Product Testing

The Great Toothpaste Challenge

There is no question toothpaste is essential for oral health. But what's in the tube that you squeeze out a couple times a day?

The exact formula of each brand of toothpaste is proprietary, however, most contain the same basic ingredients. While many of the ingredients are harmless toothpaste can also be damaging to the tender issue inside our mouths and to the enamel that protects our teeth.

Recent research suggests that a detergent found in 99 percent of all toothpastes called SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) may induce canker sores in twenty percent of the population. Another common problem associated with toothpastes is tooth sensitivity. Teeth become sensitive when tooth enamel is worn away, exposing the underlying permeable tooth layer, known as dentin. Many toothpastes are too abrasive and actually strip away tooth enamel which never grows back. In fact, the first thing dentists will do for patients suffering from sensitive teeth is to have them switch to a less abrasive toothpaste. A toothpaste's abrasiveness is measured by its Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA). If you use regular toothpaste find one with the lowest RDA ratings.

So What's the Real Problem with Toothpaste ?

While the amounts of fluoride, triclosan, detergents and artifical flavours and colours in each tube of toothpaste are small, it's the accumulated effect on the human body that have many concerned. Fluoride alone is under intense scutiny by the scientific community, not to mention the effect on our planet when manufacturing of this chemical.

According to the British Dental Association the Active Ingredients in toothpaste (those meant to confer a medical benefit) are :
. Fluoride
. Antibacterial agents, most often Triclosan is used to control plaque
. Desensitizing agents such as potassium nitrate
. Anti-tartar agents - most often pyrophosphate
. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
. Enzymes, to enhance the antibacterial properties of saliva
. Xylitol, a non-sugar sweetener, which reduces levels of cariogenic (decay causing) bacteria in the mouth and enhances remineralization.

The inactive ingredients:
. Water
. Detergents, to make the toothpaste foam
. Binding agents
. Humectants to retain moisture
. Flavoring, sweetening, and coloring agents like peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, wintergreen, and menthol
. Preservatives
. Abrasives for cleaning and polishing

So armed with all this information, we set out to find some alternatives to mainstream toothpaste. For results of the Great Toothpaste Challenge Click here. Until next time, TLR

 

 

 


 

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