Common Ingredients in Toothpaste
Process of Making Toothpaste
Specific Toothpaste Formulations
Ever asked yourself, “how is toothpaste made?” The process can vary depending on the type of toothpaste, but there are a few common components that go into every tube of toothpaste.
Common Ingredients in Toothpaste
The initial step in making toothpaste involves collecting the ingredients and raw materials that go into each formula. Common ingredients include thickeners, flavors, water, abrasives, tooth whiteners, and fluoride.
Fluoride – Only toothpastes containing one of the three forms of fluoride (sodium, stannous, and monofluorophosphate) are recognized by the FDA for cavity prevention.
Sorbitol – The ingredient helps toothpaste retain its smooth shape while also sweetening up the flavor.
Glycerin – This toothpaste ingredient helps keep your toothpaste from drying out while making sure its texture stays consistently smooth.
Abrasives – When you scrub your teeth with your toothbrush, an abrasive helps remove plaque, surface stains, and tartar buildup, while staying gentle on enamel.
Sodium lauryl sulfate – Used to create the foamy action you associate with toothpaste.
Process of Making Toothpaste
After collecting all the necessary ingredients, the following steps complete the toothpaste making process:
- Weighing and Mixing – Ingredients are mixed together in appropriate proportions. The proportions vary depending on each different type of toothpaste. Specialized toothpastes such as Crest Gum & Enamel Repair, Crest Gum Detoxify, and Crest Whitening Therapy all have unique formulations to better treat a specific oral care concern. Additionally, most Crest toothpastes are formulated with Stannous Fluoride, an ingredient that goes beyond cavity protection and helps restore weakened enamel, fight gum disease, and ease sensitivity.
- Filling the Tubes – Once the formulation has been mixed, the mixture is then pumped into a tube.
- Packaging – A full tube is then inserted into its specific package. Every package lists out the oral care benefits of each formulation, ingredients used, and brushing directions.
- Quality Control – To ensure every tube of toothpaste is formulated correctly, they all go through a laboratory check where the formulations are tested for safety and effectiveness.
Specific Toothpaste Formulations
With so many toothpaste options out there, it can be difficult to find the tube that’s perfect for you. Crest’s range of toothpastes address a variety of specific needs such as sensitivity, gum health, whitening, enamel repair, and more. We’ve listed out the best toothpastes options so you can find the formulation that’s right for you.