Everybody's mouth is like a private
''zoo'' which contains one or more of many types of microorganisms. Among these
organisms, especially Streptococcus mutans, some create
sticky plaque from food residue in the mouth. There, in the mouth,
microorganisms feed on leftover food to make acid and volatile sulphur
molecules. The volatile sulphur molecules give breath its foul odour while the
acid eats into tooth enamel to create cavities.
Toothpaste works together with tooth
brushing to clean teeth and remove the plaque and bacteria. Toothpastes can be
defined as mild cosmetic detergents for cleaning teeth. Also known as
dentifrices, toothpastes have chemical compounds that clean and polish the user's
teeth. Dentifrices come in three forms namely, liquid, powder and paste. Pastes
are the most popular of the three.
We are familiar with many brands of
toothpastes. Examples are Colgate, Enamel Saver, Tom's of Maine, Mentadent,
Crest, Aquafresh Whitening, AIM and Closeup. What are they made of?
The five
main ingredients of toothpastes are mild soap, abrasive, active ingredient,
