Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a paste or gel used with a toothbrush to clean teeth and help prevent dental problems. Its ingredients can remove deposits, deliver fluoride, and address issues such as sensitivity or plaque.

Fluoride: Fluoride is a mineral ion that strengthens tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities. It is the best-established toothpaste ingredient for reducing tooth decay.
Dental caries: Dental caries are the progressive breakdown of tooth structure caused by acids produced by plaque bacteria. Fluoride toothpaste helps prevent and limit this common form of tooth decay.
Tooth enamel: Tooth enamel is the hard, mineral-rich outer covering of the visible part of a tooth. Fluoride toothpaste supports enamel's resistance to acid-driven mineral loss.
Tooth powder: Tooth powder is a dry oral-cleaning product applied to teeth with a toothbrush. It serves a similar purpose but differs from toothpaste in form and formulation.
Abrasive: An abrasive is a material that removes surface deposits through friction. Toothpaste abrasives help scrub away stains and plaque without replacing brushing.
Dentin hypersensitivity: Dentin hypersensitivity is brief pain triggered when exposed dentin responds to stimuli such as cold or touch. Desensitizing toothpastes aim to reduce the exposed dentin's response to these triggers.
Demineralization: Demineralization is the loss of minerals from a material, including tooth enamel under acidic conditions. Toothpaste fluoride can help shift the balance toward enamel repair.
Mouthwash: Mouthwash is a liquid oral-care product used by rinsing the mouth. It can deliver active ingredients but does not provide brushing's abrasive cleaning.
Surfactant: A surfactant is a substance that lowers surface tension and helps liquids spread or mix. Surfactants help toothpaste foam and disperse across tooth surfaces.
Dental plaque: Dental plaque is a structured community of microorganisms and their products attached to tooth surfaces. Toothpaste aids brushing in disrupting and removing plaque from teeth.

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