Toothpaste is an agent that cleanses teeth, giving them a good wash. It comes in various forms such as paste, gel, and powder. In whatever form it may be, toothpaste contains some ingredients that are commonly found used for their making.

• Abrasives
  To remove food leftovers, debris and surface stains, these are added. These are mild on teeth.
• Thickening agents
  These are agents that bind ingredients together; they help the toothpaste to maintain a proper structure.
• Humectants
  These are used to prevent toothpaste from drying and to avoid water loss, helping in water retention.
• Flavoring agents
  The taste you get while using toothpaste is because of these. The sweeteners are added to taste better but don’t cause cavity or tooth decay since these are artificial sweeteners. Mint, lemon, and bubble gum are the most common flavors.
• Detergent
  The foam that gets created while brushing is due to the presence of detergents. It in a way helps toothpaste spread throughout the mouth, cleaning it thoroughly.

Specifying the toothpaste
Toothpaste can be specifically chosen according to our teeth requirements and concerns. They come in with different criteria to serve different purposes.

• Decay prevention
  To prevent tooth decay, fluoride is the ingredient to look for. It fights cavity and strengthens tooth enamel and hence tooth decay.
• Gingivitis and plaque formation
  For such concerns, the active ingredients included are pyrophosphates and zinc citrate. The antibiotic triclosan kills bacteria in the mouth.
• Teeth whitening
  For whitening the teeth and to add that extra sparkle, the ingredient is sodium tripolyphosphate. It removes surface stains and gently polishes the teeth. Some toothpaste contains peroxides, which are bleaching agents. Toothpaste does not change the color of the teeth but helps clear the dirt layer bringing out the natural color of your teeth. Some toothpaste claims the whitening of the teeth on using twice a day for four weeks.
• Desensitizing
  For sensitive teeth, toothpaste that reduces sensitivity should be picked. Such toothpaste contains compounds and formulas that subside hypersensitivity, a pain that you may face while drinking cold drinks or having an ice cream or even while having sweet dishes.

Herbal and natural toothpaste
People who believe in natural products and its benefits opt such toothpaste, which comes in all such variations. Such toothpaste constitutes all herbal extracts and natural ingredients like essential oils, lemongrass, mint extracts, ginger, seaweed extracts, and avoids the chemical compounds. These natural toothpaste tubes sometimes also include baking soda, aloe-Vera, eucalyptus oil, and strawberry extracts.

How to choose a good toothpaste?
According to one’s requirement and oral health, one needs to pick an appropriate toothpaste.

• ADA approved
  Always select a toothpaste tested and approved by the ADA (American Dental Association). This is a distinction given for safe, effective toothpaste. The ADA approved toothpaste contain fluoride but in relevant quantity.
• Beware of Fake products
  It is important to watch out for fake toothpaste. Toothpaste tends to contain some toxic ingredients often and are harmful not only to mouth but also to health when inhaled.

Thus, we can say that with the kind of requirements and need of your oral health, we can select the toothpaste with apropos ingredients. It is always good to take a dentist’s advice since he can suggest the best for your health.