Toothpaste has evolved significantly since its inception in the late 1800s, initially tasteless varieties were sold in jars. Today, there are many different toothpaste brands available, each offering a wide variety of options to help with different oral care needs. With varying types of toothpaste available, it can be challenging to determine the best toothpaste in India.
Toothpaste brands address a wide range of dental issues, from whitening formulations to desensitising options and preventive measures for dental problems. Despite their abundance, almost all types of toothpaste aim to achieve common goals: freshening breath, protecting teeth, and maintaining healthy gums. Read on to learn more about the different types of toothpaste and how to select the most suitable one for your dental needs.
What’s in Toothpaste?
Brushing your teeth is a daily ritual, but have you ever wondered about the ingredients present in the toothpaste? Beyond just a cleaning agent, toothpaste is packed with powerful ingredients that keep your smile bright and healthy. Choosing the best toothpaste for your oral health requires understanding the key ingredients. Toothpaste contains active and inactive ingredients to address specific concerns, such as toothache relief or achieving whiter teeth. Let's delve into the science behind your toothpaste to understand what keeps your mouth feeling fresh and your teeth strong.
Active Ingredients
Active ingredients are the ones that work to clean your teeth and fight cavities and gum disease. The most common active ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride, which helps to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Other active ingredients may include:
- Antiseptics: Aid in killing bacteria in the mouth that can cause plaque and gingivitis.
- Desensitizers: Help relieve pain from sensitive teeth.
- Whitening agents: Remove stains from teeth.
Inactive Ingredients
Inactive ingredients do not directly fight cavities or gum disease, but they are necessary to give toothpaste its form and function. Some common inactive ingredients in toothpaste include:
- Abrasives: These help remove plaque and debris from teeth. Common abrasives include calcium carbonate, silica, and aluminium oxide.
- Thickeners: Contribute to toothpaste consistency. Common thickeners include xanthan gum, carrageenan, and cellulose gum.
- Humectants: Maintain toothpaste moisture. Common humectants include glycerin and sorbitol.
- Flavourings and sweeteners: Enhance the taste of toothpaste.
- Colouring agents: Provide toothpaste with its colour.
Different Types of Toothpaste
While you may already be aware of the importance of brushing your teeth twice daily for maintaining good oral health, it's essential to understand that not all toothpaste serves the same purpose. With several types of toothpastes available, each offers unique benefits to cater to specific dental needs. Therefore, you can select the best toothpaste for teeth based on your preferences. Here are some common choices to consider.
Fluoride Toothpaste
Fluoride strengthens and protects teeth against decay, so dentists recommend it. Many adults can also benefit from fluoride toothpaste when taking medications that dry their mouths or when they have health conditions that make them more vulnerable to tooth decay. A prescription fluoride toothpaste not only prevents decay but also remineralises teeth along the root surface.
Toothpaste for Young Children
Parents have plenty of options when it comes to toothpaste for kids. With lots of good flavours and colourful kid-friendly designs on the tubes, getting your child to brush their teeth becomes easier. If your child is under the age of two, use toothpastes that are safe to swallow. These products are fluoride-free, come in mild flavours and do not contain artificial colours or preservatives. Also, consider using a soft-bristled toothbrush designed for their delicate gums.
The Indian Dental Association (IDA) mentions that children's toothpaste is different from adult toothpaste. Specifically, toothpastes for children are not as abrasive as adult toothpaste.
Tartar Control
Plaque is one of the chief contributors to gum disease. It accumulates along the teeth and gum line, leading to inflammation and irritation of the gums. Once the bacterial plaque hardens into tartar on your teeth, only a professional cleaning by your dentist or dental hygienist can remove it. Excess tartar can lead to gum problems, so it is important to brush and floss every day to prevent it.
Tartar control toothpastes are formulated to remove as much plaque as possible and to prevent the formation of new tartar deposits. For those prone to quicker tartar buildup, your dentist may suggest using a tartar control toothpaste.
Toothpaste for Sensitive Teeth
Does eating ice cream or drinking hot drinks hurt your teeth? If it is a sharp pain, you may have dentin hypersensitivity. The Indian Dental Association notes that tooth sensitivity occurs when the underlying layer of your teeth - the dentin, becomes exposed as a result of receding gum tissue. The roots, which are not covered by hard enamel, contain thousands of tiny dentinal tubules that allow the stimuli - for example, hot, cold, or sweet food - to reach the nerve in the tooth, which results in pain.
In such a condition, your dentist may recommend using the best toothpaste for teeth sensitivity, which should be used for a period of time. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth gives long-lasting relief and is also available with fluoride for cavity protection or teeth-whitening ingredients.
How to Choose a Potassium Nitrate and Sodium Monofluorophosphate Toothpaste?
When choosing toothpaste for sensitive teeth, it is essential to consider some key factors. Look for active ingredients like potassium nitrate, which can help block nerve pathways and reduce sensitivity, and ensure it contains fluoride to strengthen enamel and protect exposed dentin. You may also opt for low-abrasiveness formulas to prevent further enamel wear. Additionally, some sensitive toothpaste may also have calcium compounds to reinforce enamel.
Potassium Nitrate Toothpaste
Potassium nitrate is a key ingredient found in toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth and is known for its ability to soothe tooth nerves. When combined with sodium monofluorophosphate, which strengthens enamel and prevents bacterial decay, potassium nitrate and sodium monofluorophosphate toothpaste offer effective relief from tooth sensitivity while promoting dental health. Recommended by the Indian Dental Association for its nerve-desensitising properties, potassium nitrate toothpaste is thus ideal for those seeking to alleviate sensitivity and enhance enamel protection.
Breath Freshening Toothpaste
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, originates mainly from the oral cavity. The Indian Dental Association (IDA) attributes bad breath to the decay of food particles that brushing and flossing do not remove from the mouth. Breath-freshening toothpaste that fights bacteria is available on the market containing flavouring agents like peppermint oil that leave a pleasant and fresh taste in the mouth.
Consulting a healthcare professional can help you identify the cause of your bad breath. They can help diagnose the issue and suggest the best toothpaste to help you maintain fresh breath.
How to Pick the Right Toothpaste for Your Teeth?
Many different types of toothpaste are available on the market, making it difficult to choose the right one. Each toothpaste claims to offer different benefits, such as protection against cavities, gingivitis, plaque, sensitivity, tartar, and even breath-freshening. If you are looking for the best toothpaste in India, you should consider a lot, as various types of toothpaste are available such as charcoal toothpaste, herbal toothpaste, whitening toothpaste, natural toothpaste, and ayurvedic toothpaste.
While looking for the best toothpaste for teeth, consider using an antibacterial toothpaste that addresses your whole mouth health. For instance, Colgate Total Advanced Health uses Dual-Zinc + Arginine technology that provides proactive protection to the whole mouth and helps prevent the most relevant oral diseases and conditions. It also addresses sensitivity by blocking open dentin tubules and provides 12-hour long-lasting freshness.
