Believe it or not toothpaste was made and used prior to toothbrushes. It is believed that Egyptians began using a paste to clean their teeth around 5000 BC; while toothbrushing tools date back to 3500-3000 BC. While modern toothpastes differ from ancient ones their purposes remained the same: to clean the gums and teeth, freshen breath, and whiten teeth. While different toothpastes contain different ingredients there are a couple ingredients to pay attention to. Fluoride, often listed as sodium fluoride is one of the main active ingredients in toothpaste. Fluoride is an anticavity agent which helps prevent cavities from developing and/or slows the progression of cavities. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is an ingredient in toothpaste that is responsible for the foaming action of toothpaste. If you are prone to oral ulcers or canker sores finding a toothpaste without SLS may help limit the amount of sores you experience. Lastly, if you have sensitive teeth you may want a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate the main desensitizing agent found in toothpastes. At Forni Dental, we are proud to offer special prescription toothpastes that has approximately five times the amount of fluoride compared to over-the-counter toothpastes and is SLS-free.
