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Almost everyone uses toothpaste every single day, but do you know what the ingredients of toothpaste are? 

Toothpaste is the most important part of oral hygiene. It comes in various flavours and can serve different purposes. However, most have the same base ingredients that make it effective in cleaning the mouth and fighting bacteria and bad breath. 

Additionally, there is a range of specialist toothpaste for people who have various allergies. These are usually sold at health shops and herbalist boutiques. If the below ingredients seem intimidating, herbal tooth powders can be used instead of toothpaste.

They do an excellent job of cleaning. They also contain herbal ingredients that help ease inflammation, pain and infection in the mouth, Living The Nourished Life reports.

Toothpaste Ingredients Include:

• Hydrogen peroxide,
• Sodium bicarbonate, 
• Sodium pyrophosphate,
• Propylene glycol,
• Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate,
• Sodium saccharin,
• Desensitising ingredients, and
• Triclosan.

Don’t be intimidated by all of the scientific jargon at the back of the tube. Most of these are run-of-the-mill chemicals and good for our teeth.

Fluoride

Fluoride is the most well-known ingredient. It’s a mineral found in bones and teeth. Fluoride cleans your teeth, strengthens the enamel and prevents cavities or brittle teeth. 

According to Healthline, fluoride in the saliva prevents tooth decay. 

Fluoride is not only used to make toothpaste but also mouthwash and other supplements. Fluoride is known to:

• Reduce severe cavities;
• Reduce pain and suffering from tooth decay;
• Reduce the need for fillings and extractions;
• Stop or reverse the course of tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel;
• Remineralise tooth surfaces and prevents cavities from forming; and
• Prevent the growth of harmful oral bacteria, which produce acids that strip the enamel from your teeth. 

When used correctly and frequently enough, Toothpaste will help you remove bacteria and plaque that live on your teeth. Fluoride toothpaste also includes antibacterial ingredients. That decreases the risk of infection of the gums and softer tissues in the mouth. 

Your teeth need fluoride because this chemical helps increase resistance to decay and other teeth disorders, besides its expected benefits on oral hygiene.

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Adults and children need routine dental maintenance appointments. The costs can start to add up, though. Dental insurance also covers additional treatments: crowns, root canals and fillings.

Usually, a dentist will refer you to a specialist if needed. 

If you need to find an Affinity Dental-approved dentist in your area, click here. 

Potassium Nitrate

Potassium nitrate desensitises the teeth. You will most likely see this ingredient in ‘sensitive teeth’ tubes of toothpaste and mouthwashes.

WebMD says that potassium nitrate prevents cavities and reduces pain from dentinal hypersensitivity. Sodium fluoride makes the teeth stronger and more decay-resistant. Potassium nitrate calms the nerves in the teeth.

Whiteners

Whitening toothpaste doesn’t whiten the teeth; it just reduces stains and polishes them. Abrasive additives like sodium tripolyphosphate break down or dissolve stains. Some even contain peroxide, a whitening agent used in bleach. Consult a dental practitioner before using this in the mouth.

Flavours

Toothpaste always includes sugar-free flavouring agents. These give your toothpaste a hint of sweetness and that minty fresh scent without the danger of decay.

Thickening agents

Thickening agents or binders such as carboxymethyl cellulose sodium, also known as cellulose gum, stabilise the toothpaste formula and gives it that creamy texture.

Colourants

Many kinds of toothpaste use food-grade colourants to give you that patent red, blue and green associated with several brands. Titanium dioxide makes toothpaste white. The colours are also sometimes used to indicate which part of the gel is used for which reason. For example, the red stripe can be a specific formula that fights decay, while the blue stripe freshens breath. 

Detergents

Detergents remove compounds that have various properties, such as oil and water, explains Dentist Net. The foam prevents toothpaste from dripping out of the mouth while brushing. The presence of detergent requires flavouring to mask their flavour. Common detergents include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium lauryl sarcosinate. Unfortunately, these ingredients may cause canker sores or mouth ulcers in some users.

What About Tooth Soap?

Yes, tooth soap is a real thing. Some people prefer its ingredients to toothpaste. 

Tooth soap contains minimal glycerine, silica, sodium laurel sulphate, food dyes, fluoride, sweeteners, alcohol or additives. It is a 100% organic product and deep cleans fissures in the mouth.

According to Himalayan Crystal Salt, coconut oil in tooth soap is as effective in fighting tooth decay and cavities!

It reduces harmful bacteria (Streptococcus mutans).