Kya Apke Toothpaste Mein Namak Zaroori

Hai?
You must have often heard the line, Kya apke toothpaste
mein namak hai? But if you’ve ever wondered whether salt
is required to get clean teeth, then, read on!

Toothpaste have come a long way from its inception when

they were made from varied materials such as crushed
eggshells, ground hooves and spices. If you walk down the
supermarket aisle or your favorite local grocery shop, you
will find lots of different variants of toothpastes. Some are
for sensitive teeth, some contain fluoride while others are
for whitening, however, the most promoted ingredient in
an Indian toothpaste these days is ‘salt’. Colgate started
the revolutionary trend with a simple question, Kya apke
toothpaste mein namak hai? Since then, a question has
plagued my mind, is active salt in toothpaste really
required? If so, what is its purpose? If you’ve had the same
query then do read on.
In light of my question, I decided to do a little research on
the composition of salt-toothpaste. A key ingredient in salt
toothpaste is sodium chloride or table salt, and in some
cases, rock salt. Salt has been a part of oral care regime
centuries. Salt water gurgles are a popular
recommendation from doctors, you might even have heard
your parents and grandparents ask you to rinse your
mouth with lukewarm salt water. Salt water rinse is given
to relieve patients off gum swelling, and other oral
infections, because salt is a natural disinfectant.
Furthermore, salt is a mild abrasive, gentle enough to
remove stains from teeth.
In recent years, 'alternative' toothpastes have been gaining
prominence among Indian consumers. Companies are
promoting toothpastes prepared from ‘household’
ingredients such as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate),
coconut oil, cinnamon and even charcoal, besides, of
course, salt. The popularity of salt in toothpaste was
single handedly created by Colgate, but it appears to be
way more than a marketing gimmick.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research notes, ‘saliva
contains several minerals that help strengthen the enamel
on the teeth, including phosphate and calcium. The
increased flow of saliva can help protect the teeth from
acids and bacteria that cause decay.’ The action of active
salt particles in toothpaste stimulates the production of
saliva and promotes oral health. Furthermore, salt is
naturally capable of reducing inflammation and swelling in

the gums, thereby minimizing the chances of gingivitis.

This is because salt balances the Ph level inside the
mouth which makes it impossible for bacteria to thrive in
it.

One may ask if he/she can simply sprinkle salt on their

toothpaste and brush teeth, it’s a stupid question but
worth asking. Well, the answer is no. Salt in itself is quite
abrasive and can damage your teeth enamel, so it has to
be mixed in particular proportions in order to gain
maximum benefits. So do not go about DIYing your
toothpaste just yet, when there is a cheaper alternative
already at hand. Get the Colgate Active Salt Toothpaste,
which contains sodium chloride as well as ‘baking soda’,
which will gently cleanse your teeth while also disinfecting
your mouth.

Thanks