Baking soda does freshen both the breath and the refrigerator. Some products contain alcohol and should NOT be used by children or recovering alcoholics. The most common ingredient is pyrophosphate. Tartar control toothpaste is not a substitute for professional dental cleanings. Only professionals can remove tartar below the gumline.
Some people have allergies to pyrophosphate which can be seen when gums burn or peel.
Most information is from laboratory studies. The idea is that people who get cavities do not have enough minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus. Remineralization toothpaste has high levels of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium to compensate for the shortage. The interesting tube design keeps the ions, which are of opposite charges, separated. The above articles were contributed by Dr. Martin Giniger, Department of Oral Pathology, Biology and Diagnostic Sciences.