Does toothpaste kill germs? Germs are everywhere – lingering in your bathroom, on your kitchen counter, and more dangerously, in your mouth. Do you know that your mouth can be a hiding place for 800-1000 varieties of germs and bacteria? Your mouth’s damp, warm conditions are a perfect place for germs to linger and grow, leading to painful cavities, less than affordable dental fillings, and even severe gum disease. Though you may be brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste right now, a new type is being researched that contains ingredients that are even more effective at fighting germs, according to Science Daily.
New Toothpaste May Kill More Germs
A study documenting the new kind of toothpaste (containing key ingredients triclosan and copolymer), has been noted in the peer-reviewed clinical journal General Dentistry. Researchers added the triclosan to the paste to inhibit bacteria and plaque, and included the copolymer to extend the time that the triclosan can remain inside of the mouth for long-lasting protection.
More Than Just Fluoride
The new variety was tested against two fluoridated toothpastes to see which fought the bacteria of the mouth most effectively. “Repetitive testing shows that toothpaste with triclosan/copolymer outperformed the fluoride-only toothpastes when it came to inhibiting the growth of bacteria,” said Dr. Joseph J. Zambon, a highly accredited professor from the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine who helped author the study.
An additional bonus to triclosan/copolymer toothpaste, as stated by an AGD spokesperson named Paul Bussman, is that it also can prevent bad breath. Overall, this new frontier of toothpaste has the potential to more significantly reduce the buildup of germs, bacteria, plaque, and poor-smelling breath.
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), the sponsor and author of the General Dentistry journal, also says that flossing once a day, as well as rinsing with mouthwash, are other ways besides brushing to decrease the germs in your mouth for the most affordable dentist visits possible.
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