Three types of toothpaste that dentists are afraid of, be careful to "poison" the whole family

If you want to have beautiful teeth, it is not enough to just brush your teeth, you also need to know how to choose toothpaste! Some toothpaste ingredients may be potentially harmful. What is going on?

1. These 3 types of toothpastes are feared by dentists

Many ingredients in toothpaste are harmful to our health, and some chemicals may cause oral cancer, breast cancer, neurological diseases, heart disease, mouth ulcers, gum damage, etc.

Descaling agents: can easily cause oral ulcers

The oral mucosa is one of the most delicate tissues, and sodium lauryl sulfate is the strongest and most effective cleansing agent, which may cause allergies or damage the oral mucosa, leading to chronic oral ulcers. People who often suffer from oral ulcers or those who are in the ulcer attack period should not use toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate.

Whitening agents: Damage to gums

Many toothpastes contain bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth. However, they can irritate soft tissue, damage the oral mucosa, and injure the gums. In fact, the whiteness of teeth is related to enamel and dentin, which is difficult to change with toothpaste. Although bleaching agents can remove some stains on the surface of teeth, they have little effect on deep endogenous stains on teeth.

Abrasives: Damage to tooth enamel

Many toothpastes contain fine particles to remove stains from the surface of the teeth. However, the abrasives in some pastes are not fine enough and can wear away at tooth enamel, causing teeth to become sensitive over time. The abrasives used in toothpaste mainly include calcium carbonate, silicon dioxide, calcium hydrogen phosphate and aluminum hydroxide. Calcium carbonate abrasives are relatively hard and have sharp-angled crystals, which have the greatest impact on tooth surfaces; silicon dioxide, calcium hydrogen phosphate, and aluminum hydroxide have a relatively moderate hardness and better crystal shape, so they cause much less damage to tooth surfaces.

For children and those who already have exposed tooth roots, choose a toothpaste with a relatively low hardness containing silica or calcium hydrogen phosphate, aluminum hydroxide and other abrasives.

2. 7 bad ingredients to avoid when buying toothpaste

There are some ingredients in toothpaste that you need to be careful about. If these 7 toothpaste ingredients appear, you should avoid them:

1. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

Medical research has confirmed that the foaming agent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in toothpaste can induce and aggravate oral ulcers, causing dryness of the oral mucosa and tiny cracks. SLS can also cause teeth to become sensitive to cold. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with oral ulcers use toothpaste that does not contain SLS.

2. Triclosan

Studies have found that triclosan, similar to bisphenol A, is a hormone disruptor that affects physical health. In addition, it affects algae, disrupts the food chain and damages the environment.

3. Dye

The dyes that make toothpaste colorful present a variety of health risks and, if swallowed, can irritate the respiratory or digestive tract. Therefore, it is better to use white toothpaste.

4. Flavoring

Many people like mint-flavored toothpaste. But when buying toothpaste, you must pay attention to whether "flavoring" such as aspartame is added. It is best to choose toothpaste containing natural sweeteners such as natural xylitol or stevia.

5. Hydrated silicon oxide

Toothpaste contains hydrated silica which whitens teeth. This substance does not break down over time, so it may damage tooth enamel. Therefore, you can use baking soda instead of hydrated silica toothpaste for brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth.

6. Alcohol

Alcohol has antibacterial properties, but it is also a drying agent. Brushing your teeth with toothpaste containing alcohol can temporarily freshen your breath, but dry mouth can cause the growth rate of oral bacteria to double, which is more detrimental to oral health.

7. Hydrogen Peroxide

Many toothpastes contain bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth. However, they can irritate soft tissue, damage the oral mucosa, and injure the gums.

3. What are the misunderstandings about toothpaste?

Toothpaste must be dipped in water

Toothpaste does not clean teeth with foam, but relies on the cleaning ingredients in it and the friction between the toothbrush and teeth. The finer the friction and the longer the time, the cleaner the brush will be. Do not dip the toothbrush in water. Instead, squeeze toothpaste on it and brush slowly. Gradually, fine bubbles will appear and the cleaning properties of the toothpaste will be maximized.

Fluoride toothpaste is suitable for everyone

Fluoride toothpaste is the best choice for reducing tooth decay. At present, the commonly used fluoride toothpaste in my country accounts for about 70% of the entire toothpaste market. Experiments show that brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste reduces the risk of tooth decay by 40%.

It should be noted that preschool children may accidentally swallow some fluoride toothpaste when brushing their teeth, which may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and even changes in fluoride intake levels. Therefore, it is not suitable for children to use fluoride toothpaste excessively.

The more toothpaste you squeeze, the better.

Many people like to squeeze a whole tube of toothpaste onto their toothbrush. If swallowed by mistake, it will lead to excessive fluoride intake over time. Fluorine is one of the essential elements for the human body. If the human body lacks fluoride, it will suffer from tooth decay. However, excessive fluoride in the body will also cause fluorosis and make the teeth brittle.

A tube of toothpaste is enough

The bacteria in the mouth constitute a microscopic ecological balance. If you keep using the same toothpaste, the bacteria will become resistant to the antibacterial ingredients in the toothpaste over time, causing an imbalance in the oral flora, producing odor and affecting health. In fact, use different toothpastes in the morning and evening.

It is recommended to use toothpaste with good cleaning effect during the day, and choose toothpaste with antibacterial and bactericidal effects at night.

Does toothpaste have a shelf life?

In fact, toothpaste has a shelf life, because the chemicals it contains 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 opportunities it has to be exposed to the air, and the greater the chance of coming into contact with bacteria.