List of toothpaste ingredients alphabetized from A to Z with a concise description of what it does for your teeth, gums, and mouth.
Collection of various toothpastesThis page will be continuously updated as we review more and more toothpastes.
A
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) | Flavor |
| Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer | Maintains enamel integrity during whitening |
| Arginine | pH adjuster |
| Aqua (Water) | Base component (body, solubility) |
B
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Bark Extract | Flavor |
| Benzoic Acid | pH adjuster |
| Benzyl Alcohol | Preservative |
| Beta Carotene | Adds color |
| Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) | Preservative |
| Blue 1 | Adds color |
C
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Calcium Carbonate | Whitening Abrasive
White color dye
Helps remineralization
Neutralizes oral acids
Thickener |
| Calcium Peroxide | Whitening/Remineralizing |
| Calcium Pyrophosphate | Anti-tartar & anti-staining |
| Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) | Flavor |
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride | Moisturizing prevents drying out |
| Caprylyl GLycol | Humectant |
| Carbomer | Thicken to form gel consistency |
| Carrageenan | Thicken to form gel consistency |
| Cellulose Gum | Thickener and stabilizer |
| Cetylpyridinium Chloride | Antiseptic (plaque, bacteria, gingivitis) |
| Charcoal | Whitening abrasive |
| Chlorhexidine | Antibacterial |
| Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon) | Flavor |
| Citric Acid | pH adjuster |
| Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange Peel) | Flavor |
| Citrus Limon (Lemon) | Flavor |
| Cocamidopropyl Betaine | Detergent & foaming agent |
| Cocos Nucifera (Coconut oil) | Flavor
Humectant |
| Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) | Flavor |
| Cyclodextrin | Increase Water Solubility |
D
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| D&C Red No. 33 | Adds color |
| D&C Yellow No. 10 | Adds color |
| Dicalcium Phosphate Dihydrate | Whitening abrasive / Enhance remineralizing |
| Diethanolamine | Detergent/Foaming agent |
| Dimethicone | Silicone moisturizer (similar to petrolatum) |
| Disodium Phosphate | pH adjuster |
| Disodium Pyrophosphate | Anti-tartar |
E
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Ethylhexylglycerin | Preservative |
| Erythritol | Natural Sweetener |
| Eucalyptus Globulus | Essential Oil |
F
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| FD & C Blue No. 1 | Adds color |
| FD & C Green No. 3 | Adds color |
| FD & C Red No. 40 | Adds color |
| FD & C Yellow No. 5 | Adds color |
| FD & C Yellow No. 6 | Adds color |
| Flavor | Flavoring |
G
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) | Flavor |
| Gelatin | Thickener |
| Glycerin | Humectant (prevents drying out) |
| Green 3 | Adds color |
H
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil | Mix ingredients |
| Hydrated Silica | Whitening Abrasive
Thickener |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | Whitening/Antiseptic |
| Hydrogenated Coconut Oil | Moisture/Flavor |
| Hydroxyapatite | Anti-cavity / Anti-sensitivity |
I
| Illicium Verum (Star Anise) | Flavor |
L
| Lactose Monohydrate | Flavoring/Appearance |
| Lecithin | Emulsidifer |
M
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Mangifera Indica (Mango) | Flavor |
| Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) | Antiseptic |
| Mentha Arvensis (Wild Mint) | Flavor |
| Mentha Piperita (Peppermint Oil) | Flavor |
| Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) | Flavor |
| Menthol | Flavor |
| Methylcellulose | Thickener & Stabilizer |
| Methylisothiazolinone | Preservative |
| Mica | Whitening Abrasive
Shimmer Colorant |
| Microcrystalline Cellulose | Thickener & Stabilizer |
| Mineral Oil | Mix ingredients |
| Monosodium Citrate | pH adjuster / Preservative |
P
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Papain | Non-abrasive Whitening Agent |
| Paraffinum Liquidum | Mix ingredients |
| PEG-8 | Squeezability |
| PEG-12 | Lubrication/Spreadability |
| PEG-40 Castor Oil | Water/Oil Solubility (prevents separation) |
| PEG/PPG-116/66 Copolymer | Enhances whitening / Prevents stains |
| Pentasodium Triphosphate | Prevents enamel adhesion (plaque, bacteria, stains) |
| Persea Gratissima (Avocado) | Flavor |
| Phthalimidoperoxycaproic Acid (PAP) | Whitening Agent |
| Pimpinella Anisum (Anise) | Flavor |
| Phenoxyethanol | Preservative |
| Phosphoric Acid | pH adjuster |
| Poloxamer 105 | Surface Emulsions |
| Poloxamer 338 | Prevents liquid separation |
| Poloxamer 407 | Prevents product separation |
| Polyacrylic Acid | Thickener |
| Polyethylene | Thickener |
| Polysorbate 20 | Mix ingredients |
| Polysorbate 80 | Surfactant / Emulsifier |
| Potassium Citrate | Anti-sensitivity |
| Potassium Cocoate | Detergent / Surfactant |
| Potassium Chloride | Anti-sensitivity |
| Potassium Hydroxide | pH adjuster |
| Potassium Nitrate | Anti-sensitivity |
| Potassium Sorbate | Preservative |
| Propanediol | Sweetener Solvent |
| Propylene Glycol | Prevents liquid separation |
| PVM/MA Copolymer | Enhances Fluoride Acid Resistance
Retain active ingredients on teeth/gums
Occludes dentinal tubules with silica |
| PVP | Thickener |
R
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Red 33 | Adds color |
| Red 40 | Adds color |
S
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Silica | Whitening Abrasive |
| Simethicone | Foaming agent |
| Sodium Acrylates / Methacryloylethyl Phosphate Copolymer | Forms barrier on teeth to prevent stains |
| Sodium Benzoate | Preservative |
| Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking soda) | Whitening Abrasive
Thickener
pH Buffering |
| Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate | Vegetable Surfactant |
| Sodium Citrate | pH adjuster |
| Sodium Fluoride | Anti-cavity |
| Sodium Hydroxide | pH adjuster |
| Sodium Gluconate | Lathering |
| Sodium Lactate | Enhance Fluoride Uptake in Enamel |
| Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate | Detergent/Foaming |
| Sodium Lauryl Methylcellulose | Thickener/Stabilizer |
| Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinat | Detergent (More mild than SLS) |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | Detergent/Surfactant/Foaming |
| Sodium Monofluorophosphate | Anti-cavity |
| Sodium Phosphate | pH adjuster |
| Sodium Saccharin | Sweetness |
| Sorbitol | Sweetness & Moisture retention |
| Stannous Fluoride | Anti-cavity & Anti-sensitivity |
| Stevia | Natural Sweetener |
| Sucralose | Sweetness |
T
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Tetrapotassium Pyrophosphate | Anti-tartar |
| Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate | Anti-tartar |
| Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) | Flavor |
| Titanium Dioxide | Adds white color
Opacifier
Desensitizer + acid resistance when added with calcium carbonate |
| Tricalcium Phosphate | Works synergistically with fluoride (supplies Ca/P) |
| Triclosan | Antibacterial/Antifungal |
| Trimethylsiloxysilicate/Dimethiconol Crosspolymer | Helps toothpaste stick to teeth |
| Trisodium Phosphate | pH adjuster |
W
| Water | Base component (body, solubility) |
X
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Xanthan Gum | Thickener |
| Xylitol | Sweetener / Mildly anti-cavity |
Y
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Yellow 5 | Adds color |
| Yellow 6 | Adds color |
| Yellow 10 | Adds color |
Z
| Toothpaste Ingredient | Function |
|---|
| Zinc Oxide | Neutralizes bad breath |
| Zinc Phosphate | Anti-bacterial; Anti-tartar |
| Zinc Phosphate Tetrahydrate | pH adjuster |
