How long is the shelf life of toothpaste?

Toothpaste is something we use in our daily life. When we buy toothpaste on time, there are various kinds of it, some containing fluoride, some without fluoride, some in large tubes and some in small tubes. But sometimes we find that it takes a long time to use a bottle of toothpaste, so we worry about how long the shelf life of toothpaste is, whether it will expire, and if it expires, can we still use it? Here are 8 truths about toothpaste!

1. Is it necessary to use fluoride toothpaste?

Experts agree that it is best to choose toothpaste containing fluoride. Experiments show that brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste reduces the risk of tooth decay by 40%. For people with healthy teeth, fluoride toothpaste is not an inevitable choice. Teenagers and the elderly can use it more often, but preschool children should use it with caution and need help from their parents to prevent them from accidentally swallowing the toothpaste, which may lead to excessive fluoride intake in the long run.

2. What are the ingredients of toothpaste?

Toothpaste is composed of a variety of inorganic and organic substances, including abrasives, detergent foaming agents, adhesives, moisturizers, sweeteners, fragrances, etc. Among them, abrasives are the main components of toothpaste. In recent years, some Chinese herbs have been added to toothpaste to make a variety of medicated toothpastes. But don't worry, all ingredients are safe.

3. Why is whitening toothpaste not very effective?

It is precisely because the main ingredient of toothpaste is abrasive, so its basic function is to clean the mouth, and whitening, desensitization, hemostasis and other effects are auxiliary. The abrasive particles in whitening toothpaste have a special shape, which is more conducive to removing stubborn stains on teeth, so it can achieve the effect of whitening teeth to a certain extent.

4. Does toothpaste have a shelf life?

Many people have found when buying toothpaste that some toothpastes have a shelf life indicated on them, while others do not. Wang Weijian introduced that toothpaste has a shelf life because the chemicals contained in it will undergo chemical reactions after being stored for a certain period of time. Especially for toothpaste that has been opened, it is best to use it up within one or two months. In addition, the longer a tube of toothpaste is used, the more it is exposed to the air and the greater the chance of contact with bacteria.

5. Should I use the same toothpaste for a long time or should I change it?

You should try to switch between toothpastes with different functions and brands, which can bring out the multiple functions of different toothpastes and maintain oral health.

6. When brushing your teeth, is more toothpaste better?

Unlike what is advertised, there is not much difference in brushing effect between filling a toothbrush with toothpaste and filling it with only half toothpaste. Using a small amount of toothpaste each time can also remove tooth stains, especially fluoride toothpaste, just squeeze out a pea-sized amount each time. This can also extend the life of the toothbrush.

7. If you choose the right toothpaste, your teeth will be healthy?

In fact, if you don’t brush your teeth properly, the best toothpaste and toothbrush will be useless. The correct way to brush your teeth is to keep the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the teeth so that the bristles can more easily clean the gaps between teeth and gums; it is best to brush in circles; each brushing should last at least 2 minutes.

8. Is there any difference in the efficacy between gel toothpaste and paste toothpaste?

Some toothpastes are in transparent or translucent colored gel form, while others are in white paste form. Although the taste and texture of gel toothpaste and paste toothpaste are very different, the tooth cleaning effect is the same.