Modern toothpaste gel

Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used to clean and improve the aesthetic appearance and health of teeth. A gel (from the lat gelu &mdashfreezing cold ice or gelatus &mdashfrozen immobile is an apparently solid jelly-like material formed from a A Dentifrice is a paste liquid or powder used to help maintain good Oral hygiene. In some countries, due to translation issues, it is commonly referred to as "Toothcream. " 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 or zylitol to prevent tooth and gums (Gingivitis) disease. The mouth, buccal cavity, or oral cavity is the first portion of the Alimentary canal that receives food and begins digestion by mechanically breaking up Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness Dental plaque is Biofilm (usually colorless that builds up on the Teeth. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an Halitosis, oral malodor, breath odor mouth odor foul breath fetor oris fetor ex ore or most commonly bad breath are terms used to describe noticeably unpleasant Fluoride is the reduced form of Fluorine. Both organic and Inorganic compounds containing the element fluorine are considered fluorides Gingivitis (" Inflammation of the gums quot ( Gingiva) around the Teeth is a general term for gingival diseases affecting the gingiva In most or all developed countries, usage after each meal is encouraged. The term developed country, or advanced country, is used to categorize countries with developed Economies in which the tertiary and quaternary sectors Most toothpaste contains chemicals which are toxic when ingested, and is not intended to be swallowed.

History

Evidence of oral hygiene practices first appears in the archaeological record around 5000 years ago in Egypt, China, Mongolia and India.

Early toothpastes

The earliest known reference to a toothpaste is in a manuscript from Egypt in the 4th century AD, which prescribes a mixture of powdered salt, pepper, mint leaves, and iris flowers. This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants Black pepper ( Piper nigrum) is a flowering Vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its Fruit, which is usually dried Mentha ( mint) is a Genus of about 25 Species (and many hundreds of varieties) of Flowering plants in the family The Romans used toothpaste formulations based on human urine. Urine is a liquid waste product of the body secreted by the Kidneys by a process of filtration from Blood and Excreted through the Urethra. ^[1] In the 9th century, the Persian musician and fashion designer Ziryab is known to have invented a type of toothpaste, which he popularized throughout Islamic Spain. layout and formatting it should ensure no clashes with the top of the infobox Abu l-Hasan ‘Ali Ibn Nafi‘ ( Persian and Arabic: أبو الحسن علي ابن نافع) (c Al-Andalus (الأندلس was the Arabic name given to those parts of the Iberian Peninsula governed by Muslims or ^[2] The exact ingredients of this toothpaste are not currently known,^[3] but it was reported to have been both "functional and pleasant to taste. "^[2] It is not known whether these early toothpastes were used alone, were to be rubbed onto the teeth with rags, or were to be used with early toothbrushes such as neem tree twigs or miswak. Neem ( Azadirachta indica, syn Melia azadirachta L Antelaea azadirachta (L This article is about Hygiene in Islam. The miswak ( miswaak, siwak) is a natural Toothbrush made from the twigs

The modern toothbrush

The modern toothbrush was invented in China in the late 1400's, but was not widely used in the West until the 1800s. Until the late 1800s, the toothbrush was usually used only with water.

Tooth powder

Tooth powders for use with toothbrushes came into general use in the 19th century in Britain. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Most were homemade, with chalk, pulverized brick, or salt as ingredients. Chalk (ʧɔːk is a soft white porous Sedimentary rock, a form of Limestone composed of the Mineral Calcite. A brick is a block of Ceramic material used in Masonry construction laid using mortar. Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants An 1866 Home Encyclopedia recommended pulverized charcoal, and cautioned that many patented tooth powders that were commercially marketed did more harm than good. Charcoal' is the blackish residue consisting of impure Carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from Animal and Vegetation

Modern toothpaste

An 18th century American toothpaste recipe containing burnt bread has been found. Another formula around this time called for dragon's blood (a resin), cinnamon, and burnt alum. Dragon's blood is a bright red Resin that is obtained from different species of four distinct plant genera Croton, Dracaena, Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum verum, synonym C zeylanicum) is a small Evergreen Tree 10–15 metres (32 For the purely-slang term alum meaning "graduate" see Alumnus. ^[4]

By 1900, a paste made of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was recommended for use with toothbrushes. Year 1900 ( MCM) was an exceptional Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the Chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3 Pre-mixed toothpastes were first marketed in the 19th century, but did not surpass the popularity of tooth-powder until World War I. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All In 1892, Dr. Washington Sheffield of New London, Connecticut, manufactured toothpaste into a collapsible tube. Sheffield's toothpaste was called Dr. Sheffield's Creme Dentifrice. He had the idea after his son traveled to Paris and saw painters using paint from tubes. In New York City in 1896, Colgate & Company Dental Cream was packaged in collapsible tubes imitating Sheffield. The City of New York Colgate-Palmolive Company ( is an American diversified Multinational corporation focused on the production distribution and provision of household health care

Fluoride was first added to toothpastes in 1914, and was criticized by the American Dental Association (ADA) in 1937. Fluoride is the reduced form of Fluorine. Both organic and Inorganic compounds containing the element fluorine are considered fluorides Fluoride toothpastes developed in the 1950s received the ADA's approval. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive To develop the first ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste, Procter & Gamble started a research program in the early 1940s. Procter & Gamble Co ( P&G,) is a Fortune 500, American global corporation based in Cincinnati Ohio, that manufactures a wide In 1950, Procter & Gamble developed a joint research project team headed by Dr. Joseph Muhler at Indiana University to study new toothpaste with fluoride. In 1955, Procter & Gamble's Crest (toothpaste) launched its first clinically proven fluoride toothpaste. Crest is a brand of Toothpaste made by Procter & Gamble and sold worldwide On August 1, 1960, the ADA reported that "Crest has been shown to be an effective anticaries (decay preventative) dentifrice that can be of significant value when used in a conscientiously applied program of oral hygiene and regular professional care. " Countries limit and suggest different amounts of fluoride acceptable for health. Much of Africa has a slightly higher percentage than the U.S.

In June, 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration and similar agencies in Panama, Puerto Rico and Australia advised consumers to avoid certain brands of toothpaste manufactured in China, after some were found to contain the poisonous diethylene glycol, also called diglycol or labeled as "DEG" on the tube. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Diethylene glycol (DEG is an Organic compound described by the structural formula HO-CH2-CH2-O-CH2-CH2-OH The chemical is used in antifreeze as a solvent and is potentially fatal. Antifreeze is a Cryoprotectant used in Internal combustion engines and for many other heat transfer applications such as electronics cooling and Chillers ^[5]

Toothpaste is most commonly sold in flexible tubes, though harder containers are available. The hard containers stand straight up, availing more of the toothpaste and saving shelf space.

Ingredients and flavors

Active ingredients

Fluoride in various forms is the most popular active ingredient in toothpaste to prevent cavities. Fluoride is the reduced form of Fluorine. Both organic and Inorganic compounds containing the element fluorine are considered fluorides Although it occurs in small amounts in plants and animals, and has effects on the formation of dental enamel and bones, it is not considered to be a dietary essential and no deficiency signs are known. Sodium fluoride (NaF) is the most common form; some brands use sodium monofluorophosphate (Na₂PO₃F). Sodium fluoride is the Chemical compound with the formula NaF Sodium monofluorophosphate (also disodium monofluorophosphate or MFP) is a chemical with the formula Na2FPO3 Much of the toothpaste sold in the United States has 1000 to 1100 parts per million fluoride ion from one of these active ingredients, in the UK the fluoride content is often higher, a NaF of 0. 32% w/w (1450ppm fluoride) is not uncommon. This consistency leads some to conclude that cheap toothpaste is just as good as expensive toothpaste. When the magazine Consumer Reports rated toothpastes in 1998, 30 of the 38 were judged excellent. Consumer Reports is an American Magazine published monthly by Consumers Union. Application of fluoride also prevents moisture build-up in some surfaces.

Other ingredients are less commonly used, including Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and calcium phosphate for remineralization,^[6] and strontium chloride or potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity. Hydroxylapatite, also called hydroxyapatite, is a Mineral. It is a naturally occurring form of calcium Apatite with the formula Ca5(PO43(OH Fahlman B D has described a nanocrystal as any nanomaterial with at least one dimension ≤ 100nm and that is singlecrystalline Calcium phosphate is the name given to a family of Minerals containing Calcium Ions (Ca2+ together with orthophosphates (PO43- In Biogeochemistry, remineralisation refers to the transformation of Organic molecules to Inorganic forms typically mediated by biological activity Strontium chloride (SrCl2 is a Salt of Strontium and Chloride. Potassium nitrate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula K[[Nitrogen N]] O 3

Other ingredients

In addition to fluoride, the other fundamental ingredient in most toothpastes is an abrasive. Studies have shown that abrasives in toothpaste reduce the time needed to remove plaque from the teeth by approximately 50%. Abrasives, like the dental polishing agents used in dentist's offices, also cause a small amount of enamel erosion which is termed "polishing" action. Some brands contain powdered white mica which acts as a mild abrasive, and also adds a cosmetically-pleasing glittery shimmer to the paste. The word "mica" is thought to be derived from the Latin word la micare, "glitteren" in reference to the brilliant appearance of this mineral (especially Many may contain frustules of dead diatoms as a mild abrasive. Diatoms ( Greek: (dia = "through" + (temnein = "to cut" i The removal of plaque and calculus prevents caries and periodontal disease. The polishing of teeth removes stains from tooth surfaces, but has not been shown to improve dental health over and above the effects of the removal of plaque and calculus.

Many, though not all, toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or another of the sulfate family. Sodium lauryl sulfate ( SLS) or sodium dodecyl sulfate ( SDS or NaDS ( C 12 H 25 S[[oxygen O]]4 SLS is found in other personal care products as well, such as shampoo, and is largely a foaming agent although it also acts as a powerful antimicrobial. Due to the anionic charge of SLS, mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride (which has a cationic charge and thus neutralises SLS) should not be used straight after brushing. SLS may cause a greater frequency of mouth ulcers in some people as it can dry out the protective layer of oral tissues causing the underlying tissues to become damaged[1]. An oral ulcer (from Latin ulcus) is the name for the appearance of an open sore inside the mouth caused by a break in the Mucous membrane or the epithelium

Ingredients such as baking soda, enzymes, vitamins, herbs, calcium, calcium sodium phosphosilicate, mouthwash, and/or hydrogen peroxide are often combined into base mixes and marketed as being beneficial. Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the Chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3 Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins A vitamin is an Organic compound required as a Nutrient in tiny amounts by an Organism. A(n herb (ˈhɝb or /ˈɝb/ see pronunciation differences) is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties flavor scent or the like Calcium (ˈkælsiəm is the Chemical element with the symbol Ca and Atomic number 20 Mouthwash or mouth rinse is a product used for Oral hygiene. Antiseptic and anti-plaque mouth rinse claims to kill the bacterial plaque Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water Some manufacturers add antibacterial agents, for example triclosan or zinc chloride, to prevent gingivitis. Triclosan ( IUPAC name: 5-chloro-2-(24-dichlorophenoxyphenol is a potent wide spectrum antibacterial and antifungal agent Zinc chloride is the name of Chemical compound with the formula Zn[[chlorine Cl]]2 and its hydrates Triclosan is a very common ingredient in the UK.

Toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors, most often being some variation on mint (spearmint, peppermint, regular mint, etc). Flavor or flavour is the sensory impression of a Food or other substance, and is determined Mentha ( mint) is a Genus of about 25 Species (and many hundreds of varieties) of Flowering plants in the family Peppermint ( Mentha × piperita) is a hybrid mint, a cross between Watermint ( Mentha aquatica) and Spearmint Other more exotic flavors include: anise, apricot, bubblegum (marketed mostly to children), cinnamon, fennel, neem, ginger, vanilla, lemon, orange, pine. '''Anise''' or Aniseed, less commonly anís (stressed on the second syllable ( Pimpinella anisum) is a Flowering plant in the family Apiaceae The Apricot ( Prunus armeniaca, "Armenian plum" in Latin syn Bubblegum (or Bubble Gum) is a type of Chewing gum especially designed for blowing bubbles. Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum verum, synonym C zeylanicum) is a small Evergreen Tree 10–15 metres (32 Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare) is a Plant Species in the Genus Foeniculum (treated as the sole species in the genus by Neem ( Azadirachta indica, syn Melia azadirachta L Antelaea azadirachta (L Ginger is commonly used as a cooking spice throughout the world Vanilla is a Flavoring derived from Orchids of the genus Vanilla native to Mexico. The lemon ( Citrus × limon) is a hybrid in cultivated wild plants An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn This article is about the tree For other uses of the term "pine" see Pine (disambiguation. Flavors which have been introduced but discontinued due to poor reception include peanut butter, iced tea, and even whisky. Peanut butter is a food paste made primarily from ground roasted Peanuts with or without added oil For other meanings see Iced tea (disambiguation Ice tea, also known as iced tea, is a form of cold Tea, often served in a glass Whisky (uisge-beatha or whiskey (uisce beatha or fuisce) refers to a broad category of Alcoholic beverages that are distilled from fermented Some brands of toothpaste are unflavored, but many are both flavored and sweetened. Because sugar can cause tooth decay, artificial sweeteners are generally employed for this purpose. Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. The inclusion of sweet-tasting but toxic diethylene glycol in Chinese-made toothpaste led to a multi-nation and multi-brand toothpaste recall in 2007. Diethylene glycol (DEG is an Organic compound described by the structural formula HO-CH2-CH2-O-CH2-CH2-OH

Many toothpastes contain colorings for better visual acceptance. A food coloring is any substance that is added to Food or Drink to change its Color.

Toxicity

With the exception of toothpaste intended to be used on pets such as dogs and cats, and toothpaste used by astronauts, most toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, and doing so may cause nausea or diarrhea; fluoride toothpaste is toxic when swallowed. An astronaut or cosmonaut (космона́вт) is a person trained Nausea ( Latin: Nausea, Greek:, " Sea-sickness " also called wamble) is the sensation of unease and discomfort In Medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences) is frequent loose or liquid Bowel movements Acute diarrhea If a large amount of toothpaste is swallowed, Poison Control should be contacted immediately. Extended consumption while the teeth are forming can result in fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a health condition caused by an overdose of fluoride This is why young children should not use fluoride toothpaste except under close supervision. There are several non-fluoride toothpaste options available in the market for those with no tolerance to fluoride. Natural toothpaste can contain peppermint oil, myrrh, plant extract(strawberry extract), special oils and cleansing agents.

Striped toothpaste

How stripes are produced in toothpaste

Striping of toothpaste is solely for the purpose of providing an alternative appearance; it provides no functional benefit to the consumer.

Striped toothpaste can be produced by including two different colored toothpastes in an unusual type of packaging. The collapsible tube has two tanks, one filled with each color paste (see figure). Squeezing the tube pushes the two pastes out the opening. The tube nozzle layers the pastes to produce a striped pattern. To keep the cost of packaging to a minimum, it is now common for tubes to be filled with striped paste (e. g. Aquafresh). [2] As the tube is squeezed, the stripes flow parallel to each other and do not mix. The patterned paste that gets dispensed is simply a narrower version of what is in the tube. Filling is done using a multi-nozzle filling head that dispenses a different colored stripe in each direction. To keep the stripes parallel to the axis of the tube, the head starts at the bottom and retracts as it fills, staying just above the level of the paste. Tubes with two compartments are generally reserved for toothpastes containing two formulas intended to react together and therefore kept isolated until dispensed (e. g. Colgate Simply White).

See also

• Tooth whitening
• Dental floss
• Fluoride therapy
• Sodium dodecyl sulfate
• Toothbrush
• List of toothpaste brands

References

External links

• Toothpaste Ingredients: What goes into toothpaste?
• How to choose the best toothpaste for you and your children. Special ingredients and types of toothpastes for specific dental problems.
• Fluoride toothpaste history