Toothpaste: How It Help in Strengthening Tooth Enamel

Toothpaste is a paste or gel used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the health of teeth. It is a white substance, which removes food particles and plaque from the teeth and prevents oral health problems. It is a vital part of our daily dental care routine and the dentist suggests people use it twice a day to promote oral hygiene. It contains several ingredients that help in protecting the teeth from tooth decay and gum disease. The commonly used ingredients are:

  • Calcium carbonate: an ordinary abrasive and helps in removing the surface stain, plaque, and debris.
  • Fluoride: an important mineral that protects teeth from tooth decay.
  • Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS): widely used synthetic detergents in toothpaste.
  • Glycerol: this ingredient prevents toothpaste from drying out.
  • Sorbitol: commonly known as glucitol and used as a sweetening agent that doesn’t cause a cavity.

Types of toothpaste:

Toothpaste comprises several ingredients that clean and polish the tooth enamel and keeps your mouth fresh. There are various types of toothpaste present in the market depending upon the needs of the people. There are mainly five types of toothpaste:

Fluoride Toothpaste

Fluoride was introduced into toothpaste about a century ago and has significantly reduced the number of dental infections and tooth decay. Fluoride is used in almost all toothpaste, some of them contain a small amount of fluoride whereas some contain a large amount of fluoride, and are commonly used by those people who have weak enamel. Fluoride assists in protecting teeth against cavities, decay, and harmful food & beverages.

Sensitive Toothpaste

Some people naturally have thinner enamel that makes the teeth sensitive due to which people can experience pain and discomfort while drinking & eating. Once people start witnessing this problem it becomes difficult to engage in daily activities. Toothpaste for sensitive teeth contains special compounds that help in blocking the nerves in the teeth from sensing hot and cold. This toothpaste offers great relief to the people.

Tartar Control Toothpaste

After having a meal, we observe that some food particles get stuck in our teeth or plaque starts building up. That plaque begins to harden after some time if it doesn’t get removed, which later leads to a severe problem. Tartar control toothpaste contains special compounds that dissolve plaque and helps in building & restoring healthy gum tissue. These toothpastes also help in controlling bad breath.

Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste does exactly what it sounds like, keeps your teeth white. This toothpaste resolves the problem of aging or yellowing teeth. They contain extra gentle abrasives, which work as a scrub and removes the stains out of the teeth. Some whitening toothpaste contains baking soda; it helps in building a protective barrier, which blocks the sensitivity caused by sweet, hot, and cold food products.

Children’s Toothpaste

Generally, children's toothpaste is different from those that are being used by young people. Children’s teeth are more sensitive than young people's and do not require the same intensity of cleaning as more fully formed adult teeth do. So, children need to have age-appropriate toothpaste while learning how to clean teeth and maintain oral hygiene. Children’s toothpaste contains less fluoride because children usually swallow toothpaste while training.

Points to remember to strengthen tooth enamel

The essential part of the teeth is enamel, which gets affected due to various reasons and results in experiencing discomfort and pain in the teeth. There are certain damages to the enamel which can’t be repaired on its own. Some precautions and steps need to be taken to support and protect it from getting damaged. Some causes are given below that may weaken the enamel:

  • Unhealthy diet
  • Improper dental habits
  • Smoking or consuming tobacco
  • Dry mouth
  • Hard brushing or utilizing a hard-bristled toothbrush

It is necessary to properly take care of the enamel as it does not regenerate on its own. Saliva helps in protecting the enamel by neutralizing acidity, washing away food matter, and mineralizing it. Some steps are given below that a person can take to avoid any damage to the enamel:

Choose products that contain fluoride:

As we studied above, fluoride helps in avoiding tooth decay. So it is necessary to adopt those products which contain a certain amount of fluoride that helps in maintaining teeth enamel’s health and remineralize the teeth. Products containing fluoride are:

  • Toothpaste
  • Mouthwash and antiseptic mouth rinse
  • Water (tap water contains fluoride)

Take a tooth-healthy diet:

A healthy diet keeps the enamel strong and supports oral health. The diet you take should be rich in nutrients, promote saliva production & remineralization. Also, chewing sugar-free gum is beneficial for enamel as it contains xylitol, which promotes saliva production and helps in keeping enamel hydrated. A healthy diet should include:

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Lean proteins
  • Low-fat dairy products
  • Whole grains
  • Water

Focus on proper dental hygiene:

It’s very necessary to take care of dental hygiene and practicing a proper dental care routine. The first day is the hardest as it’s very difficult to make changes in the diet or dental routine. It will be easier to make healthy choices if you maintain a routine for a longer time. Some tips are given below to properly care for enamel:

  • Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush gently for few minutes twice a day
  • Replace toothbrush at a regular interval of time
  • Choose toothpaste containing fluoride
  • To prevent long-term damage, visit the dentist at least every six months.

Conclusion

Brushing teeth is a vital part of our daily oral hygiene routine. The use of appropriate toothpaste helps in removing plaque from the teeth and keeps them healthy & hygienic. All toothpaste contains similar ingredients still they differ from each other. Teeth are constantly exposed to food items that easily can damage them.

The food that contains sugar allows bacteria to produce acids that damage the tooth enamel and create gum problems. Therefore, toothpaste is helpful in maintaining a good health of teeth. A good toothpaste helps in whitening teeth, protect from tooth sensitivity, balancing pH of the mouth, and rid of bad breath.

The Global Toothpaste Market size is expected to reach $29.3 billion by 2027, rising at a market growth of 5.8% CAGR during the forecast period.