Toothpaste: How does it work?

We all are taught from the tender age that brushing teeth with toothpaste is important for our oral health. However, does it ever occur to you how toothpaste helps us keep oral problems at bay?

To understand how toothpaste functions, you need to understand the anatomy of teeth. So let us give a brief description of the layers that made up a tooth:

• The outer layer

A tooth essentially consists of three layers; the outermost layer is enamel. Made from a calcium-based mineral known as hydroxyapatite, enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body. The layer withstands wear and tear of chewing, and protects the underlying softer tissues.

•  The second layer

The second layer is dentine, which is softer, living tissue rich with nerve endings. The dentine has a network of tubules, which provide passage to nerves to collect information. The layer, being soft and full of nerve endings, is sensitive to heat and cold, which cause hypersensitivity. When the enamel erodes and exposes the dentine, the condition, generally, leads to tooth sensitivity.

• The third layer

The third layer consists of the center of the tooth, which is pulpy and contains blood as well as blood vessels. Teeth receive nourishment through this layer.

Now, moving to how toothpaste helps us fight the oral problem. Toothpaste was developed to reinforce enamel and clean plaque—which is a colony of bacteria—that accumulates on the surface of teeth. The best toothpaste for teeth contains abrasive substance and fluoride. The abrasive ingredient is safe for human use and helps to remove plaque, which is the main reason of cavities, staining of teeth, and bad breath. The fluoride in the toothpaste promotes a chemical reaction that helps enamel to replace lost minerals. The enamel weakened by wear and tear, and acid attack produced with the help of fluoride becomes more resistant.

How food stuck in teeth act as a primer for teeth deterioration?

Many of us have oral problems, one or of other types, that eventually cascade into bigger problems. The best way to stop oral problems is to take precaution—a preemptive attack on the causes, and in that battle, a healthy oral habit is your arsenal.

Precaution involves knowing what can be damaging to your teeth and gum health.

The most common primer of teeth deterioration is the food that remains stuck in teeth—that is why dentist implore their clients to floss regularly after meals. The food stuck in teeth act as a medium for bacterial colonies to adhere to teeth, better known as plaque. The bacteria feed on the carbohydrates, and the end products are acid and sulfur molecules, which are volatile in nature.

1. The acid acts as an active agent in weakening enamel, the hardest and the outermost layer of teeth—the most common sensitive teeth causes and cavities.
2. The sulfur makes your breath unpleasant. 

Precautions that should be followed for healthy teeth and gums:

• Floss your teeth regularly after meals, or at least once a day.
• Brush your teeth twice a day habitually. Use the right techniques to brush tooth, as a bad technique can be as bad as not brushing teeth altogether. Never exert excessive pressure on gums and teeth while brushing and use a toothbrush with soft bristles.
• Use toothpaste that has fluoride in it; the presence of fluoride in paste helps to reinforce enamel and helps to fasten the healing process. Sensitive teeth causes can be contained with the use of approved toothpaste.
• Learn to clean your tongue, as it is as infested with the plaque as teeth are.
• Stop or cut the consumption of acidic beverages, like soda, and food.

Following the above-mentioned precautions can greatly improve your oral health, and can save you from facing intimidating dental drills.