Oral Care
The Day begins & Ends with Toothpaste:
Toothpaste is a generic name representing a paste, which is available in a tube to be squeezed a little bit on tooth brush and then used for brushing the teeth for cleaning them after each meal and in the morning when one gets up. This is the ideal way it should be used.
Electric toothbrush powered by a small battery can be used by patients suffering from arthritis and are not in a position to use toothbrush manually.
Every brand of Toothpaste have their own formula using almost same ingredients with slight variation in the concentration, colour, sweetening agent and flavour used to have a different look and appeal to the different segment of customers.
Fluoride: It is absorbed by tooth enamel making it resistant to acids formed by bacteria harbouring on the plaque or found in cold drinks.
Abrasive: The abrasive acts as cleaning agents scrubbing the plaque and the stains for their removal.
Detergent: Detergent helps in making the foam changing the surface tension and loose particles start floating on the foam bubbles to be thrown out with a gargle with water.
Humectants: Xyletol, Glycerin, Sorbitol and water are used as Humectants responsible for texture and moisture retention.
Preservatives: They are responsible for preventing growth micro organisms use toothpaste material as the base to grow.
Flavoring Agents: These are very strong in taste and smell and mask the actual taste of the toothpaste, which is un-palatable.
Sweeteners: Normally saccharine is used to sweeten the taste, being artificial; they have nothing to do with cavity formation.
Coloring Agents: Colouring agent add to the appeal by adjusting the colour, which speaks about the cooling and refreshing effect it produces.
After each meals use of an anti-septic mouthwash is good to kill the bacteria harbouring in the crevices in between teeth, where food sticks and tooth brush becomes out of reach.