Dr. Sheffield’S Certified Natural Toothpaste Reviews
When you buy a tooth paste you will find a range of ingredients that ensure your mouth feels clean and fresh. The ingredients can also help remove staining and help prevent tooth decay.
Remineralizing components are found in a variety of toothpastes to help strengthen enamel. They may cause discoloration of the teeth and therefore, make sure to select the right one for your needs.
Fluoride
Fluoride can be used to strengthen the health of your mouth and to keep away cavities. It’s found naturally in various sources such as soil, food and water. It can be added to toothpaste or water supplies due to a myriad of reasons.
Its primary function is to stop tooth decay by “remineralizing” teeth. It assists to bond enamel to places of decay, and also attracting strong minerals like calcium to areas of the damage. This process creates a new tougher, more durable enamel known as fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acids and bacteria.
This is why the American Dental Association recommends brushing using a fluoride-based toothpaste twice per day. Your dentist might recommend gels and varnishes with fluoride for extra protection.
There are a variety of options available for toothpastes that contain fluoride. The majority of commercial brands contain at minimum 1000 parts per million fluoride. 0.221% sodium fluoride or 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate).
For children with a sensitivity to fluoride, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorses using a baby’s toothpaste that contains at least 1000 ppm of fluoride, and is suitable for ingestion. The toothpaste is best used in an “smear” with a tiny brush to reduce the chance of swallowing, and it should be angled slightly downward so that excess paste dribbles from the mouth instead of into the throat.
Too often, fluoride can cause fluorosis (white streaks on teeth or spots), and even digestive problems in children who have swallowed large amount of toothpaste with fluoride. Additionally, it’s been implicated in a number of other adverse effects in both animals and humans including increased levels of inflammation and altered brain development, and loss of bone.
SLS
SLS, also known as sodium lauryl sulfurate, is a common ingredient found in many cleaning and personal hygiene products. SLS is derived from natural or petroleum sources, such as coconut oil and palm oil.
SLS is a foaming ingredient that is used in toothpastes to get rid of food particles, plaque and other irritants that build up on your teeth. It can also make the molecules in the toothpaste more slippery so they can get deeper into the small spaces between your teeth and gums.
But, there’s a wide range of toothpastes that are SLS-free and will still do a good job at removing debris and plaque from your teeth, without the addition of this chemical. The ones that do not contain SLS are less likely to trigger irritation and discomfort during brushing, and will also help maintain your mouth healthy and fresh.
A further concern with SLS is that it can cause irritation to your mouth, particularly the lip skin and tongue. SLS may slough off or remove the outer layer of skin cells within your mouth, leaving it more susceptible to infection.
SLS could dry out your internal organs, which can result in bad breath along with various health problems. SLS-free toothpastes are recommended by dentists.
It can also hinder the effectiveness of fluoride, it can diminish its effectiveness and leave your teeth vulnerable to tooth decay. Furthermore, SLS can inhibit the bleaching effect that some toothpastes have. SLS can cause irritation so make sure to choose the toothpaste that is made of an hygienic and safe alternative for example Quillaja triterpenic Saponins or Decyl Glucoside.
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye (used in the making of soap) or caustic soda, is a powerful cleansing agent used in toothpastes to neutralise acid and keep plaque from mineralising into calculus. However, it can cause dry and irritated mouths and isn’t suitable for young children.
Often found in low concentrations and in low amounts, fluoride is the principal ingredient in toothpastes to stop tooth decay and strengthen teeth. Fluoride is slowly absorbed over the course of. It functions as an agent for remineralization, helping to restore damage to tooth surfaces as well as reduce sensitivity.
In toothpaste, it’s utilized in conjunction with other ingredients like hydrated silica to help remove staining and plaque from the teeth. It’s also a moderate Abrasive that causes less damage to the enamel and dentin as compared to other abrasives.
Additionally, it is an antiseptic that helps to prevent gum disease and helps reduce plaque build-up. It is also an agent that foams, which enhances the cleansing power of the toothpaste.
Additionally, there are other fluoride-containing components that could be present in toothpaste to boost its effectiveness and keep your teeth in good shape. In order to protect against cavities, toothpastes for children and adults can contain sodium monofluorophosphate or Stannous Fluoride.
Synthetic colors are used in toothpastes to produce whiteness. They can also serve as flavourings. Although they are safe but some artificial colours, such as yellow #5 have been associated with an increase in anxiety and hyperactivity among children.
As well as sorbitol and parabens, these are ingredients you need to avoid. They are known to cause hormone imbalances within your body and may build up in your body, which could lead to issues with your health.
Instead of using these products, instead, you can make use of natural sweeteners such as xylitol or stevia. It is a sugar alcohol which is naturally present in your body, has been proven to prevent tooth decay and stimulate saliva. This can also help decrease bacteria levels.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
The most sought-after ingredients used in toothpastes is sodium lauryl, also known as SLS. It is made by chemical or natural methods and provides various products a foamy smooth consistency.
It’s a surfactant that reduces the surface tension of water to aid in bonding and lifting particles such as dirt and grease. SLS can also help foam products, making it simpler for consumers to spread the product over their mouths.
For toothpaste, SLS is used because it emulsifies fats and proteins within tooth pastes. It helps in dispersing plaque particles and prevent the formation of stains on the teeth. SLS is also antibacterial that reduces the risk of getting cavities or gingivitis.
This is a detergent which foams and aids to create toothpaste that lathers more efficiently. It’s an ingredient that is widely used in mouthwash and foaming toothpaste as it helps to remove irritants from the mouth, making it easier for patients to floss their teeth.
The main drawback of using SLS is that it could be irritating to skin, specifically when it’s used for prolonged periods. This can make it the wrong choice for people with sensitive skin or those suffering from rosacea, which is an inflammation condition that affects the skin, which causes redness, swelling, and itching.
There are other concerns regarding the health risks that could be posed by SLS as well as its potential to increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the throat or oral cavity. While there is no scientific basis to prove these assertions, they’ve been widely circulated online and are still a concern.
Peppermint
Peppermint is the most popular flavour of the year and has been widely used in toothpaste. Its unique taste and breath freshening qualities of this herb make it the ideal toothpaste flavor.
The peppermint’s menthol is responsible for the cooling, refreshing feeling it gives. Menthol is an antibacterial ingredient that fights harmful bacteria and reduces bad breath.
In addition to its ability to freshen breath as well, menthol also has the ability to stimulate the sense receptors within the mouth as well as on your skin, which produces a cooling effect. It’s recommended to use peppermint toothpaste if you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums, because it may help prevent cavities by strengthening enamel.
Bob Vogt (Colgate senior flavorist) Bob Vogt (Colgate senior flavorist) says peppermint is one of the most popular flavors because of its “slightly sweet flavor” and “lingering cooling”. Peppermint may mask off the flavors of other ingredients.
Mint oil was used historically as a medicinal and therapeutic ingredient. Mint oil is among the most widely-used flavors for toothpastes and mouthwashes today. There’s no reason not to: Mint is a common, easily accessible plant that is found in all regions of the globe.
Its odor and breath-freshening qualities are a good choice for toothpaste, but the menthol component also has antibacterial, antioxidant, and additional properties to help fight plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. It is also a great choice for children, since it helps prevent tooth decay.
If you’re thinking of exploring a toothpaste with a flavor of peppermint make sure you choose toothpastes that do not contain fluoride, sodium lauryl sulfate and triclosan. These toothpastes will provide users with the same benefits as other toothpastes, such as whitening and breath freshening.