulphate, which produces a foaming action. This foam enables toothpaste to scrub food debris, bacteria, and plaque off your teeth.
Preservatives
These ingredients help prevent the proliferation of bacteria (and any other microorganism) in your toothpaste. This is especially useful as you don´t finish a toothpaste tube right away.
Preservative agents allow your toothpaste to remain clean and usable over long periods.
Tasting Agents
Most toothpaste contains ingredients that help improve their taste. Likewise, each brand has many taste options aimed at different users´ ages and taste preferences.
Something to keep in mind is that some specific dental conditions require different types of toothpaste. To attend to these preferences/needs, toothpaste brands offer various options, such as:
- Whitening toothpaste
- Fluoride toothpaste
- Anti-plaque toothpaste
- Toothpaste for sensitive teeth
- Tartar-protector toothpaste
- Cavity protection toothpaste
But is toothpaste necessary to brush your teeth? The short answer would be NO. While manufacturers will insist that using toothpaste it´s mandatory, in reality, it´s just an added touch.
To keep your teeth clean, bright, and healthy, what´s really instrumental´s using the right toothbrush. Also, having a proper brushing technique helps you better remove plaque and food debris.
Finally, recent studies conclude that, in some cases, dry-brushing your teeth is just as (if not more) effective for plaque removal than brushing using toothpaste.
Suppose you´re feeling doubtful about which type of toothpaste is the best suited for you. Feel free to give us a call!
Schedule an appointment, and our team of expert dental professionals will gladly provide the insight you need to attend to your specific dental health requirements properly.
