What's In Toothpaste?

Toothpastes can be made up of different “ingredients”; however the two main must-have ingredients are:

1. Fluoride
2. Abrasives

Fluoride is crucial because it provides the restoring capability to toothpaste. Fluoride incorporates itself into the teeth’s enamel. This strengthens the teeth, making them more resistant to decay. Also, the fluoride helps restore areas of demineralized enamel in early stage cavities.

The abrasives are what actually clean the teeth. Tooth plaque is sticky and must be physically removed. This is what the abrasives do. They provide “grit” so plaque can be scrubbed away. Abrasives are usually in the form of calcium carbonates, calcium phosphates, or another similar compound.

Other toothpaste ingredients can include:

Peroxides (some whitening toothpastes contain this)

Potassium Nitrate (contained in sensitivity toothpastes)

Surfactants (creates the foaming action to help spread the paste around)

Flavoring agents

Sweeteners (such as xylitol)

Preservatives

Stocking Stuffer Ideas...(from your dentist)

My wife and I recently visited New York where we were able to stand beneath the gorgeous Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree. If you are still in need of a few gift ideas for loved ones to place beneath your own tree, here is a list of some of my favorite things:

Oral-B ProfessionalCare Series Electric Toothbrush – Electric toothbrushes are one item that I truly do believe you get what you pay for. If you’re going to get one, it’s worth dishing out a little extra cash for a good one.

AirFloss made by Sonicare – Is it better than flossing? Probably not. Are you more likely to actually use it? Absolutely. And for all the “floss-slackers” out there, something is 100% better than nothing. This is a cool product. I use one personally. It’s quick, easy, and less messy than a waterpik.

ACT Alcohol-Free Anticavity Rinse – Great product for fighting cavities

Trident Xtra Care Sugar-Free Gum containing Recaldent – Chewing gum can actually be good for you?! YES!

Lifefactory Glass Water Bottle – Why? Because all of us need to be drinking more water! It’s good for your teeth. It’s good for your gums. It’s good for your body. Water is just very good for us and we don’t drink enough. Less Cokes….more water.

Firefly Light-Up Children’s Toothbrush – It's a toy, no it's a toothbrush. Well, it's kind of both. They have all different characters…superheroes, Barbies, Hot Wheels, etc and they light up! Your kids might actually enjoy brushing properly. Establish good habits young.

Orabrush Tongue Brush – as Orabrush says, “90% of bad breath comes from a dirty tongue”. While that number is a little debatable, there is a lot of funky bacteria on your tongue. Why wouldn’t you clean that thing off?

Does your mouthwash help or hurt your breath?

There are tons of mouth rinse products on the market…all claiming to give you kissable fresh breath. While most will temporarily mask bad breath with menthol additives, they may actually be doing more harm than good. Most mouthwash products contain alcohol, which actually dries out your mouth. A dry mouth is a much more favorable environment for odor-causing bacteria to flourish in. And so, while these mouth rinses may give you a quick cover-up, they are really just giving bad breath the breeding grounds to come back stronger than ever.

But don’t get me wrong; I am a BIG advocate for mouth rinses, especially those containing fluoride (which help strengthen teeth and can halt cavity formation). Just make sure you are choosing a rinse that states it is “alcohol-free” if you are trying to tackle bad breath.