DENTIFRICES
Dentifrices are preparations meant to clean the teeth and other parts of oral
cavity (gums) using a finger or a toothbrush. They are available as tooth powder,
toothpastes, gels, dental creams and even as dental foams. They are meant to enhance
the personal appearance of the teeth (daily removal of pellicles) by maintaining
cleaner teeth, reduction of bad odour (removal of putrifying food particles from
spaces between teeth) and also make the gum healthy
TYPES OF DENTIFRICES:
1) TOOTHPASTE:
Toothpaste is a dentifrice used in conjunction with a toothbrush to help
maintain oral hygiene. The essential components are an abrasive, binder, surfactant
and humectants. Other ingredients are also used. The scientific and dental
community also recommends a fluoride containing toothpaste. The main purpose
of the paste is to help remove debris and plaque. Some serve accessory functions
such as breath freshening and teeth whitening.
Tooth paste – essential components
Abrasives/Polishing Agents:
These are solid cleansing materials which primarily, act by removing the debris
and residual stain from the teeth by providing friction and secondarily by polishing
the surface of the enamel. ), forms bulk of toothpaste.
Examples are silica, sodium metaphosphate, Calcium Phosphate, precipitated chalk
In case gingival recession -Dentifrices with minimal abrasive particles should be
used
Foaming/Wetting/Cleaning/Surface active Agents:
These are either a surface active agent or a soap which is used to aid the action of
abrasives by reducing the surface tension and wetting, the surface of the teeth. They
penetrate and loosen surface deposits, emulsify and suspend the debris, which the
dentifrices remove from tooth surface.
The most popular is: sodium lauryl sulphate
Sweetening Agents:
These are added to mask the bitter tastes of ingredients specially foaming agent
and flavour oils.
Synthetic compounds like saccharine, aspartame, cyclamates or potassium
acesulfane can be used
Flavouring agents:
The flavoring agent must provide a pleasant taste and fresh breath after brushing, it
should provide a refreshing after taste
Examples are peppermint oil, clove oil, eucalyptus oil etc
Binding/Gelling Agents:
Binders are natural or synthetic gums used in dentifrices formulations to hold the
liquid and solid constituents in the form of a smooth paste. Natural synthetic gums,
resins and other hydrocolloids may be employed. The most popular binder is
“carboxy methyl cellulose”.
Water:
Deionised water should be used to formulate toothpastes, water is present in most
dentifrices formula as both solvent for soluble ingredients as well as for supporting
the binding agents
Humectants:
They are incorporated to prevent moisture loss and drying out of dentifrices so that
the viscosity of the product is maintained. Most frequently used are sorbitol,
glycerol and propyl glycol.
Preservatives:
Formulations of toothpastes require the incorporation of preservatives to maintain
the quality and stability of the product. A mixture of 0.15% methyl paraben is
effective as a preservative.
Therapeutic Agents:
All toothpaste doesn’t contain these agents. These are added in specially formulated
medicated toothpaste has either bacterial, bacteriostatics, enzymes-inhibiting or acid
neutralizing qualities. They thus reduce dental disease, prevents mouth odour.
Chlorophyll fluoride salt, urea, triclosan, dibasic ammonium phosphate penicillin,
chlorhexidine, sodium dehydroacetae, neem extract are added for there therapeutics
agents.
Some Commercial Brands of Toothpastes:-
* Pepsodent
* Close up
* Colgate
* Meswak
* Dabur
2) TOOTHPOWDER:
Tooth powder is a mixture of a variety of ingredients that act as an alternative
to toothpaste as a cleaning agent. The main ingredients include baking soda, herbs
like cloves, mint or cinnamon and artificial sweetener for taste. Tooth powder is used
to clean and whiten teeth and to fix them when loose, to strengthen the gums, and to
assuage toothache.
Some Commercial Brands of Toothpowders:-
* Colgate
* Dabur red
* Vico vajardanti
3) MOUTH WASH:
A mouth wash is an aqueous solution which is most often used for its deodorant,
refreshing or antiseptic effect in the oral cavity. They are usually recommended to
be used after brushing. Dental research has recommended that mouthwash should be
used as an aid to brushing rather than a replacement, because the sticky resistant
nature of plaque prevents it from being actively removed by chemicals alone, and
physical detachment of the sticky proteins is required
Water is the simplest mouthwash, and aqueous saline is the least complex type of
mouthwash. A mouth wash may contain alcohol, glycerin, synthetic sweeteners and
surface active, flavouring and colouring agents
Types of Mouthwashes:-
1. Cosmetic mouthwashes.: contain water, flavour, alcohol, surface active agent.
2. Antiseptic mouthwashes: whose main purpose is to remove or destroy the
bacteria normally found in the oral cavity in the large number.
3. Mouthwash concentrates: which are concentrated products labeled to be diluted
before use.
4.Buffered mouthwashes: which primarily control the pH, within narrow ranges, in
the oral cavity. E.g. alkaline buffered mouthwash.
5. Deodoring mouthwashes: which primarily serve to deodourize the oral cavity
6. Therapeutic mouthwashes: which are specifically formulated for the purpose of
relieving infection, preventing dental caries.
7. Liquid mouthwashes: ready to be used without any dilution
BENEFITS OF DENTIFRICES
Dentifrices serve multiple functions in oral hygiene through the inclusion of a
variety of agents.
They act as plaque and stain removing agents through the use of abrasives
and surfactants. Pleasant flavors and colors encourage their use.
They have tartar control properties
Dentifrices have anticaries and desensitization properties through the action of
fluoride and other agents.
