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.