A: Toothpastes help to remove dental plaque, which is the major cause of dental caries and periodontal (gum) diseases. Modern technologies have made it possible for manufacturers to include ingredients that provide therapeutic and cosmetic
benefits in toothpastes.
Fluoride toothpaste
The most important ingredient to look for when choosing toothpaste is fluoride. Fluoride helps to remove plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums every day. It works first by strengthening your tooth enamel, and secondly by remineralising areas that have started to decay. The water in Singapore is also fluoridated, but studies have shown that using fluoride toothpaste helps increase the concentration of fluoride in the teeth, even in areas with water supplies containing high levels of fluoride.
Tartar control toothpaste
Tartar is hardened plaque. This hard-to-remove deposit can build up on your teeth and under your gums, leading to gum disease. There is a variety of ingredients added into toothpastes to help prevent the accumulation of tartar on the teeth like chemical compounds, including pyrophosphates and zinc citrate. Additionally, some tartar control toothpastes contain an antibiotic called triclosan, which kills bacteria in the mouth. Look out for toothpastes containing several anti-plaque agents in one formulation, which will be more effective at tartar control than varieties with only one.
Whitening
All toothpastes rely on mild abrasives to remove surface stains. Whitening toothpastes do not contain bleaches, they typically contain special abrasives that polish the teeth and chemicals that help to breakdown or dissolve stains. Do note that these pastes will not help lighten a stain that goes deeper than the tooth’s surface. There are whitening toothpastes in the market that containw charcoal particles, touted as having benefits from removal of stubborn stains to being anti-bacterial. In theory, charcoal will bind stains, tartar and bacteria, which will make your teeth whiter. However, charcoal may also bind to medications that the body needs to absorb and even bacteria that you need for digestion. There is no proof that they actually work and that they are completely safe and effective.
Sensitivity Control
Sensitivity results when the tooth’s dentine (inner layer of the tooth) becomes exposed. This can be caused by aggressive brushing, acidic food and drinks, tooth decay, cracked fillings, fractured teeth and gum disease. For mild cases, a desensitising toothpaste can help. The toothpastes typically contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride and work by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, so you will experience no pain; other types work by blocking the exposed tubules and stabilising the nerve in the tooth as they seal the dentine surface. To see benefits, long-term continuous usage is required.
There really is no best toothpaste and you should choose one that suits your family’s needs. Start with a toothpaste that contains fluoride and the rest is a matter of personal choice and needs.
Fluoride toothpaste
The most important ingredient to look for when choosing toothpaste is fluoride. Fluoride helps to remove plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums every day. It works first by strengthening your tooth enamel, and secondly by remineralising areas that have started to decay. The water in Singapore is also fluoridated, but studies have shown that using fluoride toothpaste helps increase the concentration of fluoride in the teeth, even in areas with water supplies containing high levels of fluoride.
Tartar control toothpaste
Tartar is hardened plaque. This hard-to-remove deposit can build up on your teeth and under your gums, leading to gum disease. There is a variety of ingredients added into toothpastes to help prevent the accumulation of tartar on the teeth like chemical compounds, including pyrophosphates and zinc citrate. Additionally, some tartar control toothpastes contain an antibiotic called triclosan, which kills bacteria in the mouth. Look out for toothpastes containing several anti-plaque agents in one formulation, which will be more effective at tartar control than varieties with only one.
Whitening
All toothpastes rely on mild abrasives to remove surface stains. Whitening toothpastes do not contain bleaches, they typically contain special abrasives that polish the teeth and chemicals that help to breakdown or dissolve stains. Do note that these pastes will not help lighten a stain that goes deeper than the tooth’s surface. There are whitening toothpastes in the market that containw charcoal particles, touted as having benefits from removal of stubborn stains to being anti-bacterial. In theory, charcoal will bind stains, tartar and bacteria, which will make your teeth whiter. However, charcoal may also bind to medications that the body needs to absorb and even bacteria that you need for digestion. There is no proof that they actually work and that they are completely safe and effective.
Sensitivity Control
Sensitivity results when the tooth’s dentine (inner layer of the tooth) becomes exposed. This can be caused by aggressive brushing, acidic food and drinks, tooth decay, cracked fillings, fractured teeth and gum disease. For mild cases, a desensitising toothpaste can help. The toothpastes typically contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride and work by interfering with the transmission of nerve impulses to the brain, so you will experience no pain; other types work by blocking the exposed tubules and stabilising the nerve in the tooth as they seal the dentine surface. To see benefits, long-term continuous usage is required.
There really is no best toothpaste and you should choose one that suits your family’s needs. Start with a toothpaste that contains fluoride and the rest is a matter of personal choice and needs.
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Choosing the right toothpaste is really necessary. For this reason I always ask my dentists for anything related to my teeth. I adopt stand alone dental discount plans NC in regular checkup to my dentists.
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