While people have been using toothpaste of one type or another for thousands of years, the current basic formula has been around since the 1940s. You can find toothpaste with certain specialty ingredients such as those for whitening teeth or for sensitive teeth, but the following elements are found in virtually all cavity-fighting toothpaste.
FluorideFluoride plays the starring role when it comes to fighting cavities. Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth, which makes them less susceptible to cavities and less likely to wear down from acidic food and drinks. Only toothpaste with fluoride qualifies for the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance.
AbrasivesAbrasives play an active role in cleaning your teeth, but they are considered an inactive ingredient in toothpaste because they don’t reduce your risk for cavities or gum disease. They’re still essential, though, because they help remove food debris and surface stains from your teeth.
FlavorsFluoride and abrasives work great to clean your teeth, but they don’t taste very good. That’s why the vast majority of toothpaste includes flavoring from sweetening agents like saccharin or sorbitol. While these ingredients may give toothpaste a sweet or minty flavor, they don’t have sugar, so they don’t contribute to tooth decay at all.
HumectantsHumectants are the ingredients that prevent your toothpaste from drying out and getting crumbly. Since sorbitol is both a sweetener and a humectant, you’ll find it in a lot of toothpaste products. It keeps the liquid and the dry parts of toothpaste well mixed so you get a smooth, creamy paste when you squeeze the tube.
DetergentsDetergents give your toothpaste a nice, foamy consistency when you brush your teeth. In addition to making you feel like you’re really cleaning your teeth, the foam ensures the other active ingredients coat all of the parts of your teeth.