Everything about Toothpaste totally explained
Toothpaste is a
paste or
gel dentifrice used to clean and improve the aesthetic appearance and health of
teeth. In some countries, due to translation issues, it's commonly referred to as "Toothcream." Toothpaste use can promote good
oral hygiene: it can aid in the removal of
dental plaque and
food from the teeth, it can aid in the elimination and/or masking of
halitosis, and it can deliver active ingredients such as
fluoride to prevent tooth and gums (
Gingivitis) disease. In most or all
developed countries, usage after each meal is encouraged. However excessive usage may cause kidney failure due to the body's attempt at digesting the toothpaste's chemicals which often slide down the throat with each use. If a large amount of toothpaste is swallowed, Poison Control should be contacted immediately.
History
Evidence of oral hygiene practices first appears in the archaeological record around 5000 years ago in Egypt, China, Mongolia and India.
Early toothpastes
The earliest known reference to a toothpaste is in a manuscript from
Egypt in the
4th century AD, which prescribes a mixture of powdered
salt,
pepper,
mint leaves, and
iris flowers. The Romans used toothpaste formulations based on human
urine. In the 9th century, the
Persian musician and fashion designer
Ziryab is known to have invented a type of toothpaste, which he popularized throughout
Islamic Spain. but it was reported to have been both "functional and pleasant to taste." It isn't known whether these early toothpastes were used alone, were to be rubbed onto the teeth with rags, or were to be used with early toothbrushes such as
neem tree twigs or
miswak.
The modern toothbrush
The modern toothbrush was invented in China in the late 1400's, but wasn't widely used in the West until the 1800s. Until the late
1800s, the toothbrush was usually used only with water.
Tooth powder
Tooth powders for use with toothbrushes came into general use in the
19th century in
Britain. Most were homemade, with
chalk, pulverized
brick, or
salt as ingredients. An 1866 Home Encyclopedia recommended pulverized
charcoal, and cautioned that many patented tooth powders that were commercially marketed did more harm than good.
Modern toothpaste
An 18th century American toothpaste recipe containing burnt bread has been found. Another formula around this time called for
dragon's blood (a resin),
cinnamon, and burnt
alum.
By
1900, a paste made of
hydrogen peroxide and
baking soda was recommended for use with toothbrushes. Pre-mixed toothpastes were first marketed in the 19th century, but didn't surpass the popularity of tooth-powder until
World War I. In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield of New London, Connecticut, manufactured toothpaste into a collapsible tube. Sheffield's toothpaste was called Dr. Sheffield's Creme Dentifrice. He had the idea after his son traveled to Paris and saw painters using paint from tubes. In
New York City in 1896,
Colgate & Company Dental Cream was packaged in collapsible tubes imitating Sheffield.
Fluoride was first added to toothpastes in 1914, and was criticized by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 1937. Fluoride toothpastes developed in the
1950s received the ADA's approval. To develop the first ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste,
Procter & Gamble started a research program in the early 1940s. In 1950, Procter & Gamble developed a joint research project team headed by Dr. Joseph Muhler at Indiana University to study new toothpaste with fluoride. In 1955, Procter & Gamble's
Crest (toothpaste) launched its first clinically proven fluoride toothpaste. On August 1, 1960, the ADA reported that "Crest has been shown to be an effective anticaries (decay preventative) dentifrice that can be of significant value when used in a conscientiously applied program of oral hygiene and regular professional care." Countries limit and suggest different amounts of fluoride acceptable for health. Much of
Africa has a slightly higher percentage than the
U.S.
In June,
2007, the US
Food and Drug Administration and similar agencies in
Panama,
Puerto Rico and
Australia advised consumers to avoid certain brands of toothpaste manufactured in
China, after some were found to contain the poisonous
diethylene glycol, also called diglycol or labeled as "DEG" on the tube. The chemical is used in
antifreeze as a solvent and is potentially fatal.
Toothpaste is most commonly sold in flexible
tubes, though harder containers are available. The hard containers stand straight up, availing more of the toothpaste and saving shelf space.
Ingredients and flavors
Active ingredients
Fluoride in various forms is the most popular active ingredient in toothpaste to prevent cavities. Although it occurs in small amounts in plants and animals, and has effects on the formation of dental enamel and bones, it isn't considered to be a dietary essential and no deficiency signs are known.
Sodium fluoride (NaF) is the most common form; some brands use
sodium monofluorophosphate (Na
2PO
3F). Nearly all toothpaste sold in the United States has 1000 to 1100 parts per million fluoride ion from one of these active ingredients, in the UK the fluoride content is often higher, a NaF of 0.32% w/w (1450ppm fluoride) isn't uncommon. This consistency leads some to conclude that cheap toothpaste is just as good as expensive toothpaste. When the magazine
Consumer Reports rated toothpastes in 1998, 30 of the 38 were judged excellent. Application of fluoride also prevents moisture build-up in some surfaces.
Other ingredients are less commonly used, including
Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and
calcium phosphate for
remineralization, and
strontium chloride or
potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity.
Other ingredients
In addition to fluoride, the other fundamental ingredient in most toothpastes is an abrasive. Studies have shown that abrasives in toothpaste reduce the time needed to remove plaque from the teeth by approximately 50%. Abrasives, like the dental polishing agents used in dentist's offices, also cause a small amount of enamel erosion which is termed "polishing" action. Some brands contain powdered white
mica which acts as a mild abrasive, and also adds a cosmetically-pleasing glittery shimmer to the paste. Many may contain frustules of dead
diatoms as a mild abrasive. The removal of plaque and calculus prevents caries and periodontal disease. The polishing of teeth removes stains from tooth surfaces, but hasn't been shown to improve dental health over and above the effects of the removal of plaque and calculus.
Many, though not all, toothpastes contain
sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or another of the sulfate family. SLS is found in other personal care products as well, such as shampoo, and is largely a foaming agent although it also acts as a powerful antimicrobial. Due to the anionic charge of SLS, mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride (which has a cationic charge and thus neutralises SLS) shouldn't be used straight after brushing. SLS may cause a greater frequency of
mouth ulcers in some people as it can dry out the protective layer of oral tissues causing the underlying tissues to become damaged
(External Link
).
Ingredients such as
baking soda,
enzymes,
vitamins,
herbs,
calcium,
calcium sodium phosphosilicate,
mouthwash, and/or
hydrogen peroxide are often combined into base mixes and marketed as being beneficial. Some manufacturers add antibacterial agents, for example
triclosan or
zinc chloride, to prevent gingivitis. Triclosan is a very common ingredient in the UK.
Toothpaste comes in a variety of
flavors, most often being some variation on
mint (
spearmint,
peppermint, regular mint, etc). Other more exotic flavors include:
anise,
apricot,
bubblegum (marketed mostly to children),
cinnamon,
fennel,
neem,
ginger,
vanilla,
lemon,
orange,
pine. Flavors which have been introduced but discontinued due to poor reception include
peanut butter,
iced tea, and even
whisky. Some brands of toothpaste are unflavored, but many are both flavored and sweetened. Because
sugar can cause tooth decay, artificial sweeteners are generally employed for this purpose. The inclusion of sweet-tasting but toxic
diethylene glycol in Chinese-made toothpaste led to a multi-nation and multi-brand toothpaste recall in 2007.
Many toothpastes contain
colorings for better visual acceptance.
Toxicity
With the exception of toothpaste intended to be used on pets such as dogs and cats, and toothpaste used by
astronauts, most toothpaste isn't intended to be swallowed, and doing so may cause
nausea or
diarrhea; fluoride toothpaste is toxic when swallowed. Extended consumption while the teeth are forming can result in
fluorosis. This is why young children shouldn't use fluoride toothpaste except under close supervision. There are several non-fluoride toothpaste options available in the market for those with no tolerance to fluoride. Natural toothpaste can contain peppermint oil, myrrh, plant extract(strawberry extract), special oils and cleansing agents.
Striped toothpaste
Striping of toothpaste is solely for the purpose of providing an alternative appearance; it provides no functional benefit to the consumer.
Striped toothpaste can be produced by including two different colored toothpastes in an unusual type of packaging. The collapsible
tube has two tanks, one filled with each color paste (see figure). Squeezing the tube pushes the two pastes out the opening. The tube nozzle layers the pastes to produce a striped pattern.
To keep the cost of packaging to a minimum, it's now common for tubes to be filled with striped paste (for example Aquafresh).
(External Link) As the tube is squeezed, the stripes flow parallel to each other and don't mix. The patterned paste that gets dipensed is simply a narrower version of what is in the tube. Filling is done using a multi-nozzle filling head that dispenses a different colored stripe in each direction. To keep the stripes parallel to the axis of the tube, the head starts at the bottom and retracts as it fills, staying just above the level of the paste. Tubes with two compartments are generally reserved for toothpastes containing two formulas intended to react together and therefore kept isolated until dispensed (for example Colgate Simply White).
Further Information
Get more info on 'Toothpaste'.
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