Well looking at the Colgate total packaging it doesn’t really matter. It looks as though the Colgate designers had a brainstorming session on the front of the package and gave ticks for each correct answer. They of course got eight out of eight. Now I have to make a confession. I actually use Colgate total daily and think it is a cracking toothpaste. To keep it fair let’s put it to the test and see if we can reveal any dark secrets.
Colgate total strengthens your teeth because it has the maximum concentration of fluoride in 1450ppm. Fluoride works to prevent decay in three ways. Firstly fluoride helps remineralise the enamel of the tooth by attracting ions the damaged area. Secondly, Fluoride hardens the hydroxyapatite in the enamel of the tooth turning it into fluorapatite. Fluorapatite is more decay resistant than normal enamel. Finally, Fluoride also works to inhibit the growth of decay forming bacteria by limiting their metabolism.
Colgate total provides the maximum protection against decay and scores full marks on this section.
Don’t you hate it when there isn’t a simple answer? Colgate total contains a chemical called Triclosan. Triclosan is the best known chemical at fighting gum disease within toothpastes. It does come with it’s potential downsides though as the The FDA are concerned about reports and research about whether triclosan is harmful to health. The studies indicate that triclosan: Alters hormone regulation in animals
May cause changes to the immune system, May produce development of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
If you want to play it safe I would stay away from triclosan containing products especially if you are pregnant.
