Toothpaste is generally used to clean the teeth. However, this can also be done completely without toothpaste. In addition, toothpaste can be used to fluoridate the teeth or protect the gums from disease by massaging them with a toothbrush for a longer period of time.
What is toothpaste?
Daily use of toothbrush and toothpaste is one of the basics of healthy oral hygiene. If brushing is often forgotten, tooth decay occurs very quickly. The tastes, toothpaste colors and consistency of different brands are different. Mostly toothpaste is added with peppermint or menthol. Toothpaste cannot be applied without a toothbrush. A toothpaste is a paste-like aid with a cleaning body, which, thanks to medically effective additives and flavors, supplies minerals to the teeth through a brush, cleans them and keeps the gums healthy. Toothpaste is distinguished from tooth salt and other agents, such as soft chewed licorice, which can be used to clean teeth without toothpaste at all.
Forms, types and types
There are different types and countless brands of toothpaste. The most sold types are fresh in taste and promise various side effects when cleaning the teeth. Applied and distributed as an aid in mechanical tooth cleaning with the help of brushes, nowadays different gels and pastes are distinguished from each other. The ingredients are declared on the tubes and/or outer packaging – usually in Latin. However, the names of the ingredients of toothpaste mean nothing to most users. Environmentally ill and allergy sufferers know that conventional toothpaste can contain numerous potentially harmful substances. You can get toothpaste at health food stores or health food stores whose manufacturers do not use chemical ingredients. They make their toothpaste from purely natural ingredients. Natural essential oils are used here for flavoring. Gentler cleaning agents and algae products or healing earth as mineralizing substances are preferred in such types of toothpaste. Natural toothpaste is often sold under the organic label. Patients of an alternative practitioner know that toothpaste containing menthol or peppermint should be avoided when using homeopathy. Some toothpastes and especially the tooth salt have a strong abrasive effect thanks to their cleaning agents. Other dosage forms are gentler, especially the gel toothpastes. Toothpaste with medically effective additives such as amine fluoride or certain potassium compounds should only be used in consultation with a dentist. It is true that a toothpaste can actually provide some protection against tooth neck pain, cold or heat effects. However, if such pain hides a carious area, toothpaste alone cannot do anything. Without dental treatment, toothpaste will not relieve the toothache.
Structure, composition and function
Many types of toothpaste are similar in the composition of their ingredients, regardless of which brand of toothpaste you buy. Conventional toothpaste consists of a cleaning agent such as chalk or suitable silicate compounds, a foaming agent such as sodium lauryl sulfate, so-called wetting and humectant agents – for example, sorbitol – preservatives, flavors and aromas, and colorants. Other additives such as pyrophosphate, zinc salt or the controversial disinfectant triclosan as an antibacterial agent may also be present. A small amount of fluoride is also added to toothpaste for dental prophylaxis. Fluoridated toothpaste should not be used at any age. The abrasive effect of cleaning agents in a toothpaste, in connection with a hard brush, can rather cause damage to the tooth. Toothpaste falls under the medication regulation and therefore must not contain certain ingredients. Optical effects such as stripes or a green color are only intended to signal the freshness of a toothpaste. They have no effects on tooth cleaning.
Medical and health benefits
In principle, the medical and health benefits of toothpaste are undisputed. Regular brushing of teeth with toothpaste can prevent tooth decay, dental caries and periodontal disease, remove food residues such as sugar or fruit acid along with the so-called plaque and reduce the tendency to tartar. However, toothpaste whitening with chemical agents or those that cause allergies and intolerances in some patients is controversial.Responsible for this are often the preservatives such as parabens, certain colorings and flavorings – such as cinnamon oil or menthol – and certain chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Today, allergy sufferers and children can use special toothpaste. Environmentally ill people can buy flavor-free toothpaste. One has recently developed a novel toothpaste based on lactic acid bacteria.