Mel’s Ten Toothpaste Secrets
Copyright © 2020
Although the invention of toothpaste dates back hundreds of years, toothpaste only started becoming popular only during the last hundred years. Before that toothpaste powder was more popular, and it is still used in some countries (such as India).
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The cleaning activity of toothpaste is mostly due to tiny abrasive particles within the paste. The higher the abrasive power, the better the cleaning. The problem is that toothpastes with high abrasive powder scratch the teeth and remove the enamel. Not highly recommended! That’s why sand is also a very bad idea.
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Toothpastes foam because they contain high levels of detergent, often sodium lauryl sulfate, the same detergent used in shampoo and washing products. Yuck! Detergents do have some minor role in combining the various components, but it’s mainly we use the foam as a sign that the toothpaste is working. It’s not a very good indication and it’s not too healthy. On the other hand, non-foaming toothpastes are not very popular, are they?
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Toothpastes also contain essential oils as flavors, usually mint. There are other essential oil combinations with better antibacterial properties (we developed one called BreathanolTM). Their flavors are not as well loved by the public, though, which continues to associate mint with fresh breath. Again, a common misconception.
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Toothpastes often contain fluoride which is considered healthy for your teeth in small quantities. At high quantities, it’s a poison. Another good reason for not swallowing toothpaste.
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How much should you use? Certainly not to cover the entire toothbrush (that’s what the manufacturers want you to do). A pea-sized amount is considered by dentists to be enough. The mechanical brushing is what chiefly counts.
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Try to brush eight times in each place. Get your dentist or hygienist to teach you proper brushing techniques and recommend a brush. Change your brush once a month if you can afford to!.
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My best advice? Brushing is not enough. Bad breath comes mainly from the back of the tongue. When you finish brushing you can gargle with the remnants of the toothpaste before spitting in the sink.
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I like toothpaste so much I wrote a song about it.
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And even appeared in a TV ad!
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Have you ever wondered how they get the toothpaste in the toothpaste tube? I wrote a book about that too.
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This is probably how they really do it, though.
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Published: Mar 31, 2020
Latest Revision: Mar 31, 2020
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