18 Toothy Truth

In which Felicia explains the sustainability of some toothpaste ingredients. This is a partial list of ingredients, based mainly on two tubes of toothpaste in her bathroom, Sensodyne Pronamel Multi-Action and Burt's Bees Complete Multi-Care. The ingredients are classified by the function they serve in toothpaste: 1) active ingredients, 2) sticky stuff, 3) surfactants (detergents), 4) sweeteners, 5) whiteners, 6) minerals, and 7) flavors. Sources include: Wikipedia PubChem Sampaio, F.C.; Oliveira, A.F.B.d.; Fernandes, N.L.S.; Gentile, A.C.C.; Marinho, G.B.; B.necker, M.J.S.; Paschoal, M.A.B.; D’Alpino, P.H.P.; Vilhena, F.V. Silicon-, Silica-, and Silicate-Toothpastes for Remineralization and Repair of Teeth: A Scoping Review. Oral 2024, 4, 467–486. https://doi.org/10.3390/oral4040038 Kim, D., Seok, J.K., Kim, M. et al. Safety assessment of cocamidopropyl betaine, a cosmetic ingredient. Toxicol Res. 40, 361–375 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43188-024-00243-2 Rayssa Ferreira Zanatta, Daniele Mara da Silva Ávila, Karen Mayumi Miyamoto, Carlos Rocha Gomes Torres, Alessandra Bühler Borges; Influence of Surfactants and Fluoride against Enamel Erosion. Caries Res 11 January 2019; 53 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1159/000488207 Lai, C.; Nguyen, A.; Ye, L.; Hao, J.; Koo, H.; Mante, F.; Ozer, F. Antibacterial and Physical Properties of PVM/MA Copolymer- Incorporated Polymethyl Methacrylate as a Novel Antimicrobial Acrylic Resin Material. Molecules 2022, 27, 8848. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248848 Söderling, E., Pienihäkkinen, K. Specific effects of xylitol chewing gum on mutans streptococci levels, plaque accumulation and caries occurrence: a systematic review.BMC Oral Health 25, 1275 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06602-1 Boerner, L.K. What is dental enamel, and how does it protect your teeth? Chem Eng News Oct 19, 2020