	A	C	E	G	I	K	M	O	Q	S	U	W	Y
1	ISDIN	ISDIN	PIERRE FABRE	PIERRE FABRE	GSK	GSK	COLGATE-PALMOLIVE	COLGATE-PALMOLIVE	COLGATE-PALMOLIVE	P&G	UNILEVER	HALEON
2	bexident anticaries	bexident gengivas	elgydium anti-plaque	arthrodont classic	sensodyne sensitivity & gum care	parodontax original	total prevenção ativa - original	elmex sensitive professional repair & prevent	elmex anti-caries professional	oral-b pro expert pro. protection	parogencyl encias forte	sensodyne sensibilidade & gengivas
3
4	Aqua	Aqua	Water	WATER (AQUA)	Glycerin	SODIUM BICARBONATE	Glycerin	Arginine 8%	Calcium Carbonate	Glycerin	Aqua	Glycerin
5	Sorbitol	Sorbitol	Calcium Carbonate	CALCIUM CARBONATE	PEG-8	AQUA	Aqua	Calcium Carbonate	Aqua	Hydrated Silica	Hydrated Silica	PEG-8
6	Hydrated silica	Hydrated Silica	Glycerin	GLYCERIN	Hydrated Silica	GLYCERIN	Hydrated Silica	Aqua	Glycerin	Sodium Hexametaphosphate	Sorbitol	Hydrated Silica
7	Sodium lauryl sulfate	PEG-32	Silica	ALGIN	Pentasodium Triphosphate	ALCOHOL	Sorbitol	Sorbitol	Xylitol	Aqua	Niacinamide	Pentasodium Triphosphate
8	Xylitol (1%)	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Hydrated Silica	CARRAGEENAN	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate	Aroma	Hydrated Silica	Sodium Gluconate	Cellulose Gum	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
9	Aroma (flavor)	Aroma (Flavor)	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	SODIUM METHYL COCOYL TAURATE	Aroma	MENTHA Arvensis oil	Calcium Pyrophosphate	Poloxamer 407	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	Aroma	Aroma
10	Cellulose gum	Cellulose Gum	Flavor (Aroma)	CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE	Titanium Dioxide	MENTHA PIPERITA oil	Aroma	Sodium Monofluorophosphate (1450 ppm F)	Arginine	Aroma	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	Titanium Dioxide
11	Sodium fluoride (1500ppm F-)	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)	Carrageenan	EUGENOL	Carbomer	Xanthan Gum	Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Sodium Monofluorophosphate (1450 ppm F)	Carrageenan	Benzyl Alcohol	Carbomer
12	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)	Sodium Fluoride	Lauryl Glucoside	FLAVOR (AROMA)	Stannous Fluoride	ECHINACEA PURPUREA EXTRACT	Cellulose Gum	Zinc Oxide	Aroma	Trisodium Phosphate	Lauryl Glucoside	Stannous Fluoride
13	Panthenol (0.5%)	Phenylpropanol	Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate	GLYCYRRHETINIC ACID	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	KRAMERIA TRIANDRA EXTRACT	Potassium Nitrate	Benzyl Alcohol	Xanthan Gum	Stannous Fluoride	Sodium Fluoride	Cocamidopropyl Betaine
14	Sodium benzoate	Panthenol	Cellulose Gum	HEXYLENE GLYCOL	Sodium Saccharin	Sodium Fluoride	Stannous Fluoride	Cellulose Gum	Sodium Bicarbonate	Sodium Saccharin	Sodium Saccharin	Sodium Saccharin
15	Glycerin	Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate	Chlorhexidine Digluconate	ILLICIUM VERUM (ANISE) FRUIT/SEED OIL	Sodium Fluoride	CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA EXTRACT	Xanthan Gum	Zinc Citrate	Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate	PVP	Chlorhexidine Digluconate	Sodium Fluoride
16	Sodium methylparaben	Laureth-9	Limonene	LIMONENE	Limonene	SALVIA OFFICINALIS oil	Sodium Saccharin	Sodium Bicarbonate	Benzyl Alcohol	Stannous Chloride	Sodium Phosphate	Limonene
17	Citric acid	Allantoin	Sodium Propionate	MENTHA PIPERITA (PEPPERMINT) OIL		COMMIPHORA MYRRHA EXTRACT	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate	Sodium Saccharin	Xanthan Gum	Limonene
18	Sodium citrate	Sodium Saccharin	Sodium Saccharin	MENTHOL		Limonene	Sodium Fluoride	Xanthan Gum	Cellulose Gum	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Trisodium Phosphate
19	Sodium saccharin	O-Cymen-5-Ol		SACCHARIN		Sodium Saccharin		Sodium Saccharin	Sodium Hydroxide	Cinnamal
20	Tocopheryl acetate	Cetylpyridinium Chloride		SODIUM COCOYL APPLE AMINO ACIDS		Linalool		Sucralose		Sodium Fluoride (1450ppm F-)
21	Allantoin	Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice		SODIUM HYDROXIDE		CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)		Limonene		Eugenol
22	Vaccinium macrocarpon (cranberry) fruit extract	Decylene Glycol		TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE				CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)		Sodium Hydroxide
23	CI 73360 (Red 30)	Sodium Benzoate								CI 74160 (Blue 15)
24	Sodium gluconate	Limonene								Sodium Benzoate
25	Sodium chloride	Potassium Sorbate
26
27
28
29	THE HUMBLE CO	THE HUMBLE CO	ORKLA	ORKLA	ORKLA	COSWELL	DENTAID	MEDIBLANC	DR. BRONNER'S	COUTO	CURAPROX	BIOREPAIR	HYDROPHIL
30	the humble co fresh mint 🍃	the humble co sensitive 🍃	jordan sensitive	jordan clinic gentle repair	jordan green clean 🍃	l'angelica goji e ginseng	vitis gengivas	healthy gums	dentífrico hortelã-pimenta (w/o fluoride) 🍃	pasta dentífrica couto	gel perio plus support	gum protection	hydrophil pure mint 🍃
31
32	GLYCERIN	GLYCERIN	Aqua	Aqua	Aqua	Aqua	Aqua	AQUA	Glycerin	Aqua	AQUA	Aqua	Sorbitol
33	AQUA	AQUA	Sorbitol	Sorbitol	Sorbitol	Sorbitol	Sorbitol	SORBITOL	Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice	Hydroxyapatite	GLYCERIN	Zinc Hydroxyapatite	Aqua
34	HYDRATED SILICA	HYDRATED SILICA	Hydrated Silica	Hydrated Silica	Hydrated Silica	Hydrated Silica	Silica	SILICA	Hydrated Silica	Glycerin	HYDRATED SILICA	Glycerin	Hydrated Silica
35	ERYTHRITOL	HYDROXYAPATITE	Potassium Citrate	Glycerin	Xylitol	Glycerin	Glycerin	GLYCERIN	Calcium Carbonate	Potassium Chlorate	XYLITOL	Sorbitol	Erythritol
36	ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE*	ERYTHRITOL	Glycerin	PEG-32	Glycolipids	Silica	Xanthan Gum	HYDROXYAPATITE	Xanthan Gum	Hydroxyethylcellulose	SODIUM GLUCONATE	Silica	Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
37	XYLITOL	ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF JUICE*	PEG-32	Hydroxyapatite	Xanthan Gum	Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)	XYLITOL	Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)	Sodium C12-18 Alkyl Sulfate	XANTHAN GUM	Cellulose Gum	Aroma
38	CELLULOSE GUM	POTASSIUM CITRATE	Xylitol	Sodium Monofluorophosphate	Stevia Rebaudiana Extract	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Panthenol	LAURYL GLUCOSIDE	Potassium Cocoate	Mentha Piperita	AROMA	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Zinc Oxide (0,5%)
39	AROMA	XYLITOL	Zinc Gluconate	Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate	Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract	Cellulose Gum	Sodium Gluconate	XANTHAN GUM	Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil	Menthol	COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE	Aroma	Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
40	ANETHOLE	CELLULOSE GUM	Sodium Fluoride	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Glycerin	Xylitol	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)	Mentha Arvensis (Menthol) Crystals	Paraffinum Líquidum 🤨	SODIUM SULFATE	Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate	Xantham Gum
41	CARVONE	AROMA	Sodium Saccharin	Calcium Carbonate	Maltodextrin	Aroma	Sodium Fluoride (1,450 ppm)	CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE	Nucifera (Coconut) Flour	Anethol	SODIUM HYALURONATE	Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate	Sodium Fluoride (0,11%)
42	MENTHA PIPERITA OIL*	LIMONENE	Cellulose Gum	Cellulose Gum	Sodium Fluoride	Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract*	Zinc Lactate	MENTHA PIPERITA OIL	Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil	Sodium Saccharin	CHORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE	Hamamelis Virginiana Leaf Extract	Rebaudioside A (Stevia Extract)
43	MENTHA VIRIDIS LEAF OIL	ANETHOLE	Cocamidopropyl Betaine	Sodium Benzoate	Potassium Sorbate	Panax Ginseng Root Extract*	Lactic Acid	SALIX PURPUREA BARK EXTRACT	Tocopherol	Thymol	SODIUM CHLORIDE	Spirulina Platensis Extract
44	MENTHOL	CARVONE	Sodium Chloride	Sodium Saccharin	Citric Acid	Sodium Monofluorophosphate	Sodium Saccharin	MALTODEXTRIN	Citric Acid	Eugenol	VP/VA COPOLYMER	Catendula Officinalis Flower Extract
45	DISODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE	CITRUS AURANTIUM PEEL OIL	Sodium Benzoate	Sodium Chloride	Sorbic Acid	Zinc PCA	Sodium Methylparaben	LACTIC ACID	Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf Extract	Limonene	SODIUM FLUORIDE	Sodium Hyaluronate
46	LAURYL GLUCOSIDE	MENTHA PIPERITA OIL*	Aroma	Sodium Hydroxide	Aroma	Bisabolol	Cetylpyridinium Chloride	ZINC GLUCONATE			SUCRALOSE	Zinc PCA
47	SODIUM FLUORIDE	MENTHA VIRIDIS LEAF OIL	CI 74160 (Blue 15)	Aroma		Sodium Saccharin	Aroma	MENTHOL			DISODIUM PHOSPHATE	Sodium Saccharin
48	ZINC CITRATE	MENTHOL	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)	CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)		Phenoxyethanol	Cl 77947 (Zinc Oxide)	ALLANTOIN			SODIUM PHOSPHATE	Phenoxyethanol
49	KAOLIN	DISODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE				Sodium Benzoate		SODIUM PCA			CITRIC ACID	Benzyl Alcohol
50	CITRIC ACID	LAURYL GLUCOSIDE				Benzyl Alcohol		MAGNESIUM PCA			CITRUS AURANTIUM AMARA FRUIT EXTRACT	Sodium Benzoate
51	SODIUM BENZOATE	SODIUM FLUORIDE				Potassium Sorbate		ZINC PCA			SODIUM BENZOATE	SODIUM SULFATE
52	POTASSIUM SORBATE	CITRIC ACID				Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate		MANGANESE PCA			POLYEPSILON-LYSINE	Limonene
53	REBAUDIOSIDE A.	SODIUM BENZOATE				CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide)		PROPYLENE GLYCOL				Eugenol
54		POTASSIUM SORBATE						SUCRALOSE				Cl 16255 (Acid Red 18)
55		REBAUDIOSIDE A.						AROMA
56								POTASSIUM SORBATE
57								PHENOXYETHANOL
58								CETYLPYRIDINIUM CHLORIDE
59								LIMONENE
60	* ppm — parts per million	🍃 vegan / organic	sodium benzoate = benzoic acid + sodium hydroxide
61
62
63	INACTIVE INGREDIENTS (COSMETIC)
64	* best ingredients marked with bold
65
66	SURFACTANTS Foam / Detergent / Cleansing agents that ensure the other active ingredients coat the teeth, and to remove compounds that have varied properties such as oil and water 🟢 Cocamidopropyl Betaine 👑 / Potassium Cocoyl Glutamate / Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate / Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate 👑 / Sodium Myristoyl Sarcosinate 🟡 Decyl Glucoside / Laureth-9 (Polidocanol) / Lauryl Glucoside / Poloxamer / Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate 🔴 Sodium C12-18 Alkyl Sulfate / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLE) / Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) — surfactants reduce the fluoride adsorption on the enamel surface, especially SLS — chlorhexidine is not compatible with SLS
67
68	ABRASIVES Cleaning & polishing minerals that help remove food debris, plaque and stains 🟢 Calcium Carbonate / Hydrated Silica / Sodium Bicarbonate 🟡 Alumina (Aluminum Hydroxide) / Calcium Pyrophosphate / Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate / Titanium Dioxide 🔴 Bentonite / Charcoal — Sodium Bicarbonate = Baking Soda — abrasive components can bind to and limit the bioactivity of therapeutic ingredients — abrasives should be inert (not form new compounds with other substances in the toothpaste)
69
70	HUMECTANTS Moisture retainers that keep your toothpaste from drying out and becoming crumbly 🟢 Erythritol / Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate / Maltitol / Mannitol / Sodium Hyaluronate 👑 / Sorbitol / Xylitol 👑 🟡 Aqua / Glycerin / Propanediol / Propylene Glycol 🔴 PEGs (Polyethylene Glycol) — The higher the PEG number → more viscous → more thickening/humectant effect. — Glycerin purely used to give texture, with no other benefits like kill bacteria, fight tartar, or polish stains. Also, it can leave a thin film on the teeth, which may inhibit fluoride from fully interacting with enamel, slightly reducing remineralization efficiency.
71
72	BINDERS / THICKNERS give structure, stability and texture to the toothpaste and have a major effect on toothpaste consistency during application to the toothbrush and afterwards during use Cellulose Derivatives: Cellulose gum (Carboxymethyl Cellulose / CMC) 👑 / Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Gums (Natural Polysaccharides): Carrageenan 🚩 / Guar Gum / Karaya Gum / Xanthan Gum 👑 Seaweed / Algal Thickeners: Agar / Algin / Alginate (Sodium Alginate) 👑 Synthetic Polymers: Carbomer / PEGs (Polyethylene Glycol) / Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) Clays / Silicates: Bentonite / Magnesium Aluminum Silicate / Silica / Sodium Silicate
73
74	PRESERVATIVES prevent the growth of microorganisms in the toothpaste 🟢 Cocoyl Glycinate / Potassium Sorbate / Sodium Benzoate / Sorbic Acid 🟡 Alcohol (Ethanol) / Benzoic Acid / Phenoxyethanol / Phenylpropanol / Sodium Metabisulfite 🔴 BHT / Sodium Methylparaben / Sodium Propylparaben / Triclosan — Sodium Benzoate can be sensitizing at high levels, but typically fine. Can become carcinogenic if combined with citric acid.
75
76	BUFFERS pH stabilizers that help keep the pH of a toothpaste constant, preventing the toothpaste becoming too acidic or alkaline 🟢 Disodium Phosphate / Potassium Phosphate / Sodium Bicarbonate 👑 / Sodium Carbonate / Sodium Chloride / Sodium Citrate / Sodium Phosphate / Sodium Gluconate 🟡 Aluminum Hydroxide / Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate / Trisodium Phosphate 🔴 Citric Acid / Monosodium Phosphate / Sodium Hydroxide (if concentration is too high) / Trisodium Phosphate (if concentration is too high) — Citric acid in high levels can erode enamel, and also attack the tooth-crown margin
77
78	FLAVOURS / COOLANTS / AROMATICS help brushing feel refreshing 🟢 L-Menthol / Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Oil / Spearmint (Mentha spicata) Oil / Stevia (Rebaudiana A) 🟡 Anethole / Benzyl Alcohol / Carvone / Cornmint (Mentha arvensis) Oil / Eucalyptol / Menthol / Salvia officinalis oil / Thymol 🔴 Eugenol / Limonene / Linalool — Linalool is acceptable BUT it's a listed allergen and has sensitizing potential — Benzyl Alcohol is acceptable BUT can be irritating to sensitive oral mucosa if concentration is high, some rare allergic reactions reported (especially in children or people with fragrance sensitivity)
79
80	SWEETNERS help mask the taste of unpleasant ingredients and improve taste 🟢 Erythritol / Xylitol 👑 🟡 Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate / Maltitol / Sorbitol / Stevia (Rebaudiana A) 🔴 Acesulfame-K / Sodium Saccharin / Sucralose — Sorbitol is acceptable BUT ferments slightly, which can help plaque if in high percentage
81
82	👉 Abrasives, humectants, and solvents respresent ~95% of the ingredients
83
84	ACTIVE INGREDIENTS (THERAPEUTIC)
85
86	ABRASIVES	SENSIVITY	ANTIMICROBIALS / ANTI-PLAQUE	REMINERALIZATION	ANTIOXIDANTS	ANTI INFLAMMATORY	WHITENING
87	Aluminium Hydroxide	Arginine	Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC)	Arginine bicarbonate	Allantoin	Anethol	Bromelain (Pineapple enzyme)
88	Calcium Carbonate	Fluorides*	Chlorhexidine Digluconate 🚩	Calcium carbonate	Aloe Barbadensis Extract	Aloe Barbadensis	Charcoal Powder 🚩
89	Calcium Pyrophosphate	Potassium chloride	Commiphora Myrrha Extract	Calcium Sodium-phosphosilicate	Green Tea Catechins (EGCG)	Bisabolol 👑	Papain (Papaya enzyme)
90	Dicalcium Phosphate	Potassium Nitrate 👑	Cranberry	Fluorides*	Niacinamide (Vitamin B3)	Calendula Officinalis Extract
91	Hydrated Silica 👑	Potassium Phosphate	Decylene Glycol	(Nano)Hydroxyapatite 👑	Panthenol	Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract
92	Kaolin	Strontium Chloride / Acetate	O-Cymen-5-Ol (Isopropylmethylphenol)		Tocopherol (Vitamin E)	Commiphora Myrrha Extract
93	Perlite		Mentha Piperita Oil		Tocopheryl Acetate	Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
94	Sodium Bicarbonate		Stannous Fluoride			Echinacea Purpurea Extract
95	Sodium Carbonate		Phenylpropanol			Eucalyptol
96	Sodium Hexametaphosphate		Potassium Chlorate 🚩			Glycyrrhiza Glabra 👑 / Glycyrrhetinic Acid
97	Sodium Hydroxide		Triclosan 🚩			Thymol
98	Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate		Zinc Salts **			Salix Purpurea Bark Extract
99						Zinc Salts **
100
101	— Chlorhexidine Digluconate is marked with a 🚩 because it's too strong and should only be used as a short-term therapy, not a lifestyle ingredient. Stains more with tannins.
102
103	* FLUORIDES: Sodium Fluoride / Sodium Monofluorophosphate / Stannous Fluoride mineral that helps strengthen the enamel on your teeth, making them less susceptible to cavities and less likely to wear down from acidic foods and drinks. Stabilised stannous fluoride and sodium hexametaphospate are a very compatible combo 🥇 Stannous Fluoride — cavity protection, blocks bacterial metabolism and reduces biofilm formation, helps with sensitivity (⚠️ can stain) 🥈 Sodium Fuoride — effective enamel remineralization (cavity protection) 🥉 Sodium Monofluorophosphate — cavity protection, stays stable with calcium abrasives PT: fluoreto de sódio / fluoreto estanhoso / monofluorofosfato de sódio
104
105	** ZINC SALTS: Zinc Citrate, Zinc Chloride, Zinc Gluconate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Lactate
106
107	CONCERNS
108
109	Activated Charcoal — extremely harsh particles Artificial Colors & Dyes — some dyes are linked to hyperactivity and allergic reactions Artificial Sweeteners (sorbitol, saccharin, aspartame) — sorbitol can feed bacteria if not fully absorbed, and saccharin/aspartame have long-standing health-controversy baggage Carrageenan — may have inflammatory properties and could potentially contribute to gastrointestinal issues or even colon cancer Glycerin — is meant to give that slippery clean feeling. This feeling is a coat that is left behind that becomes a magnet for plaque Hydrated Silica — very abrasive component of sand, it may even prevent remineralization of the tooth by changing the acidity of the mouth Parabens — endocrine disruption: they can mimic estrogen in the body. Sensitivity triggers: some people react with irritation or dermatitis Sodium Benzoate — can cause damage to mitochondrial DNA with a possible link to cancer if combined with ascorbic acid, citric acid or vitamin C as a preservative Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) — soap is nothing but a chemical bomb to your mouth with harsh chemicals. Can irritate gums, cause mouth ulcers, and mess with mucosal lining Sodium Fluoride — should not be swallowed or ingested, it is harmful to the body Titanium Dioxide — classified as a possible carcinogen when inhaled as particles; oral risk still debated Triclosan — linked to cancer
110
111	Possibly carcinogenic	Irritants	Endocrine disruptors	* Parabens	** Fragrance Compounds	Artificial colors & Synthetic dyes	Relative Dentin Abrasivity / RDA
112	Carrageenan	Eugenol	BHT	Butylparaben	Cinnamal	Cl 16255 (Acid Red 18)	0-70 – Low abrasive
113	Diethanolamine	Flavour	Flavor / Fragrance Compounds**	Ethylparaben	Eugenol	CI 19140 (Yellow 5)	71-100 Medium abrasive
114	Methylparaben	Polyethylene glycol	Parabens*	Methylparaben	Limonene	CI 42090 (Blue 1)	101-150 Highly abrasive
115	Parabens*	Sodium Lauryl Sulfate	Polyethylene glycol	Propylparaben	Linalool	CI 73360 (Red 30)	151-250 Regarded as harmful limit
116	Polyethylene glycol	Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate	Sodium Fluoride			CI 74160 (Blue 15)
117	Sodium Benzoate		Triclosan			CI 77019 (Mica)
118	Titanium dioxide					CI 77266 (Carbon Black)
119	Triclosan					CI 77947 (Zinc Oxide) ***
120						CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide) ***
121
122	*** Some ingredients can be used as colorants or active ingredients. When used just as a colorant the label will show the color code (CI XXXXX)
123
124	IN DETAIL
125
126
127	XYLITOL
128	✅		⚠️
129	It’s non-fermentable by cavity-causing bacteria The main cavity culprits (e.g. Streptococcus mutans) feed on sugars and produce acid that erodes enamel. Xylitol cannot be metabolized into acid by those bacteria, so it doesn’t fuel enamel-damaging acid attacks. Because it’s “unfriendly” to bad bacteria metabolism, regular use tends to reduce their numbers over time. More pleasant & safer than sugar Doesn’t harm enamel (far better than sucrose/saccharides) It sweetens toothpaste (or gum) without feeding cavity-causing bacteria. Lower risk of enamel demineralization compared to sucrose or other fermentable sugars Potential plaque & halitosis moderation By reducing harmful bacteria and acid production, xylitol may contribute to lower plaque formation and less halitosis (bad breath)		The evidence is not robust or conclusive Not all studies show benefit, and many have methodological limitations. The positive 13% reduction was seen only in some fluoride-toothpaste + xylitol studies, and results came from limited populations Possible digestive side-effects if swallowed in quantity In terms of toothpaste use, this is usually minimal because you spit, but swallowing a lot over time could in theory cause GI upset Benefit size is modest to modest-small Even in the more favorable studies, reduction in cavities is in the ballpark of ~10-15% over several years — helpful but not dramatic.
130
131
132	(NANO)HYDROXYAPATITE / nano-HA / nHA
133	✅		⚠️
134	It mimics natural enamel / dentin mineral - biocompatible, non-toxic & gentle Hydroxyapatite is what enamel and dentin are mostly made of. Nano-HA offers tiny particles that can fill micro-defects, micro-porosities and early demineralization zones, acting almost like “patches” from inside out. Because it’s the same mineral as tooth tissue, it’s biocompatible, non-toxic, non-acidic — unlike some abrasive or chemical whitening agents. Evidence for remineralization & prevention of demineralization Several in vitro and in situ studies show that toothpastes (and gels) with nano-HA increase enamel microhardness after acid or demineralization challenge, meaning they help enamel recover lost mineral. For dentin sensitivity: a double-blind clinical trial found that a 15 % nano-HA toothpaste (fluoride-free) significantly reduced dentin hypersensitivity (cold air / tactile stimuli) after 2–4 weeks vs placebo. Good for enamel maintenance around restorations, crowns, thin enamel, erosive wear Nano-HA does not rely on acid/base reactions like fluoride, and it’s gentle (not abrasive) Can help in enamel surface repair after erosive challenges (e.g. acid exposure		Still a lot of variability in study results, and evidence is mixed Long-term human data still limited. In a 2025 pilot dentin remineralization study, fluoride toothpaste outperformed 10 % nHA toothpaste in dentin microhardness recovery, showing that HA is not always superior to fluoride formulas. Some studies report enamel remineralization with nHA toothpastes, but the effect size and consistency vary depending on formulation, particle size, concentration, and usage protocol. Depends a lot on formulation quality, nHA particle characteristics, concentration In terms of toothpaste use, this is usually minimal because you spit, but swallowing a lot over time could in theory cause GI upset Regulatory / Manufacturing caveats Since nHA is a “mineral additive,” quality control matters: poorly synthesized or contaminated HA might carry impurities or inconsistent particle size, which could affect performance
135
136
137	CALCIUM CARBONATE
138	Abrasive level: Medium Nature: Chalk-based, mineral abrasive
139
140	👍 UPSIDES — Cheap, effective mechanical cleaner — Mild / moderate abrasivity, good plaque removal — Can support remineralization chemistry because it releases calcium ions		👍 DOWNSIDES — Can be too abrasive for sensitivity, enamel erosion, people with veneers / crowns / exposed dentin — Can interact with fluoride and reduce its bioavailability (especially sodium monofluorophosphate)
141
142	👉 Good but old-school. Fine for standard teeth, not the best for sensitive mouths
143
144
145	HYDRATED SILICA
146	Abrasive level: Very wide range, can be silk gentle or sandpaper enthusiastic Nature: Synthetic silica gel microparticles
147
148	👍 UPSIDES — Highly tunable: can be ultra-gentle (sensitive formulas) or strong (whitening formulas) — Stable, inert, doesn’t react with fluoride — Very effective polishing agent → smooth enamel = less plaque retention		👍 DOWNSIDES — Some formulas use high-abrasive cuts risking enamel wear risk long-term — Quality varies wildly. Cheap toothpaste is often high RDA silica, which can cause micro-scratches
149
150	👉 Best if you want selective polishing over brute scrubbing. Avoid high-abrasive versions if you have sensitivity or restorations.
151
152
153	SODIUM BICARBONATE (BAKING SODA)
154	Abrasive level: Mild (much softer than Calcium Carbonate & most silica) Nature: Buffering alkaline salt + very fine crystal abrasive
155
156	👍 UPSIDES — Low abrasivity, great for inflammatory gums — Neutralizes acids, protecting enamel in acidic diets — Slight antibacterial biofilm suppression via pH shift		👍 DOWNSIDES — Not as strong mechanically as hydrated silica, making whitening slower — Doesn't taste particulary good unless heavily masked — Doesn’t polish enamel as finely as silica
157
158	👉 Best for gum sensitivity, erosion risk, crown heavy mouths, older enamel, dry mouth.
159
160
161	SOURCES
162	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/idj.12083
163	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7245492/
164	https://www.tomsofmaine.com/our-promise/ingredients
165	https://www.dentalcare.com/en-us/ce-courses/ce670/common-fluorides