Tooth powder or toothpaste ?

Tube Toothpaste has been available for decades, and toothpaste products are a staple in the oral care section of stores. However, toothpaste is not the only option for tooth brushing. Tooth powders are becoming more and more popular today, and are often packaged in glass jars rather than tubes. Now let’s compare powder and toothpaste, find out the similarities and differences, and see if you’d like to try the new product.

Tooth powder is toothpaste in powder form. Tooth powder is similar in composition to toothpaste, but is mixed and dried into a powder form. Some tooth powders are reconstituted into tablets, which are easier and neater to use. Both toothpaste and powder are available in popular flavors, such as mint, similar detergents (e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate) and abrasives (e.g. silica). Together, these ingredients work to eliminate plaque and freshen breath.

Many tooth powder also contain fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth and protects them from decay. Although fluoride is required for a toothpaste or toothpaste powder to be certified by the American Dental Association (ADA), not every product contains fluoride, so it is important to check the ingredients of your product when you purchase it.

The difference between toothpaste and powder
There are a few differences between toothpaste and tooth powder. Toothpaste generally contains thickeners and moisturizers to keep it moist and silky. Tooth powders are supposed to be dry and therefore do not contain moisturizers. Depending on the brand, some tooth powders also contain charcoal, clay, herbs or other natural ingredients to enhance the whitening effect.

Tooth powders are becoming increasingly popular and more readily available online. However, you may not find them on the shelves of most stores yet.

Should I use tooth powder instead of toothpaste?
Toothpaste has been shown to be effective in cleaning teeth and is the right choice for cleaning teeth. However, as long as the tooth powder has similar ingredients to toothpaste, you can use either tooth powder or toothpaste as you wish. To use tooth powder, wet the brush bristles and then sprinkle the powder onto the bristles. As long as the bristles are covered with a small amount of toothpaste powder, you can brush your teeth as usual.

Effectiveness of tooth powder
There are few clinical studies comparing the effectiveness of tooth powder and toothpaste, but a 2017 study investigated the effectiveness of toothpaste and tooth powder by measuring the amount of plaque and gingivitis. The researchers reported that after six months of use, the group using tooth powder was significantly more effective than the group using toothpaste in controlling plaque and gingivitis.

Regardless of the results, you can choose the product of your choice! If you would like to try powder, you are welcome to start now. As long as the powder has ingredients that fight plaque and gingivitis, and you follow the instructions, you’re good to go. You can always consult your dental hygienist for advice.