effects of toothpaste on bacteria growth?
443297
Not much, actually-You dont want something that kills the bacteria in the mouth, because they are the primary protection against even worse things.  People who have to take very high doses of antibiotics often loss the bacteria in the mouth, and then have things like thrush, yeast, even massive fungal infections-and these are extremely hard to treat.  Toothpaste just scrapes the bacteria off the tooth, so the acidic waste products of the bacteria dont eat away the enamel.
129987
Cool question!\n\nNow the easy answer is that fluorides are natural or man-made minerals which help prevent tooth decay. Most toothpaste will say something like "contains fluoride" like it is some big invention. D'oh! Many cities and towns add fluorides into the drinking water to help fight cavities. They add it at the local water treatment plant. \n\nChlorine is a chemical used in swimming pools, chlorine bleach, and in small amounts in town drinking water. It makes water safe to drink by killing dangerous germs and other tiny pests in the water. Hey head down to the town pool, you are going to get that familiar whiff of chlorine! P.U.!\n\nHere are some geeky links with all kinds of tech talk. I'd just ignore them since the practical answers is just "Dudes, Fluoride is a mineral which protects your teeth and Chlorine is a chemical which kills germs and stuff!"\n\nBest wishes!
1124880
Listerine can kill the bacteria in your mouth... but you'd have to constantly be swishing with listerine. Antibiotics only help systemic bacteria, and the bacteria in your mouth are topical rather than systemic. Cavities work from the outside of your tooth inward, rather than the other way around.
563882
Whitening toothpaste will not actually whiten your teeth... at best, it may remove some of the extrinsic stains on your teeth caused by such things as smoking or drinking coffee, tea and dark colas.  It is not advised to use it because it is very abrasive and can potentially damage the enamel of your teeth.
466609
well, there are many factors that led to the growth of bacteria..first, the temperature. Temperature affects the growth of bacteria. Like for instance, there are several bacteria that thrive in room temperature, and there are those that thrive in very cold or very hot temperatures. Second, the pH affects the growth of bacteria also. For example, there are micro organisms that thrive in very acidic env't (ex. Candida albicans which causes Candidiasis), also there are those that thrive in alkaline env't.Third, there are special micro organisms that thrive in extreme environment. For instance, there are those that thrive in very saline env't, called extreme halophiles. There are also that thrive in methane- rich env't.\nThere are other factors that lead to the growth of micro organisms but one thing is for sure...micro organisms are everywhere even in the place where no other living things can thrive...
864643
That would be nice...... but plaque still needs to be removed manually, mouthwashes just can't remove it from around and below the gumline where it causes most problems\n\nI think I'll be doing my job for a bit longer yet !! :0)
491617
Believe it or not, toothpaste will get rid of it in 24 hours...GL;)
536356
toothpaste, i have done it many times and it works.
505670
There are several ways in which salt and sugar inhibit microbial growth. The most notable is simple osmosis, or dehydration. The salt or sugar, whether in solid or aqueous form removes free water molecules in the food that is necessary for microbial survival and growth.\n\nThey may also inhibit enzymes activity directly or indirectly by helpng in the accumulation of antimicrobial produts from other organisms.
170187
Toothpastes contain between 1000 to 1500 µg/g of fluoride.  Toothpastes made for children contain less fluoride which is usually between 250 to 500 µg/g.  The reason a children's toothpaste has less fluoride is because it is common for children to swallow toothpaste and fluoride can make the stomach quite nauseated.\n\nAnd just FYI, the toothpaste AIM is not ADA (American Dental Association) approved.  Make sure you are always using a toothpaste that has been approved by the ADA.  Just check the box for the seal of approval.
1032340
Chocolates contain a lot of sugar.  Bacteria that live on our teeth can feed on this sugar, and as they do they produce acidic compounds that can damage our teeth.\n\nBrushing your teeth regularly helps remove some of these bacteria, as well as the excess nutrients from the food we eat (that the bacteria can feed on).
812922
toothpaste, I have never tried it, but apparently it works???
363059
Whoa!  It's a bad way to start a morning!  That stuff is nasty smelling.  I can only imagine how it tastes. Hide that stuff in a drawer away from your toothpaste to prevent that accident from happening again!  Anyway, have you tried Listerine mouth wash?  That's mighty powerful.  Or how about brushing your teeth, gums & tongue with the old fashioned solution: baking soda & water mixture?
443423
Here's the real answer...  You should replace your toothbrush every 3 months or if you have some sort of bacterial or viral illness.  Also, if you notice that the brushes are getting frayed, replace it.\n\nAs for cleansers, they do work.  There are also UV Light toothbrush holders that kill bacteria.  Placing your toothbrush in boiling water or in a cup with a single drop of bleach would do the same job.  It is a little overkill though.  If you use Listerine (which you should) you can soak your brush in Listerine overnight once a week.  You should store your brush so that it is upright and free from moisture.  Storing your brush with a head cover or in a moist area will promote bacterial growth.
586107
well, plaque is formed by bacteria. Plaque is actually a bi-product of bacteria (a.k.a. bacteria poo.) The bacteria eat pieces of food in your mouth and deposit plaque, usually along your gumline. The plaque begins to decompose as it sits in your mouth, and its decomposition and chemical makeup creates acid on your teeth that slowly wear away at the enamel. all those types of alcohols and extracts in Listerine and other anti-bacterial mouthwashes are effective at killing different types of bacteria, without harming doing too much damage to the living cells in your mouth. The burn in your mouth is actually pain, and the cells slowly turn the pain receptors off, leaving a numb feeling in your mouth. by killing most of the bacteria, you eliminate their waste products, i.e plaque. Their molecular structures have to do with it, but it's just the fact that it kills bacteria. hand sanitizers have a high alcohol content (usually 62% ethyl alcohol) for the same reason, and doctors also swab your arm with rubbing alcohol before shots to clean the area fast and effectively :)
660837
Spit yes. Rinse no. If you rinse, you just washed off all the fluoride and antimicrobial agents in your toothpaste.
103449
We started our search by typing some of the better-known toothpaste brands into our browser's location window. We tried www.crest.com, www.colgate.com, and www.mentadent.com and received some information on the various types of toothpastes, what they do, and how they do it. However, we were ultimately unsuccessful in finding the basic toothpaste ingredients. \nRealizing our quick approach was ineffective, we went to the old standby and typed "toothpaste ingredients" into the Yahoo! search box. \n\nAs expected, Yahoo! didn't have a Toothpaste Ingredients category, but our search wasn't a waste -- we received thousands of web pages that featured the words "toothpaste" and "ingredients." We were on our way to a clean and sparkling answer. \n\nWe clicked on the BDA Facts File, a subpage of the official British Dental Association web site. We scrolled down to find a list of active and inactive ingredients that may be included in toothpaste. \n\nActive Ingredients: \n\nFluoride \nAntibacterial agents, most often Triclosan is used to control plaque \nDesensitizing agents \nAnti-tartar agents \nSodium bicarbonate (baking soda) \nEnzymes, to enhance the antibacterial properties of saliva \nXylitol, a non-sugar sweetener, which reduces levels of cariogenic (decay causing) bacteria in the mouth and enhances remineralization \n(Natural toothpastes may contain a variety of ingredients - anything from oil of ginger to seaweed extract.) \nInactive ingredients: \n\nWater \nDetergents, to make the toothpaste foam \nBinding agents \nHumectants to retain moisture \nFlavoring, sweetening, and coloring agents like peppermint, spearmint, cinnamon, wintergreen, and menthol \nPreservatives \nAbrasives for cleaning and polishing \nWe clicked on another link, this one an article from WebMD titled "What Are You Putting on Your Teeth?" The article explains that almost all toothpastes start with mild abrasives and detergents, as well as the near-universal ingredient, fluoride. After that, toothpastes vary quite a bit. \nPossible ingredients include: tartar-control agents, most often pyrophosphate; sensitivity reducers, such as potassium nitrate; triclosan; baking soda; and teeth whiteners. \n \n \nEmail this page - View most popular \n   Related Links \n\nCopyright © 2000 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Copyright/IP Policy \nAll information available through or in connection with Ask Yahoo! is informational only and provided "as is" without warranties, representations, or guarantees of any kind. Yahoo! disclaims any and all implied warranties respecting Ask Yahoo!. Use of Ask Yahoo! is entirely at your own risk and is not a substitute for conducting your own research. \n \nPS...TRY THE SECOND LINK ALSO!  GOOD-LUCK!