Our teeth need proper care no less than the skin of the face. Therefore, the choice of means for dental care should be given special attention. One of the most important dental care products is toothpaste. There is a wide variety of pastes that appear in commercials on TV and on store shelves. But how do you choose toothpaste? Today we will try to fully answer this question. The editors of Estet-portal specifically for you found out about the types of toothpaste and how to choose it correctly.
What are toothpastes
Toothpaste is available in paste, gel, and powder forms. Despite the variety of existing toothpastes, they still have common characteristics. These include:
- Abrasives. Substances such as calcium carbonate and silicates help to remove food, bacteria and certain stains from the surface of the teeth.
- Taste. Artificial sweeteners such as saccharin are often added to toothpastes to improve their palatability.
- Humidifiers to maintain humidity. Paste and gel formulas often contain substances such as glycerol to protect the toothpaste from drying out.
- Thickeners. Substances that thicken toothpaste (glutinous substances found in some seaweeds) help build and maintain toothpaste structure.
- Purifiers. It is these substances (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) that form the foam.
Types of toothpastes
All toothpastes are divided into three groups - hygienic, treatment-and-prophylactic and whitening. When choosing a certain type of paste, you should first consider the health of your teeth and gums. If you do not have any problems with your teeth, then you are lucky and you can use any hygienic paste. This type of toothpaste is intended only for cleaning the teeth from food plaque and giving the mouth a fresh smell. If there are any problems, then you need to choose a toothpaste that would help solve these problems. In this case, you should turn to the second group of pastes - to therapeutic and prophylactic. Now let's talk in more detail about the types of toothpastes used for dental care.
Toothpastes containing fluoride
Fluoride is the most important ingredient in toothpaste as it is a natural mineral that prevents cavities and cavities in teeth. Fluoride protects teeth from acid, which is produced by bacteria that feed on sugar and starch residue on your teeth. This is due to the fact that fluoride strengthens tooth enamel and makes it resistant to acids, and also demineralizes microscopic cracks in tooth enamel.
Pastes that remove tartar
Most of these pastes contain fluoride. Each of us has a ball of bacteria (plaque) on the surface of our teeth. If it is not removed in time during oral hygiene procedures, it develops into tartar. This is a hard-to-remove deposit that can form even under the gums, causing their diseases. Zinc pyrophosphates and citrates help fight tartar buildup on teeth. In addition, some toothpastes contain the antibiotic triclosan, which kills certain bacteria in the mouth.
Toothpastes for sensitive teeth
For those people whose teeth react painfully to irritants, for example, hot and cold, toothpastes have been specially created for sensitive teeth. Such pastes contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride - chemicals that block the passage from the tooth to the nerves, as a result of which the sensitivity of the teeth decreases.
Whitening toothpastes
As a general rule, whitening toothpastes do not contain brighteners. Instead, these pastes contain abrasive particles or chemicals that effectively polish the teeth or cling to stains and help pull them off the surface of the tooth. Although many people say that the abrasiveness of whitening toothpaste can damage teeth, studies show that they damage tooth enamel no more than regular toothpastes.
Toothpaste Selection Criteria
There are three main criteria to consider when choosing a toothpaste:
- Toothpaste must be approved by the Dental Association.
- Beware of Chinese toothpastes, some of them have been found to contain toxic diethylene glycol.
- Be mindful of your own needs and those of your family.
From the pastes containing fluoride, any toothpaste is a matter of taste. You can choose a paste consisting exclusively of natural ingredients or fruity for a child. Some prefer whitening toothpastes or toothpastes containing hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. The editors of Estet-portal hope that our advice will help you in choosing a toothpaste. Experiment and you will find a toothpaste that is right for you.
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