Crest is one of the most popular brands of toothpaste in the United States. It contains various ingredients that fight bad habits, such as:
It does not contain fluoride, which is controversial. People claim it does not work as well, but there are some who disagree. Fluoride is controversial and many believe it should be added to our toothpaste to prevent dental cavities.
However, there are also people who claim it works better by itself. They say it gently cleans the inside of the teeth and gums but doesn’t help with removing plaque or preventing water damage from conventional Toothpastes.
There are several types of Crests available: Bright White, re-soakable Whitening, Extra Strength Strength Gel, and Sensations Plus Gel.
Contents:
Hydrated silica
Crest toothpaste contains hydrated silica, an ingredient that helps reduce sensitivity and prevent cavities.
Silica is a naturally occurring mineral that can be either rocks or a compound that can be incorporated into products. When it is contained as a standalone ingredient, it can sometimes have a confusing name.
It is called silica whenever it is combined with another material, such as alum in an anti-bacterial base. Regardless of the name, changing the method of combining these two ingredients has not affected the amount of silica in your toothpaste.
This means you can still go to your local grocery store and buy one of each and still get the same results. You just have to make sure to ask for hydrated silica if your toothpaste does not contain alum.
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is an ingredient in most toothpastes. It is a processing ingredient that helps preserve and neutralize the acids in your teeth when it is applied.
Potassium nitrate was a long time ago when modern dentistry began, but nowadays it is highly recommended to have this additive as it helps prevent cavities.
Many people find that having this added to their toothpaste makes them feel more awake during the night and comes with some benefits such as better sleep and fewer headaches in the morning.
One small warning: Although potassium nitrate can be found in many products, it is not safe to swallow! If you must have potassium nitrate in your mouth, use only a small amount at a time so that there are no side effects.
Sodium monofluorophosphate
Sodium monofluorophosphate is an ingredient in most toothpastes. It is a ingredient in many shelf stable products, including Crest.
Sodium monofluorophosphate was developed nearly fifty years ago when it was discovered to be a prominent component of toothpaste at that time. It was considered to be an efficient whitening agent at that time and was the sole source of fluoride in the product.
Fast forward to today and there are virtually no products that contain only sodium monofluorophosphate because of its poor retention capabilities. Even though it may no longer be present as the sole source of fluoride, this does not mean you can forget to use it.
Sodium fluoride
Sodium fluoride is the second ingredient in crest toothpaste. Unlike most commercial fluoride compounds, sodium fluoride is not added to water supply. It is a separate chemical compound that’s added to toothpaste as an ingredient.
Traditionally, people who lived in areas where there was little or no fluoridation were considered more sensitive and might need a higher dosage of sodium fluoride. This was due to the belief that the element fluorite in their water helped protect against dental cavities.
However, research has concluded that there is no significant effect of sodium flu-rode on oral health.
Demineralization agents
A major ingredient in most toothpastes is alum, a mineralized compound. alum is typically referred to as sodium carbonate or baking soda for toothpaste.
Alum is usually identified by its designation as potassium aluminum sulfate. This substance can be found in many products, including Toothpolguard, Crest Professional Whitening Strips, and Restorade Whitening Pitcher soakings.
Most people do not know that the sodium carbonate in their toothpaste actually contains the same amount of potassium aluminum sulfate as it does copper hydroxide, the actual plaque remover used in most brushing techniques. However, when the two ingredients are combined and mixed together into a paste, it becomes more effective at remediating plaque than just using the copper hydroxide alone!
Potassium aluminum sulfate has also been shown to help with asthma, bronchitis, and mucus production which can aid in improving breathing while eating.
Anticavity agents
Anticavity agents are a feature of most modern Crest toothpaste. These agents reduce the sensitivity of your teeth and gums when brushed with a dental brush.
They fight against tooth decay, cavities, and whitening products so they are a necessary evil. Anticavity agents reduce the ability of Cavity-A and Whitening products to create white stripes on your teeth when brushed.
This may not seem like a big deal, but it makes a big difference in how well your teeth appear whitened and how long you keep using the product.
Flavorants
Crest toothpaste features three flavors- vanilla, peppermint and caramel. All of these flavors are present in small quantities, and together create the sensation of a hot pepper or caramelized sugar flavor.
Peppermint is the second flavor found in Crest toothpaste. It is found in small amounts in all three tubes of Crest Pro-Health Extra Strength Cleaning & Protection Toothpaste.
Paradoxically, you would not even notice the presence of peppermint until you started using it. Once you did, you would be hooked! You would want to keep using it because it cleaned your mouth well and gave you a comfortable feeling.
Peppermint is one of the two flavors that do not contain any measurable mint content. The slight appearance of this flavor is due to its name: novelty feature. This feature makes this tube appear to be two different colors—one white, the other red- making it more attractive to look at.
Sweeteners
Most toothpastes contain sugar or glucose, but not all brands. Crest has recently added a new ingredient to their toothpaste: flavoring.
Sugar and flavor are two things that do not belong together. Although they may appear to be similar things, they are not the same thing.
Doritos are plain, yet filled with flavors and carbs. Crest has Doritos in its toothpaste, which are crisp and sweetened with diacrylate monoxylate, or D armed Monoxylate. This component makes the Oral B Stand & Fly™ Toothbrush more distinctive looking than other models out there.
Darmed Monoxylate is a artificial sweetener that changes the texture of the toothpaste. When used, it does not replace actual sweetness — it adds another source of flavor for your mouth to enjoy.