Which toothpaste you should use?

Ans. Toothpaste advertisements can be highly misleading. Toothpaste plays an important role in cleaning of the teeth or mouth. That’s why you must choose the toothpaste very carefully. It comes at many forms such as, gel, paste or powder.

Dental plaque is a complex matrix comprises of sticky and colorless biofilm with bacterial colony. Plaque being acidic in nature, it attacks the tooth enamel causing decay. Most toothpaste gives you 12 hours of anti-bacterial protection. In general, a standard toothpaste contains a combination of triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent and copolymer. Everyday brushing dislodges the plaque, and triclosan is retained on the tooth surface by copolymer to prevent formation of plaque for at 12 hours.

Different toothpastes have different functions. Your toothpaste should prevent cavity, reduce sensitivity, fight plaque and prevent gum diseases.

Types of toothpastes:

Types of toothpastes, according to their function are-

Toothpaste for sensitivity:  The sensitivity of the tooth is caused by the exposure of dentine.  The tubules and channels leading to tooth’s nerve center are exposed to outside stimuli. Tooth paste that is especially designed for sensitive teeth have special ingredients that reduce the sensitivity. Besides brushing the teeth twice a day you can also rub the paste gently onto the sensitive area for better and faster results.

Teeth whitening toothpaste: These are formulated to remove the surface stains and prevent plaque build-up. They contain bleaching agents and additional polishing agents that are safe for teeth.

Toothpaste with fluorides: fluoride is an important chemical for teeth. It prevents tooth decay by making teeth resistant to the acid formed by bacteria in the mouth. Most of the toothpastes contain fluoride in recommended amount. Expert recommended fluoride toothpaste at early stages of life but amount size should be less.

Toothpaste with natural ingredients: Natural toothpaste, generally do not contain fluoride. It is good alternative for chemical free paste. They contain natural ingredients like cloves, which help freshen the breath and protect the gums and teeth.