We all consider different toothpastes to be the best, but is it really the best or is it just a matter of our perspective and preference? It is a pleasure if you are brushing just to feel the freshness in your mouth, but from a practical point of view, such a tasty paste is unnecessary. Logically, if you can remove the dirt from your teeth without using toothpaste, then what is the need for the paste? Is it sold to us by an MLM company agent just keeping in mind the profit motive? Do you buy toothpaste based on the ingredients in it?
“Dental plaque” is a sticky, colorless colony of bacteria called “biofilm” that feeds on the glucose in our food. Throughout the day, such biofilm continuously builds up on our teeth. In people who do not brush their teeth properly, it hardens and forms tartar, which is then impossible to remove by brushing alone. Such tartar acts as a protective shield for bacterial colonies and provides an environment for them to proliferate. Since it is basically acidic, it eats away at the highly protective coating on our teeth, “enamel”, causing decay. It also weakens the gums and invites diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis (red and swollen gums, bleeding gums and tooth loss).
Although it is essential to consult a dentist for individual needs, they usually recommend using a fluoride toothpaste. Let's first know what else is in toothpaste so that we can understand why we should use it! A standard toothpaste usually contains detergents and foaming agents to make cleaning more thorough, which motivates us to brush our teeth for a longer period of time. Abrasives such as silica are added to it, which help in removing plaque by creating friction on the teeth. The amount of this abrasive in a standard paste is controlled because its misuse has also been found to cause sensitivity problems in some patients due to the wear and tear of the protective layer of the teeth. All American Dental Association (ADA) approved toothpastes contain fluoride, which protects our teeth against decay. Some companies add saccharin to sweeten the taste, but no ADA-approved toothpaste contains sugar.
Along with this, there are some special types of pastes available in the market which contain a combination of ingredients to achieve certain objectives. They contain ingredients that are effective against certain problems, such as - potassium nitrate or strontium chloride to reduce sensitivity, tetrasodium pyrophosphate to control tartar, stannous fluoride and triclosan to reduce gum inflammation and remove plaque. Since the use of such pastes is limited to treating only that problem, it is essential to consult a dentist before using it on your own. Since such pastes usually do not provide you with the required protection against plaque, I would not recommend you to choose a paste based on advertisements alone without consulting a dentist.
Brushing your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day is one of the best ways to control plaque. Choosing a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste is not enough to do this, but proper brushing technique is equally important. Flossing after meals, limiting sugary and greasy foods and drinks, and getting regular checkups and scaling once a year are my guarantees that you will maintain excellent oral health.
The importance of teeth cleaning (scaling) by a dentist - Through this article, you must have understood that it is essential to consult a dentist before using any paste based on advertisements! By insisting on oral hygiene in general and adapting the methods mentioned in the articles so far, you can remove most of the plaque stuck on the teeth, however; tartar formation in your mouth is not going to stop. This is why it is necessary to visit a dentist once a year to remove it and get your teeth cleaned - scaled. By doing this, you can prevent tooth decay and pyorrhea from developing. It is not surprising if people who brush only once a day may need scaling even twice a year!
