The Nitty-gritty on Toothpaste

The Nitty-gritty on Toothpaste

I Fact Sheet Toothpaste Abrasivity I

Toothpaste has many functions: It delivers fluoride to prevent cavities, cleans your teeth by removing dental plaque and food from your teeth, polishes your teeth and removes stains surface over time, and freshens breath. Overall, toothpaste promotes good oral health.

What’s in toothpaste?

Toothpaste, also known as dentifrice, is available in paste or gel form. Despite the many types of toothpaste that exist, some ingredients are common to most varieties. These include:

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Abrasives, such as silica, to brush

away the leftover food and plaque on your teeth with the help of your toothbrush. Abrasives also polish your teeth and remove stains over time, making the teeth appear whiter.

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Fluoride to make the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promote remineralization, which makes your teeth stronger.

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Antimicrobial/antigingivitis agents, such as stannous fluoride or triclosan, to fight bacteria in dental plaque and gum disease.

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Anti-tartar agents to help prevent the formation of tartar, also referred to as calcified plaque.

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Desensitizing agents, such as stannous fluoride or potassium nitrate, to relieve tooth sensitivity.

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Surfactants (detergents) and foaming agents to carry away debris from the mouth and between teeth.

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Binding agents to bind all the components of the toothpaste together.

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Humectant to prevent your toothpaste from drying up.

• Flavors and sweetening agents to make the brushing experience more enjoyable.

Why do toothpastes contain abrasives?

Like other products that are designed

to clean, toothpastes contain abrasive agents to help remove stains from teeth. While toothpaste must be abrasive enough to remove surface stains and dental plaque, it must not be so abrasive that it wears away vital tooth enamel.

How do I minimize the risk of tooth wear?

Wear on the teeth can be minimized by practicing proper brushing techniques,

which includes using short and gentle strokes in a circular motion with a soft- bristle brush.

How do I know which toothpaste is right for me?

When it comes to choosing the best toothpaste for you, it’s important to think about your unique oral health needs. Some toothpastes aim to alleviate pain associated with sensitive teeth. Some help to control plaque and tartar. Some are designed to remove stains and whiten teeth. Some do all of the above. Because each toothpaste is uniquely formulated

to perform specific functions, speak with your dentist to determine which is right for you.

Resources

www.knowyourteeth.com

Brought to you by the AGD, this Web site answers important dental health questions, offers the latest information on current treatments, provides tips for first-rate oral hygiene, and it can help visitors find highly qualified general dentists near where they live.

1.877.2X.A.YEAR

AGD’s toll-free referral number. Call to locate an AGD member dentist in your area.

Published with permission by the Academy of General Dentistry. © Copyright 2010 by the Academy of General Dentistry. All rights reserved.

對牙膏的基本知識

單張 - 牙膏磨蝕力

牙膏具有多種功能：它提供了氟化物防止蛀牙，從你的牙齒去除牙菌斑和食物而清潔你的牙齒，擦亮你的牙齒並漸漸去除表面污漬，和去除口氣。總體而言，牙膏促進良好的口腔健康。

牙膏內有些什麼？

牙膏，也被稱為牙粉，可在糊劑或凝膠形式。儘管有許多類型的牙膏存在，大多數品種有些成分是常見的。這些成分包括：

•磨料，例如二氧化矽，加上牙刷刷走吃剩的食物和菌斑。磨料也擦亮你的牙齒和漸漸去除污漬，使牙齒更加潔白。

•氟化物使整個牙齒結構衰減更耐和促進再礦化，使你的牙齒更堅固。

•抗菌/ 抗牙肉敏感劑，如氟化亞錫或三氯生，對抗牙菌斑和牙周病。

•防牙垢劑，以幫助防止牙垢的形成，也被稱為鈣化菌斑塊。

•降敏劑，如氟化亞錫或硝酸鉀，以減輕牙齒敏感。

•表面活性劑（清潔劑）和泡沫劑從口腔和牙齒之間帶走碎屑。

•結合劑，組件牙膏的材料結合在一起。

•保濕劑，以防止你的牙膏乾涸。

•香精和甜味劑，使刷牙體驗更加愉快。

為什麼牙膏含有磨蝕劑？

像其他清潔產品，牙膏含有磨蝕劑，以幫助清除牙齒色斑。而牙膏必須有足夠的磨蝕力去去除表面污漬和牙菌斑，但是它不能過多磨蝕力去除重要的琺瑯質。

我該如何盡量減少牙齒磨損的風險？

可以通過練習正確的刷牙技巧可能令牙齒磨損最小傷害，其中包括用軟毛牙刷。使用短而溫柔筆觸的圓周運動。

我怎麼知道哪支牙膏適合我？

當談到選擇最適合你的牙膏，重要的是要考慮你的獨特的口腔健康需要。有些牙膏的目的是減少或去除敏感牙齒的疼痛。一些有助於控制牙菌斑和牙垢。有些是專為去除污漬和美白牙齒。有些有上述所有的工能。因為每種牙膏擁有獨特配方以執行特定的功能，請與您的牙醫談談，以確定哪些是適合你。

資源

www.knowyourteeth.com

由AGD帶來給你，這個網站回答重要的牙齒健康問題，提供有關當前治療的最新信息，提供提示一流的口腔衛生，並且它可以幫助你的附近找到高素質的牙醫。

1.877.2X.A.YEAR

AGD的免費轉介電話。打電話去找一個在您的區域AGD成員牙醫。 ©版權所有2010一般牙科學院。保留所有權利。