The variety of toothpastes available means that many patients choose a brand based on how effective it is at targeting some of the most common dental problems: staining, bad breath, sensitivity and gum disease. They probably do not give a second thought to the ingredients and the effect they may be having on their teeth and overall oral health.
However, new results from Missouri Analytical Laboratories confirm that dental professionals and patients should be concerned with the ingredients in toothpaste and their level of abrasiveness, and how, by using a lower abrasion toothpaste, serious oral health issues can be avoided.
As a dental professional your advice and professional recommendation carries considerable weight and it's important that your patients understand what's inside their toothpaste before committing to a particular brand.
High v low
All toothpastes contain abrasives; they provide the cleaning power needed to keep teeth clean and help prevent gum disease by removing plaque, stains and debris. However, in the search for the right toothpaste, it's important to find one that does 'all of the above' but is not so harsh that the abrasives attack the enamel.
Abrasive ingredients including particles of aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), various calcium hydrogen phosphates, silicas and zeolites, and hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH), can account for up to 60 per cent of some brands of toothpaste.
Patients should steer clear of highly abrasive toothpastes as they can damage the teeth and gums. As tooth enamel is worn away, the dentin beneath is more visible and teeth become more yellow in appearance. They can also remove the lustre and polish of porcelain veneers and crowns, dulling an otherwise beautiful smile. Abrasive toothpastes can also cause teeth to be become sensitive and in the most severe of cases can result in infection and even tooth loss.
Abrasion testing
The abrasiveness of toothpaste is measured according to the relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) value, and any value over 100 is considered to be 'abrasive'. Unfortunately the RDA value is often not included in the marketing or promotional information supplied with toothpaste products, masking what is a common problem.
In a study recently performed by Missouri Analytical Laboratories (July 2011), a range of whitening toothpastes were tested to compare and evaluate their levels of abrasion. The results confirmed that Beverly Hills Formula whitening toothpaste is proven to be less abrasive than other leading brands of both whitening and regular toothpastes. In fact, Beverly Hills Formula scores as low as 93 on the RDA table whilst leading competitors have levels as high as 147.
To support this, in a study conducted at Bristol University Dental School, Beverly Hills Formula whitening toothpaste was also found to remove stains in just one minute, with more than 90 per cent of stains removed over a five minute period. For extra stain removal, patients can be advised to leave the toothpaste on their teeth for up to one minute before brushing.
These results signal a breakthrough in oral care and aesthetics. Removing stains caused by tea, coffee, red wine or tobacco no longer requires harsh abrasives or bleach, as this new generation of whitening toothpastes offers a more tooth-friendly solution, helping patients to restore their teeth to a natural white colour, quickly, safely and effectively.
Complete tooth protection
Choosing a lower-abrasion toothpaste is important in the fight to ensure a healthy mouth and using the wrong type of toothpaste can lead to serious oral health issues. For peace of mind, the Beverly Hills Formula lower abrasion whitening range also contains fluoride to offer fast-acting, long-lasting protection against acid attack, whilst helping to strengthen, re-mineralise and harden tooth enamel for complete tooth protection.