You have come across the different toothpaste advertisement countless times in day on billboards, radio, television or net. Some claims to give you white teeth in 2 weeks and some promises you to give fresh breathe which will literally pull the guy or girl you are interested in. Sounds interesting!!!! Most people swayed away by these advertisements and try every next product which claims to be better than the previous one but you find your teeth just same on every other day. Rather than experimenting, have you ever thought to give quality product a chance??? Studies have found that most of the toothpastes contain harmful chemicals which adversely affect your teeth. Besides that there are many ill practices which add to the germ buildup and other damaging factors in your mouth. Let’s check out the truth behind the foamy toothpaste.
Chemical ingredients in your favorite toothpaste
Abrasive agent
What do you think how your toothpaste claims to shine your teeth? It is the abrasive substance such as hydrated silica, hydrated alumina, calcium carbonate, and dicalcium phosphates which grind and polishes your teeth and is totally useless without the scrubbing action of toothbrush. They simply don’t have any cleaning effect of their own. Similarly, brushing teeth without any abrasive agent will not clean and polish the tooth surface or remove the stain from it. The significance of an abrasive agent has been understood from ancient times by every civilization like Egyptians, Romans and even British. It is generally used to make the mechanical action of brushing more effective but overuse of an abrasive can damage your tooth.
High amount of silica in toothpaste can harm your gums and wear away the tooth enamel. Some products have zirconium which is a hard abrasive and used for whitening of teeth but it can deteriorate the enamel by the grinding and polishing process.
Detergent
Not the one you use to wash your clothes with. It is very mild detergent in your toothpaste which main purpose is to loosen and breakdown the substance on your teeth which generally don’t go away with brushing action or rinsing with water. This detergent is also known as surfactant, a short form of surface active agent. The most common surfactant/detergent used in toothpaste is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It is also used in other products which foam and clean such as shampoo, including garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and car wash soaps. Although, there are rumors that this substance is dangerous but it is still not backed up by scientific research. The Journal of the American Dental Association states that it aggravates the irritation in individuals with canker sores or prone to it. Such people should buy toothpaste which is devoid of SLS.
Fluoride
This ingredient has been used in the toothpaste since 1914 and a formulation which can actually react with the tooth enamel has been developed in 1950’s. It is mainly used to strengthen tooth enamel and make it decay resistant. This element can incorporate itself into the any acid affected area (either by acid ingested while eating or produced by bacteria) of the enamel and thus reverse the process. Therefore, it remineralizes the affected surface and prevents further damage by any acid attack. It can be found in the product in form of sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP). Toothpaste which contains fluoride doesn’t need any preservative as this element prevents any bacterial growth. Some people are afraid to use fluoride containing toothpaste but its benefits far outweigh the risks. The only risk associated with this ingredient is occurrence of a mild fluorosis which leaves a faint white marking on teeth. It doesn’t cause any pain or affect the health or functionality of your teeth.
Humectant systems
This is a formulation which consists of different ingredients which helps in retaining moisture in the toothpaste and acts as a binding agent to keep the entire ingredient together. Without this component, your toothpaste will dry out or require stirring before use just like paint. Some common humectants are glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, seaweed gum, gum Arabica, sodium carboxymethylcellulose and magnesium aluminum silicate. Some of the component of humectants system like glycerin prevents the remineralization of enamel as it coats your teeth and it takes 20 rinses to completely wash it off from your teeth.
Flavoring
You will find your toothpaste dull and boring if there is no flavoring in it. Every toothpaste contains either natural or artificial flavoring which can cause allergy in some individuals with sensitive gums.
Precautions to be taken to prevent teeth damage
- Over brushing can cause more damage to your teeth rather than the chemicals in toothpaste. This practice can be hard on enamel and wear off your gums causing bleeding and pain as a result.
- Always take a small quantity of toothpaste just like size of a pea. It will also clean your mouth in same way and too much of paste can make you lose track of your teeth because you can’t see them in too much of foam.
- Brush your teeth at least for 2 minutes and don’t miss any nook or corner of your teeth. Remember, the paste won’t clean your mouth itself, you have to actually rub it on your teeth properly.
- Use a very soft and wide bristle brush to avoid any scratch on sensitive or inflamed gums. Don’t fight with your teeth; be gentle with them while brushing.
- Clean your toothbrush on regular intervals with hydrogen peroxide to prevent any germ buildup in the brush.
- Dentist recommends brushing twice a day. Don’t overdo it as it can gradually wear off your enamel.
- Rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water after every meal or drink can prevent most of the dental problems. It can remove any ingested acid or food particle from the mouth.
- It is very important to clean your tongue as well because food and microorganisms are also present on your tongue and your teeth can be easily contaminated by an unclean tongue even after brushing.
- Sensitivity to over the counter toothpaste or mouth rinses can cause tooth infection and gum inflammation. You should immediately change your paste with a less toxic brand to resolve the issue.