Fluoride Toothpaste and Fluoride Toothpastes – What’s in it for You?

For a product that most people use on a daily basis, very few of us really know what’s in those minty-fresh toothpastes we use so liberally. Formulas vary widely – ranging from tartar-free and anti-plaque brands to special concoctions for smokers, children and people with stained or sensitive teeth. We have all seen the special fluoride toothpaste options and fluoride toothpastes.

Toothpaste ingredients typically are listed weight for weight (“w/w”), meaning the number of grams of the ingredient per every 100 grams of toothpaste. Most pastes contain water and fluoride. Fluoride toothpaste is one of the most popular sellers. Other varieties also contain antibacterial, desensitizing, breath freshening or anti-tartar agents. Below is a breakdown of the other elements you can expect to find.

Detergents make up 1 to 2 percent of the standard toothpaste formula. They cause the paste to foam, as well as make it easier to swish around the mouth. Detergent chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulphate and sodium lauryl sarcosinate also help loosen plaque and debris from the surface of your teeth.

Ten to 30 percent of your toothpaste consists of a humectant, meaning an agent that helps retain moisture and keeps the toothpaste from hardening when it’s exposed to air. Common humectants are glycerol, sorbitol and propylene glycol. As an extra bonus, both glycerol and sorbitol help add a sweet taste to the mixture. Preservatives make up another 0.05 to 0.5 percent of most toothpaste recipes, and consist of alcohols, benzoates, formaldehydes and dichlorinated phenols. These agents prevent bacterial growth.

About a third of the average toothpaste is composed of abrasives, which are cleaning and polishing agents. A wide range of abrasives are in international use, most of which are chalk- or silica-based. You’ll see them listed on your toothpaste label as dicalcium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate, calcium carbonate, silica, zirconium silicate or calcium pyrophosphate. If a toothpaste is too abrasive for your teeth, check the ingredients and try a different brand, such as OraMD®.

Many people choose toothpaste primarily for its flavor, which makes up only 1 to 5 percent of the formula. There are hundreds of flavorings that can be used, with the most common ones being cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, wintergreen and menthol. Children’s toothpastes also frequently use bubble gum, grape, cherry or other candy flavors. Occasionally, mint flavorings can irritate the skin lining the mouth and gums, so many homeopathic or “natural” toothpastes are mint-free.

Binding agents make up the remaining 1 percent of the average toothpaste. Usually derived from cellulose, these agents prevent the paste from separating into liquid and solid ingredients during storage. The most common of these agents is sodium carboxy-methyl cellulose. Also used are xantham gums, alginates and seaweed-derived carrageenans.