Learn More From O’Fallon Dentists About What Different Popular Dental Ingredients Do
Modern oral hygiene cleaning agents, like toothpaste and mouthwash, are more effective than ever before at diminishing plaque and protecting your smile. Today our O’Fallon dentists are giving you more information about how various ingredients in oral hygiene formulations work. We hope that this information is helpful and illuminating for you; the more you know, the better you’ll be able to make great decisions for your smile!
Cleaning Agents
Toothpastes are jam packed with effective cleaning agents so that when you brush you can clear away accumulated plaque, dental debris, and bacteria. Toothpastes, for example, contain detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate so that the paste creates cleaning suds as you brush. Additionally, toothpastes have gentle abrasive agents that physically buff away plaque and bacteria. Some examples of common abrasive agents are calcium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, and aluminum oxides. All of these ingredients are tailored to be gentle enough so that they do not damage your smile.
Smile Strengtheners
As you learn more and more about oral hygiene products, you’ll find that many of them include one helpful ingredient in particular: fluoride. Fluoride is a natural mineral that can make a huge difference for the health of your smile. Fluoride has the unique ability to re-mineralize your dental enamel and strengthen your teeth. Regular fluoride use may be able to help you avoid dental cavities as well as cracks and chips.
Flavors
Toothpastes, mouthwashes, and floss come in a variety of different flavors to suit all kinds of consumers. Ingredients like saccharine and sorbitol make oral hygiene products taste more appealing, without using harmful sugars. When you’re shopping for oral hygiene products, just try to find a flavor that is appealing to you, so that you’ll be likely to use it regularly.
Our O’Fallon dentists can give you more information about any of these ingredients, or oral hygiene products in particular. Give us a call to get started!