What is
toothpaste
- Abrasives
Detergent (1-2 per cent)
- Binding
agents (1 per cent)
- Humectants
(10-30 per cent)
- Flavouring,
sweetening and colouring agents (1-5 per cent)
- Preservatives
(0.05-0.5 per cent)
- Water
Toothpastes are the most
widely used oral health care product and there is considerable choice available
to the consumer. Toothpaste types range from family anti-decay/anti-plaque
types to the specific formulations for smokers, for sensitive teeth, special
children's formulations and the recently introduced tooth whitening pastes
which are the fastest growing sector of the toothpaste market.
Toothpaste ingredients are
usually shown on packs w/w' - that is weight for weight, or grams per 100
grams. Under new European cosmetics legislation, toothpastes are required to
list all ingredients. In addition to water and therapeutic agents such as
fluoride, antibacterial, desensitising and anti-tartar agents, toothpaste will
normally contain the following basic ingredients:
- Abrasives
These cleaning and polishing agents account for about a third of toothpaste by weight. Most of the abrasives used are chalk or silica based. Examples are dicalcium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate, calcium carbonate, silica, zirconium silicate or calcium pyrophosphate. Abrasives differ; an international standard defines a test paste against which toothpaste abrasivity can be assessed, but there is no system for ensuring that all toothpastes sold in the Republic of Ireland are at or below this abrasivity level. - Detergent
(1-2 per cent)
This makes toothpaste foam, as well as helping to distribute it round the mouth to lower surface tension and loosen plaque and other debris from the tooth surface. Examples are Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and Sodium M Lauryl Sarcosinate - Binding
agents (1 per cent)
These agents prevent separation of solid and liquid ingredients during storage. These are usually derived from cellulose, sodium carboxy-methyl cellulose being the most commonly used. Carrageenans (seaweed derived), xantham gums and alginates are also used. - Humectants
(10-30 per cent)
These agents retain moisture and prevent the toothpaste hardening on exposure to air. Glycerol, sorbitol and propylene glycol are commonly used, glycerol and sorbitol also sweeten the toothpaste, though this is not their main function. - Flavouring,
sweetening and colouring agents (1-5 per cent)
Peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, wintergreen and menthol are among many, flavourings used. Mucosal irritations from toothpaste are rare and are usually linked to flavourings or preservatives. They can take the form of ulceration, gingivitis, angular cheilitis or perioral dermatitis. Flavourless toothpastes are not available commercially so the only solution is to change brand. For people who react to mint, some children's formulations are mint free - for example homeopathic toothpastes tend to avoid mint because of interactions with other homeopathic remedies, but they may also leave out fluoride. - Preservatives
(0.05-0.5 per cent)
Alcohols, benzoates, formaldehyde and dichlorinated phenols are added to prevent bacterial growth on the organic binders and humectants.
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