Triclosan use in cosmetics has been positively correlated with triclosan levels in human tissues, plasma and breast milk, and is considered to have potential neurotoxic effects.

Chlorhexidine is another antimicrobial agent used in toothpastes; however, it is more commonly added in mouthwash products. chamomile , neem , chitosan , Aloe vera , and natural or plant extracts e. A systematic metareview found that herbal toothpastes are as effective as non-herbal toothpastes in reducing dental plaque at shorter period of follow-up 4 weeks.

The stannous tin ion, commonly added to toothpastes as stannous fluoride or stannous chloride , has been shown to have antibacterial effects in the mouth. Research has shown that stannous fluoride-containing toothpaste inhibits extracellular polysaccharide EPS production in a multispecies biofilm greater than sodium fluoride-containing toothpaste.

Toothpaste comes in a variety of colors and flavors , intended to encourage use of the product. The three most common flavorants are peppermint , spearmint , and wintergreen. Toothpaste flavored with peppermint-anise oil is popular in the Mediterranean region.

These flavors are provided by the respective oils, e. peppermint oil. Alternatively, unflavored toothpastes exist. Chemical repair remineralization of early tooth decay is promoted naturally by saliva.

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 related derivatives, such as 1,2-propylene glycol and polyethyleneglycol.

Two systemic meta-analysis reviews reported that arginine , and calcium sodium phosphosilicate — CSPS containing toothpastes are also effective in alleviating dentinal hypersensitivity respectively.

Sodium polyphosphate is added to minimize the formation of tartar. Chlorohexidine mouthwash has been popular for its positive effect on controlling plaque and gingivitis, [50] however, a systemic review studied the effects of chlorohexidine toothpastes and found insufficient evidence to support its use, tooth surface discoloration was observed as a side effect upon using it, which is considered a negative side effect that can affect patients' compliance.

Sodium hydroxide , also known as lye or caustic soda, is listed as an inactive ingredient in some toothpaste, for example Colgate Total. 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 effective at preventing dental caries in permanent teeth of children than toothpastes containing fluoride alone.

Furthermore, xylitol has not been found to cause any harmful effects. However, further investigation into the efficacy of toothpastes containing xylitol is required as the currently available studies are of low quality and high risk of bias.

Fluoride-containing toothpaste can be acutely toxic if swallowed in large amounts, [53] [54] but instances are exceedingly rare and result from prolonged and excessive use of toothpaste i. several tubes per week. The risk of using fluoride is low enough that the use of full-strength toothpaste — ppm fluoride is advised for all ages.

However, smaller volumes are used for young children, for example, a smear of toothpaste until three years old. Nausea and vomiting are also problems which might arise with topical fluoride ingestion.

The inclusion of sweet-tasting but toxic diethylene glycol in Chinese-made toothpaste led to a recall in involving multiple toothpaste brands in several nations. Reports have suggested triclosan, an active ingredient in many kinds of toothpastes, can combine with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform , [59] which the United States Environmental Protection Agency classifies as a probable human carcinogen.

An animal study revealed the chemical might modify hormone regulation, and many other lab researches proved bacteria might be able to develop resistance to triclosan in a way which can help them to resist antibiotics also.

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 many cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulas, for example: ointments, osmotic laxatives , some of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , other medications and household products.

With the exception of toothpaste intended to be used on pets such as dogs and cats, and toothpaste used by astronauts , most toothpaste is not intended to be swallowed, and doing so may cause nausea or diarrhea. Tartar fighting toothpastes have been debated. Also patients with Oral Lichen Planus who avoided SLS-containing toothpaste benefited.

After using toothpaste, orange juice and other fruit juices are known to have an unpleasant taste if consumed shortly afterwards. Sodium lauryl sulfate , used as a surfactant in toothpaste, alters taste perception. It can break down phospholipids that inhibit taste receptors for sweetness, giving food a bitter taste.

In contrast, apples are known to taste more pleasant after using toothpaste. Many toothpastes make whitening claims. Abrasion is the principal action way that they remove stains: this is also true for toothpastes that are not marketing as whitening.

Whitening toothpaste cannot alter the natural color of teeth or reverse discoloration by penetrating surface stains or decay. To remove surface stains, whitening toothpaste may include abrasives to gently polish the teeth or additives such as sodium tripolyphosphate to break down or dissolve stains.

When used twice a day, whitening toothpaste typically takes two to four weeks to make teeth appear whiter. Whitening toothpaste is generally safe for daily use, but excessive use might damage tooth enamel. Herbal toothpastes are marketed to consumers who wish to avoid some of the artificial ingredients commonly found in regular toothpastes.

The ingredients found in so-called natural toothpastes vary widely but often include baking soda , aloe , eucalyptus oil , myrrh , camomile , calendula , neem , toothbrush tree , plant extract strawberry extract , and essential oils.

Many herbal toothpastes do not contain fluoride or sodium lauryl sulfate. A meta-analysis showed some evidence for the efficacy of herbal toothpaste, albeit from poor quality studies.

Charcoal has also been incorporated in toothpaste formulas; however, there is no evidence to determine its safety and effectiveness, and the American Dental Association does not recommend its use.

In the United States toothpaste is regulated by the U. Food and Drug Administration as a cosmetic , except for ingredients with a medical purpose, such as fluoride, which are regulated as drugs. The FDA does have labelling and requirements and bans certain ingredients.

Striped toothpaste was invented by Leonard Marraffino in The patent US patent 2,, , issued was subsequently sold to Unilever , who marketed the novelty under the Stripe brand-name in the early s.

This was followed by the introduction of the Signal brand in Europe in UK patent , Marraffino's design, which remains in use for single-color stripes, is simple. The main material, usually white, sits at the crimp end of the toothpaste tube and makes up most of its bulk.

A thin pipe, through which that carrier material will flow, descends from the nozzle to it. The stripe-material this was red in Stripe fills the gap between the carrier material and the top of the tube. The two materials are not in separate compartments, but they are sufficiently viscous that they will not mix.

When pressure is applied to the toothpaste tube, the main material squeezes down the thin pipe to the nozzle. Simultaneously, the pressure applied to the main material causes pressure to be forwarded to the stripe material, which thereby issues out through small holes in the side of the pipe onto the main carrier material as it is passing those holes.

In , Colgate-Palmolive was granted a patent USPTO 4,, for two differently colored stripes. In this scheme, the inner pipe has a cone-shaped plastic guard around it, and about halfway up its length. Between the guard and the nozzle-end of the tube is a space for the material for one color, which issues out of holes in the pipe.

On the other side of the guard is space for second stripe-material, which has its own set of holes. In , Colgate -Palmolive was granted a patent USPTO U. patent 20,,, for suitable sorts of differently colored toothpastes to be filled directly into tubes to produce a striped mix without any separate compartments.

This required adjustment of the diffent components' behavior rheology so that stripes are produced when the tube is squeezed. Striped toothpaste should not be confused with layered toothpaste.

Layered toothpaste requires a multi-chamber design e. USPTO 5,, , in which two or three layers extrude out of the nozzle.

This scheme, like that of pump dispensers USPTO 4,, , is more complicated and thus, more expensive to manufacture than either the Marraffino design or the Colgate designs. The iconic depiction of a wave-shaped blob of toothpaste sitting on a toothbrush is called a "nurdle".

Since BC, the Egyptians made a tooth powder, which consisted of powdered ashes of ox hooves, myrrh, powdered and burnt eggshells, and pumice. The Greeks , and then the Romans , improved the recipes by adding abrasives such as crushed bones and oyster shells.

The exact ingredients of this toothpaste are unknown, but it was reported to have been both "functional and pleasant to taste". During Japan's Edo period , inventor Hiraga Gennai's Hika rakuyo contained advertisements for Sosekiko , a "toothpaste in a box.

Tooth powders for use with toothbrushes came into general use in the 19th century in Britain. Most were homemade, with chalk, pulverized brick, or salt as ingredients. An Home Encyclopedia recommended pulverized charcoal, and cautioned that many patented tooth powders that were commercially marketed did more harm than good.

An 18th-century American and British toothpaste recipe called for burned bread. Another formula around this time called for dragon's blood a resin , cinnamon , and burned alum.

In the Colgate company began the mass production of aromatic toothpaste in jars. By , a paste made of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was recommended for use with toothbrushes. Pre-mixed toothpastes were first marketed in the 19th century, but did not surpass the popularity of tooth-powder until World War I.

Together with Willoughby D. Miller , Newell Sill Jenkins developed the first toothpaste containing disinfectants , branded as Kolynos. After returning to the US, he continued experimenting with Harry Ward Foote — , professor of chemistry at Sheffield Chemical Laboratory of Yale University.

Jenkins , who brought the first toothpaste tubes on the market on April 13, Within a few years the company expanded in North America, Latin America, Europe and the Far East. A branch operation opened in London in In , Kolynos was produced in 22 countries and sold in 88 countries.

Kolynos has been sold mainly in South America and in Hungary. Colgate-Palmolive took over the production of American Home Products in at a cost of one billion US dollars. Fluoride was first added to toothpastes in the s. Tanagra, containing calcium fluoride as the active ingredient, was sold by Karl F.

Toellner Company , of Bremen , Germany, based upon the early work of chemist Albert Deninger. Fluoride toothpastes developed in the s received the ADA's approval. Muhler at Indiana University to study new toothpaste with fluoride. On August 1, , the ADA reported that "Crest has been shown to be an effective anticavity decay preventative dentifrice that can be of significant value when used in a conscientiously applied program of oral hygiene and regular professional care.

In , the Japanese company, Sangi Co. After many years of laboratory experiments and field trials, [88] its hydroxyapatite ingredient was approved as an active anti-caries agent by the Japanese Ministry of Health in , and given the name Medical Hydroxyapatite to distinguish it from other forms of hydroxyapatite used in toothpaste, such as dental abrasives.

In , BioRepair appeared in Europe with the first European toothpaste containing synthetic hydroxylapatite as an alternative to fluoride for the remineralization and reparation of tooth enamel. The "biomimetic hydroxylapatite" is intended to protect the teeth by creating a new layer of synthetic enamel around the tooth instead of hardening the existing layer with fluoride that chemically changes it into fluorapatite.

Toothpaste is usually dispensed via a collapsible tube or with a more rigid pump. Several traditional and innovative designs have been developed. In , Doctor Washington Sheffield of New London, CT manufactured toothpaste into a collapsible tube, Dr. Sheffield's Creme Dentifrice.

He had the idea after his son traveled to Paris and saw painters using paint from tubes. The original collapsible toothpaste tubes were made of lead. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Download QR code Wikidata item.

Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons. Substance to clean and maintain teeth. Main article: Fluoride therapy. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section.

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. September Learn how and when to remove this template message. Main article: Tube container. Main article: Toothpaste pump dispenser. April 15, Caries Research. doi : PMID S2CID Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. OCLC National Library of Medicine.

National Institutes of Health. Community Dental Health. Cochrane Oral Health Group March The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. PMC A systematic review". Journal of Clinical Periodontology. In van Loveren C ed. Monographs in Oral Science. Basel: S. Karger AG. Updated frequently.

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