First, the purchase method of toothpaste
To choose toothpaste, we must first know that toothpaste is not a magic weapon for dental health. It is only an auxiliary product for brushing teeth, which has the functions of rubbing, removing plaque, cleaning and polishing the tooth surface and refreshing the mouth. Toothpaste used in China can be divided into three categories: ordinary toothpaste, fluoride toothpaste and medicinal toothpaste.
The main components of ordinary toothpaste are abrasives, detergents, wetting agents, preservatives and fragrances, which have the same function as ordinary toothpaste. If your teeth are healthy, you can choose ordinary toothpaste.
However, with the development of science and technology, it has been found that fluoride can prevent caries, and years of practice have proved that after fluoride comes into contact with teeth, hydroxyapatite which is easily dissolved by acid in tooth tissue forms insoluble fluorapatite, thus improving the corrosion resistance of teeth. Studies have proved that frequent use of this toothpaste can reduce the incidence of dental caries by about 40%. Fluorides include sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, stannous fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate. However, we should know that fluorine is a chronic toxic substance. Fluorine does not participate in metabolism in the body, but it will always accumulate in the body. When the intake of fluoride is too high, it will lead to skeletal fluorosis. According to national regulations, the free fluoride in fluoride toothpaste should be between 500- 1500 ppm, especially for children before 3-4 years old, because 1/8- 1/4 toothpaste may be swallowed by them.
Medicinal toothpaste is based on ordinary toothpaste. When brushing teeth, toothpaste reaches the surface of teeth or the environment around teeth, and reduces dental plaque through the action of drugs, thus playing a role in preventing dental caries and periodontal disease. Medicinal toothpaste is very popular with people, and it is an ideal way to promote drugs with preventive or therapeutic effects by using toothpaste. However, medicinal toothpaste also has its disadvantages. First of all, toothpaste can't stay in the mouth for too long, that is, it is washed away, which makes it difficult for drugs to exert their efficacy in a short time. Moreover, the dose of special drugs must avoid stimulating the soft tissues in the mouth, so it cannot be increased to a sufficient effective concentration. The function of toothpaste itself is often blocked by oral dirt or restricted by morphological characteristics, so it is difficult to reach the real ward.
Secondly, due to long-term storage, drugs in toothpaste often undergo other chemical changes and lose their original efficacy, while effective drugs are often not suitable for being put into toothpaste because of their peculiar smell. In addition, there is the problem of drug resistance. All these factors show that it is not suitable for long-term use of a medicinal toothpaste. It's a good idea to use medicated toothpaste, but some in-depth research is needed to really prevent oral diseases.
Faced with a wide variety of toothpastes, we should first understand the performance of all kinds of toothpastes, don't blindly believe the product description, and it is best to consult a professional dentist to choose the appropriate toothpaste according to the actual situation of your mouth.
Second, the history of toothpaste
The earliest toothpaste was invented by the ancient Egyptians.
The earliest toothbrush was invented by China Ming Xiaozong in 1498.
The earliest toothpaste company was Colgate in America.
The earliest fluoride toothpaste was born in America, 1945.
The use of dentifrices can be traced back to 2000-2500 years ago. The early works of Greeks, Romans, Hebrews and Buddhists all recorded the use of dentifrices. Early dentifrices were mainly chalk, animal bone powder, pumice and even verdigris. Until the19th century, they were still made of bovine bone powder and squid bone powder. Brushing your teeth with salt and gargling with salt still exist today.
In 2003, an ancient Egyptian papyrus was found in the basement of the Austrian National Library, which was covered with odd hieroglyphics. The above introduces a kind of powder that can brighten teeth. When it meets saliva, it will turn into paste, which can clean teeth. Its ingredients are: 1% ounces of rock salt and dried iris, 2% ounces of mint and 20 peppers. This is toothpaste used by ancient Egyptians. During the Tang Dynasty in China, Gastrodia elata, Ligusticum, Asari, Aquilaria Resinatum and Glauber's salt were commonly used to grind teeth and wipe teeth, which can clean teeth and remove oral odor.
/kloc-in the 0/8th century, Britain first began to produce tooth powder industrially, and then tooth powder became a commodity. 1840, the French invented the metal hose, which provided suitable packaging for some daily necessities, thus triggering the reform of some commodity forms. 1893, a Viennese Seger invented toothpaste and put it into a hose. Since then, toothpaste has developed in large quantities and gradually replaced tooth powder.
Toothpaste is improved on the basis of tooth powder. Early tooth powder mainly used calcium carbonate as friction agent and soap as surfactant. Since the 1940s, due to the rapid development of science and technology, the toothpaste industry has also been greatly improved. On the one hand, the development and application of new friction agents, wetting agents, thickeners and surfactants have continuously upgraded the quality of toothpaste products; On the other hand, toothpaste has also developed from ordinary tooth cleaning function to adding drugs to become oral hygiene products for preventing and treating dental diseases, among which fluoride toothpaste is the most prominent one, which greatly reduces the incidence of dental caries. From 65438 to 0945, stannous fluoride was added to toothpaste with calcium pyrophosphate as friction agent and tin pyrophosphate as stabilizer in the United States, and the world's first fluoride toothpaste was developed.
China began to produce tooth powder at the end of19th century, and the first toothpaste (Samsung brand) was produced in Shanghai on 1926.
Toothpaste is an oral hygiene product, and its predecessor is tooth powder. As early as 2000 years ago, the ancient Romans used talcum powder to brush their teeth. Brushing teeth with toothpaste can make the surface of teeth white and bright, protect gums and prevent dental caries and bad breath. Toothpaste should have a good cleaning effect, non-toxic, fragrant, caries-preventing and easy to use.
Third, the ingredients of toothpaste.
Friction agent
Commonly used friction agents in toothpaste are:
① Calcium carbonate (CaCO3): There are two kinds of calcium carbonate: heavy calcium carbonate and light calcium carbonate. Heavy calcium carbonate is made by crushing, grinding and refining limestone and calcite in rocks. Light calcium carbonate is obtained by dissolving calcium salt in hydrochloric acid and then introducing carbon dioxide. Light calcium carbonate has fine particles and light specific gravity, and can be used in toothpaste.
② calcium hydrogen phosphate (calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate CaHPO4? 2H2O and anhydrous calcium hydrogen phosphate (CaHPO4): Calcium hydrogen phosphate can be divided into dihydrate salt and anhydrous salt of bimolecular water. The dihydrate salt has good miscibility with other ingredients, but due to the high hardness and strong friction of anhydrous salt, 5%~ 10% anhydrous salt can be mixed into the dihydrate salt in the special toothpaste for removing smoke marks.
③ Calcium pyrophosphate (Ca2P2O7): Calcium pyrophosphate is obtained by high-temperature treatment of calcium hydrogen phosphate. Because it does not react with fluoride, it can be used as the base material of fluoride toothpaste.
④ Hydrated silicic acid (SiO2 nH2O): Hydrated silicic acid is a very fine white particle, which can be used in transparent toothpaste. In addition, because of its large specific volume, it can be used as a filler and tackifier for toothpaste.
wetting agent
Wetting agent can prevent toothpaste from curing and hardening in the hose, and make the paste shiny. Wetting agents used in toothpaste include glycerol, propylene glycol and sorbitol.
surfactant
In order to clean the dirt in the mouth, a neutral detergent-sodium dodecyl sulfate is widely used. Can quickly foam, not only can foam, but also can clean the dirt in the mouth. The surfactant used for toothpaste requires high purity and no peculiar smell, and the general dosage is 2%.
agglutinant
In order to make the ingredients in toothpaste disperse evenly, adhesives can be used, such as CMC (sodium carboxymethyl cellulose) and its derivatives, carrageenan, sodium alginate and other substances.
perfume
Mint is the main spice of toothpaste and an indispensable ingredient to give toothpaste a cool feeling. Mint is divided into menthol, peppermint oil and other substances, as well as spices derived from them. In addition, fruit flavors, such as citrus flavors, can also be used, but there are strict restrictions as toothpaste flavors.
benefit
In order to improve the taste of toothpaste, a small amount of saccharin was added to toothpaste. Glycerol as a wetting agent also has a sweet taste, so the dosage of saccharin is generally 0.0 1% ~ 0. 1%. Xylitol can also be used as a sweetener.
other
In order to prevent and treat oral diseases, some special ingredients are added to some toothpastes: ① In order to get rid of bad breath, disinfectants such as biguanide hexane and cedrol are often added to toothpaste, and copper chlorophyllin also plays a certain role in preventing bad breath. ② Fluoride can be added to prevent dental caries, which can not only inhibit the fermentation of oral residues, but also strengthen the enamel on the tooth surface. Considering the safety, the fluorine content in toothpaste is below 1000 micrograms. People who drink fluorine-containing natural water have a relatively low incidence of dental caries, but drinking water with high fluorine content will form white turbid teeth (mottled teeth) on the surface of teeth, making teeth brittle.
4. What kinds of toothpaste are there?
Medicinal toothpaste
Medicinal toothpaste refers to the addition of some drugs to ordinary toothpaste to make toothpaste have the therapeutic effect of drugs, also known as efficacy toothpaste. There are many kinds of medicinal toothpaste, which can be roughly divided into the following categories:
1, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory type: this kind of toothpaste has different degrees of antibacterial effect and has a certain auxiliary effect on oral soft tissue (such as gums) inflammation.
2. Allergy: This toothpaste contains antiallergic drugs, which can relieve the symptoms of tooth allergy. For example, Colgate's special anti-allergic toothpaste can be directly applied to sensitive teeth, which can relieve dentine hypersensitivity in one minute.
3. Descaling and whitening: This kind of toothpaste contains some anti-calculus drugs, which makes dental calculus difficult to deposit on the surface of teeth and easier to remove, thus increasing the whitening effect of teeth.
4. Deodorization: On the basis of the original fragrance, this tooth washing water adds an aromatic deodorant, which is helpful for people with bad breath.
Drug toothpastes on the market can be roughly summarized as follows:
5, anti-caries desensitization toothpaste: sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, strontium chloride, etc. are added to the toothpaste. This toothpaste has a certain effect on reducing dental caries and tooth desensitization, and is suitable for children, teenagers and middle-aged and elderly people.
6. Toothpaste for promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis and improving metabolism: This kind of toothpaste is often used to assist in the prevention and treatment of tooth and periodontal diseases. It has no side effects after long-term use, and is beneficial and harmless, suitable for all ages.
7. Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory toothpaste: Add some chemicals to toothpaste to achieve antibacterial and freckle-removing, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. It has certain curative effect on halitosis, gingival bleeding and periodontitis caused by local causes, but it is not suitable for long-term use.
Liquid toothpaste
WHO experts from the World Health Organization put forward: "Cleaning your mouth is as necessary as washing your hands." At the beginning of the birth of liquid toothpaste, the ingredients of toothpaste, health care products, chewing gum and mouthwash that have been listed at home and abroad for the treatment of oral diseases were systematically compared and analyzed, and an effective, safe, effective and convenient road of oral hygiene, oral health care and prevention and treatment of oral diseases was created by using the ancient prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine and modern biological science extraction technology. The successful listing of liquid toothpaste has once again awakened people's re-understanding of oral health care.
Diluted with 150ml purified water, sprayed on the inner wall of oral cavity and the surface of teeth, and rinsed for more than 30 seconds. If you have oral inflammation and pain, you can extend the gargle time.
(Used within 3 months at room temperature after dilution) The ingredients of liquid toothpaste are all food-grade raw material extracts, and it is harmless to swallow without adding pigment. A small amount of precipitation is normal, so shake it well before use.
Liquid toothpaste has many advantages, but because it is in a liquid state, it cannot be squeezed into a toothbrush like ordinary toothpaste. It needs to spray toothpaste on the teeth through a spray toothbrush.
Aerosol toothpaste
Dentistry has developed from tooth powder to toothpaste, gel, mouthwash and other main dosage forms. At present, Britain has developed aerosol toothpaste by using new technology. It consists of aerosol propellant, weak hydrogen ion aqueous solution, urea peroxide, sodium fluoride, glycerol and propylene glycol. When in use, as long as the nozzle of the aerosol is aimed at the oral cavity for 30-40 seconds, teeth can be cleaned and macula and halitosis on the tooth surface can be removed. The best way to use it is to put a spray toothbrush, especially an electric spray toothbrush.
Fluorine toothpaste
Using fluoride toothpaste is a good way to prevent and treat dental caries. Because proper fluoride can make dentin smooth and hard, acid-resistant and wear-resistant, thus effectively preventing and treating dental caries. However, children under 3 years old should not use fluoride toothpaste, because children are easy to swallow toothpaste during brushing, and fluoride toothpaste is harmful to the body and teeth. Children aged 4 ~ 6 should use it under the guidance of parents, and the dosage is generally the size of soybean grains. After the age of 25, the remineralization of teeth increases the resistance of teeth to dental caries, and the incidence of dental caries decreases obviously and tends to be stable. In addition, people in areas with high fluoride water should not use fluoride toothpaste to avoid fluorosis.
The choice of toothpaste mainly depends on the ingredients. The choice of toothpaste is as follows:
1, friction agent: the main function of toothpaste is to help remove dental plaque when brushing teeth with friction agent, accounting for 60%-70% of the total toothpaste. Good friction agents include water, silica, silica, etc. The relatively poor friction agents are calcium carbonate, calcium bicarbonate and so on.
2. Fluoride: Adding fluoride to toothpaste can effectively help prevent tooth decay. In the process of removing dental plaque, adding fluoride is a very effective method to prevent caries. Most people can brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. The standard of fluoride toothpaste in China is that the fluoride ion concentration is 500-1500 ppm;
3. Other aspects: Choose toothpaste according to your personal preference for the color and taste of toothpaste.
Brushing teeth requires the help of toothpaste to better remove dental plaque.
What is the main ingredient in toothpaste? Is there really something that can "resist seclusion"?
Toothpaste contains many chemical components, which are processed layer by layer to make our commonly used toothpaste. The main ingredients in toothpaste are colorants, sweeteners, spices and other chemicals. I will introduce these chemicals to you in detail below.
First, colorants. There are two kinds of toothpaste on the market, one is colored toothpaste and the other is transparent toothpaste. Obviously, colorants are used to dye colored toothpaste.
Second, the friction agent. This is the most basic and important ingredient in toothpaste. It is used to remove stains on the surface of teeth and achieve the purpose of cleaning teeth. The friction agent is made of calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, silicon dioxide and other compounds. Friction agents are divided into many types according to the production process and particle size, which makes the prices of various toothpastes different.
Third, buffer. Buffer is used to balance the pH value of toothpaste, which is alkaline, and its addition ratio is strictly regulated, because toothpaste with too strong alkalinity will cause damage to oral mucosa.
Fourth, moisturizing agent. The role of humectant is to make toothpaste in a solid-liquid state, so that people can smooth out toothpaste when brushing their teeth, and provide better brushing experience for toothpaste users.
Fifth, preservatives. Toothpaste, as a chemical substance in direct contact with human mouth, must be clean and pollution-free, so manufacturers add some preservatives to toothpaste to prevent the growth of bacteria and viruses.
There are many main ingredients in toothpaste, so I won't introduce them here. But when you see this, you may ask, is there really toothpaste that can prevent and treat Helicobacter pylori?
According to the research, patients who want to eradicate Helicobacter pylori infection must use three or four times of drugs, and it is impossible to add such drugs to toothpaste. To treat this kind of stomach trouble, brushing your teeth alone will not produce any therapeutic effect at all.
Therefore, the so-called "anti-isolation" toothpaste is a gimmick for merchants to promote sales, which is useless for the prevention and treatment of Helicobacter pylori. Here, remind consumers to be vigilant, polish their eyes and prevent being deceived.
Three kinds of toothpaste are not recommended when buying toothpaste, which may have potential cancer risk!
However, not all toothpastes are gimmicks promoted by merchants, and some toothpastes still have certain health care functions. At present, the popular toothpaste for preventing dental caries and removing halitosis do have certain effects, but there are also some hidden dangers, because some additives in them will endanger human health.
Recently, a new paper published in the famous magazine Nature News shows that some additives in toothpaste may cause enteritis. This is because the additives inside destroy the balance of flora in the human intestine, which will induce enteritis and greatly increase the incidence of intestinal cancer.
When you encounter the following kinds of toothpaste in the supermarket, I suggest you try not to buy it.
Toothpaste containing titanium dioxide. Research shows that titanium dioxide is a great threat to human health. Scientists have done experiments on primates, and the results show that nearly half of the animals have cancer lesions due to long-term exposure to titanium dioxide.
Toothpaste containing triclosan. Triclosan is an antibacterial agent with wide commercial uses and low toxicity. It is used in mouthwash and toothpaste. The main function of triclosan in toothpaste is to reduce the generation of dental plaque, treat gingivitis, bleeding and other gum diseases and prevent dental caries.
However, according to research, the existence of triclosan will destroy the normal endocrine balance of human body. At present, it has been proved that triclosan can destroy the normal function of thyroid, cause abnormal metabolism and poison the muscle tissue of the heart. Researchers are still studying other possible injuries caused by triclosan.
Finally, don't buy toothpaste containing hydrated silica. Hydrated silica is difficult to decompose and will remain on people's teeth. Over time, it will directly damage the enamel of teeth.
Many people don't cheat the common misunderstanding of choosing toothpaste!
Regarding the choice of toothpaste, you need to avoid the following misunderstandings.
First, the solution of oral problems mainly depends on toothpaste. When we have oral problems, especially dental problems, we should seek the help of professional dentists as soon as possible, and never pin our hopes on toothpaste. After the doctor makes the relevant doctor's orders, he chooses the toothpaste with corresponding efficacy and suits the remedy to the case.
Second, the more expensive the toothpaste, the better. The price of toothpaste is influenced by its main ingredients and commercial propaganda means. Like some Chinese herbal toothpaste and fluoride toothpaste, the price is on the high side. Toothpaste is only an auxiliary product for cleaning the mouth.
The so-called functions of whitening teeth, preventing dental caries, reducing dentin hypersensitivity and preventing gingival bleeding are all auxiliary functions and cannot directly affect oral health. Therefore, the more expensive toothpaste is not the better.
Third, the toothpaste must be dipped in water before brushing. Many people have this action in order to better dissolve and foam toothpaste and enhance the cleaning effect on the oral cavity. But the fact is that after toothpaste enters the mouth, the mouth begins to secrete saliva, and there is no need to dip it in water.
Fourth, children can use adult tooth cream. Adult toothpaste contains many irritating ingredients, such as mint. When such ingredients enter children's mouths, they often cause discomfort to children, and children often feel spicy. After a long time, they will have resistance to brushing their teeth.
Fifth, children should not use fluoride toothpaste. Children can use fluoride toothpaste, which is good for children's tooth development, but adult toothpaste is not recommended. The content of fluoride toothpaste used by children is lower than that used by adults.