One of the most frequently asked questions to us is “Which toothpaste is better to use?”. Unfortunately, there is no single correct answer to this. First of all, it should be underlined: “Toothpastes take place in oral care after tooth brushing”. What does this mean?
Although it is quite incomprehensible at first glance, it is actually intended to be emphasized that the priority in oral care is mechanical cleaning. No matter which toothpaste you use, if the mechanical cleaning is insufficient, it becomes impossible to get a benefit from the paste. To express this more simply; After the rough cleaning of a dirty stove is not done, there will be no difference between buying pure bleach or expensive cleaning products worth a few liras.
Those of us who brush our teeth well, which toothpaste will we choose? When we look at the explanations on the pastes, the contents in it mean nothing to many people. For this reason, it is of course not possible to buy paste by looking at the “contents” section. Undoubtedly, your dentist will determine the most suitable paste for you, but today I would like to tell you a little about these “contents”.
* Hydrogen peroxide is used for teeth whitening.
* Sodium bicarbonate is the expression of the carbonate we know in the language of chemistry. Although it is said to help clean the stains on the teeth, its function in the paste is still controversial.
* Other abrasives you will often see in toothpastes are dicalcium phosphate, kaolin, bentonite, silica and calcium carbonate (chalk).
* Sodium pyrophosphate is an ingredient in tartar-controlled toothpaste. It has been shown to prevent plaque formation when used regularly. But once tartar has hardened on your teeth, it’s not possible to remove it at home. It can only be cleaned with a professional cleaning.
* Propylene glycol is a humectant that keeps the toothpaste moist and prevents the separation of the solid and liquid components in the paste. Other known humectants in toothpaste are sorbitol, pentatol and glycerol.
* Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate is a detergent type ingredient and makes the paste foam in your mouth. You can also see ingredients such as sodium stearyl fumarate and sodium lauryl sulfate, which SLS is believed to reduce in people who are sensitive to this ingredient.
* Sodium saccharin is the least expensive sweetener and appears in many toothpastes. A very small amount is used in toothpaste, as it is 600 times sweeter than regular sugar. Other toothpaste sweeteners are aspartame and ammoniated diglyzzherizins.
*Sensitizing ingredients are found in toothpastes specially formulated for those with sensitive teeth. Strontium chloride and potassium nitrate have been described as relieving this discomfort in people whose teeth are sensitive to hot and cold foods. However, they need at least 1-1.5 months to be effective.
* Triclosan is an antibacterial ingredient and has just been approved by the FDA for use in toothpastes. It has been used as an active ingredient in antibacterial soaps, lotions, sponges and cutting boards for years. Triclosan used in toothpaste has been clinically proven to fight gingivitis and disease and inhibit the growth of bacteria-causing plaques in adults. Almost all toothpaste manufacturers are expected to use it, but since triclosan is considered a drug, all toothpastes containing it must be approved by official health authorities before entering the market.
Regardless of the name, the most important criterion in the selection of paste is fluoride. For this reason, you should choose the toothpaste containing more than 1000 ppm fluoride for your child and the toothpaste containing fluoride under 1000 ppm dose for your child. And remember that “no toothpaste can replace our dentist”
