toothpaste
Sign in to savethumb|alt=Photo with toothpaste from a tube of toothpaste being applied to the bristles of a toothbrush in the foreground|Toothpaste from a tube being applied to the bristles of a toothbrush Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice that is used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that aids in removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing halitosis, and delivers active ingredients (most commonly fluoride) to help prevent tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (gingivitis). Due
AI overview
Toothpaste is a paste or gel substance used with a toothbrush to clean teeth and maintain oral health by removing plaque and food debris, freshening breath, and delivering ingredients like fluoride to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It matters because regular toothpaste use is a key part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
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Article
31 sectionsContents
- History
- Early toothpastes
- Tooth powder
- Modern toothpaste
- Usefulness
- Ingredients
- Abrasives
- Fluorides
- Surfactants
- Other components
- Antibacterial agents
- Flavorants
- Remineralizing agents
- Miscellaneous components
- Xylitol
- Safety
- Fluoride
- Diethylene glycol
- Triclosan
- Polyethylene glycol – PEG
- Miscellaneous issues and debates
- Alteration of taste perception
- Whitening toothpastes
- Herbal and natural toothpastes
- Government regulation
- Striped toothpaste
- Dispensing
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|alt=Photo with toothpaste from a tube of toothpaste being applied to the bristles of a toothbrush in the foreground|Toothpaste from a tube being applied to the bristles of a toothbrush Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice that is used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that aids in removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing halitosis, and delivers active ingredients (most commonly fluoride) to help prevent tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (gingivitis). Due to variations in composition and fluoride content, not all toothpastes are equally effective in maintaining oral health. The decline of tooth decay during the 20th century has been attributed to the introduction and regular use of fluoride-containing toothpastes worldwide. Large amounts of swallowed toothpaste can be poisonous. Common colors for toothpaste include white (sometimes with colored stripes or green tint) and blue.
==History== ===Early toothpastes=== Since 5000 BCE, the Egyptians made a tooth powder, which consisted of powdered ashes of ox hooves, pumice, powdered and burnt eggshells and myrrh. The Greeks, and then the Romans, improved the recipes by adding abrasives such as crushed bones and oyster shells.