Your toothpaste is a mixture of different chemical compounds, not a single compound. It contains abrasives, fluorides, foaming agents, sweeteners, flavourings, and water. All of these are combined to clean teeth and prevent decay.
The chemical composition of a toothpaste is interesting. It contains abrasives which help scrub away plaque. The fluoride in toothpaste helps strengthen enamel. The foaming agents create lather. While the added flavour or sweeteners give the taste.
In simple words, toothpaste is a paste or gel that is used to clean and maintain oral hygiene. The common colour for toothpaste is white, but there are several with coloured stripes or a green tint. Did you know it was the Colgate company that began the mass production of aromatic toothpaste in jars in 1873?
Another interesting piece of trivia around toothpaste. By 1900, a paste made of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda was recommended for use with toothbrushes. Fluorides were first added to toothpastes in the 1890s. And fluoride toothpastes developed in the 1950s got the American Dental Association (ADA) approval. In 1955, Procter & Gamble's Crest launched its first clinically proven fluoride-containing toothpaste.
Now that's some history on toothpastes. Let's get to the chemistry of toothpaste. In our previous articles, we learnt that IUPAC decides the chemical names for compounds. Do you know the chemical name for toothpaste? In this article, we will learn the chemical name and formula for toothpaste.
What is the chemical name and formula for toothpaste?
Toothpaste doesn't have a single chemical name, as it is a mixture of different chemical compounds.
Abrasives (cleaning): Silica (Silicon Dioxide, SiO₂), Calcium Carbonate (CaCO₃), Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda, NaHCO₃)
Fluoride (cavity prevention): Sodium Fluoride (NaF), Stannous Fluoride (SnF₂), Sodium Monofluorophosphate (Na₂PO₃F)
Foaming agents: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Humectants (moisture): Sorbitol (C6H14O6), Glycerin
Thickeners: Xanthan Gum, Cellulose Gum
Whitening: Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂)
Source: Wikipedia
Uses of Toothpaste
Now toothpastes are commonly and mostly used for oral hygiene, removing plaque, fighting decay, and maintaining fresh breath. But the abrasives and cleaning agents in a toothpaste also make it great for household cleaning such as polishing items, removing crayon marks, de-fogging mirrors and goggles, soothing bug bites and burn sites, and many more.
Below, let's have a quick look at the uses of toothpaste in everyday life.
Dental and oral care
- Cleans teeth, removes plaque and food particles
- Prevents decay, strengthens enamel and fights cavities
- Freshens breath and removes odour-causing bacteria
Household and Cleaning
- Polishes surfaces, fixtures, jewellery, and even CDs/DVDs
- Removes stains on carpets, clothes, and crayon marks on wall
- Cleans glassware, buffs out scratches, defogs mirrors and glasses
- Brightens shoes, whitenes sneakers
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