What’s in a Paste | Choosing the Best Toothpaste For Your Oral Health
No matter your lifestyle, favorite flavor, or condition of your gums and teeth, there is safe, ADA-approved toothpaste for you!
Last year, we wrote about the ins and outs of toothpaste in the post,"Toothpaste as a Whole" This week, we would like to again turn our thoughts towards toothpaste as we dig a little deeper into the stuff that coats our toothbrushes every day. Grocery stores and pharmacies are stocked with hundreds of options that can overwhelm even the savviest shopper, but knowing what to look for can melt away the stress and allow you to keep making the best decisions for your oral and overall health.
What's in a Paste | The Ingredients That Make Your Toothpaste Work
toothpaste contain flavoring, humectants, detergents, thickeners, and abrasive agents
Though toothpaste can come in the form of a gel or a paste, they are mostly made up of the same elements.“Oral Care | Weighing Your Toothpaste Options” by WebMD says many toothpastes contain flavoring, humectants, detergents, thickeners and abrasive agents.
Artificial sweeteners are added to toothpaste to make them taste better, says WebMD. They come in many flavors such as mint, bubblegum, and even types of fruit. Humectants allow the toothpaste to stay moist and not dry out. Detergents cause the foaming action that occurs during brushing while thickeners keep toothpaste smooth and consistent. WebMD credits abrasive agents with aiding in the removal of bacteria and some teeth stains.
What's in a Paste | What to Look for in Your Toothpaste
the most important part about choosing a toothpaste is choosing one that contains fluoride
"Weighing Your Toothpaste Options," says that the most important part about choosing a toothpaste is choosing one which contains fluoride. It goes on to say that fluoride, one of the earth’s natural minerals, can dramatically decrease tooth decay and the formation of cavities.
WebMD also suggests that when shopping for a new toothpaste, we should go with a tube that is approved by the American Dental Association or ADA. An ADA seal of approval simply means that the toothpaste has been tested for effectiveness as well as safety by a panel of experts. WebMD says that all ADA approved toothpaste also contains fluoride, so when you select the seal, you choose a healthy mineral too.
What's in a paste | The Possibilities Are Endless
there is safe, ADA-approved toothpaste for you!
No matter your lifestyle, favorite flavor, or condition of your gums and teeth, there is safe, ADA-approved toothpaste for you! Are you prone to sensitivity? Would you like to whiten as you clean? Do you prefer more natural ingredients? The paste is out there. If you have questions about which toothpaste would be best for your teeth or would like to know more about your oral health and hygiene, make an appointment with Dr. Moore today! Also, check out our post about choosing the proper toothbrush, "Oral Hygiene | Choosing the Best Toothbrush for Your Oral Hygiene".
Contact Lake Cities Dental for more information about Family Dentistry and Orthodontics in the Southlake, TX area. (817) 410-7373. Also, check us out on Facebook and Google+.