People used twigs of trees, and the ancient Egyptians, who were a much advanced civilization, used some paste like substance made out of sodium bicarbonate to scrub their teeth. Brushing basically removes the plaque that is stored between the teeth and which it mainly responsible for causing decay.

Most of the toothpastes that are made today consist of mild abrasives which scrub the teeth and remove the tartar. They contain detergent, which gives a white effect to the teeth after washing them. They contain a thickener, which helps the paste to stay close together, and give it consistency. They contain humectants which act as a moisturizer for the teeth. Since the abrasives are going to scratch the teeth the moisturizer will help to smoothen it. They also have flavoring agents because the toothpaste can give out a very strong and burning taste otherwise with so many chemicals in them. All toothpastes have fluoride which is ultimately responsible for preventing tooth decay.

Different toothpastes have different ingredients in them, but the basic ingredients listed above stay the same. Some have sweeteners; while others have desensitizing agents. Some toothpaste even has bleaching agents in them which help to whiten your teeth.

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