Australasian Dentist Issue 92

CATEGORY 12 AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST CURAPROX 950 ppm Fluoride .... APPLE + ALOE CURAPROX AUSTRALIA | www.curaprox.com.au | 08 7079 3779 Apple banner.indd 1 8/02/2022 3:40:27 PM Y our next toothpaste can help remineralise your teeth and protect your enamel, or it can damage them, dry your gums and increase the risk of developing ulcers. It all depends on its composition. We already learned how to spot the perfect toothpaste. Now let’s have a closer look at the important features of today’s toothpastes to learn how to identify and ditch the harmful ones. 1. Protect your teeth from scratches and weakening caused by harsh abrasives What to avoid in your toothpaste? An easy-to-understand list of ingredients to watch out for when choosing the right toothpaste known abrasive, and is also a whitening agent. Hydrated silica is another common and perfectly safe abrasive found in many toothpastes. All abrasives used in toothpastes are non-toxic, so it doesn’t matter which material is used: sodium, aluminium or calcium. All of them are used in an insoluble form so they can function as abrasive particles. So, what matters the most is how small or big the particles are. If they are very fine, you can experience a smoother, more pleasant brushing with zero stress on your enamel. On the other hand, if the abrasive particles are large and coarse, they can damage your enamel and irritate your gums. To measure the hardness and overall abrasion of a toothpaste, we use the RDA index — relative dentine abrasion value. The lowest RDA is between 20 and 70. Toothpastes with RDA below 70 feel soft and cause no damage to the enamel. Lower RDA means finer particles, which means gentle but still-effective cleaning properties of a toothpaste. Medium RDA is between 70 and 100. A toothpaste with medium RDA (above 70) is an accepted mid-level of abrasion, and is suitable for long-term use so long as you have strong healthy teeth. Most toothpastes on the market will fall into this category. High RDA is between 100 and 150. This level of abrasion is not considered safe and therefore toothpastes with this RDA should be avoided. 2. Watch out for aggressive surface- active agents Abrasives are tiny insoluble particles that help your toothbrush to get rid of the bacterial film on your teeth, also known as tooth plaque. Abrasives are what makes your toothpaste thick and support its cleaning capabilities. Sodium bicarbonate (basically, baking soda) is the most well- A surfactant is an agent that helps to form bubbles, thick foam and spread liquids over surfaces. It helps make toothpaste reach into even the narrowest spaces between the teeth. Many surfactants are completely safe, and won’t react with the teeth or the mucous lining of your mouth. Without surfactants, your toothpaste would stick to your teeth in lumps. Unfortunately, not all surfactants are equally safe. One you should avoid for sure is SLS – sodium lauryl sulfate. SLS has been proven to cause gum irritation or allergic reactions, especially when used frequently on the mucous lining in a mouth. Additionally, if you are using a sonic toothbrush, you should be aware that it can in fact clean more thoroughly when PRODUCT BACKGR UND