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 Toothpaste is a Paste or Gel used to Clean and Improve the Aesthetic Appearance and
Health of Teeth.
 It is almost always used in conjunction with a Toothbrush.
 Toothpaste use can promote good Oral Hygiene: it can aid in the removal of  Dental
Plaque and Food from the teeth, it can aid in the elimination and/or masking of Halitosis,
and it can deliver active ingredients such as Fluoride to prevent tooth and Gum Disease.
 Most people in Developed Countries consider Toothpaste a necessity and use it at least
once a day.
 Toothpaste is not a relatively modern phenomena. 
 In fact, as long ago as 3000-5000 BC Egyptians made a dental cream by mixing
powdered ashes of oxen hooves with myrrh, burned egg shells, pumice, and water. 
 Unfortunately, these early Egyptians didn't have toothbrushes but used chew sticks to
apply their dental cream.
 Essentially toothpastes contain mild abrasives, which enhance the efficiency of the
toothbrush in removing plaque deposits, as well as antibacterial agents which help retard
the regrowth of plaque deposits (De La Rosa et al., 1979).
 Many contain fluoride to retard enamel demineralization and promote remineralization,
and thus help prevent and reduce caries.
 Some also contain chemicals to help desensitize exposed and sensitive dentine.
 Striped toothpaste can be produced by including two different colored toothpastes in an
unusual type of packaging.
 Toothpaste was packaged in small lead/tin alloy tubes. 
 The inside of the tube was coated with wax, however, once it was discovered that lead
from the tubes leached into the product.
 The breakthrough that transformed toothpaste into the crucial weapon against tooth decay
was the finding that fluoride could dramatically reduce cavities.
 The Total Toothpaste Market is a $1.66 billion-a-year industry, with $1.26 billion coming
from the retail segment and about a quarter of those sales coming from drug stores alone. 
 The Overall Oral Care Market has grown to $3.8 Billion.
 Whitening Toothpaste Sales Jumped 22% to $570.3 million in the year ended March 23,
2002, at Supermarkets and Mass Retailers.

 Toothpaste seems to improve every day. We have anti-cavity

toothpastes, extra-whitening toothpastes, toothpastes with
mouthwash, toothpastes for sensitive teeth, toothpastes with stripes,
clear toothpaste, even liver flavored toothpaste for dogs.

 A modern toothpaste has many things to do. It must have abrasives to

scour off bacterial films. It must have fluorides to harden the teeth
against decay. It must have a strong enough flavor to hide the bad
tastes of decaying bits of previous meals, and the awful taste of some
of the other ingredients, such as detergents and phosphates.

 Toothpaste must have thickeners to stay on the toothbrush, and

squeeze out of the tube. It must have detergents to remove fatty
films, and water softeners to make the detergents work better, and
sweeteners, preferably non-nutritive, so bacteria are not encouraged.

 Toothpaste ingredients
 The most recognized toothpaste ingredient is probably the class of
compounds known as fluorides. Stannous fluoride was the first to be
used in toothpaste, because it could be used with the abrasive most
common at the time, calcium phosphate. The calcium prevents sodium
fluoride from being effective.

 Later, sodium monofluorophosphate was used, as it also could be used

with abrasives common at the time.

 When hydrated silica became the abrasive of choice, sodium fluoride

could be used, and is the most widely used fluoride in toothpastes at
this time.

 Hydrated silica is the transparent abrasive used in gel toothpastes, and

in the clear parts of striped toothpaste. It has become common to use
it in white opaque toothpastes as well, because of its compatibility with
sodium fluoride.

 Fluorides work better in combination with surfactants, which help the

remineralization process. The most common are the lauryl sulfates,
such as sodium lauryl sulfate, or ammonium lauryl sulfate.
 Surfactants (detergents) also help clean the teeth, and provide a foam
that helps to carry away debris. Moreover, lauryl sulfates have
significant anti-bacterial properties, and they can penetrate and
dissolve plaque.

 Lauryl sulfates can irritate oral membranes, and so a similar

detergent, lauryl sarcosinate often replaces some or all of the lauryl
sulfate. Allantoin is sometimes added to relieve the irritation caused by
detergents, alkalies, and acids.

 The sequestering agent tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) removes

calcium and magnesium from the saliva, so they can't deposit on teeth
as insoluble deposits called tartar, (calcified plaque). In this respect it
acts as a water-softening agent. It won't remove tartar that already
exists.

 TSPP is slightly alkaline, and has a bitter taste, requiring additional

flavorings to mask it. Also, additional detergents must be added to
keep it in solution. All of these factors can irritate oral membranes and
cause sensitivity.

 Polymers such as the acrylic PVM/MA copolymer are added to prevent

bacteria from breaking down pyrophosphates. Other long polymers
used are polyethylene glycol (PEG) in various weights (i.e. PEG-6,
PEG-8, PEG-40, etc.), and polypropylene glycol (PPG).

 Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is added for taste and mouth feel.
It combines with acids to release carbon dioxide gas, adding to the
foam produced by brushing. It is a mild abrasive. It may reduce the
numbers of acid loving bacteria in the mouth, although this effect lasts
only as long as the mouth stays alkaline.

 Sodium carbonate peroxide is added to "peroxide" toothpastes as a

whitener. It breaks down into sodium carbonate (washing soda) and
hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide bleaches the teeth, and
kills germs.

 Sweeteners such as sodium saccharin are added for taste. Other

flavors are usually strong essential oils in the mint family.

 The anti-bacterial agent Triclosan is added to kill plaque-forming

microbes.
  Various gums are used to thicken the paste, but also to retain
moisture, so the toothpaste does not dry out if the top is not replaced.

 In white pastes, titanium dioxide is used to make the paste opaque

and white.

New topic
We started our search by typing some of the better-known toothpaste brands into our browser's location
window. We tried www.crest.com, www.colgate.com, and www.mentadent.com and received some
information on the various types of toothpastes, what they do, and how they do it. However, we were
ultimately unsuccessful in finding the basic toothpaste ingredients.

Realizing our quick approach was ineffective, we went to the old standby and typed "toothpaste
ingredients" into the Yahoo! search box.

As expected, Yahoo! didn't have a Toothpaste Ingredients category, but our search wasn't a waste -- we
received thousands of web pages that featured the words "toothpaste" and "ingredients." We were on our
way to a clean and sparkling answer.

We clicked on the BDA Facts File, a subpage of the official British Dental Association web site. We
scrolled down to find a list of active and inactive ingredients that may be included in toothpaste.

Active Ingredients:

 Fluoride
 Antibacterial agents, most often Triclosan is used to control plaque
 Desensitizing agents
 Anti-tartar agents
 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

(Natural toothpastes may contain a variety of ingredients - anything from oil of ginger to seaweed extract.)

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
We clicked on another link, this one an article from WebMD titled "What Are You Putting on Your Teeth?"
The article explains that almost all toothpastes start with mild abrasives and detergents, as well as the
near-universal ingredient, fluoride. After that, toothpastes vary quite a bit.

Possible ingredients include: tartar-control agents, most often pyrophosphate; sensitivity reducers, such
as potassium nitrate; triclosan; baking soda; and teeth whiteners

New topic

Toothpaste seems to improve every day. We have anti-cavity toothpastes, extra-whitening

toothpastes, toothpastes with mouthwash, toothpastes for sensitive teeth, toothpastes with stripes,
clear toothpaste, even liver flavored toothpaste for dogs.

A modern toothpaste has many things to do. It must have abrasives to scour off bacterial films.
It must have fluorides to harden the teeth against decay. It must have a strong enough flavor to
hide the bad tastes of decaying bits of previous meals, and the awful taste of some of the other
ingredients, such as detergents and phosphates.

Toothpaste must have thickeners to stay on the toothbrush, and squeeze out of the tube. It must
have detergents to remove fatty films, and water softeners to make the detergents work better,
and sweeteners, preferably non-nutritive, so bacteria are not encouraged.

Toothpaste ingredients

The most recognized toothpaste ingredient is probably the class of compounds known as
fluorides. Stannous fluoride was the first to be used in toothpaste, because it could be used with
the abrasive most common at the time, calcium phosphate. The calcium prevents sodium fluoride
from being effective.

Later, sodium monofluorophosphate was used, as it also could be used with abrasives common at
the time.

When hydrated silica became the abrasive of choice, sodium fluoride could be used, and is the
most widely used fluoride in toothpastes at this time.

Hydrated silica is the transparent abrasive used in gel toothpastes, and in the clear parts of striped
toothpaste. It has become common to use it in white opaque toothpastes as well, because of its
compatibility with sodium fluoride.

Fluorides work better in combination with surfactants, which help the remineralization process.
The most common are the lauryl sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, or ammonium lauryl
sulfate.

Surfactants (detergents) also help clean the teeth, and provide a foam that helps to carry away
debris. Moreover, lauryl sulfates have significant anti-bacterial properties, and they can penetrate
and dissolve plaque.
Lauryl sulfates can irritate oral membranes, and so a similar detergent, lauryl sarcosinate often
replaces some or all of the lauryl sulfate. Allantoin is sometimes added to relieve the irritation
caused by detergents, alkalies, and acids.

The sequestering agent tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) removes calcium and magnesium
from the saliva, so they can't deposit on teeth as insoluble deposits called tartar, (calcified
plaque). In this respect it acts as a water-softening agent. It won't remove tartar that already
exists.

TSPP is slightly alkaline, and has a bitter taste, requiring additional flavorings to mask it. Also,
additional detergents must be added to keep it in solution. All of these factors can irritate oral
membranes and cause sensitivity.

Polymers such as the acrylic PVM/MA copolymer are added to prevent bacteria from breaking
down pyrophosphates. Other long polymers used are polyethylene glycol (PEG) in various
weights (i.e. PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG-40, etc.), and polypropylene glycol (PPG).

Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) is added for taste and mouth feel. It combines with acids to
release carbon dioxide gas, adding to the foam produced by brushing. It is a mild abrasive. It
may reduce the numbers of acid loving bacteria in the mouth, although this effect lasts only as
long as the mouth stays alkaline.

Sodium carbonate peroxide is added to "peroxide" toothpastes as a whitener. It breaks down into
sodium carbonate (washing soda) and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide bleaches the
teeth, and kills germs.

Sweeteners such as sodium saccharin are added for taste. Other flavors are usually strong
essential oils in the mint family.

The anti-bacterial agent Triclosan is added to kill plaque-forming microbes.

Various gums are used to thicken the paste, but also to retain moisture, so the toothpaste does
not dry out if the top is not replaced.

In white pastes, titanium dioxide is used to make the paste opaque and white.

Most commercial toothpastes are a combination of chalk, soap (SLS), glycerin and flavorings
with a variety of additives. Many ingredients are there for cosmetic and usage reasons
which don't always have to do with cleaning efficiency and health.

Here are some of the commoner toothpaste ingredients found in drug store and
supermarket brands.

Click here if you want to know which of these ingredients are found in the better "health"
market brands
Common toothpaste ingredients:

Detergents

Most toothpastes contain Sodium Laureth Sulphate (same thing as Sodium Lauryl Ether
Sulfate, or SLS) which has creates foam and does play some role in cleaning. It's a major
ingredient in washing up liquid.

It isn't strictly needed, though, in toothpastes and some studies have tended to show that it
makes human tissues (skin, scalp, mouth surfaces) more easily penetrated by other
chemicals. Many alternative toothpastes do not use it.

Detergents such as SLS help the cleaning process. Ammonium lauryl ether sulfate is
now often used in preference to SLS because its larger molecules don't penetrate our skin
and mouth membranes so easily. Detergents are anti-bacterial and have a role in breaking
up plaque.

Common toothpaste ingredients:

Abrasives
A variety of abrasives are found in commercial toothpastes (see individual chemicals below).

Silica is a natural component of sand which is extremely hard and it helps the cleaning
process by being abrasive. It has been used in toothpastes for a long time. It is generally
considered safe in some forms. Hydrated silica is the particular type of silica used in gel
toothpastes. It is a bio-accumulator i.e. it can persist and build up in wildlife and humans.

Calcium (chalk) Many toothpastes include calcium salts as abrasives. It is considered safe.

Common toothpaste ingredients:

Plaque prevention and control

Tetrasodium pyrophosphate (TSPP) is sometimes used as a water softening agent

which removes calcium and magnesium from the saliva so that less plaque is formed. It is
unpleasant tasting and alkaline and needs other ingredients (detergents) present to make it
work. It is rated as moderately toxic by Toxnet.

Some toothpastes may contain Triclosan which helps kill plaque-forming microbes.
Triclosan is one of those bio-persistent chemicals which turn up in fish, breast milk and
wastewater.

Common toothpaste ingredients:

Bleaches and whiteners

Tooth whitening pastes may contain hydrogen peroxide. There are some health queries
about the safety of this, especially in more concentrated amounts found in some products.
One study (by Europa) concluded that most people suffered no problems from a 1.5%
hydrogen peroxide solution used twice a day. However, hydrogen peroxide is also classed as
a weak carcinogen and they also concluded that it should be sold in a 0.1% concentration
only. Stronger solutions would need to be obtained by prescription.

Some tooth-whitening products may contain sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). It is

considered a moderate hazard.

Most over-the-counter tooth whitening pastes include carbamide peroxide, which is

generally produced from perhydrol urea, an animal product rated as moderately toxic by
EWG. It is banned in Canada.

Sodium carbonate peroxide is added to some whitening toothpastes. It breaks down into
sodium carbonate (washing soda) and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide then
bleaches the teeth and kills germs around the gums.

Titanium dioxide (also found in sunscreens) is used to make the toothpaste opaque and
bright white. It is found in Aquafresh, among others. Low hazard.

Common toothpaste ingredients:

Stabilisers and bulking agents

Polyethylenes such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) and other polymers are found in many
toothpastes where they are used to bind and stabilise. Health concerns include cancer,
allergies/immunotoxicity and organ system toxicity.

Other toothpaste ingredients

Fluorides are used to harden the teeth against decay. They work best when combined with
surfactants (detergents) such as SLS and ALS. There are many health queries over the use
of fluoride. Sodium fluoride is commonly used and is thought to be a cancer-causing agent
(carcinogenic) in prolonged use. Sodium monofluorophosphate has similar properties.

Colours such as Yellow 10 Aluminium Lake also carry similar health concerns.

Many ingredients are fairly irritating. Allantoin (thought to be harmless) is sometimes

added to counter the irritation caused by detergents, alkalies, and acids.

Flavourings are used to mask the unpleasant taste of some of the

ingredients such as the detergents and phophates. In addition,
sweeteners such as sodium saccharin are added to improve the
taste. Other flavours are usually based on mint essential oils.

Fragrances can cover a multitude of things, from innocuous natural

ingredients such as aniseed or mint to quite potent chemicals which
persist in the environment.

Picture, right: Weleda's salt toothpaste, which features natural

fragrances
So which ingredients of those above are found in the better,
healthier brands?
Unfortunately, even traditional "safe" toothpaste ingredients are considered some risk by
authorities such as EWG (the Environmental Working Group). For example even
baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) has some health concerns attached to its use in large
amounts. The fact is that many chemicals and ingredients are just not yet sufficiently well
researched and understood.

However, the EWG helps us to take balanced view. They now have the largest public,
product-safety database anywhere in the world, giving safety info on 25,000 products and
thousands of ingredients.

I've checked all the toothpastes recommended on the how to make toothpaste page. They
all check out well for suspect ingredients, that is, they don't really contain any.

As mentioned above, even baking soda is not seen as completely hazard free. And some of
the great brands reviewed do supply some toothpastes with fluoride simply because some
customers want it.

Here's a run down of the best of the best

Of the products listed Burt's Bees, Desert Essence and Peelu Company toothpastes are
some of the very safest available. Tom's of Maine scores well too. So do Nature's Gate
and Jason products. Weleda's children's tooth gel scores well but their salt toothpaste
(one of my favourites) does not score so well mainly because of the presence of fragrances
- though they (Weleda) list these as just natural essential oils of aniseed, eucalyptus,
lavender, peppermint and sage.

Many of these companies have signed the "Compact for Safe Cosmetics". According to
the EWG:

"Over 500 companies have voluntarily signed a pledge called the campaign's "Compact for
Safe Cosmetics," a pledge to formulate products that do not use ingredients that are known
or suspected to cause certain health harms within three years of signing."

A good few also have policies which are against animal testing, or are working on
eliminating animal testing from their procedures.

HistoryToothpaste has a history that stretches back nearly 4,000 years. Until the mid-
nineteenth century, abrasives used to clean teeth did not resemble modern toothpastes. People
were primarily concerned with cleaning stains from their teeth and used harsh, sometimes toxic
ingredients to meet that goal. Ancient Egyptians used a mixture of green lead, verdigris (the
green crust that forms on certain metals like copper or brass when exposed to salt water or air),
and incense. Ground fish bones were used by the early Chinese.
In the Middle Ages, fine sand and pumice were the primary ingredients in teeth-
cleaning formulas used by Arabs. Arabs realized that using such harsh abrasives harmed
the enamel of the teeth. Concurrently, however, Europeans used strong acids to lift
stains. In western cultures, similarly corrosive mixtures were widely used until the
twentieth century. Table salt was also used to clean teeth.

In 1850, Dr. Washington Wentworth Sheffield, a dental surgeon and chemist, invented
the first toothpaste. He was 23 years old and lived in New London, Connecticut. Dr.
Sheffield had been using his invention, which he called Creme Dentifrice, in his private
practice. The positive response of his patients encouraged him to market the paste. He
constructed a laboratory to improve his invention and a small factory to manufacture it.

Modern toothpaste was invented to aid in the removal foreign particles and food
substances, as well as clean the teeth. When originally marketed to consumers,
toothpaste was packaged in jars. Chalk was commonly used as the abrasive in the early
part of the twentieth century.

Sheffield Labs claims it was the first company to put toothpaste in tubes. Washington
Wentworth Sheffield's son, Lucius, studied in Paris, France, in the late nineteenth
century. Lucius noticed the collapsible metal tubes being used for paints. He thought
putting the jar-packaged dentifrice in these tubes would be a good idea. Needless to say,
it was adopted for toothpaste, as well as other pharmaceutical uses. The Colgate-
Palmolive Company also asserts that it sold the first toothpaste in a collapsible tube in
1896. The product was called Colgate Ribbon Dental Creme. In 1934, in the United
States, toothpaste standards were developed by the American Dental Association's
Council on Dental Therapeutics. They rated products on the following scale: Accepted,
Unaccepted, or Provisionally Accepted.

The next big milestone in toothpaste development happened in the mid-twentieth

century (1940-60, depending on source). After studies proving fluoride aided in
protection from tooth decay, many toothpastes were reformulated to include sodium
fluoride. Fluoride's effectiveness was not universally accepted. Some consumers wanted
fluoride-free toothpaste, as well as artificial sweetener-free toothpaste. The most
commonly used artificial sweetener is saccharin. The amount of saccharin used in
toothpaste is minuscule. Companies like Tom's of Maine responded to this demand by
manufacturing both fluoridated and non-fluoridated toothpastes, and toothpastes
without artificial sweetening.

Many of the innovations in toothpaste after the fluoride breakthrough involved the
addition of ingredients with "special" abilities to toothpastes and toothpaste packaging.
In the 1980s, tartar control became the buzz word in the dentifrice industry. Tarter
control toothpastes claimed they could control tartar build-up around teeth. In the
1990s, toothpaste for sensitive teeth was introduced. Bicarbonate of soda and other
ingredients were also added in the 1990s with claims of aiding in tartar removal and
promoting healthy gums. Some of these benefits have been largely debated and have not
been officially corroborated.

Packaging toothpaste in pumps and stand-up tubes was introduced during the 1980s
and marketed as a neater alternative to the collapsible tube. In 1984, the Colgate pump
was introduced nationally, and in the 1990s, stand-up tubes spread throughout the
industry, though the collapsible tubes are still available.
Raw Materials

Every toothpaste contains the following ingredients: binders, abrasives, sudsers,

humectants, flavors (unique additives), sweeteners, fluorides, tooth whiteners, a
preservative, and water. Binders thicken toothpastes. They prevent separation of the
solid and liquid components, especially during storage. They also affect the speed and
volume of foam production, the rate of flavor release and product dispersal, the
appearance of the toothpaste ribbon on the toothbrush, and the rinsibility from the
toothbrush. Some binders are karaya gum, bentonite, sodium alginate, methylcellulose,
carrageenan, and magnesium aluminum silicate.

Abrasives scrub the outside of the teeth to get rid of plaque and loosen particles on
teeth. Abrasives also contribute to the degree of opacity of the paste or gel. Abrasives
may affect the paste's consistency, cost, and taste. Some abrasives are more

harsh than others, sometimes resulting in unnecessary damage to the tooth enamel.

The most commonly used abrasives are hydrated silica (softened silica), calcium
carbonate (also known as chalk), and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). Other
abrasives include dibasic calcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, tricalcium phosphate, and
sodium metaphosphate hydrated alumina. Each abrasive also has slightly different
cleaning properties, and a combination of them might be used in the final product.

Sudsers, also known as foaming agents, are surfactants. They lower the surface tension
of water so that bubbles are formed. Multiple bubbles together make foam. Sudsers help
in removing particles from teeth. Sudsers are usually a combination of an organic
alcohol or a fatty acid with an alkali metal. Common sudsers are sodium lauryl sulfate,
sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sulfolaurate, sodium lauryl
sarcosinate, sodium stearyl fumarate, and sodium stearyl lactate.

Humectants retain water to maintain the paste in toothpaste. Humectants keep the solid
and liquid phases of toothpaste together. They also can add a coolness and/or sweetness
to the toothpaste; this makes toothpaste feel pleasant in the mouth when used. Most
toothpastes use sorbitol or glycerin as humectants. Propylene glycol can also be used as
a humecant.

Toothpastes have flavors to make them more palatable. Mint is the most common flavor
used because it imparts a feeling of freshness. This feeling of freshness is the result of
long term conditioning by the toothpaste industry. The American public associates mint
with freshness. There may be a basis for this in fact; mint flavors contain oils that
volatize in the mouth's warm environment. This volatizing action imparts a cooling
sensation in the mouth. The most common toothpaste flavors are spearmint,
peppermint, wintergreen, and cinnamon. Some of the more exotic toothpaste flavors
include bourbon, rye, anise, clove, caraway, coriander, eucalyptus, nutmeg, and thyme.

In addition to flavors, toothpastes contain sweeteners to make it pleasant to the palate

because of humecants. The most commonly used humectants (sorbitol and glycerin)
have a sweetness level about 60% of table sugar. They require an artificial flavor to make
the toothpaste palatable. Saccharin is the most common sweetener used, though some
toothpastes contain ammoniated diglyzzherizins and/or aspartame.

Fluorides reduce decay by increasing the strength of teeth. Sodium fluoride is the most
commonly used fluoride. Sodium perborate is used as a tooth whitening ingredient.
Most toothpastes contain the preservative p-hydrozybenzoate. Water is also used for
dilution purposes.

The Manufacturing
Process

Weighing and mixing

 1 After transporting the raw materials into the factory, the ingredients are both manually
and mechanically weighed. This ensures accuracy in the ingredients' proportions. Then
the ingredients are mixed together. Usually, the glycerin-water mixture is done first.
 2 All the ingredients are mixed together in the mixing vat. The temperature and
humidity of vat are watched closely. This is important to ensuring that the mix comes
together correctly. A commonly used vat in the toothpaste industry mixes a batch that is
the equivalent of 10,000 four-ounce (118 ml) tubes.

Filling the tubes

 3 Before tubes are filled with toothpaste, the tube itself passes under a blower and a
vacuum to ensure cleanliness. Dust and particles are blown out in this step. The tube is
capped, and the opposite end is opened so the filling machine can load the paste.
 4 After the ingredients are mixed together, the tubes are filled by the filling machine. To
make sure the tube is aligned correctly, an optical device rotates the tube. Then the tube
is filled by a descending pump. After it is filled, the end is sealed (or crimped) closed. The
tube also gets a code stamped on it indicating where and when it was manufactured.

Packaging and shipment

 5 After tubes are filled, they are inserted into open paperboard boxes. Some companies
do this by hand.
 6 The boxes are cased and shipped to warehouses and stores.
Quality Control

Each batch of ingredients is tested for quality as it is brought into the factory. The
testing lab also checks samples of final product. All the toothpaste brands promise
different things to the consumer. Some offer the whitest teeth, some talk of freshest breath
or healthiest teeth. So which toothpaste should you pop into your shopping bag? Sometimes
having so much variety and choice can be dreadfully tiring for the mind! Besides as the
dentists all tell us it is important to pay specially attention to your child's dental hygiene
right from the age of 2. But which of the toothpastes will actually live up to the advertising?
Lets find out -

Brand analysis -

Brand Feature Weight Price (Rs)

Oral B Specially for children 100gm 55*

Colgate Total Paste 100gm 35

Gel Gel 100gm 24.50

Ultra whitening Paste 150gm 39

Sensation whitening Paste 150gm 39

Calciguard Paste 100gm 24.50

Pepsodent Germicheck Paste 200gm 49.90

2 in 1 Paste+ gel 150gm 45.10

Aguafresh Paste + gel 100gm 25

Close up Gel 100gm 33

* the price of a paste and brush

The brands in the market offer basically two types of toothpastes - one is in the form of the
conventional paste and the other is the gel. Colgate Total, Pespodent Germicheck, etc are
examples of the former type. They offer clean teeth and a safeguard against cavities. The
Close up range, Promise Gel, Colgate Gel, etc promise fresh breath. Aquafresh and
Pepsodent 2-in-1 combine the two types by having both gel and paste together.

Oral B is a specially formulated toothpaste for children in India. It comes in one flavour -
mint. Though the children like the mild flavour the paste itself does not foam. Also the paste
comes along with a brush making it an expensive buy if you are not interested in using their
brush.

Alright all the ads are spectacular - but what's the bottom line? Basically all toothpastes are
alike. In the olden days (sometime soon after the age of the dinosaurs) our not so distant
ancestors chewed datuan - the neem twig and most of them had strong healthy teeth right
to the very end. Further, here's a secret that most advertisers have long known - people
aren't as interested in the anti bacterial qualities of the toothpaste as in its ability to
promote fresh breath and make your mouth taste good. As a result many of us brush early
morning even though we haven't eaten anything just then, in order to lose that morning
breath. But few people remember to brush in the evening when it's really necessary! So the
differences in the toothpastes are more in flavour and attractive colour than actual
ingredients.

What the expert says -

Dr Vandana Jyoti, Dentist

There is basically little difference between the different brands.

What is to look for in a child's toothpaste -

 Fluoride
o below 4 years of age - do not use a fluoridated toothpaste as till this age the
child ingests a part of the toothpaste.
o between 4 to 14 years of age - fluoride is required in the toothpaste as at this
age the teeth enamel is permeable and therefore benefits from the fluoride.
o above 14 years of age - a fluoridated toothpaste is not required as the teeth
enamel are no longer permeable and therefore the fluoride is not used.
Excess fluoride may lead to fluorosis.
 Attractive colour (if possible)
 Should produce foam
 Change the toothpaste every time you buy a new pack as frequent use of the same
formulation makes the bacteria present in the teeth resistant to that toothpaste.
(This applies to you too)
 Do not use only gel based toothpaste for your child as gels serve more as
mouthwash rather than for cleaning teeth. Keep changing the type of toothpaste the
child uses

 tooth Discoloration

What Is It?
Your teeth can become discolored by stains on the surface or by changes in the tooth material.
Dentists divide discoloration into three main categories:

 Extrinsic discoloration — This occurs when the outer layer of the tooth (the enamel) is
 stained by coffee, wine, cola or other drinks or foods. Smoking also causes extrinsic stains.

Intrinsic discoloration — This is when the inner structure of the tooth (the dentin) darkens
or gets a yellow tint. Causes include excessive exposure to fluoride during early childhood, the
maternal use of tetracycline antibiotics during the second half of pregnancy and the use of
tetracycline antibiotics in children 8 years old or younger.

 Age-related discoloration — This is a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. In

addition to stains caused by foods or smoking, the dentin naturally yellows over time. The enamel
that covers the teeth gets thinner with age, which allows the dentin to show through. Chips or other
injuries to a tooth can also cause discoloration, especially when the pulp has been damaged.

In rare cases, children with a condition called dentinogenesis imperfecta are born with gray, amber or
purple discolorations.
Symptoms
Symptoms include stains on the enamel or a yellow tint in the dentin.

Diagnosis
No special tests are needed. A dentist can diagnose tooth discoloration by looking at the teeth.

Expected Duration
Some tooth discoloration can be removed with professional cleaning, but many stains are permanent
unless the teeth are treated (whitened) with a bleaching gel.

Prevention
Brushing your teeth after every meal will help to prevent some stains. Dentists recommend that you
rinse your mouth with water after having wine, coffee or other drinks or foods that can stain your
teeth. Regular cleanings by a dental hygienist also will help to prevent surface stains.

Intrinsic stains that are caused by damage to a nerve or blood vessel in the inner part (the pulp) of a
tooth sometimes can be prevented by having root canal treatment, which removes organic material
before it has a chance to decay and darken. However, teeth that undergo root canal treatment may
darken anyway. To prevent intrinsic stains in children, avoid water that contains a high fluoride
concentration. You can check the concentration of fluoride in your drinking water supply by calling the
public health department. Then consult your dentist.

Treatment
Discoloration often can be removed by applying a bleaching agent to the enamel of the teeth. With a
technique called "power bleaching," the dentist applies a light-activated bleaching gel that causes the
teeth to get significantly whiter in about 30 to 45 minutes. Several follow-up treatments may be
needed.

It's also possible to remove discoloration with an at-home bleaching gel and a mouth guard given to
you by your dentist. The bleaching gels designed for use at home aren't as strong as those applied by
your dentist, so the process takes longer — usually two to four weeks. Whitening toothpastes may
remove minor stains, but they aren't very effective in most cases.

If you've had a root canal and the tooth has darkened, your dentist may apply a bleaching material to
 the inside of the tooth.

When a tooth has been chipped or badly damaged or when stains don't respond to bleaching, your
dentist may recommend covering the discolored areas. This can be done with a composite bonding
material that's color-matched to the surrounding tooth. Another option is to get veneers, which are
thin shells of ceramic that cover the outer surfaces of the teeth.

When To Call a Professional

Tooth discoloration is mainly a cosmetic problem. Call a dentist if you're unhappy with the appearance
of your teeth. Any change in a child's normal tooth color should be evaluated by a dentist.

Prognosis
The prognosis is very good for extrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains may be more difficult or take longer to
remove

What is Tartar?
What is Tartar?
Tartar, sometimes called calculus, is plaque that has hardened on your teeth. Tartar can also form at
and underneath the gumline and can irritate gum tissues. Tartar gives plaque more surface area on
which to grow and a much stickier surface to adhere, which can lead to more serious conditions, such
as cavities and gum disease.

Not only can tartar threaten the health of your teeth and gums, it is also a cosmetic problem. Because
tartar is more porous, it absorbs stains easily. So if you are a coffee or tea drinker, or if you smoke, it
is especially important to prevent tartar buildup.

How do I Know if I Have Tartar Buildup?

Unlike plaque, which is a colorless film of bacteria, tartar is a mineral buildup that's fairly easy to see
if above the gumline. The most common sign of tartar is a yellow or brown color to teeth or gums. The
only way for sure to detect tartar — and to remove it — is to see your dentist.

How can I Prevent Tartar Buildup?

Proper brushing, especially with a tartar control toothpaste, and flossing are necessary to reduce
plaque and tartar buildup.

Once tartar has formed, only your dentist or hygienist can remove it. The process for removing tartar
is called scaling. During a scaling, the dentist or hygienist uses special instruments to remove tartar
from your teeth above and below the gumline.