What does fluoride toothpaste do?
It helps remove plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on teeth and gums every day. Plaque can cause gum disease and tooth decay. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Find out more about fluoride. What’s in fluoride toothpaste? Toothpaste ingredients typically consist of: • Mild abrasives to remove debris and residual surface stains. Examples include calcium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, hydrated aluminum oxides, magnesium carbonate, phosphate salts and silicates. • Fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and remineralize tooth decay. All ADA-Accepted toothpastes contain fluoride. • Humectants to prevent water loss in the toothpaste. Examples include glycerol, propylene, glycol and sorbitol. • Flavoring agents, such as saccharin and other sweeteners to provide taste. Flavoring agents do not promote tooth decay. (No ADA-Accepted toothpaste contains sugar or any other ingredient that would promote tooth decay.) • Thickening agents or binders to stabilize the
