Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that aids in removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing halitosis, and delivers active ingredients (most commonly fluoride) to help prevent tooth decay (dental caries) and gum disease (gingivitis).[1] Owing to differences in composition and fluoride content, not all toothpastes are equally effective in maintaining oral health. The decline of tooth decay during the 20th century has been attributed to the introduction and regular use of fluoride-containing toothpastes worldwide.[2][3] Large amounts of swallowed toothpaste can be poisonous.[4] Common colors for toothpaste include white (sometimes with colored stripes or green tint) and blue.
- ^ American Dental Association Description of Toothpaste"Toothpaste". April 15, 2010.
- ^ Marthaler TM (2004). "Changes in dental caries 1953–2003". Caries Research. 38 (3): 173–81. doi:10.1159/000077752. PMID 15153686. S2CID 2229005.
- ^ Twetman S, Petersson L, Axelsson S, Dahlgren H, Holm AK, Källestål C, Lagerlöf F, Lingström P, Mejàre I, Nordenram G, Norlund A, Söder B (August 2004). "Caries-preventive effect of sodium fluoride mouthrinses: a systematic review of controlled clinical trials". Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. 62 (4): 223–30. doi:10.1080/00016350410001658. OCLC 1234655546. PMID 15513419. S2CID 33330873.
- ^ "Toothpaste overdose". National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health.