Toothpaste Trends: The Shift to Herbal and Natural Oral Care Solutions
Toothpaste is an integral part of an individual’s oral hygiene routine that helps to remove food residuals and plaque from teeth and gums. The toothpaste contains mixture of ingredients suspended in an aqueous phase with the help of hydrocolloid where active ingredients are dispersed in oral cavities when toothpaste slurry is formed while brushing teeth. Toothpaste comes in gel, powder and paste form used with toothbrushes to improve overall oral health. It contains general ingredients like mild abrasives to clean and whiten teeth, flavouring agents to provide sweetness and minty fresh scent for fresh breath, dyes for better visual appeal as well as humectants, thickening agent and detergents. The humectants prevent water loss and keep toothpaste from drying out while thickening agents stabilize formula and detergent act as foaming action and spread toothpaste throughout the mouth.
The Formula for a Healthier Smile: The Role of Active Ingredients in Effective Toothpaste
The toothpaste that offers maximum bioavailability of their activity is considered as effective toothpaste. The active ingredients of toothpaste such as fluoride, antimicrobial agents, desensitizing agents and more varying degrees of bioavailability. All these ingredients are get absorbed on teeth where as its effectiveness depends on availability of ingredients to remain the teeth long enough to deliver its benefits. All toothpastes are not same even though it contains same basic components, the toothpaste can vary in function depending upon added active ingredients. The most common active ingredients in toothpaste are as follows:
Fluorides
Fluoride is a naturally occurring substance that fight against cavity and inhibits tooth decay and strengthens tooth enamel and helps to prevent cavities by making it more resistant to acid attacks from bacteria and food. Additionally, it helps the early stages of tooth decay regain their mineral content.
Antiplaque/Antigingivitis Agents
Antiplaque agents help to reduce formation of plaque, a sticky, colourless film of bacteria that forms on teeth by preventing growth of bacteria that contribute to plaque formation. The antigingivitis agent specifically reduce bacterial growth and inflammation to sooth gums and prevent further gum disease.
Whitening Agents
Whitening agents help to remove surface stains from teeth caused by food, beverages through abrasive action or chemical reactions that break down or lift stains from the tooth surface.
Desensitizing Agents
Desensitizing agents are used to reduce tooth sensitivity by blocking the pathways in teeth that cause pain or discomfort if an individual have sensitive tooth.
The different types of toothpaste containing above ingredients are manufactured by top toothpaste brands with ADA Seal of Acceptance are available in market in order to combat variety of concerns such as decay prevention, plaque and gingivitis, teeth whitening and desensitization.
How Herbal Toothpaste Offers a Chemical-Free Path to Oral Health?
To avoid of daily exposures, consumers have chosen herbal and natural toothpaste over synthetic and artificial flavours as these products are prepared from natural ingredients, and some are also certified as organic. Traditional chemical-based toothpaste with the incorporation of SLS, triclosan, artificial sweeteners, colours, parabens, titanium dioxide and DEA may cause short-term issues like irritation, sensitivity and allergic reactions. Long-time exposure of chemicals through toothpaste can result in serious health hazards such as hormonal imbalance and the development of certain cancers as well as environmental impact. Herbal toothpaste generally includes some natural plant extracts, essential oils, or herb minerals such as tulsi, neem, and mint. These ingredients possess antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to combat oral bacterial growth and preventing gum diseases. These things can decrease the number of bacteria that build up in the mouth, enabling a healthier outcome for dental health and allowing a person to avoid gum diseases.
Gingivitis is first stage of oral disease that led to redness, bleeding and swollen gums. Gingivitis further develops into periodontitis. More than 42% of all adult of age 30 years and older has gum disease and 8% contributes to periodontitis and periodontitis has affected more than 50% of men and 35% of women. Aloe vera and chamomile, which are herbal ingredients, have anti-inflammatory properties that help to lessen gum inflammation, providing relief to individuals with gingivitis or other gum problems.
The Complex Role of Fluoride in Toothpaste
Fluoride help to strengthen the teeth enamel in small doses against acids created by the bacteria in your mouth and decrease rate of tooth decay and reduce number of cavities. Fluoride can remineralise enamel and slow down the demineralisation process, which lessens minor early-stage deterioration. Additionally, fluoride reduces plaque build-up on teeth, which is a prominent indicator of gum disease and tooth damage.
The excessive application of fluoride over teeth can permanently damage the brain development, lowering IQ level and physical characteristics. It may also disrupt thyroid function and lead to hyperthyroidism, fatigue, weight gain and other health problems. The individual who experience fluoride allergy or dental fluorosis shift towards fluoride-free toothpaste to eliminate these risks.
A Healthy Smile, A Healthier Body: The Growing Impact of Oral Hygiene on Global Health
Consumers are becoming more proactive about preventing dental problems leads to a higher demand for toothpaste that offers multiple benefits beyond basic cleaning. Governments, dental associations and health administrations are organizing campaigns to educate the public about the importance of oral hygiene. These initiatives often highlight the link between oral health and overall health. At the 2023 World Dental Congress (WDC) organized at Sydney, Australia, FDI announced the new theme for the next 2024‒2026 three-year campaign namely, ‘A HAPPY MOUTH, IS A HAPPY BODY’ to encourage people to understand benefits of a happy and healthy mouth by focusing link between oral health and general health as oral disease affected nearly 3.5 billion people worldwide.
Global toothpaste market is dominated by several key players known for their extensive product portfolios, innovation and significant market presence including Colgate, Crest, Oral-B, Parodontax, Sensodyne, Arm & Hammer and more. The consumers’ preferences for natural and herbal ingredients, teeth whitening and sensitivity solutions demands for product development by key players.