Dental experts are keen to clarify that toothpaste remains an essential part of our oral hygiene routine.
In short, tooth brushing WITH toothpaste is still important.
It follows a recent report that scientists in Amsterdam suggest toothbrushing alone may be as effective as toothbrushing with toothpaste in terms of plaque removal.
But dentists at the British Society of Periodontology say this isn’t unexpected. They maintain that the mechanical action of toothbrushing has for centuries been known to be an effective means of removing dental plaque and food debris.
However, there is more to it than this.
For starters, toothpaste removes stains, freshens breath and simply makes our mouth feel cleaner and healthier.
Toothpaste also has active ingredients that protect the teeth and gums and included:
• Fluorides to strengthen the teeth against the ravages of dental decay agents to reduce tooth sensitivity
• Anti-bacterial agents that kill bacteria in plaque
The BSP says: ‘The paper is an interesting review of the available evidence and a useful addition to the scientific literature on oral hygiene habits but it does not mean that toothpaste is a waste of time and money.
‘The British Society of Periodontology advises that toothbrushing should include the use of toothpaste as it has multiple actions and benefits which were not investigated in this review.’