{"id":24466,"date":"2019-08-10T14:50:03","date_gmt":"2019-08-10T14:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/growingsmiles.co.uk\/?page_id=24466"},"modified":"2025-02-26T12:11:07","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T12:11:07","slug":"toothpaste-guide-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/growingsmiles.co.uk\/healthy-tips-for-happy-teeth-and-oral-health\/toothpaste-guide-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Toothpaste Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Growing Smiles Toothpaste Guide<\/h1>\n\n

*Please note this is not exhaustive. Please contact us or your dental team for information on which toothpaste is best suited for your oral health. At the end of the toothpaste ingredients table you will find a key which will help you find toothpastes with different levels of fluoride, are fluoride free, those which are sodium lauryl sulphate free and those that have xylitol. We hope this helps. If you have any queries please contact us. <\/p>\n\n

The global oral care market is worth tens of billions of U.S dollars and with the UK toothpaste market worth 461 million pounds  in 2015 it\u2019s not surprising that manufacturers are constantly developing ranges vying for your attention.  <\/a>Many manufacturers work closely with the dental profession to ensure they support the profession in their efforts to improve oral health. This is how fluoride added to toothpaste has made the most significant impact in improving oral health in the last 75 years.  With so many options it can be a challenge knowing what is right for you and your family!<\/p>\n\n

What do<\/strong> you use?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Whatever the wife\/husband buys? Whatever Mum\/Dad buys?<\/p>\n\n

Your decision may be affected by cost, flavour, professional recommendation, advertising or something else but how many of us seriously think about what we put on our toothbrush?<\/p>\n\n

Why<\/strong> bother?<\/h3>\n\n

Toothpaste can help to remove plaque biofilm from teeth and gums, reduce stain and apply agents (active ingredients) that can help improve tooth and gum health. Active ingredients can help manage tooth sensitivity, whiten teeth, or reduce gingivitis or tartar build-up.<\/p>\n\n

So what should<\/strong> you use?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Your choice depends on your current oral health status and your risk of developing oral disease or problems. Keep in mind your risk of developing an oral condition will change throughout life, so it is important to visit the dentist regularly (as often as they recommend) to have your oral health reviewed. It is always best to prevent problems \u2013 and prevention starts at home 365 days a year. Your oral health is in your hands.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>

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Toothpaste (dentifrice) is a paste or gel used to help clean teeth and improve oral health<\/h2>\n\n
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What’s in the tube?<\/h3>\n\n

20 -42% of toothpaste is water!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Binders \u2013 thickens the paste and stabilises the formulation<\/h3>\n\n

e.g. Natural gums<\/p>\n\n

Carageenan<\/p>\n\n

Seaweed colloid<\/p>\n\n

Synthetic cellulose<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Humectants \u2013 helps to keep paste moist and prevents it drying out\/ hardening<\/h3>\n\n

e.g. Xylitol<\/p>\n\n

Glycerol<\/p>\n\n

Sorbitol<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Foaming agents\/Detergents\/Surfactants<\/h3>\n\n

help to penetrate and loosen surface deposits and contribute to foaming action of toothpaste.<\/p>\n\n

e.g. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)<\/p>\n\n

Sodium nlauryl sarcosinate<\/p>\n\n

Sodium Alkyl Sulphate<\/p>\n\n

Note \u2013 some people who suffer from ulcers are sensitive to sodium laurly sulphate so avoiding SLS can help reduce ulcers<\/p>\n\n

Preservatives \u2013 prevents germs growing, extends shelf life<\/h3>\n\n

e.g. Benzoates<\/p>\n\n

Alcohol<\/p>\n\n

Dichlorinated phenols<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Cleaning\/polishing agents<\/h3>\n\n

Pigments from foods, tobacco etc can stain the plaque biofilm on tooth surfaces. Polishing agents can help remove stained biofilm<\/p>\n\n

e.g Calcium Carbonate<\/p>\n\n

Phosphate salts<\/p>\n\n

Hyrated aluminium oxide<\/p>\n\n

Activated carbon<\/p>\n\n

Silica<\/p>\n\n

Sodium Hexametaphosphate.<\/p>\n\n

Flavouring \u2013 gives a pleasant flavour\/masks other ingredients<\/h3>\n\n

e.g. essential oils<\/p>\n\n

Artificial sweeteners \u2013 Xylitol, Glycerol, Sorbitol<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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The Main Functions of Toothpaste<\/h2>\n\n

One of the main functions of toothpaste is to apply an agent\/s to the teeth and gums that benefits oral health (the active ingredient). <\/strong>Most commonly these agents target one or more of the following \u2013<\/p>\n\n

Tooth decay<\/p>\n\n

Gum disease<\/p>\n\n

Sensitivity<\/p>\n\n

Tartar control<\/p>\n\n

Whitening<\/p>\n\n

Acid erosion control \u2013 tooth surface loss\/tooth wear<\/p>\n\n

Fresh breath \u2013 halitosis\/oral malodour<\/p>\n\n

Dry mouth<\/p>\n\n

Some toothpastes offer all round protection<\/strong> with an active ingredient\/s e.g. Fluoride has proven benefits against one or more oral conditions. E.g tooth decay, gum inflammation, sensitivity and acid erosion. Other pastes have an active ingredient which targets a specific problem e.g. Novamin or other bioactive glass for sensitivity. Selection of a toothpaste should be made with your dental team or Growing Smiles oral health coach and is dependent on your risk\/benefit of use.<\/p>\n\n

Toothpaste Active Ingredients<\/h2>\n\n

Active ingredients are added to toothpaste to improve health or reduce negative symptoms<\/p>\n\n

The most common active ingredients<\/strong> include \u2013<\/p>\n\n

Fluoride  \u2013 is found in toothpastes targeting tooth decay, gum disease and sensitivity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water in varying amounts, depending on where you live. <\/strong>Many people don\u2019t know if their water supply is fluoridated \u2013 speak to your dental team if you are not sure. Only 10% of England\u2019s population have fluoridated water at an optimum level. If in doubt, information can be obtained from your water supplier by quoting your residential postcode.<\/p>\n\n

More information on water fluoridation in the UK can be found here https:\/\/www.nhs.uk\/conditions\/Fluoride\/Pages\/Introduction.aspx<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Fluoride<\/a> was first added to toothpastes in the 1890s. In 1955, Procter & Gamble launched Crest as its first clinically proven<\/a> fluoride-containing toothpaste. On August 1, 1960, the American Dental Association reported that \u201cCrest has been shown to be an effective anti-cavity (decay preventing) dentifrice (toothpaste) that can be of significant value when used in a conscientiously applied program of oral hygiene and regular professional care.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Supported by more than half a century of research, the benefits of fluoride toothpastes are firmly established, reducing tooth decay, by about 24% on average, when compared with a non-fluoride toothpaste.<\/p>\n\n

Everyone will benefit from using fluoride toothpaste at night time\/before sleeping and one other time every day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Twice a day use increases the benefit. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Spit toothpaste out after brushing but don\u2019t rinse with water \u2013 let the ingredients work!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

\"a<\/figure>

Recommended level of fluoride in toothpaste<\/strong> \u2013<\/p>\n\n

0-3 years use a smear of paste with at least 1000ppm fluoride * (small children should not lick or eat toothpaste from the tube)<\/p>\n\n

3-6 years should use a pea sized blob of toothpaste with at least 1000ppm fluoride* <\/p>\n\n