Sunday, Feb 18, 2024 10:15 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Feb 18, 2024 04:36 [IST]
Toothpaste is a key part of our daily oral hygiene routine. Along with our toothbrush and floss it helps to remove food debris and plaque from our teeth and gums. Toothpastes can come in a gel, paste or in powder form.
Going down the line, Greeks and Romans are known to have used a type of toothpaste, as well as people in China and India first using toothpaste around 500 BC.
By the 1850s, the first toothpaste resembling what we use today was developed by an American dental surgeon named Washington Wentworth Sheffield. Dr. Sheffield created a ready-made tooth creme, which included mint extracts for flavour, for use for his patients.
Mostly, toothpastes include sodium benzoate, methylparaben and ethylparaben. One or more therapeutic agents are usually added to toothpastes and mouthwashes. Most toothpastes today contain fluorides to prevent caries.
Fluoride (usually 1450 ppm) mainly in the form of "Sodium fluoride Stannous fluoride and Sodium monofluorophosphate" have also been used. Detergents, mainly "Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) with concentration ranges of 0.5–2% are also important ingredients. Antibacterial agents such as "Triclosan" is also one of the main ingredients of toothpastes.
The liquid base of the toothpaste is prepared by using either sorbitol or glycerin. The pH of the toothpaste can generally range from 7 to 10, depending on its additives.
Toothpastes have antibacterial properties and decrease the occurrence of plaque-related conditions. However, they have additives with possible toxic effects on the oral mucosa. "Fluorides" in toothpaste has toxic effects on all cell types. These effects vary on different cell types depending on the duration of exposure and the concentration of fluoride. "Necrosis" is the primary mechanism of cell death, has been reported following exposure to relatively high concentrations of fluorides. Also, exposure to high concentrations of fluoride (10 ppm or more parts per million often leads to "Fluorosis", which is characterized by brownish discoloration of the enamel, yielding the appearance of mottled enamel. Abrasives, such as silica, aluminium hydroxide, and calcium carbonate, are also added to toothpastes to confer plaque removal properties. Sodium benzoate and paraben are used as preservatives in toothpastes.
"Detergents" present in the composition of toothpastes include "Sodium lauryl sulfate and "Cocamidopropyl betaine". Sodium lauryl sulfate has shown significant toxic effects in vitro. It can alter the oral mucosal proteins in vitro and increase the blood flow in the gingiva. Desensitizers, anti-plaque agents, anti-inflammatory agents, anti-odour agents, preservatives, artificial colors, and essences are also added to toothpastes, which may have toxic effects. Paraben affects the endocrine system and impairs the production of hormones. It is also carcinogenic. Sodium benzoate can cause anaphylactic shock, swelling of the nasal mucosa, and dyspnea. Zinc lactate is also used in the composition of toothpastes and can negatively affect the respiratory system. "Cocamidopropyl betaine" is used in the formulation of toothpastes as a foaming agent and can cause allergic reactions.
Toothpaste contains fluoride can be poisonous if enough is swallowed. The most alarming and dangerous ingredient of the toothpaste is "Triclosan". If exact quality control of the toothpastes in the laboratories are not monitored, prolong use and swallowing may lead to deadly diseases like "Chronic ulcers" and "Cancer". This chemical can be found in countless consumer products. Its purpose is to prevent the bacterial infections.
Exposure to excess "Sodium Fluoride or Potassium Fluoride" can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. Excess of fluorides also can cause tremors, convulsions, coma and even death.
Now, the question, is are the toothpastes produced and used in our country is safe?
Answer is "Yes". Indian toothpastes under the tag line of "Made in India" is passed through strict norms of governments and FDA. Different companies "Made in India" toothpaste brands are formulated following the exact compositions and the desired limits of "Triclosan" & "Flourides" based on their compositions.
Some toothpaste contains "Ayurvedic ingredients" like neem, tulsi and clove oil is safe to use. These fluoride free toothpastes posses antibacterial, anti Inflammatory, astringent benefits, cavity protection, helps fight plaque, tartar and tooth decay.
Dr. Bhaskar Chakraborty is Associate Professor & Head, Department of Chemistry, NBBGC, Tadong, Gangtok, East Sikkim. Email: bhaskargtk@yahoo.com
