How To Select Your Tooth Paste?

12 Jan 2020

image credit- Bestofindia.com

Recently when I visited a nearby super market, I saw a sales person persuading everyone going through the counter to buy a sensitivity tooth paste with 1+1 offer.

Being a dentist, I know well that sensitivity paste is not at all indicated for me or my kids.

We all start our day with a Tooth Paste!!!
Do you know how to choose a correct Tooth paste??

Companies spend crores to mould the consumers to buy their tooth paste. You shouldn’t choose the toothpaste based on your favourite heroine or cricket star starring in Ad’s.

And the most important thing is-
ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

So what’s there in a tooth paste??
The main ingredients are
Humectants – Glycerine, sorbitol, glycol, mannitol prevent loss of water and hardening upon air.

Abrasive- Calcium carbonate, Aluminium oxide, Silica- remove debris and residual stains from teeth

Binders- carboxy methyl cellulose , Alginate to provide consistency and shape

Foaming agents- Sodium lauryl sulfate

Sweeteners and flavours- Sodium saccharine, xylitol, Mint.

Preservatives- Sodium benzoate

Fluoride – Sodium Fluoride, Sodium monofluoro phosphate, Stannous fluoride

Fluoride is the most crucial ingredient in toothpaste. In Indian market, most of the adult tooth paste contains around 1000 -1500 ppm fluoride. Most of the kids tooth paste available in India has 450-500 ppm of fluoride only.

And Milk teeth are so softer than permanent teeth, so tooth pastes with heavy whiteners should be avoided.

For kids special tooth pastes are available, don’t use adult tooth paste for the younger one. They are mostly fruit or bubblegum flavoured and some appealing characters, so easy to motivate your younger one to brush.

Various uses of tooth paste
– Remove plaque and food debris
– Remove teeth stains
– Reduce/ prevent tooth decaying
– Clean & Polish teeth
– Freshen our breath
– Promote remineralisation

So obviously different type therapeutic tooth paste available- Tooth whitening tooth paste, cavity protection tooth paste, Gum protection tooth paste , sensitivity tooth paste, Tartar control tooth paste, fresh breath tooth paste. That particular ingredients responsible for that purpose are slightly higher or special in this paste.

Only older individuals with a mild generalised hyper sensitivity they require a sensitivity tooth paste. All this sensitivity paste has very minimal or nil foaming agent. so the normal adults never get the feel of brushing, so they tend to brush vigorously or more time that indirectly abrade the teeth.
If you don’t have sensitivity don’t buy a sensitivity tooth paste. Buy a regular adult tooth paste. Don’t get fooled by 1+1 offers.

Various therapeutic tooth pastes are available, Choose the best tooth paste that suits your needs ( to fight cavity, or whitening the teeth or remove bad breath).

#saktidental #smileguide