Toothpaste's original function was to thoroughly clean the teeth during brushing, and thus protect them from decay. Over time, it has taken on further functions:

Bad breath (halitosis) is produced through the activity of gram-negative bacteria in the oral cavity. Their volatile sulfur-containing compounds (VSCs) can cause an unpleasant odor, even in low concentrations.

To counter this zinc salts are added to the toothpaste. Zinc remains active in the oral cavity for around 2-3 hours after brushing the teeth, because it binds with the mucosa, elements of saliva and the bacterial membrane. In the oral cavity, zinc blocks certain receptors on the bacterial membrane, preventing them from spreading and reproducing. This in turn suppresses acid formation, unpleasant odors and tissue inflammations. Furthermore, zinc has an astringent effect on gums and the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.

We offer Zinc Citrate, Zinc Lactate and Zinc Acetate for use in toothpaste.

Plaque is a deposit on teeth provoked by bacteria. It is unsightly, above all, but also adversely affects dental health and causes bad breath.

As well as mechanical removal using a toothbrush, zinc can also help to minimize dental plaque. Zinc prevents bacteria in the mouth from reproducing and spreading over several hours⁶.

Overly sensitive teeth are usually caused by over-sensitivity of the tooth´s neck. The exposed dentin is neuronally innervated and reacts to stimuli such as temperature, touch and the osmotic gradient⁷. Dental hypersensitivity is extremely common among the population and affects up to 74 % of people aged between 20 and 50. Women are somewhat more likely to be affected than men ⁸.

The generally accepted explanation for sensitive teeth assumes changes in the flow of fluid through the dentin tubules triggers stimuli at the pain receptors on the nerveendings⁸.

The use of a desensitizing toothpaste is the first line of treatment for sensitive teeth. Those generally contain potassium salts such as Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Citrate or Potassium Chloride. These reduce the permeability of dentin without completely blocking the dentin tubules^{9, 10}. Magnesium salts also provide relief in this respect by reduction of tooth sensitivity as a calcium channel blocker¹¹.

Bleeding gums are caused by an inflammation due to bacteria building up in unclean interdental spaces. The resulting swelling and increased blood flow can cause bleeding, even under minor mechanical stress.

The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of zinc eradicate the cause of bleeding gums¹³. Moreover, zinc has an astringent effect that staunches bleeding¹⁴, also ensured by aluminium salts.

Tooth remineralization with the aid of suitable care products counters demineralization caused by acid and the resulting formation of cavities in the tooth enamel (tooth decay). Studies have shown that toothpastes containing Calcium Phosphate significantly reduce the incidence of tooth decay¹². Calcium Phosphate in dental hygiene products also effectively remineralizes dentin¹³.

We are happy to help our customers in product development and application engineering to create innovative dental hygiene products.

• Aluminum Lactate
• Calcium Glycerophosphate
• Calcium Lactate
• Potassium Citrate
• Potassium Oxalate
• Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
• Strontium Acetate
• Zinc Citrate
• Zinc Gluconate
• Zinc Lactate