What Did We Use Before Toothpaste
A tooth paste is made up of a wide range of ingredients to make your mouth feel clean and fresh. These ingredients also remove stains and prevent tooth decay.
Remineralizing components are present in many toothpastes to strengthen enamel. These can be abrasive, making it essential to understand what one is best for your mouth and teeth.
Fluoride
Fluoride is an anti-cavity and minerals that improve oral health. It’s naturally found in various sources such as water, food and soil. It can be added to toothpaste or water supplies for a number of reasons.
Its primary function is to prevent tooth decay through “remineralizing” teeth. This helps to bond enamel to zones of decay while also drawing strong minerals like calcium towards the area of the damage. The fluorapatite mineral, which is the hardest and more robust form of enamel, is developed. It’s less susceptible to the acidic bacteria.
That’s why the American Dental Association recommends brushing using a fluoride-based toothpaste at least two times a daily. Additionally the dentist can suggest fluoride varnishes and gels for your teeth to put on to provide extra protection.
Dental flosses that contain fluoride come in an array of strength, with the majority commercial brands possessing at least 1000 parts for every million fluoride (i.e. 0.221% sodium fluoride or 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate).
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to use toothpaste for children with at least 1000ppm fluoride. The toothpaste is best used as a “smear” on a small toothbrush to minimize the risk of swallowing, and it should be slightly angled downwards to ensure that any excess paste drips through the mouth instead of down the throat.
But, excessive fluoride could cause a problem called fluorosis. This is spots or white streaks on the teeth, and digestive problems for youngsters who consume large amounts of fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride has also been shown to cause increased inflammation and altered neurodevelopment in animals and humans.
SLS
The common ingredient for personal and household product is sodium sulfate (SLS). SLS may come from oil or from natural sources such as coconut oil or palm oil.
To remove plaque and food particles that are stuck to your teeth, foaming agents made of SLS are commonly used in toothpastes. It also helps make the toothpaste’s molecules more slippery to allow them to be more easily absorbed into the tiny gaps between your gums and your teeth.
But, there’s a wide range of toothpastes that are SLS-free and will still do a good job in removing the debris and plaque from your teeth, without the addition of this chemical. They won’t cause any irritation or discomfort when you brush and will also help to keep your breath fresh.
SLS can also irritate the lips as well as the skin around the tongue. SLS may slough off or strip away the outer layers of the skin cells in your mouth, making it more susceptible to infection.
SLS may dry your internal organs, which can lead to poor breath, along with other health issues. The reason dentists advise the use of SLS-free toothpastes.
Additionally, it can affect the efficacy of fluoride that can decrease its efficacy and make your teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay. SLS can also hinder certain types of toothpaste’s whitening properties. If you’re allergic to SLS choose a toothpaste that is made with SLS in a safe and gentle way like Decyl Glucoside or Quillaja triterpenesic saponins.
Sodium Hydroxide
The sodium hydroxide, commonly referred to as lye (used in the making of soap) or caustic soda is a potent cleanser used in toothpastes to neutralise acid and keep plaque from mineralising into calculus. However, it can cause irritation and dry mouth and is not suitable for children.
Most often, in lower concentrations of fluoride, it is the primary ingredient of toothpaste that helps prevent tooth decay as well as strengthen teeth. The fluoride is slowly absorbed in time, and acts as the remineralisation agent, which assists to repair damaged areas of the surface of the teeth and protect against teeth from being sensitive to decay.
In toothpaste, it’s used in combination with other ingredients such as silica that is hydrated, to assist in removing plaque and superficial stains from the teeth. It’s also a gentle Abrasive that causes less damage to the enamel and dentin than some other types of abrasives.
It is also an anti-septic that prevents gum diseases and helps reduce plaque build-up. It is also a foaming agent which increases the cleansing power of the toothpaste.
Additionally, there are other fluoride-containing components that could be present in toothpaste in order to increase its effect and help to keep teeth in good shape. To provide protection from cavities the toothpastes designed for children as well as adults could contain sodium monofluorophosphate or the stannous fluoride.
Synthetic colors are employed in toothpastes to produce whiteness. These colors can also be used as flavourings. Although they are safe, some synthetic colours such as yellow #5 for instance have been implicated in an increase in anxiety and hyperactivity among children.
The parabens and sorbitols are two other ingredients you need to avoid. They can cause hormonal disruptions in your body and could cause a build-up and cause illnesses.
Instead of the products it is possible to make use of natural sweeteners such as xylitol or stevia. Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that has been shown to prevent dental decay as well as increase saliva. This can assist to decrease bacteria in the mouth.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
SLS, also known as sodium lauryl silfate, or SLS in short is among the most common ingredients in toothpaste as well as other products for personal care. It can be made naturally or synthetically. The result is a have a bubbly, foamy appearance.
It is a surfactant that decreases the water-oil’s surface tension to help bond and lifting off debris such as dirt and grease. SLS can also help foam products, making it easier for users to put the products all over their mouths.
SLS is used in the production of toothpaste because it helps dissolve plaque and prevents stains. It also has antibacterial properties that help reduce the risk of developing cavities and gingivitis.
It’s also a great detergent as well as a foaming agent making toothpaste lather up more easily and gives a greater cleaning impact. Because it helps to eliminate irritating irritants and make it simpler to wash your teeth and gums, it’s a component that is used in foaming toothpastes and mouthwashes.
SLS could cause skin irritation when employed for long periods of time. SLS can be irritating for individuals with sensitive skin as well as patients suffering with rosacea (an skin condition of inflammation which results in swelling, redness, itching and many other signs).
There are other concerns regarding the possible health effects of SLS, including its potential to raise the chance of developing cancer of the oral cavity or throat. These claims are not supported by scientific evidence, but they are popular online.
Peppermint
Peppermint is the go-to flavour of the year and is used for a long time in toothpaste. The herb’s properties for freshening breath and cooling sensation, paired with its distinct scent make the ideal flavor to use in toothpaste.
Menthol from peppermint gives peppermint its cooling, refreshing sensation. Menthol is also an antibacterial substance that helps fight harmful bacteria . It also helps reduce bad breath.
Along with the breath-freshening properties it also triggers the sense receptors within the mouth as well as on the skin. This creates a cooling effect. It’s recommended to make use of peppermint toothpaste when you’re looking to preserve good gums and teeth, since it also helps prevent cavities by strengthening enamel.
According to Bob Vogt, senior flavorist at Colgate Many people appreciate this “slightly sugary” and “lingering coolness” of peppermint. Peppermint is a great way to mask off flavors from other components.
Mint oil has been used for centuries for its therapeutic and medicinal ingredient. It is one of the most popular flavors used in toothpastes and mouthwashes today. There’s no reason not to: Mint is a common, easily accessible plant, which is grown in all parts of the world.
The fresh breath and smell make it a great choice for toothpaste, but it also comes with antioxidants, antibacterial properties, as well as additional properties to aid in fighting gingivitis, plaque and bad breath. It’s also an excellent choice for toothpaste for kids because it helps in preventing tooth decay.
Peppermint toothpaste is a fantastic option if you are looking for toothpastes that do not contain fluoride or sodium lauryl-sulfate. These toothpastes will provide the same refreshing properties and whitening abilities but without any of the hazardous ingredients in other toothpastes.