Maintaining health and wellness during one’s lifetime is an important endeavor. By taking personal responsibility for staying healthy, individuals can prevent, improve, and even reverse many common medical conditions.
Few medical conditions are as universal or as certain as tooth decay. According to scientists at the Institute of Dentistry of the University of London, at least 4 billion people worldwide suffer from untreated cavities. This is a truly staggering figure, and raises questions about what should be done about the situation.
Luckily, the answer is simple and cheap; more people need to not only use effective toothpastes, but need to stick to using them consistently. This article will help our readers to identify a good toothpaste when they see one by offering this guide to improving dental care by using the proper toothpaste.
How Whitening Toothpastes Work
Whitening toothpastes have two main goals:
1. Polish teeth
2. Remove surface stains
A special abrasive is used to give the teeth a nice polish. All types of toothpaste will have an abrasive, but whitening toothpastes use abrasives with a little extra something. And to really give your teeth a nice glow, these toothpastes have chemical agents that break down and dissolve stains.
Som Just What Is Toothpaste?
At it’s most basic, toothpaste is a gel-like dental care substance that is applied to the bristles of a toothbrush, after which it is used to clean and disinfect the teeth as well as the rest of the mouth. Toothpastes come in many flavors and varieties, but all of the effective ones contain the same basic ingredients. These are:
- A binder that serves to keep all of the ingredients together
- Baking soda or in some cases chalk
- A foaming compound that assists in removing particles of uneaten food from the teeth.
- A humectant, which helps to maintain the moisture of the toothpaste.
- Some kind of flavoring
- Fluoride
- Water
Anti-bacterial agents
Whitening Toothpaste vs Other Products
Whitening toothpastes are the least aggressive of all the teeth whitening strategies. This is because they are missing one key ingredient: bleach. Whitening products that you get from professionals or even over the counter contain bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide to take the whitening to a deeper level. Whitening toothpastes can’t scratch below the surface, but products containing bleach can.
CAN’s and CAN’Ts of Whitening Toothpaste
- CAN remove surface stains
- CAN’T remove stains deep within the tooth
- CAN polish your teeth
- CAN’T replace a professional dental cleaning
- CAN reduce yellowing
- CAN’T change the natural color of your teeth
- CAN be used as your long term toothpaste
- CAN’T provide instant results
What Are Some Major Varieties Of Toothpaste?
- Tartar control toothpastes. As their name suggests, their specialty is to control the buildup of tartar.
- Baking soda toothpastes.
- Smokers toothpastes. These are specially formulated to get rid of stains caused by cigarette use.
- Sensitive teeth toothpastes. Of great use to people with damaged and sensitive teeth.
- Tooth whitening toothpastes. They help to create a white finish on the teeth.
- Kid’s toothpastes. Specially formulated for the dental care of children.
Why Is It Important To Use Toothpaste Regularly?
The answer to this question is fairly self evident. A decent toothpaste will serve the functions of keeping the teeth clean, killing oral bacteria, preventing cavities, helping to keep the teeth structurally sound, and freshening the breath.
Choosing A Toothpaste
There are multiple brands that offer whitening toothpastes. They all offer their own promises, but most have similar ingredients. The best piece of advice I can offer you is to look for the American Dental Association stamp of approval. A trusted and approved product is your best bet. If you are still unsure which product is right for you, turn to your dentist for advice.
At Eagle Rock Dental Care we know how important it is to not only have a healthy smile, but a white & bright one as well. Contact us if you have any teeth whitening concerns; we are happy to help. Not only that, but we offer a numerous amount of whitening options that can be used at home or in office. Request your appointment online today and lets get you closer to that white smile you’ve always dreamed of.
