Know your Tooth Paste and its Ingredients

DENTAL MATTERS

Active ingredients are those which have an active role. Fluoride is an active ingredient, which prevents decay of your enamel and reverses early cavity formation by remineralizing areas that have started to decay. Experts recommend fluoridated tooth paste, which are a must for everyone except for children below 2years of age who are normally advised non fluoridated tooth paste for fear of ingestion of the mineral

It gets very difficult to pick the right tooth paste, when you have different options staring at you claiming their own proficiency. Tooth paste be it any kind- herbal, medicated or OTC are mainly found in two forms gel or paste and have the same common basic ingredients. It contains an abrasive, flavouring agents like saccharin which act as sweater, humectants to retain the moisture, and a detergent which causes foaming in a tooth paste. These basic ingredients are basically called inactive ingredients because they do not play much role in reducing your cavities or gum diseases. Every tooth paste has the same basic inactive ingredients.

Active ingredients are those which have an active role. Fluoride is an active ingredient, which prevents decay of your enamel and reverses early cavity formation by remineralizing areas that have started to decay. Experts recommend fluoridated tooth paste, which are a must for everyone except for children below 2years of age who are normally advised non fluoridated tooth paste for fear of ingestion of the mineral. Tooth paste of any choice should have this common active ingredient except if there is any allergy to this mineral.

Besides your tooth paste being fluoridated, you can try and explore any tooth paste based on your need. Whitening toothpaste has titanium oxide or carbamide peroxide as they lighten your stains slightly but cannot change the natural colour of your teeth.

Anti-sensitive tooth paste contains potassium nitrate or strontium chloride as an active ingredient; they basically block the pathways from the surface of the teeth to the nerve to reduce sensitivity. It takes up to 4 weeks for their outcome and one should not rinse right away after brushing with these toothpastes as they work best when they are left in your teeth for some time.

Anti tar tooth paste contain compounds like pyrophosphates and zinc citrate which have been proven to be effective in reducing your tartar deposits. Combination of these with antibiotics like triclosan in the toothpaste has been proven to reduce plaque deposits and gum inflammation.

Herbal tooth paste containing aloe vera, neem, meswak, clove etc and claim to reduce deposit and gum inflammation as well as conventional toothpaste .

Tooth paste who are IDA approved carry a validity of experts recommendations and it is always better to try a tooth paste which has this approval.

Dr Swagat Pranam Sharma

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