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Dental health, explained simply
Articles and tips from our team on keeping your smile healthy between visits. Search by topic, or start with the latest.
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Dental Health
Fluoride
Fluoride was first added to toothpastes in the 1890s. Tanagra, containing calcium fluoride as the active ingredient, was sold by Karl F. Toellner Company, of…
· 1 min read
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Oral Hygiene
Modern Toothpaste
An 18th-century American and British toothpaste recipe called for burned bread. Another formula around this time called for dragon's blood (a resin)…
· 1 min read
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Oral Hygiene
History, Early toothpastes
Since 5000 BC, the Egyptians made a tooth powder, which consisted of powdered ashes of ox hooves, myrrh, powdered and burnt eggshells, and pumice. The…
· 1 min read
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Cosmetic Dentistry
Toothpaste, Polyethylene Glycol - PEG
PEG is a common ingredient in some of the formulas of toothpastes; it is a hydrophilic polymer that acts as a dispersant in toothpastes. Also, it is used in…
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Oral Hygiene
Toothpaste, Triclosan
Reports have suggested triclosan, an active ingredient in many kinds of toothpastes, can combine with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform, which the…
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Oral Hygiene
Diethylene Glycol
The inclusion of sweet-tasting but toxic diethylene glycol in Chinese-made toothpaste led to a recall in 2007 involving multiple toothpaste brands in several…
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Kids & Family
Other Components of Toothpaste : Xylitol
A systematic review reported two out of ten studies by the same authors on the same population showed toothpastes with xylitol as an ingredient were more…
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Oral Hygiene
Other Components of Toothpaste : Miscellaneous Components
Agents are added to suppress the tendency of toothpaste to dry into a powder. Included are various sugar alcohols, such as glycerol, sorbitol, or xylitol, or…
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Restorative Dentistry
Other Components of Toothpaste : Remineralizing Agents
Chemical repair (remineralization) of early tooth decay is promoted naturally by saliva. However, this process can be enhanced by various remineralisation…
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Gum Health
Other Components of Toothpaste : Antibacterial Agents
Triclosan, an antibacterial agent, is a common toothpaste ingredient in the United Kingdom. Triclosan or zinc chloride prevent gingivitis and, according to…
· 2 min read
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Oral Hygiene
Ingredients of Toothpaste : Surfactants
Many, although not all, toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or related surfactants (detergents). SLS is found in many other personal care…
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Restorative Dentistry
Ingredients of Toothpaste : Fluorides
Fluoride in various forms is the most popular and effective active ingredient in toothpaste to prevent cavities. Fluoride is present in small amounts in…
· 1 min read
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Articles are general education. For advice about your own teeth, schedule an exam with Dr. Carter.