Toothpaste Lab Environmental Explorations Mr. Luis A. Velazquez

Toothpaste Background  Toothpaste is not a relatively modern phenomena.  In fact, as long ago as BC Egyptians made a dental cream by mixing powdered ashes of oxen hooves with myrrh, burned egg shells, pumice, and water.  Unfortunately, these early Egyptians didn't have toothbrushes but used chew sticks to apply their dental cream. Environmental Explorations

Toothpaste Background  In 1000 AD Persians added burnt shells of snails and oysters along with gypsum.  Unfortunately, at this point, toothpaste was still reserved for the rich.  Later, in Greece and Rome, we see more abrasives being added to the powder mixture, like crushed bones and oyster shells.  We know the Romans added flavoring, perhaps to help with bad breath and to make their paste more palatable. This flavoring was more or less powdered charcoal and bark  In 18th century in England a tooth cleaning "powder" containing borax was sold in ceramic pots.  One of the problems, which lasted well into the twentieth century, was that they were often very abrasive, causing damage to teeth. Environmental Explorations

 Prior to WWII, toothpaste was packaged in small lead/tin alloy tubes.  The inside of the tube was coated with wax, however, it was discovered that lead from the tubes leached into the product.  It was the shortage of lead and tin during WWII that led to the use of laminated (aluminum, paper, and plastic combination) tubes.  At the end of the twentieth century pure plastic tubes were used. Environmental Explorations

 If you will do a toothpaste what ingredient will you use and why? Environmental Explorations

 The breakthrough that transformed toothpaste into the crucial weapon against tooth decay was the finding that fluoride could dramatically reduce cavities.  Dr. William Engler tested 400 preschool children and discovered a dramatic reduction in dental cavities among children treated with fluoride.  This study, along with many others done around the world, led to the widespread introduction of fluoride in the 1950s. Environmental Explorations

Toothpaste  We use it every single day. In fact, Americans brush their teeth nearly 200 billion times a year.  We spend more than 1.6 billion dollars on it.  But, have you ever wondered exactly how it helps our teeth? And how do we go about choosing which one's right for us? Environmental Explorations

Toothpaste and Mining  The cleaning is done with abrasive from rock that rub plaque away.  Abrasive are minerals like silica, limestone, aluminum oxide ( also use in sandpaper)  Most toothpaste are made of titanium oxide  Titanium dioxide is also use to make white paint.  The sparkle in some toothpaste comes from mica, a mineral common in many rocks. Environmental Explorations