While toothpaste manufacturers try to lure consumers with bright colors or different textures, most store brands include the same basic ingredients. Brushing with toothpaste that bears the American Dental Association seal of approval–as most national brands do–removes surface bacteria, eliminates plaque and strengthens enamel.
Fluoride
Every ADA-approved toothpaste includes fluoride in concentrations totaling roughly .25 percent. Fluoride is the most important ingredient for healthy teeth. It strengthens enamel, prevents cavities and fights plaque. The debate surrounding the safety of fluoride stretches back to the 1950s when the move to add fluoride to drinking water began. Fluoride ingested in unsafe levels is toxic to humans, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandates warning labels on all products containing the chemical that reads: “Keep out of reach of children aged six and under. If more than is used for normal brushing is swallowed, contact your physician or local poison control center.”
Foaming Agents
One chemical ingredient in store-brands that makes people a little queasy–particularly natural diet and healthy food advocates–is sodium lauryl sulfate. It gives toothpaste its foaming action, and it’s the ingredient added to laundry detergents and other household cleaners for the same reason. The FDA, however, brands sodium lauryl sulfate as non-toxic for both contact and ingestion.
Abrasives
You’ll find mild abrasives like calcium and magnesium carbonate in most major toothpaste brands, though specialty toothpastes aimed at whitening or tartar control contain more aggressive silica-based abrasives. According to the ADA, studies show no increased damage to surface enamel from using such abrasives. Tartar control brands prevent hardened plaque buildup by adding pyrophosphates to the formula.
Flavors and Colors
Sweeteners and artificial flavors make brushing more palatable, especially to kids. Food-grade dyes give it a distinctive look. No ADA-recommended toothpaste contains sugar, as dentists note that sugar is a key precipitator of tooth decay. Manufacturers use saccharine or aspartame to give toothpaste its sweetness.
Humectants
Humectants prevent water loss and act as stabilizers in toothpaste formulas. Compounds such as glycerol, propylene glycol or sorbitol are added for this purpose.
