Toothpaste and brushing teeth have become indispensable in our daily lives. There is a wide variety of toothpastes on the market, produced for various purposes.
Today we will take a closer look at the ingredients of toothpaste and also examine the effects of the individual ingredients. In parentheses behind the German names are the INCI designations (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients), as they are usually found on the toothpastes.
Ingredients of toothpaste at a glance
Fluoride
Hardly any toothpaste today is without fluoride. No wonder, since fluorides have a scientifically proven effect of hardening tooth enamel and thus making it more resistant to cavity-causing bacteria or sugar. Fluorides are often labeled with terms such as:
- Sodium Fluoride
- Sodium Monofluorophosphate
- Olaflur
Surfactants
Surfactants are also referred to as washing-active substances or foam formers. When brushing teeth, they foam up and ensure, among other things, that the tooth-protecting substances are distributed everywhere. Furthermore, surfactants slightly loosen the tooth enamel, allowing the hardening fluorides to work more effectively.
Surfactants include among others:
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate)
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Cleaning body with abrasive effect
Cleaning agents have an abrasive, i.e., a grinding effect. These fine particles "scrub" the deposits and bacteria from the teeth while brushing. Since tooth enamel also has a very sensitive protective layer and is therefore not safe from abrasion, cleaning agents should be as gentle as possible. The degree of abrasion of individual substances is indicated by the RDA value. As a rough guideline, toothpaste with an RDA value of more than 80 should be avoided. Additionally, attention should also be paid to the following ingredients:
- Titandioxid (Titanium Dioxide)
- Aluminum oxide (Alumina)
We at OnlySmile instead recommend the following ingredients:
- Silica (Hydrated Silica, Silicon Dioxide)
- Chalk (Calcium carbonate)
Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory substances
These substances are particularly beneficial for healthy gums. They inhibit bacterial growth and thus act preventively against gum inflammation and cavities.
- Zinc compounds such as zinc chloride or zinc lactate (Zinc Chloride, Zinc Lactate)
- Zinc Pyrophosphate (Stannous Pyrophosphate)
- Chlorhexidine (Chlorhexidine Digluconate, CHX)
Conclusion
The listed ingredients all have efficacy and are dentally effective. However, it should be noted that the exact composition of the ingredients is often less relevant than the brushing technique. Let your dentist advise you.
Photo: © Onlysmile, wavebreakmedia - shutterstock.com
Author: Johann (blogguru.de)