What is toothpaste MADE of?
Flora Stay, DDS
If you’re like millions of consumers, your toothpaste is soft, and when you brush,
gives you that minty fresh taste. But if you’ve ever wondered what is in toothpaste
and what makes one brand different from another, you’ll find the answers in this
article.
You'll find a variety of claims on toothpaste labels, such as gum disease toothpaste,
one that fights bad breath, SLS free toothpaste, toothpaste for sensitive teeth,
hydrogen peroxide toothpaste, or natural toothpaste. Toothpastes are typically
made of certain ingredients that make it the paste that it is. However, there are
many variations, with some more effective than others.
In general, most toothpaste includes abrasives, binders, foaming ingredient,
humectants, detergents, flavors, colors, preservatives, fluoride and water. The
following is a breakdown to help describe what these ingredients are for.
Ingredients in Toothpaste:
Water — toothpaste contain between 20–42 percent water to help keep it from
drying out.
Abrasives — most brands contain at least 50 percent abrasives. This is one
ingredient that helps your teeth get clean. Baking soda, calcium carbonate, calcium
phosphates, alumina, and silica are examples of abrasives. High levels of abrasives
may not be a good thing, since they can harm your teeth sensitive by weakening
enamel. It's preferable to use toothpaste with a gentle abrasive. The right
concentration of baking soda works best to clean teeth of stains.
Fluorides — most often found active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride.
Toothpaste sold in the United States has 1000 to 1100 parts per million fluoride.
Prescription toothpaste contains higher levels. Seawater averages about 1.3 parts
per million (ppm). There are three types of fluoride commonly used in toothpaste:
• Sodium fluoride (NaF) is the most often type of fluoride used in toothpaste
• Stannous fluoride (SnF2) is also used. This type may stain the tooth surface
yellow or brown.
• Monofluorophosphate (Na2PO3F) Fluoride has been very controversial from its
discovery to help prevent tooth decay. Those for it are convinced that it alone can
help prevent tooth decay, while others against fluoride maintain it has too many
side effects that outweigh the benefits. The best way to help prevent tooth decay
and have a healthy, happy smile is to eat healthy nutritious foods and brush and
floss daily. You don’t need fluoride as long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle and
clean your teeth and gums daily.
Surfactants — typically sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used as the surfactant. This
is a detergent that also acts as the foaming agent in the toothpaste. It is a harsh
ingredient and it's better to find and use SLS free toothpaste.
Antibacterial agents — Triclosan is one of the antibacterial medications used in
toothpaste. Long-term use of any antibacterial ingredient may cause more
problems than benefits by promoting antibiotic resistant bacteria. These days many
personal care products are available and marketed as antibacterial. Toothpaste, dish
soap, deodorants, hand and body soaps are only a few of them. According to the
Center for Disease Control (CDC), overloading the body with these types of
antimicrobial agents is what has lead to MRSA and other dangerous bacteria that
are resistant to any form of antibiotics.
Flavors — mint is the most common flavor along with peppermint, spearmint and
wintergreen. Natural toothpaste brands often use more exotic flavors made from
anise, fennel, lavender, and other plants. These types of essential oils may cause
allergies and tissue irritation. Just because it’s “natural” doesn’t mean it’s good for
you.
Remineralization — some toothpaste are formulated to help strengthen enamel
(outer surface of the tooth). Calcium phosphate is typically the ingredient used.
Humectants — humectants give toothpaste texture and help to retain moisture to
keep it from drying out. Glycerin, sorbitol and water are common humectants.
Xylitol is the best type of humectant since it has multiple benefits, including
increasing the flow of saliva, which helps prevent dry mouth, and also has been
shown in early reports to help prevent tooth decay.
Thickeners — carrageenan, cellulose gum, guar gum and xanthan gum are
common thickening agents. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity who
want to avoid gluten, xanthan gum is a safe alternative. Irritation from this
ingredient is rare, with the most common side effect being bloating or gas. This
would normally occur by ingesting large quantities of xanthan gum, which would
be much higher than what is usually used for toothpaste. Those allergic to soy or
corn may want to choose a different type of thickening agent. If inhaled in powder
form, xanthan gum can cause respiratory distress.
Preservatives — to help prevent microorganisms from growing in toothpaste,
certain preservatives are added. These may include sodium benzoate, methyl
paraben, and ethyl paraben. Between the three common preservatives, sodium
benzoate is the safest. Some “natural” toothpaste use citric acid. Too much citric
acid may cause side effects such as stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
Sweeteners—to improve the taste of toothpaste, especially those containing the
horrible taste of sodium lauryl sulfate, such sweeteners as saccharin, stevia or
xylitol are added. The best form is xylitol, since it does have many benefits for a
healthy mouth, as stated earlier.
Coloring agents — artificial dyes and coloring agents are not uncommon in most
commercial toothpaste. Titanium dioxide may also be used to make toothpaste
white. It’s best to avoid toothpaste with artificial dyes and colorings.
Most people don’t give much thought to what toothpaste is made of. Toothpaste
has come a long way, from the cavemen using tree resin to ground fish bones,
pumice, and sand, to toothpaste, as we know it today.
Don’t be fooled by label claims, but read the ingredients and decide for yourself
which toothpaste is best for you. Ultimately it’s the action of the toothbrush that
helps remove the plaque, that yucky film that builds on the teeth and gums every
day. But choosing the perfect safe toothpaste with flavor that you like can
definitely put a smile on your face.
