Chemical composition of toothpastes. Toothpastes, types and groups of toothpastes, requirements for toothpastes

Toothpaste is unique dosage form necessary to ensure proper hygiene oral cavity. With the help of toothpaste, teeth are not only cleaned, but also prevented from caries and other diseases. The composition of the paste is replete with unknown components, so it is worth knowing what they are for.

Classification of toothpastes

The paste may contain different components, but for a particular problem it is useful to select certain substances. Cleansing products are divided into:

Hygienic - they clean and deodorize the oral cavity, there are no marks on them or there is a tag “for the whole family.”
Therapeutic and preventive – on them you can find information “with increased content fluoride" or "calcium", they can only be prescribed by a doctor.
Special – used to eliminate certain enamel defects. They are divided into:

anti-caries - with or without fluoride content, where it is replaced with xylitol or calcium glycerophosphate (“Blendamed”);
desensitizing - for teeth with increased sensitivity, include painkillers, marked Sensitive (“Colgate”);
anti-inflammatory – eliminate inflammation of the gums, contain antiseptics, natural herbal extracts, marked Activ (“Paradontax”);
organic – with high content natural ingredients, are marked Fito;
sorption – containing enterosgel;
eliminating stomatitis;
bleaching – containing abrasives, enzymes or peroxides, marked White (“President”).

Based on natural ingredients

The composition of the paste can be natural, then it will include the following components:

chalk and silicon oxide are abrasives;
organic glycerin - to form viscosity;
xylitol, sorbitol – sweeteners;
seaweed, alginates, carrageenans, gum - thickeners;
zinc and sodium citrates – remove plaque, regulate acidity;
sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate – preservatives;
maltodextrin, sodium silicate - improve texture;
soda, salt, clay - abrasives;
essential oils, herbal decoctions.

Synthesized substances

The toothpaste also contains synthetic products, here are the main ones:

thickeners, viscosity enhancers (paraffin);
antiseptics (Chlorhexidine);
dyes;
flavorings, fragrances (menthol);
vitamins;
fluoride and calcium salts;
tensides are foaming agents.

Toothpaste Ingredients

Chemical composition pastes are rich and rich in components, each of which performs its own function. In most products you can find:

herbal essential oils;
calcium, potassium and fluorine compounds;
antiseptics;
abrasives;
pyrophosphates;
components that reduce tooth sensitivity.

All kinds of dyes and flavors are needed for the product to have pleasant taste and appearance, thickeners are introduced to form the correct consistency, and tensides increase foaming. It is unacceptable to contain sugar and triclosan in the product. The first serves as a source of bacterial growth, and the second leads to dysbacteriosis of the oral cavity. Children's toothpastes should not contain saccharin, sodium lauryl sulfate, formaldehyde and chlorhexidine.

Essential oils of medicinal plants

The components in the pastes can be obtained from medicinal plants having therapeutic actions. Here is some of the plants:

brine - reduces bleeding gums;
oak bark – has an anti-inflammatory effect (“Forest Balsam”);
chamomile, St. John's wort, cloves, yarrow, calamus, calendula, sage, ginseng - reduce tooth sensitivity;
sage, peppermint, echinacea, myrrh, ratania - relieve pain, provide regenerative treatment;
chitin, chitosan – have an anti-caries effect;
lavender – kills bacteria and fungi.

Products containing calcium help avoid demineralization of enamel and relieve tooth sensitivity. The main components in them are:

calcium glycerophosphate;
synthetic hydroxyapatite;
calcium lactate;
calcium pantothenate;
calcium citrate.

When choosing a product, you need to pay attention that it does not contain fluorides and calcium salts at the same time, because they can bind to each other and form insoluble salts. If you brush your teeth with such a paste, then the ions of these substances will not be released, which will lead to a loss of enamel useful components. Calcium-containing pastes prevent the occurrence of caries.

Antiseptics for the oral cavity

IN complex composition Pastes contain antiseptics that are designed to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria that can cause caries. Popular substances are:

Chlorhexidine kills microflora; pastes containing it cannot be used by a child for more than 4 weeks, because this can lead to dysbacteriosis.
Aluminum lactate – intended to relieve inflammation caused by the formation of bacteria. Long-term use results in candidiasis, therefore longer than a month products cannot be used with it.
The antibiotic metronidazole and compounds based on it are a dangerous antimicrobial component that is undesirable in the composition.

Fluoride compounds in toothpaste

The most important component is fluorine in the paste. It is presented in the form of fluorides, which prevent caries and serve as participants in the exchange of calcium and fluoride in the enamel. Popular connections are:

tin fluoride;
sodium fluoride;
monofluorophosphate;
sodium fluoride;
aminofluorides.

All these compounds increase the resistance of enamel to acids and microorganisms, and enhance remineralization. Active fluorine ions kill bacteria, and in combination with silicon abrasives they form a special fluoristat system. For fluorides, their concentration is important because they are toxic. The optimal concentration is 0.1% for adults and 0.023% for children.

Abrasive components

An important component of the product is an abrasive that reacts with inorganic tooth tissues. Classic abrasives are:

chemically precipitated chalk (Colgate);
dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (" New pearls»);
dicalcium phosphate monohydrate;
anhydrous dicalcium phosphate;
tricalcium phosphate;
calcium pyrophosphate;
sodium metaphosphate;
aluminum hydroxide;
silicon dioxide (Splat);
zirconium silicate;
polymer compounds of methyl methacrylate.

Often in a cleaning product you can find several abrasives at once, differing in dispersion, hardness, and acidity. Due to the fact that abrasives act aggressively and remove plaque from the enamel by mechanical action, you cannot often use pastes with a high content of them (whitening) - it is better to alternate them with regular ones.

Soft natural abrasives are enzyme compounds, soda and peroxide, which have the properties gentle cleansing and polishing. Papain is an enzymatic abrasive that gently removes plaque without harming the tooth surface - it is contained in Rox paste. Roc gel pastes are characterized by the absence of abrasives, so they are less effective in terms of whitening.

Pyrophosphates

To prevent the occurrence of dental plaque and gingival calculus, pyrophosphates, found in normal human saliva, are used. They bind to calcium phosphate crystals in the enamel, maintaining its hardness and strength. In addition, they slow down the growth of bacteria, preventing the development of caries. Due to the instability of saliva to phosphatase, components are added along with them to strengthen the connections.

Toothpastes are required to remove soft plaque well, leftover food; be pleasant to the taste, have a good deodorizing and refreshing effect and have no side effects: locally irritating and allergenic. The main components of toothpastes are abrasive, gelling and foaming substances, as well as fragrances, dyes and substances that improve taste qualities pasta. The effectiveness of teeth cleaning depends on the abrasive components of the pastes, which provide a cleansing and polishing effect.

Abrasives react with inorganic compounds of tooth enamel. In this regard, along with the classic abrasive compound - chemically precipitated chalk, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, dicalcium phosphate monohydrate, anhydrous dicalcium phosphate, tricalcium phosphate, calcium pyrophosphate, insoluble sodium metaphosphate, aluminum hydroxide, silicon dioxide, zirconium silicate, and polymer compounds of methyl methacrylate are widely used. Often, not one abrasive substance is used, but a mixture of two components, for example, chalk and dicalcium phosphate, chalk and aluminum hydroxide, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate and anhydrous dicalcium phosphate, etc.

Each abrasive compound has a specified degree of dispersion, hardness, and pH value, on which the abrasive ability and alkalinity of the pastes obtained from them depend. When developing formulations, the choice of abrasive depends on the properties and purpose of toothpastes. Among synthetic hydrocolloids, derivatives of cellulose, cotton or wood - sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethyl and methyl cellulose ethers - are widely used.

Polyhydric alcohols- glycerin, polyethylene glycol - used in toothpastes to obtain a plastic, homogeneous mass that is easily squeezed out of the tube. These alcohols help retain moisture in the toothpaste during storage, increase the freezing point, increase the stability of the foam formed when brushing teeth, and improve the taste of the toothpaste.

Among the foaming substances used in toothpastes, surface- active substances, such as alizarin oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium lauryl sarcosinate and sodium salt Taurida fatty acids. The components of the toothpaste must be harmless and not affect the oral mucosa irritating effect and have high foaming ability.

IN Lately Gel-like toothpastes based on silicon oxide compounds and having a high foaming ability have found use. Gel pastes are pleasant to the taste and have different colors due to added dyes, but the cleaning ability of some of these pastes is lower than pastes containing a chalk base or dicalcium phosphate.

Toothpastes can include biologically active components, which makes it possible to use them as the main means of preventing dental caries and periodontal diseases.

The most widely used therapeutic and prophylactic agent is fluoride-containing toothpastes. These pastes are recommended for children and adults to prevent dental caries.

As anti-caries additives, they are added to toothpastes. sodium and tin fluorides, monofluorophosphate, phosphate-acidified sodium fluoride, and recently organic compounds fluorine (aminofluorides).

Fluorides increase the resistance of teeth to acids formed by plaque microorganisms, enhance the remineralization of enamel and inhibit the metabolism of plaque microorganisms. It has been established that an indispensable condition for the prevention of caries is the presence of an active (unbound) fluoride ion.

According to WHO recommendations (1984), the optimal concentration of fluoride ion in toothpastes should be 0.1%. Effective toothpastes contain 1 - 3 mg of fluoride per 1 g of toothpaste.
Toothpastes for adults contain from 0.11% to 0.76% sodium fluoride or from 0.38% to 1.14% sodium monofluorophosphate. In children's toothpastes fluoride compounds are found in smaller quantities (up to 0.023%). The combination of sodium fluoride and calcium and silicon-containing abrasives in some toothpastes constitutes a special Fluoristat system.

To reduce the amount of plaque and inhibit the growth of tartar crystals, toothpastes include components such as triclosan, which has an antibacterial effect on gram-positive and gram negative bacteria, and a copolymer that promotes prolonged action of triclosan for 12 hours after brushing. The entry of fluoride into tooth enamel increases its resistance to acid demineralization by creating structures more resistant to dissolution. Pastes containing potassium and sodium phosphates, calcium and sodium glycerophosphates, calcium gluconate, and zinc oxide have a pronounced anti-caries effect. A similar effect is achieved by toothpastes containing derivatives of chitin and chitosan, which are similar to proteins and are able to inhibit the adsorption of Streptococcus mutans, mitis, sanguis on the surface of hydroxyapatite. Components included in some toothpastes, such as Remodent 3%, calcium glycerophosphate 0.13%, synthetic hydroxyapatite (from 2% to 17%) help reduce hypersensitivity enamel by closing the entrance holes of the dentinal tubules.

The use of medicinal dental paste is simple and accessible form prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases. They contain biologically active substances: enzymes, vitamins, microelements, salts, antiseptics, medicinal herbs.

Toothpastes containing brine of the Pomorie estuaries as an active component improve the blood supply to periodontal tissues, their trophism, and have a preventive and therapeutic effect.
Anti-inflammatory effects are exerted by toothpastes with additives based on medicinal herbs: chamomile, St. John's wort, cloves, yarrow, calamus, calendula, sage, ginseng root extract. Toothpastes containing lavender extract have a moderate bactericidal effect on streptococci and staphylococci and a pronounced effect on the fungi Candida albicans.

To accelerate the regenerative processes of the mucous membrane, biologically active components are introduced into toothpastes - enzymes, oil solutions of vitamins A and E, carotoline.

Recently, therapeutic and prophylactic toothpastes have been widely used to help reduce gum bleeding and have a weak analgesic, pronounced anti-inflammatory and regenerative effect. These pastes contain several medicinal plants. For example, sage, peppermint, chamomile, echinacea, myrrh and ratania; a complex mixture combining chlorophyll, vitamin E and medicinal plant extracts.

Date of publication: 2.02.09

Toothpaste is a means to maintain oral hygiene in healthy condition, which can also have a therapeutic and preventive effect. Modern pastes are pleasant to the taste, freshen breath and rarely cause allergic reactions. There is a classification of toothpastes with different compositions. Each type has its own purpose.

However, there are few people who, when purchasing . First of all, they look at the company and the cost. There are popular pastes that cope with soft plaque and whiten teeth, but for a number of reasons they are not suitable for everyone, which means they can harm teeth and periodontal disease.

Classification of toothpastes

Types of toothpastes are usually divided into two categories:

medicinal;
hygienic;
treatment and prophylactic;

In Western dentistry, desensitizing, whitening, preventing the formation of plaque and tartar.

Hygiene products perform two functions: they freshen breath and clean teeth from soft plaque. They contain abrasive and foaming substances, as well as flavorings and flavorings. Pastes are distinguished:

deodorizing (have a mild cleansing effect, fight bad breath);
cleansing (they cope with plaque better than the first ones).

Silica or chalk are used as abrasives. The larger the particles of the substance, the more effective the cleaning. At the same time, large particles wear away enamel, so when creating a product, manufacturers strike a balance between the safety of the product and its ability to cope with stains. Abrasive ones may not be suitable for people with sensitive enamel. In this case, gels are used.

Therapeutic and prophylactic toothpastes have a wide range of tasks. In addition to abrasives and fragrances, they contain extracts, salts, vitamins, peroxides and enzymes. Some of them are intended for daily care for dental hygiene and prevention purposes. Others are prescribed by a doctor to treat diseases of the oral cavity.

Treatment and prophylaxis

Therapeutic and prophylactic agents are divided into several types.

Anticarizon. Prevents the formation of dental plaque. Strengthens tooth tissue. Many of them contain fluorine or compounds with it. There is also toothpaste without fluoride, which is replaced with enzymes or calcium compounds.
Anti-inflammatory. Improve blood circulation, metabolism, eliminate bleeding and unpleasant odor. This group also includes salt pastes, as well as products with chlorophyll, antimicrobial components, plant extracts and biologically active substances.
Desensitizing. Intended . May contain potassium and strontium salts, which block tooth sensitivity. They also do not contain strong abrasive components, which causes plaque to form faster.
Whitening. They act either by destroying plaque (paste containing enzymes, strong abrasives), or by discoloring or removing pigment from tooth tissue (containing peroxides). Bleaching products are not recommended for use more than twice a week, so they are sometimes classified as separate species dental products.
Sorptive. Contains Enterosgel and additional sorbents. Their main task is to cleanse the oral cavity of microparticles and harmful bacteria;
Organic. paste. Contains herbal extracts, chalk is often used as an abrasive. Dentists have different attitudes towards such products, since they are not always prepared.
Children's. The composition of toothpaste for children is selected in such a way as not to harm the unformed enamel. Also, such products usually do not pose a danger if swallowed.

Medicinal toothpaste is sold only in pharmacies. Use it as prescribed by a doctor to disinfect the oral cavity or relieve acute inflammation.

Composition of toothpaste

Most of the products clean teeth efficiently, eliminate unpleasant odors, and also prevent oral diseases. Therefore, the category of therapeutic and prophylactic pastes is the most extensive.

Main components:

essential oils;
vitamins, microelements;
antiseptics (Triclosan, Chlorhexidine);
enzymes (have an antimicrobial effect, help cope with plaque and stone);
various salts;
calcium compounds;
fluorine compounds.

Fluoride consists in the fact that its ions settle on the surface of the teeth and in cracks, and then bind calcium and other minerals, forming solid compounds, that is, remineralization of the teeth occurs. The resulting fluoroapatite is harder than hydroxyapatite, the main mineral. Thus, toothpaste with fluoride makes teeth stronger and more resistant to acidic environments.

Most often in dentistry, fluorine compounds are used with tin, aluminum, and sodium. Tin fluoride is now being abandoned because long-term use it leads to inflammation of the gums and staining of demineralized areas of enamel. Sodium fluoride in toothpaste is still popular today, as it has high remineralizing properties. Used in pediatric dentistry.

Sodium fluoride

Fluoride in toothpaste is widely discussed by the public. There is no consensus on this matter. In excess amounts, fluoride is truly toxic to humans. Products containing this substance are contraindicated for residents of regions where drinking water contains a sufficient amount of it (in Russia this is Western Siberia, Ural, Tambov, Tver and Moscow regions). However, such products are sold in every hardware store. Dentists also recommend not squeezing onto your toothbrush. a large number of pasta, approximately the size of a pea, some people neglect this advice. Such negligence can lead to the fact that a person’s bones become very fragile, and for men this threatens a decrease in the level of testosterone in the blood and problems with thyroid gland.

Therefore, today many people prefer to use other means to clean their teeth. Pasta without fluoride is also not uncommon today. Often the substance is replaced with calcium or its compounds, which are involved in the remineralization of teeth.

When choosing a product, rely on the advice of your dentist, but it won’t hurt to understand the classification of products yourself. It is important to study the composition before purchasing. The product may contain harmful substances. The best option would be a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate and parabens (the latter cause allergies and lead to problems with the thyroid gland, and lauryl sulfate leads to dehydration of oral tissues and worsens the condition of the gums).

You can brush your teeth instead of toothpaste folk remedies. For example, some people use horsetail or iris root flour. Prepare and herbal mixtures. To do this you need to finely grind in a coffee grinder. dried leaves and flowers of birch, string, sage, St. John's wort, chamomile, laurel. Additionally, licorice root is used, pine needles. You can add a little black pepper. Tooth powder is also sold in stores, which is also good for cleaning teeth.

Today, black toothpaste that contains birch charcoal is popular. It has antibacterial, whitening properties and is suitable for sensitive enamel. Its big disadvantage is its high cost.

Children's toothpaste must be of the highest quality. The age of the child must also be taken into account. Read the information on the packaging, it always indicates at what age it can be used.

It is worth purchasing products for your kids without fluoride or with minimal fluoride content. This is especially important when the child has not yet reached the age of six: as studies show, before this age they swallow up to 30% of the product during cleaning. You can find out about the fluoride concentration on the packaging. For children under 4 years old, products with a concentration of no more than 200 ppm are suitable, for children from 4 to 8 years old - this figure should not exceed 500 units, and for adolescents under 17 years old - the norm is 900 ppm. A number of manufacturers indicate the percentage of fluorine (1% equals 10 thousand ppm). Good replacement fluoride - children's toothpaste with calcium, which also nourishes and strengthens enamel and prevents caries.

The product should not be highly abrasive, since children's enamel has not yet fully formed and is very sensitive (especially the enamel of baby teeth). The presence of triclosan is undesirable, since it affects not only harmful but also beneficial bacteria in the oral cavity.

Toothpaste - effective remedy, which is used to prevent dental diseases. Used exclusively with a toothbrush and allows you to maintain good aesthetics and dental health in excellent condition. Toothpaste is always used to improve: serves as an abrasive that helps remove plaque and food debris from the teeth, helps fight bad breath, and delivers active ingredients (most often fluoride) to help prevent gum disease (gingivitis). Toothpaste is not intended for swallowing, as it contains fluoride, which is a harmful component in large quantities Oh. You should consult a doctor if you swallow abnormally large amounts of toothpaste.

Brushing your teeth has been a hygienic and social necessity for hundreds of years. Removing the bacterial biofilm or plaque that accumulates allows for the prevention of many dental diseases. Quite often on the shelves of various stores, supermarkets and of course pharmacies we find huge assortment toothpastes that are not for a professional most likely differ only in the color of the packaging and price. It's time to find out what components included in toothpaste necessary for teeth and what harmful ingredients exist in toothpaste.

There are different classes of ingredients that can be found in all toothpastes. They can be classified as to the following groups: abrasives, binders, foaming agents, wetting agents, detergents, flavors, dyes, preservatives, fluorides, etc.

Most brands contain at least 50% abrasives (commonly called cleaning and polishing agents). Abrasives are ingredients that help keep teeth clean. Baking soda, calcium carbonate, calcium, alumina and silica phosphates are all primitive abrasives that are included in toothpastes. Most often, manufacturers use hydrated silica; it is able to polish tooth surfaces more efficiently than other representatives of this group. High level abrasives in toothpaste can negatively affect hard tissues - this is due to weakening of the enamel. It is advisable to use toothpaste with soft abrasive. Depending on the size and shape of the particles, silicon will have a whitening effect. However, one should not forget that professional cleaning teeth will bring much more benefits to dental health than toothpaste with abrasives.

The Egyptians scrubbed their teeth with a mixture of shells and pumice - this was back in 5000 BC. The ancient Romans used a mixture of crushed bones, shells and crushed charcoal.

The degree of abrasiveness of a particular compound depends on how much water it contains (hydration level), the size and shape of its particles, the purity of the product, and how it has been processed, both physically and chemically. Ideally, abrasives should be chemically inert, that is, they should not form new compounds with other substances in the toothpaste. If your toothpaste contains: hydrated silica (which can be obtained from sand), hydrated alumina, calcium carbonate, dicalcium and phosphates, know that none of these materials will have any effect while brushing your teeth without the additional action of the toothpaste. brushes. In addition, you can only remove stains from your teeth using toothpaste with abrasive particles, but the presence of these components does not guarantee a whitening effect!

Fluoride content in toothpaste

Fluoride was first introduced into the toothpaste formula in 1914 and this moment is the most valuable component included in its composition. Although fluorides allow preventive actions and reduce the development of many dental diseases, toothpaste manufacturers did not pay due attention to this component until the 1950s. In February 1955, the effectiveness of fluoride-containing pastes was proven, but only in 1960 were they approved American Association dentists. Fluorine performs very important function: strengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to caries. If bacteria on the surface of the tooth produce acids and damage the enamel, then fluoride will be able to “absorb” harmful products and remineralize hard tooth tissues. Tooth enamel on which fluoride was applied for the purpose of prevention will be much more resistant to acids. Of course, fluoride is the most active ingredient in toothpaste, the amount of which is measured in ppm. There are three types of fluoride that are used in toothpaste:

Sodium fluoride - Sodium fluoride(NaF) is the most commonly used fluoride in toothpaste
Stannous fluoride (SnF2) this type of fluoride can leave yellow or brown stains on the surface of teeth
Monofluorophosphate (Na2PO3F)

Fluoride ions in toothpaste cause a lot of controversy! Some scientists are convinced that fluoride can help prevent tooth decay, while others, on the contrary, argue that it has too many side effects that outweigh all the benefits. The best way to help prevent tooth decay and achieve a beautiful smile is to eat every day. Some people are afraid of fluoride, so they don't use fluoride toothpastes. Their choice. But, the benefits of fluoride far outweigh the risks if you don't have fluorosis.

Any toothpaste foams because it contains detergents. The purpose of a surfactant is to weaken the structure of substances that collect on the teeth and cannot be washed off with ordinary water. Detergents are used in minimum concentrations, since they should not irritate the tissues of the oral cavity or increase their sensitivity.

Sodium lauryl sulfate - allows toothpaste to foam

Surfactants can destroy the surface of any liquid. Most likely, while washing your hands, you may have noticed how soap cleanses fat - this is an example of the action of a surfactant. The most common detergent The detergent in toothpaste is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). You may have seen this ingredient in other cosmetic products that foam, such as shampoo. This substance can be obtained from coconut or palm oil. Despite online rumors that sodium lauryl sulfate is dangerous to life, these claims are not supported by scientific research. This powder has actually been used safely in toothpaste for over 50 years. It has been noted by the American Dental Association that this component can irritate the oral mucosa in people prone to ulcers. These patients should understand that they need to purchase toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate.

Humectants are included in toothpaste to maintain texture and retain moisture and prevent the mixture from drying out. Glycerin, sorbitol (sorbitol), propylene glycol, xylitol and water are the most common humectants. If the toothpaste does not contain these components, it will be subject to constant drying and will need to be stirred before each use, just like paints.

Thanks to humectants, toothpaste can be stored for several years

Xylitol is the most best type humidifier, as it is able to increase the flow of saliva, which helps prevent, as well as prevent caries.

Toothpaste without added flavors cannot be used while brushing your teeth! Therefore, among the ingredients you will always find various natural and artificial flavors and sweeteners, such as saccharin. The humectant sorbitol also adds a sweet taste. The Dental Association will never put its seal on toothpastes that contain sugar or any other ingredient that promotes the formation of tooth decay.

Peppermint flavor is the most common in modern dentistry.

Mint is the most popular flavoring, which is used by virtually all developers of dental hygiene products. Popular manufacturers that produce branded natural toothpastes often use more exotic flavors from anise, fennel, lavender and other plants. These types essential oils may cause allergies and tissue irritation, be careful!

Binders

To maintain the correct consistency, thickeners or astringents are included in the toothpaste. The most prominent representatives of this group:

carrageenan (derived from red seaweed)
cellulose gum
guar gum
xanthan gum
gum arabic (acacia juice)
sodium carboxymethylcellulose
magnesium aluminum silicate

Xanthan gum ( food supplement E415) is the safest thickener. Irritation from this ingredient is quite rare. The most common side effects are bloating and gas. Typically, side effects occur as a result of large amounts of xanthan gum entering the stomach, the concentration of which will be much higher than what is usually used for toothpaste. If the dietary supplement E415 is inhaled in powder form, it may cause respiratory failure.

Preservatives in toothpaste

To prevent the development of harmful microflora inside the tube and maintain the established period of use, the creators of toothpastes add preservatives, such as:

sodium benzoate
methylparaben
ethyl paraben (an antimicrobial used as a preservative in foods, drinks and cosmetics)

Among all the common preservatives, sodium benzoate is the safest. Some "natural" toothpastes may use citric acid. Doses too high citric acid may cause side effects such as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

Sweeteners and Colors

Sweeteners used to improve the taste of toothpaste. Hygiene products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate taste terrible, which is why sweeteners such as saccharin, stevia or xylitol are used. Best form is xylitol because it has many benefits for maintaining oral health, as discussed earlier.

Dyes- artificial ingredients are not uncommon in most toothpastes. Titanium dioxide is the most common element. It's best to avoid toothpastes with artificial colors.

Toothpaste with antibacterial effect

Using toothpastes with an antibacterial effect, you will influence the microflora of the oral cavity and can cure a lot of dental diseases. Antimicrobial agents should reduce the amount harmful microorganisms on teeth and gums. Triclosan is most often used for this purpose. The safety of this component has been questioned, however Scientific research demonstrate that adding triclosan to toothpaste can do much more good than harm. You need to know that triclosan not only has antibacterial effect, but also antifungal. Quite an effective remedy!

Triclosan: what is the benefit of toothpaste?

Long-term use of any antibacterial ingredients can cause big problems, bacteria will develop resistance to. These days, many personal care products contain antibacterial substances: soap, deodorants, hand cream, etc. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antimicrobial agents added to toothpaste cannot affect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) and others dangerous bacteria, as they are resistant to any form of antibiotics.

Most people don't think about what toothpaste is made of. Don't be fooled by pretty labels, read the ingredients and decide for yourself which toothpaste is best for you. Toothbrush and the technique of brushing your teeth plays an important role, but toothpaste is a tool that will help you maintain a beautiful smile on your face!

Toothpaste is a product intended for regular hygiene care for the oral cavity, as well as the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases - for example, periodontal diseases, gingivitis, caries. Usually the paste has a uniform consistency and looks like a dense mass. Pastes for sensitive teeth are available in the form of a gel that does not contain abrasive particles, used for polishing the surface of enamel and composite fillings.

Choosing the right toothpaste is quite difficult, since they are all divided into several categories. For a long time, you can use only hygiene line products that provide mechanical removal plaque and food debris from the surface of the teeth and giving freshness to your breath. Specialized products - for example, toothpastes for removing tartar or treating hyperesthesia - can only be used after examination by a dentist and identification existing problems and pathologies.

Before the purchase

Before purchasing toothpaste, it is recommended to visit the office of a highly specialized specialist who deals with oral hygiene and the prevention of dental diseases. Consultation and examination this specialist is recommended to everyone, since the doctor will be able to assess the condition of the mucous membranes, gums, tooth enamel and other tissues, identify signs of incipient pathologies before they become more severe forms. Correction of many problems early stage It is quite effective, and prevention is cheaper than further treatment and restoration of the integrity of the dentition.

What does the doctor pay attention to during the examination:

tooth shape and location upper jaw relative to the bottom row (correct bite formation);
color, structure and density of gum tissue, as well as the presence/absence of signs of loosening;
color and surface of the enamel coating, under which the tooth crown is located (to identify signs of demineralization and initial stage carious processes);
condition of the mucous layer;
degree of hydration of mucous membranes.

If the specialist does not identify any problems, the patient will be recommended to use a regular hygienic paste, which does not contain medicinal components. To prevent inflammatory processes, courses of use of anti-inflammatory pastes based on herbal components can be prescribed (for example, paste Russian production“Forest Balm”), which must be repeated 3-4 times a year. The duration of each course is 30 days.

Important! If a dental hygienist identifies problems with the oral cavity, the patient will be referred for a consultation to a dental therapist, and he will need to choose hygiene products from the category of therapeutic and prophylactic products.

Pastes for treatment and prevention

Pastes belonging to this category of products cannot be used without the recommendation of the attending physician, as they contain potent components in high concentration, which can harm dental health and even cause intoxication of the body.

Home therapy for superficial caries

The most popular category of therapeutic and prophylactic toothpastes are products with an anti-caries effect. They contain antibacterial components - such as triclosan - and chlorine-based organic compounds.

Anti-caries pastes have many advantages:

destroy most strains of known representatives of pathogenic flora (streptococcus, staphylococcus, chlamydia, trichomonas);
provide disinfection of the oral cavity;
reduce the severity of inflammatory processes by neutralizing pathogenic flora;
contain antiseptics, which can be part of combined treatment regimens for therapy infectious diseases(including purulent inflammatory processes).

Pastes intended for protection against caries and treatment bacterial infections oral cavity, cannot be used for a long time. Active components, providing healing effect, affect not only pathogenic microorganisms– the composition also changes qualitatively beneficial microflora. Long-term use of pastes with bactericidal and antiseptic effect is one of the common causes that develops as a result of decreased local immunity mucous membranes. The course of use of anti-caries toothpastes recommended by dentists is no more than three weeks.

Important! The antibacterial and antimicrobial effect is achieved by adding fluoride and calcium (in a bioavailable form) to the paste. If the packaging contains information that the toothpaste contains more than 500 ppm of fluoride, it should not be used by children under 6 years of age.

Pastes based on salt compounds and soda

These pastes are used for the treatment of various infectious processes, mainly inflammatory in nature. The main indication for the use of pastes in this category is bacterial, aphthous and fungal stomatitis, as well as various inflammatory processes in the gums and periodontal tissues.

LG Perioe Bamboo Salt Gumcare Toothpaste

Salt and soda pastes have a beneficial effect on the oral cavity:

normalize blood circulation and mineral metabolism in the gums;
improve the outflow of exudate from inflamed tissues;
restore natural level acidity and protect tooth enamel from external factors;
remove the components that make up dental deposits.

Teeth whitening and removal of plaque on the enamel surface

For these purposes, pastes with a high content of abrasives - solid particles with cleaning properties - are used. Such pastes effectively remove dirt and plaque (including hard plaque), polish the enamel surface and filling material, make teeth smooth.

One of the main abrasive materials used in the production of whitening pastes is chalk. It is an organic material, most of which is calcium. Chalk has low cost, has good hygienic properties and can be used for regular cleaning of tooth enamel.

At the same time, the chalk base also has significant disadvantages, for example:

high level of trauma to the enamel coating with frequent use;
premature abrasion of enamel and development of hyperesthesia;
interaction with various groups of fluorides, leading to the formation of insoluble fluorides, which cause a decrease in concentration active fluorine and a decrease in the antibacterial and anti-caries properties of the product.

The most effective abrasive elements are considered to be silicon hydroxide and sodium and potassium phosphates. They gently dissolve bacterial plaque and remove it from the surface of the teeth. Such pastes are recommended for smokers and people whose diet often contains foods and drinks with a high content of coloring pigments (carrots, coffee, berries, strong brewed tea, carbonated drinks).

Important! For the purpose of teeth whitening, products with high abrasive properties can be used in the form of pastes based on hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. They need to be distinguished from professional whitening systems (for example, Rembrandt, DentalWhite). Content of peroxide and others active ingredients in such products can be 30 times higher compared to toothpastes preventive action, therefore, they can only be used as prescribed by a dentist if there are strict indications.

Anti-inflammatory rulers

Pastes to reduce inflammatory processes are the most extensive group of products intended for therapeutic and preventive purposes. They may contain various antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory components, antiseptics, plant extracts. Depending on the reasons that caused the inflammation, the doctor may prescribe drugs of this category, which will contain certain active ingredients.

Table. Classification of anti-inflammatory pastes according to active substance.

Funds group	What's included
	Lactic acid salts.
	Chlorhexidine and hexeditine (antiseptics), biosol (substance with bactericidal and disinfectant effects), triclosan (antimicrobial component).
	Extracts and extracts medicinal herbs(chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, calendula, calamus), oak bark, birch bud extract, aloe, propolis, etc.

Some anti-inflammatory toothpastes may contain special enzymes or chlorophyll found in green plants. Chlorophyll has a pronounced antiseptic effect, helps stop inflammatory processes and reduce bleeding gums. The use of pastes with chlorophyll helps improve the functional condition of soft tissues and protect the gums from loosening.

Hyperesthesia of tooth enamel: treatment and prevention

Almost 40% of patients who come to see a dentist experience increased tooth sensitivity. In most cases, the pathology is associated with active demineralization of tooth enamel, therefore, to strengthen the enamel coating and eliminate painful reactions upon contact with irritants, the doctor may prescribe toothpaste with a high fluoride content. Such agents are called desensitizing agents and are prescribed only by a dentist or hygienist.

The action of these pastes is based on the following therapeutic properties:

restoration of mineral balance in hard tissues tooth;
reducing the severity of pain;
creating a protective film that prevents enamel irritation.

You can use toothpastes for hypersensitivity in long courses lasting 1-2 months, but after this period you need to take a break.

Which pasta should I buy?

All products from the category of professional, therapeutic or preventive toothpastes should be prescribed only by a dentist based on a visual examination and results diagnostic examination. The scheme of use and duration of the course are also determined by a specialist.

Table. Which pasta should I buy?

Purpose of use	What pasta to buy
Daily hygiene and oral care, breath freshening.	“Artek”, “Family”, Vita.
Strengthening tooth enamel and correcting mineral balance.	"Pearls", "Arbat".
Treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity (for example, stomatitis, periodontitis, etc.)	“Balsam”, “Pomorin”, “Amodent”, “Boroglycerin”.
Recovery normal level acidity using soda toothpastes.	“Dental”, “Mildfresh”, “Aquafresh soda”, “Colgate soda”.
Treatment of hyperesthesia of tooth enamel.	"Sensodyne", "Elgifluor", "Biodent sensitive".
Teeth whitening, dissolution of dental plaque.	“Aquafresh whitening”, “Colgate active oxygen”.

With pronounced putrid smell from the mouth, the doctor may prescribe products that contain sorbing elements. They effectively bind and remove pathogenic bacteria and their metabolic products, which may be one of the causes unpleasant odor. It should be noted that the use of this category of pastes is justified only after excluding diseases digestive system- gastritis, pancreatitis, etc.

Despite the wide variety of toothpastes, choosing the right product without the help of a specialist is not easy. To choose the right hygiene products, you need to know the types of pastes and their differences, as well as have an idea of the properties of the main ingredients used in the production of pastes various groups. It is best to entrust the selection of hygiene and prevention products to a dentist, who will prescribe a toothpaste that meets the needs of a particular patient.