Toothpaste is available in paste or gel. Despite the many types of toothpaste, there are some ingredients common to most varieties. These include:

• Abrasive agents:

Scratchy materials, including calcium carbonate and silicates, help remove food, bacteria, and some stains from your teeth. 

• Flavoring: 

Artificial sweeteners including saccharin, are often added to toothpaste to make them taste better. While many people equate the flavor of toothpaste with mint, toothpaste is available in a variety of flavors, including cinnamon, lemon-lime, and even bubblegum (for kids).

• Humectants for moisture retention:

 Paste and gel formulations often contain substances like glycerol to prevent the toothpaste from drying out.

• Thickeners:

Agents that add thickness to the toothpaste, including gums and gooey molecules found in some seaweeds, help achieve and maintain proper toothpaste texture.

• Detergents:

Those suds you see when you brush your teeth are from detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate.

• Antibacterial agents:

Triclosan or zinc chloride prevent gingivitis according to the helps reduce tartar and bad breath. 

• Remineralizers

 Hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and a variety of calcium phosphates are included in formulations for remineralization. i.e. the reformation of enamel.

Toothpaste Options

With so many options and combinations available, you can try different brands, varieties, and flavors to find the best toothpaste for you.

1- Fluoride Toothpaste (Tartar Control Toothpaste) 

The most important ingredient to look for when choosing toothpaste is fluoride.

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral. Its use has been instrumental in the dramatic drop in tooth decay and cavity occurrence that has taken place over the past 50 years. Bacteria in your mouth feed on sugars and starches that remain on your teeth after eating.

For more information about tooth decay mechanism, click on the link below:

Tooth Decay

Fluoride helps protect your teeth from the acid that is released when this happens. It does this in two ways. First, fluoride makes your tooth enamel stronger and less likely to suffer acid damage. Second, it can reverse the early stages of acid damage by remineralizing areas that have started to decay.

Using fluoride toothpaste is an important way to ensure that your teeth are reaping the benefits of this dental-friendly mineral. Don't think you can skip fluoride if you live in an area where the water is fluoridated. Studies have shown that using fluoride toothpaste helps increase the concentration of fluoride in the teeth, even in areas with water supplies containing high levels of the mineral.

2- Toothpastes for Sensitive Teeth

For people who have teeth that are easily irritated for instance, by hot or cold temperatures,there are toothpastes available that are made for sensitive teeth. These toothpastes usually contain potassium nitrate or strontium chloride. These chemical compounds, which can take up to 4 weeks to offer relief, help tooth sensitivity by blocking pathways through the teeth that attach to nerves inside the teeth.

3- Whitening Toothpaste

To help people on a quest for pearly whites, many whitening toothpastes are now being marketed for everyday use.

Whitening toothpastes do not typically contain bleaches. Instead, they contain abrasive particles or chemicals that effectively polish the teeth or bind to stains and help pull them off the tooth surface.

Although you might be concerned that the abrasiveness of whitening toothpaste could damage your teeth. However, the whitening process can permanently reduce the strength of ones' teeth—the process scrapes away a protective outer layer of enamel.

4- Smoker’s toothpaste

Smokers often find that their teeth become stained as a result of drawing tobacco smoke into their mouths. As time passes, tar causes teeth become tainted with yellowish-brown patches. Toothpaste for smokers usually contains cleansing agents designed to make teeth look whiter.

5- Herbal toothpaste

This type of toothpaste is a popular option for people who are either sensitive to the ingredients in regular toothpaste or who simply want a more natural cleansing alternative. You should be aware that some of these toothpastes contain no fluoride.  

6- Children’s toothpastes: these are fairly similar to the adult versions the only difference being that they will contain a smaller amount of fluoride. This is particularly important in the case of children as too much fluoride can stain their teeth at a time when their permanent teeth are appearing (replacing their milk teeth).

Make sure that your child uses no more than a pea size amount of toothpaste and supervise them whilst they do so.

Be wary of imposters.

 In 2007, some toothpastes imported from China were found to contain a toxic substance, diethylene glycol. The FDA advises against choosing toothpaste that says it was made in China.