Most of us know that dental healthcare professionals recommended we brush our teeth at least twice a day. Although many Australians do make the effort to carry this activity out regularly, few of us are fully aware of the function of toothpaste. Although the brushing motion can remove little particles of food and the build up of some plaque deposits, what is the role of toothpaste in the process? Indeed, you may well ask whether toothpaste is needed at all if you brush every day. Here, we'll examine the job that toothpaste does for our oral health and why you should continue to use it.

Remineralisation

Although brushing with a toothbrush is good for keeping on top of plaque and bacteria within the mouth, your teeth will not be remineralised without the addition of toothpaste. This is because all commercially available toothpastes contain fluoride. Whether you opt for a paste, a gel or a powder, toothpaste works because you physically apply fluoride to the outer part of your teeth. Because your teeth come into contact with the fluoride within the toothpaste, plaque is more effectively dealt with than it is by brushing alone.

Furthermore, any cavities in your teeth will remineralise as a result of exposure to fluoride. This means that cavities can, in some cases, close up with regular brushing. The outer part of your teeth will also harden following regular contact with fluoride making them tougher and therefore less susceptible to decay from everyday exposure to sugars.

Tartar Control

As well as simply making your mouth feel clean, toothpastes can help to prevent the build-up of soft calculus on teeth, otherwise known as tartar. So-called tartar-control toothpastes usually contain the same ingredient – tetrasodium pyrophosphate. It is this chemical that reduces the amount of tartar in your mouth, just as fluoride helps remineralise your teeth. Essentially, it works by removing magnesium and calcium from the mouth which might otherwise build up as tartar deposits on your teeth.

Teeth Whitening

Some toothpastes offer a cosmetic whitening process which will mean you can smile with greater confidence. Modern toothpastes may claim that their whitening formulas are better than ever, but few products are capable of removing long-standing teeth stains like a professional teeth whitening procedure at the dentist can. Nevertheless, whitening toothpastes tend to contain an abrasive agent within the paste and can help already good-looking teeth to appear shinier.