TOOTHPASTE

2012 by David A. Katz. All rights reserved

INTRODUCTION
Toothpastes claim to clean, remove plaque, prevent cavities, and whiten teeth. Is there really a difference
in toothpastes? Is one truly superior to another? Does a higher price mean a toothpaste is better?

Teeth are the calcified structures in our mouths

that are used to break down food. Teeth are made of multiple tissues of varying density and hardness.
The two major parts of a tooth are the crown and the root. The roots of teeth are embedded in the maxilla
(upper jaw) or the mandible (lower jaw) and are covered by our gums. The crown is the visible portion
that extends above the gums.
The crown is covered by a glossy, white, hard coating called enamel. Enamel is composed primarily of
the mineral hydroxylapatite, which is a crystalline calcium phosphate. The enamel is the hardest
substance in the human body, but is it brittle, subject to injury, and can also be worn down by abrasive
action or acidic foods.
The layer located beneath the enamel is called the dentin. Dentin is a bone-like calcified connective tissue
with an organic matrix of collagenous proteins. Dentin is not as hard as enamel and, although it is a
protective layer, it is susceptible to decay. In a healthly mouth, however, there is only a shallow crevice
between the enamel and the gums exposing little or no dentin.
Cementum is a specialized bone-like substance which covers the root of a tooth. It is approximately 45%
hydroxyapatite, 33% collagen and 22% water. Cementum is excreted by cementoblasts within the root of
the tooth and is thickest at the root apex. Its coloration is yellowish and it is softer than either dentin or
enamel. Its principal role is to serve as a medium by which the periodontal ligaments can attach to the
tooth for stability.
The dental pulp is the central part of the tooth filled with soft connective tissue. The pulp contains blood
vessels and nerves that enter the tooth from a hole at the apex of the root. The pulp is commonly called
"the nerve" of the tooth.
Almost immediately after a thorough cleaning, a thin, biofilm called the pellicle begins to coat the teeth,
gums, and tongue. Pellicle is derived from proteins in saliva. Bacteria, along with stains from food and

drink, collect on the pellicle forming a gel-like material called

plaque. The bacteria in the plaque ferment the sugars and
starches in foods to produce lactic acid which dissolves the
calcium and phosphorus in the tooth enamel. When enough
demineralization occurs, bacteria can enter the dentin and cause
decay. Tooth decay or cavities are known as dental caries.
Plaque can seep below the gumline and cause a mild gum disease
called gingivitis resulting in gum inflammation.
Within 2 to 14 days of plaque formation, the plaque deposits will
bond with minerals in the saliva to form a calcified deposit called
calculus, more commonly known as tartar. The calcified tartar
can only be removed by professional cleaning.
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean and is a
means of preventing dental caries, gingivitis, periodontal disease,
bad breath, and other dental disorders. It consists of both
professional and personal care. Healthcare professionals recommend regular tooth brushing at least twice
a day (morning and evening) and after meals. A toothbrush is able to remove most plaque, except in areas
between teeth and raises the pH of the tooth surface neutralizing acids. Flossing is also considered a
necessity to maintain oral hygiene. When used correctly, dental floss removes plaque from between teeth
and at the gum line, where periodontal disease often begins and could develop caries.
Regular cleanings, usually done by dentists and dental hygienists, remove tartar that may develop even
with regular brushing and flossing. Professional cleaning may also include tooth scaling, which uses
various instruments to remove deposits from teeth.
Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used, with a toothbrush, to clean and maintain the aesthetics and
health of teeth. Toothpaste serves as an abrasive that aids in removing the dental plaque and food from the
teeth, assists in suppressing halitosis, and delivers active ingredients such as fluoride or xylitol to help
prevent tooth and gum disease. Most of the cleaning is achieved by the mechanical action of a
toothbrush, and not by the toothpaste. Salt and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are among materials that
can be substituted for commercial toothpaste.
Toothpastes are complex mixtures of abrasives and surfactants; anticaries agents, such as fluoride; tartar
control ingredients, such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate and methyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride
copolymer; pH buffers; humectants (to prevent dry-out and increase the pleasant mouth feel); and binders,
to provide consistency and shape. ( See Table 1). Binders keep the solid phase properly suspended in the
liquid phase to prevent separation of the liquid phase out of the toothpaste. They also provide body to the
dentifrice, especially after extrusion from the tube onto the toothbrush.

Table 1. Components of toothpaste

Ingredients

% by
weight

Humectants

40-70

Water

0-50

Buffers/salts/tartar control 0.5-10

Organic thickeners (gums) 0.4-2
Inorganic thickeners

0-12

Abrasives

10-50

Actives/Antibacterial agent
0.2-1.5
(e.g., triclosan)
Surfactants

0.5-2

Flavor and sweetener

0.8-1.5

. Fluoride sources provide 1000-15000 ppm fluorine

Table 2 lists typical ingredients used in formulations; the final combination will depend on factors such as
ingredient compatibility and cost, local customs, and desired benefits and quality to be delivered in the
product.
Table 2. Typical toothpaste ingredients

Gums

Inorganic
Thickeners

Abrasives

Sodium
carboxymethyl
cellulose

Silica thickeners

Hydrated silica

Cellulose ethers

Sodium
aluminum
silicates

Xanthan Gum

Clays

Dicalcium
phosphate
dihydrate
Calcium
carbonate
Sodium
bicarbonate
Calcium
pyrophosphate

Carrageenans
Sodium alginate
Carbopols

Alumina

Surfactants
Sodium lauryl
sulfate
Sodium Nlauryl
sarcosinate

Humectants

Tartar Control
Ingredient

Glycerin

Tetrasodium
pyrophosphate

Sorbitol

Gantrez S-70

Propylene glycol

Sodium tripolyphosphate

Pluronics
Xylitol
Sodium lauryl
sulfoacetate

Polyethylene
glycol

Table 3 lists the hardness of dental material and typical abrasives used in toothpastes. Hardness is
measured using the Mohs Hardness Scale. The Mohs hardness scale ranges from 1 for
talc
(Mg3(Si2O3)2(OH)2, to 10 for diamond.

Table 3 Mohs hardness of Dental Abrasives

Compound (Formula)
Dentin
Tooth enamel
Baking soda, NaHCO3
Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, CaHPO42H2O
Calcium carbonate, CaCO3
Anhydrous dicalcium phosphate, CaHPO4
Hydrated silica dioxide, SiO2
Calcium pyrophosphate, Ca2P2O7
Alumina, Al2O3

Mohs
Hardness
3.0-4.0
5.0
2.5
2.5
3.0
3.5
2.5-5.0
5.0
9.25

Some active toothpaste ingredients are:

Tartar control additives, such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate, do not remove tartar already formed
on your teeth, they react with the minerals in your saliva to prevent them from forming tartar.
Toothpaste for sensitive teeth contain potassium nitrate. The potassium nitrate blocks nerves
connected to your teeth for people with receded gums. It is not effective for sensitivity from
cavities.
Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is a mild abrasive and reduces stains on the teeth. It neutralizes
acids in the saliva and provides a foaming action in the mouth.
Triclosan (2,4,4trichloro-2-hydroxydiphenyl ether) is a chlorinated aromatic compound with
functional groups that include both phenols and ethers. It is an antibacterial additive that clings to
your teeth after brushing and continues to kill bacteria
Fluoride is effective in strengthening tooth enamel. If the toothpaste is approved by the American
Dental Association, then the fluoride is effective. Differences in the amount of fluoride has little
effect.
Whitening ingredients do little in your toothpaste other than remove some stains. (All toothpastes
remove stains.) No toothpaste can whiten your teeth permanently.
Gels vs. pastes is more of a personal preference. Gels use silica as an abrasive to polish teeth
while pastes usually use calcium carbonate.
Non-active ingredients include:
Sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate are surfactants that promote foaming action.
The foaming action is equated with cleaning.
Alginate or Xanthan gum are binding agents to maintain the consistency of toothpaste for mouth
feel properties.
Sodium benzoate or ethylparaben are preservatives to prevent growth of micro-organisms.
Humectants, such as water, sorbitol or glycerin, hold moisture so the toothpaste does not dry up.

Flavoring is added to impart a pleasant taste.

Sodium saccharine is added to give the toothpaste a sweet taste.
Titanium dioxide is considered to be a coloring agent. It makes the toothpaste opaque and gives it
a white color.
Artificial dyes are added to make colored toothpastes such as blue, green or red.
In this experiment, we will make 3 simple toothpaste formulations and evaluate them, along with some
commercial toothpastes for its properties and cleaning effectiveness.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Wear goggles or safety glasses at all times in the laboratory.
There are no hazards associated with any of the substances used in this experiment.
Do not taste or use any of the toothpastes provided or prepared in this experiment.

DISPOSAL
All substance used in this experiment can be disposed of in the trash.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE
Materials Needed
Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3
Salt, sodium chloride, NaCl
Calcium carbonate, CaCO3
Glycerin, C3H5(OH)3
Sodium lauryl sulfate
Vinegar
Hard cooked eggs
Toothpaste samples
Permanent marker
Toothbrushes
Food color
Plastic microscope slides
Parafilm
Waxed paper
Cotton swabs
Glass squares, 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in)
Stirring rod
Ruler
Weight, 1 kg
Hot plate
pH meter
Dissecting Microscope
Optional: Coffee, tea, artificially colored drink

Procedure
Part 1: Making colored eggs
Eggshells have a high calcium content and most approximate tooth enamel for testing cleaning
effectiveness of toothpaste. You will need one egg for each two toothpastes you are testing.
Measure 120 mL of water into a 250-mL beaker. Heat to boiling on a hot plate.
Remove the beaker of water from the hot plate. Add 15 mL of vinegar and 20 drops of food
coloring (red or blue recommended).
Immerse a hard-boiled egg in the food coloring solution for 5 minutes, until it is stained with color.
Remove the egg from the food coloring solution and place it on a paper towel to dry.
If not being used immediately, store the stained egg in a refrigerator overnight or until the next
class.
Other coloring materials that can be used are coffee, tea, and artificially colored drinks.

Part 2. Make toothpaste

Recipe 1. Baking soda and salt:
Measure 10 g (2 tsp) baking soda, and 1.5 g (1/4 tsp) of sodium chloride into a plastic cup. Stir.
Add 4 mL of glycerin to the baking soda/salt mixture. Stir it as thoroughly as possible. The mixture
will be thick.
Add distilled water with a dropper while stirring until the mixture has about the same consistency
as commercial toothpaste.

Recipe 2. Baking soda, salt and calcium carbonate:

Measure 5 g (1 tsp) baking soda, 1.5 g (1/4 tsp) of sodium chloride, and 1.5 g (1 tsp) calcium
carbonate into a plastic cup. Stir.
Add 4 mL of glycerin to the baking soda/salt/calcium carbonate mixture. Stir it as thoroughly as
possible. The mixture will be thick.
Add distilled water with a dropper while stirring until the mixture has about the same consistency
as commercial toothpaste.

Recipe 3. Baking soda, salt, calcium carbonate, and detergent (sodium lauryl sulfate):
Measure 5 g (1 tsp) baking soda, 1.5 g (1/4 tsp) of sodium chloride, 1.5 g (1 tsp) calcium
carbonate and 0.5 g sodium lauryl sulfate into a plastic cup. Stir.

Add 4 mL of glycerin to the baking soda/salt/calcium carbonate/sodium lauryl sulfate mixture. Stir
it as thoroughly as possible. The mixture will be thick.
Add distilled water with a dropper while stirring until the mixture has about the same consistency
as commercial toothpaste.
Note: No flavor has been added to these home-made toothpastes. If you make your own toothpaste
at home, you can add flavors such as peppermint, wintergreen, citrus, cinnamon, or others that you
can find in the flavoring areas of the spices in your local market.

Part 3. Properties of Toothpastes

You will be testing the 3 toothpastes you made, above, along with 2 or 3 commercial toothpastes.
A. Preparation of toothpaste solutions for testing
Weigh 2.0 g of toothpaste into a 250-mL beaker.
Add 80 mL of water to the beaker. Stir to form a suspension. NOTE: The mixture of toothpaste
and water may have to sit for up to 30 minutes in order to get a uniform suspension.
Repeat this procedure for each sample of toothpaste you are testing.
Save these solutions for use in Parts E and F, in the procedure below.

B. Determination of hard and sharp edged abrasive particles

Squeeze a piece of toothpaste (homemade or commercial) approximately 3 cm long onto a piece of
waxed paper.
Using your finger, press it along its length to test for the presence of hard and sharp edged abrasive
particles.
Repeat this test for each sample of toothpaste you are using.
C. Abrasiveness
Place a pea-sized amount of toothpaste (homemade or commercial) on a clean plastic microscope
slide.
Add 1 or two drops of distilled water to the toothpaste sample.
Using a clean cotton swab, rub the toothpaste sample in a back and forth motion 25 times using
short 1 cm strokes.
Carefully rinse off the microscope slide and dry it with a soft tissue or paper towel.
Examine the slide under a dissecting microscope, illuminated from above, and determine the
amount of scratches on the surface of the slide. Rate the scratches on a scale from 0 (no scratches)
to 5 (a high degree of scratches).

Repeat this test for each sample of toothpaste you are using.
D. Determination of spreadability
Measure 1 g of toothpaste sample (homemade or commercial).
the

Place the sample at the center of a glass plate (10 x 10 cm). Place a second glass plate over
sample.
Place a 1 kg weight on top of the glass plate. Be careful to avoid sliding of the plate.
After 10 minutes, remove the weight and measure the diameter of the paste in centimeters.
Repeat this test for each sample of toothpaste you are using.

E. Determination of pH
Pour about 40 mL
the toothpaste solutions prepared in step A, above, into clean 100
of
mL
beakers.
Measure the pH of each solution using a pH meter.

F. Determination of foaming ability

Pour 30 mL of one of the toothpaste solutions prepared in step A, above, into a 100 mL graduated
cylinder.
Cover the top of the cylinder with a piece of Parafilm. Place your hand over the Parafilm and shake
the graduated cylinder 25 times.
Place the graduated cylinder on the lab bench and measure the height of the foam above the water
in cm. The foaming ability is the height of the foam.

G. Cleaning ability
Note: In the procedure below, you will test the cleaning ability of several toothpastes on the shells
of the eggs you colored earlier. It is recommended that you use 5 to 10 brush strokes for each
toothpaste. Your group may decide to use more brush strokes, if necessary, to obtain results. This
is a comparison of cleaning ability, do not use excessive brushing. For comparison of results,
repeat the brushing procedure as exact as possible for each toothpaste tested.
Using a permanent marker, draw a line along the length of an eggshell dividing it in half.
Moisten a toothbrush with water and shake off any excess water.
Brush one side of an egg with the damp toothbrush for 5 to 10 strokes. (Each stroke is a complete
back and forth motion).
Inspect the egg to see if any color is removed.

Rinse the toothbrush with water, shake of the excess water, and place a pea-sized amount of
toothpaste on the brush.
Brush one side of an egg with the toothpaste for 5 to 10 strokes. (The same number of strokes you
used previously.)
Rinse the egg and the toothbrush and record your results.
Repeat the cleaning ability test with each different toothpaste on a fresh egg surface.

H. Cost
Determine the cost of a tube of each commercial toothpaste you tested. (Check the price online at a
local pharmacy.) Calculate the cost per ounce.

MORE RAW MATERIAL

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COMPARING THE QUALITIES OF DIFFERENT TOOTHPASTES
PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIMENT
The aim of this experiment to determine which toothpaste conserves the teeth best from acids. Tooth is sensible to pH changes. When
acidity in mouth increases, tooth decay possibly begins. Tooth decay is caused by a kind of bacteria. These bacteries fermante sucrose, fructose
and glucose to yield acids. Acids that are produced by bacteries during fermantaion dissolve enamel surface of the teeth as a result of this tooth
decay begins.
Fluoride in toothpaste is incorporated the structure of teeth during the contact with the surface of the teeth. Fluoride makes a coverage
on teeth to protect teeth from harmful effects of acids.
There are a lot of branches of toothpastes. To determine what toothpaste is more effective, following experiment was done in lab.
PROCEDURE OF THE EXPERIMENT
PART #1
For experiment, we did not use teeth, instead we used chicken eggshells. Main component of the eggshell is CaCO 3 and some minor
components like proteins. The main component of the teeth is hydroxylapatite with a molecular formula Ca5(PO4)3(OH). Its the salt of a weak
acid like calcium carbonate. So for the experiment, egshell can be used instead of teeth.
Procedure:

Eggshel is seperated from yolk and membranes.

In a beaker, 3 grams of colgate is dissolved in 20 mL of distilled water.

Large pieces of eggshells is transferred into colgate solution and waited for 30 min.

Eggshells are taken and let them dry until Thursday.

PART #2
Acid like HCl and metal carbonates like calcium carbonate enter reaction. Reaction is given below.
CaCO3 + HCl CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
During reaction CO2 gas is produced. When CO2 is dissolved in water;
CO2 + H2O HCO3- + OHHCO3- + H2O H2CO3 + OHCarbonic acid with a formula H2CO3 is produced. If the produced carbon dioxide is transferred into a base solution, it reacts with base.
Reaction is below.
H2CO3 + 2 NaOH Na2CO3 + 2 H2O
To control the end of producing carbon dioxide, phenolphthalein can be used as indicator. The color of phenolphthalein changes with
pH changes given below :

If pH >12.0, it is colorless.

If pH is in the range 8.212.0, it is colorless.

If pH is in the range 08.2, it is colorless.

In extremely acidic conditions, it is red.

A NaOH solution with a few drops of phenolphthalein indicator reacts with carbonic acid. The color change from pink to colorless, give
reaction time as reaction rate.

Procedure :

The eggshells from Monday is powdered.

In a 125 mL erlenmayer flask, 25 mL of 1.00 M HCl is added. Its head is closed but it is connected to a test
tube with a pipe.

In a test tube mentioned above, 5 mL of 0.005 M of NaOH solution is added.

0.5 grams of powdered eggshell is put into erlenmayer flask.

The color change is observed and time to change color from pink to colorless is recorded.
DATAS
The brand of toothpaste
No toothpaste
Colgate (we used in experiment)
Signal
Ipana
Sensodyne

Time required to change NaOh solutions

color from pink to colorless
14 min 06 sec
10 min 15 sec
20 min 22 sec
23 min 51 sec
44 min 43 sec

CONCLUSION
The time interval in this experiment gives the reaction rate. There is a conflict in the table. There is something wrong with Colgate.
During reaction, errors must be done. Our instructor said that from previous years, time required is around 27 min for colgate. Possible errors :

The eggshell we used in experiment is too powdered than the others.

We did experiment twice. First result was 9 min 8 sec. In the first try, we shake the flask strongly,
but in the second dry we barely shake the flask. So, I do not think it is caused by shaking.
If colgate case is not considered, the toothpaste with high quality is Sensodyne. Time interval is greater than the others. Reaction rate
is slower and can be best choice among toothpastes And also the price of the sensodyne is greater than the others.
Teeth and egg shells are made up of minerals containing mostly calcium. How can this calcium be protected? Toothpaste protects our teeth and
helps to strengthen them. Will toothpaste protect our teeth from acids like vinegar? Which kind of toothpaste has the most protection from acids?
Placing an egg in acidic vinegar starts to dissolve the calcium carbonate outer shell. This experiment is using toothpaste to protect the egg shell.
By coating the egg shell in toothpaste before placing the egg in vinegar, this experiment is attempting to show which brand of toothpaste is the
best protection from the acidic nature of the vinegar. After letting the eggs soak in the vinegar for 10 days, they were carefully removed and
gently washed. Each egg was weighed and recorded. The weight before and the weight after were evaluated. Only Crest toothpaste protected the
egg from the acidic vinegar. The beginning weight of that egg was 1.9 lb. and the ending weight was 1.9 lb. All of the other brands of toothpaste
that were used either gained weight or lost weight.

This project idea comes to you from Engineering Science Quest in Waterloo, Ontario.

to recognize that everyday household products such as toothpaste are made up of chemicals
to identify the ingredients of toothpaste and the properties that make each chemical useful to cleaning teeth
to prepare your own "Adventures Paste" toothpaste
to use tests to identify some physical and chemical properties of "Adventures Paste" and a name brand such as Crest
to evaluate the potential for "Adventures Paste" on the market

The word "chemical" often conjures up images of acids, substances with long names, and bubbling liquids in test tubes. In fact, every
substance in the world is made up of chemicals. Plants, the sea, the land, buildings, chairs, food, and even the body are all made up of
chemicals, such as salt and water. The things we use every day to take care of ourselves are also made up of chemicals. These include
things such as soap, toothpaste, shampoo, vitamins, and hairspray.
Every chemical is unique. They have different physical properties, such as texture, colour, and hardness. Chemical properties are the
ways chemicals react with one another. For example, sugar and chalk dust are both physically similar (fine white powders). However,
they react differently with water; sugar dissolves in water and chalk does not. pH, a measure of acidity, is also a chemical property.
Some ingredients in toothpaste are necessary to clean and strengthen teeth while others are used for marketing strategies, for example
"bubblegum" or "cool spearmint" taste. The ingredients of toothpaste made in this workshop are listed below with their specific
functional use. Fluoride is only available to dental firms, and thus a substitute has to be used.
1. Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda): this acts as a cleaning agent. This can neutralize the acids that cause cavities. This is also
an abrasive to remove build-up on the teeth.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Calcium Phosphate: the Fluoride substitute. Fluoride is used in toothpaste to strengthen teeth. (If you have difficulty
obtaining this ingredient, it could be left out, although Fluoride is an important ingredient in "real" toothpaste.)
Saccharin: the chemicals used in making toothpaste can be bitter, and need to be sweetened. Saccharin or Nutri-sweet can be
used. (The best way to obtain Nutri-sweet is to use artificial sugar packets such as "Equal" or "Sweet 'n Low".) Sugar is not
recommended for obvious reasons.
Washing soda (detergent powder): this is the cleaner that helps to get the food and plaque off of the teeth.
Glycerin: acts as a foaming agent, allowing a small amount of toothpaste to form a foam, and adequately cover the teeth.
(Any liquid soap, such as "Sunlight" or "Palmolive" would also work.)
Water: is included to given a good "paste" consistency.
Peppermint extract: is used to give the toothpaste flavor. Other flavors can be used.

Note: You will need to obtain a ceramic mold of a set of teeth. You can get these from a dentist's office for free. Denture clinics are gold
mines!
15 g sodium bicarbonate
11 g calcium phosphate
2 g Saccharin
3 g washing soda
1 ml glycerin
water
1 drop peppermint extract
1 ceramic mold of a set of teeth
1 toothbrush
1 popsicle stick
4 50 ml beakers
1 400 ml beaker
pH paper
1 tube Toothpaste (Crest)
1L grape juice
coke
vinegar
lemon juice
paper towels

1.
2.

Soak teeth in bucket of grape juice overnight.

The next day, mix a drop of peppermint extract together with the
saccharin in the 400 ml beaker with a stir stick.
3. Add the sodium bicarbonate, calcium phosphate, and washing soda to
the 400 ml beaker. Mix well.
4. Carefully add enough glycerol and water to form a paste. Mix well.
Testing the Toothpaste:
Note: You should only test "Adventures Paste" on the ceramic molds.
It is not safe to try the toothpaste on your own (or others') teeth!
Test #1 - The pH Test
1. Place a small amount of the "Adventures Paste" on the paper
towel. Place the same amount of Crest on the paper towel.
2. Dip one strip of pH paper into the "Adventures Paste" and
another strip into the Crest. Record the pH colour or
number on the chart below.
3. Test the pH of the following common products as well and
record the pH colour or number on the chart below.
Common Product pH
"Adventures Paste"
Crest toothpaste
Water
Vinegar
Cola
Lemon juice
Test #2 - The Scratch Test

1.

Rub a small amount of "Adventures Paste" between your fingers of one hand and a small amount of Crest between the
fingers of your other hand. Determine which toothpaste feels "scratchier". Record your results.
The scratchier toothpaste is: ______________________________
Test #3 - The Cleaning Test
1. Place some Crest on the toothbrush and brush half of the stained teeth for 2 minutes. Rinse the toothbrush off.
2. Place some of the "Adventures Paste" on the toothbrush and brush the other half of the stained teeth for 2 minutes.
3. Rinse the toothbrush and stained teeth in water and check which toothpaste cleaned the stained teeth better. Record your
results.
"Adventures Paste"
Crest
neither

Test #1 will show that the "Adventures Paste" has a much higher pH than Crest which has a pH of 7. The high basicity of
"Adventures Paste" indicates that the toothpaste is not safe for use. The most common high pH chemicals we encounter in our lives are
cleaners such as Mr. Clean, Windex, and ammonia.
The scratch test, Test #2, shows that "Adventures Paste" was slightly more abrasive than Crest. Although mild abrasive properties are
good for removing plaque build-up, this paste is likely to scratch away the enamel on teeth, like brushing your teeth with sandpaper.
The cleaning test, Test #3, is likely to show that "Adventures Paste" is a better cleaner than the Crest. This is a result, at least in part,
of the characteristics noted in the first two tests.
The testing process you followed in this project is similar to the one used to develop products for sale with the best properties for the customer.

1Which toothpaste or toothpastes had the most pleasing appearance? Explain. 2. Which toothpaste felt the
most abrasive? Which was the least abrasive? 3. Which toothpaste was the most abrasive making scratches on the
microscope slide? Which was the least abrasive? Tell the abrasives present in each of the toothpastes. 4. Which
toothpaste had the most spreadability? Why is this important?
5. List the toothpastes in order from highest pH (most alkaline) to lowest pH (most acidic).
6. Which toothpaste exhibited the most foaming ability? Which toothpaste exhibited the least foaming
ability? Is this an important property of a toothpaste?
7. Compare the 3 homemade toothpastes you made in this experiment. What are the differences in these
toothpastes?
8. Compare the ingredients in the commercial toothpastes you tested Is there any significant differences
in the toothpastes?
9. Which toothpaste exhibited the greatest cleaning ability?
Which toothpaste exhibited the least
cleaning ability? Can you attribute cleaning ability to any specific ingredients in the toothpaste?
10. Based on the properties your observed and the price of the toothpastes, which toothpaste do you
consider is the greatest value?

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List of few project topics:

M.R. means materials required for your experiment.
Any human disease can be taken as a topic and collect the complete information with statistical data and a
support of statistical analysis about the same questioners.
2.
Study of coaguable and non-coaguable milk proteins. (M.R.- milk, test tubes, rennin tablet, millons reagent,
beaker, burner, etc).
3.
To study the adaptability of cockroaches to drastic environmental changes such as (a) complete darkness
(b) continuous light (c) refrigerator. (d) high conc. of CO2. (M.R.- live cockroaches, refrigerator, four small tin boxes,
bread, water, dil.Hcl and CaCO3.)
4.
Study of drug resistance in bacteria using antibiotics. (M.R.- agar, starch, dis.water, petridishes and any 2/3
antibiotic powders.)
5.
Study of locomotion in fishes, importance of different fins in balancing and steering the body. (M.R.- a fish
tank, live fishes, scissors, petridishes, cotton).
6.
Effects on plant movement (effects of light and effects of gravity). (M.R.- a potted plant, maize grains / bean
/ green gram seeds, petridishes, cotton).
7.
To study the effects of light on sporulation in fungi. (M.R.- bread slices, cotton, petridishes).
8.
To investigate the frequency of genes for testing PTC (with Phenyl Thio Carbomide strips).
9.
Effect of temperatures and detergents on breathing rate in fish. (M.R.- a fish tank, live fishes, detergents,
thermometer)
10.
To study the variation in the rate of mitotic cell division in the root tips of onion.
1.

11. Effect of pH on the germination of seeds.(different types of seeds, cotton, Petri dishes).
13. Effect of salinity of water on the growth of one type of plant.
14.

Conduct a survey of pesticides at your local nursery, garden supplies shop or supermarket. Construct a table

in which to record:
a.

the names of commercial brands of insecticides

b.

the target organisms

c.

the active chemical ingredients

d.

information given about safety precautions.

Find out how the main ingredients act in each of the pesticides and include them in a report in your survey.
15. Find out how ants follow a trail, and how and why birds migrate.
16. Find out some of the innate behaviours of babies. Why might they be useful to a baby?
17. Investigate the statement Too much adrenaline can cause stress-related diseases.
18. Looking at decomposers.
19. Design and carry out an experiment to investigate the effect of the salinity of water on the growth of one type
of plant.
20. The taste test.
21. Making and testing toothpaste.
22.

Design an experiment to compare the pH of various brands of toothpaste. What does the pH of toothpaste

suggest about tooth decay?

23. What causes pimples? Why are they so difficult to prevent or cure?
24. Imagine you have been asked to find out why so many of the passengers from the Titanic died after 30
minutes in the water, even though they were wearing life jackets. (Hypothesis is heat loss and body cooling is faster
in water than in air).
25. To test the effect of varying salt concentrations on the process of osmosis using an egg as a model.

Report Sheet
TOOTHPASTE
Name ________________________________________ Partner (If applicable) _________________________________ Date _____________________

Toothpaste
Describe
Appearance

Abrasiveness
By Touch
Abrasiveness
On microscope
slide
Spreadability
pH
Foaming ability

Cleaning ability
Cost of tube

Cost

Size (oz)
Cost per oz

Homemade 1

Homemade 2

Homemade 3

Names of commercial toothpastes