Question

Write an answer to the following question.
What are the important ingredients of a toothpaste, and what is the function of each?

Answer 1

Hint : Toothpaste is the mixture of different chemical substances which is used to clean the teeth and maintain the oral hygiene. It helps in preventing dental disease like cavities. It removes and controls the buildup of plaque. Toothpastes have various chemical substances as ingredients which have different uses for oral hygiene.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
Toothpaste is the mixture of different chemical substances which is used to clean the teeth and maintain oral hygiene. It protects our teeth from plaque buildup and dental disease like cavities.
So, we can say that toothpastes have various chemical substances as ingredients which have different uses for oral hygiene. The important ingredients of a toothpaste are:
- Abrasives: Fifty percent of toothpaste contains abrasives. These chemical substances are used to remove plaque from the teeth. They also help to polish the teeth. Some of the common abrasives are calcium carbonate, aluminium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, calcium hydrogen phosphates and many more.
- Fluoride: It is the most common active ingredient which is used to prevent tooth decay.
- Surfactants- It is added to toothpastes because of its good cleansing properties. For example- Sodium Lauryl Sulphate.
- Antibacterial agents- It is used to prevent plaque.
- Remineralizers- They are used for the reformation of enamel. Example- Calcium phosphates.

Note :
Now we know that the toothpastes are used to maintain oral hygiene and we have seen the important ingredients present in the toothpaste. But there are some more ingredients which are used to make toothpastes such as flavouring agents, colouring agents, sodium polyphosphate and various sugar alcohols.