Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Maragondon Branch

Maragondon, Cavite

TOOTHPASTE
MEEN 3512 – Industrial Processes
Renefer R. Tolentino Jr.
Engr. Arian Jhon C. Cruzat

INTRODUCTION

Toothpaste is a paste or gel dentifrice used with a toothbrush to clean and maintain the
aesthetics and health of teeth. Toothpaste is used to promote oral hygiene: it is an abrasive that
aids in removing dental plaque and food from the teeth, assists in suppressing halitosis, and
delivers active ingredients (most commonly fluoride) to help prevent tooth decay (dental caries)
and gum disease (gingivitis).

Salt and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are among materials that can be substituted
for commercial toothpaste. Large amounts of swallowed toothpaste can be toxic. Toothpastes
can come in a gel, paste or powder form. While the ingredients differ slightly, all toothpastes
contain the same general components.

PURPOSES:

o Cleaning

o Polishing

o Removal of stains

o Reduce incidence of tooth decay

o Reduction of oral malodors

HISTORY OF TOOTHPASTE
Toothpaste has a history that stretches back nearly
4,000 years. Until the mid-nineteenth century, abrasives used
to clean teeth did not resemble modern toothpastes. People
were primarily concerned with cleaning stains from their teeth
and used harsh, sometimes toxic ingredients to meet that
goal. Ancient Egyptians used a mixture of green lead,
verdigris (the green crust that forms on certain metals like copper or brass when exposed to salt
water or air), and incense. Ground fish bones were used by the early Chinese.

In the Middle Ages, fine sand and pu mice were the primary ingredients in teeth-cleaning
formulas used by Arabs. Arabs realized that using such harsh abrasives
harmed the enamel of the teeth. Concurrently, however, Europeans used
strong acids to lift stains. In western cultures, similarly corrosive mixtures
were widely used until the twentieth century. Table salt was also used to
clean teeth.

In 1850, Dr. Washington Wentworth Sheffield, a dental surgeon and

chemist, invented the first toothpaste. He was 23 years old and lived in New
London, Connecticut. Dr. Sheffield had been using his invention, which he
called Creme Dentifrice, in his private practice. The positive response of his
patients encouraged him to market the paste. He constructed a laboratory
to improve his invention and a small factory to manufacture it.

Modern toothpaste was invented to aid in the removal foreign particles and food
substances, as well as clean the teeth. When originally marketed to consumers, toothpaste was
packaged in jars. Chalk was commonly used as the abrasive in the early part of the twentieth
century.

Sheffield Labs claims it was the first company to put toothpaste in tubes. Washington
Wentworth Sheffield's son, Lucius, studied in Paris, France, in the late nineteenth century. Lucius
noticed the collapsible metal tubes being used for paints. He thought
putting the jar-packaged dentifrice in these tubes would be a good
idea. It was adopted for toothpaste, as well as other pharmaceutical
uses. The Colgate-Palmolive Company also asserts that it sold the
first toothpaste in a collapsible tube in 1896. The product was called
Colgate Ribbon Dental Creme. In 1934, in the United States, toothpaste standards were
developed by the American Dental Association’s Council on Dental Therapeutics. They rated
products on the following scale: Accepted, Unaccepted, or Provisionally Accepted.

The next big milestone in toothpaste development happened in the mid-twentieth century
(1940-60, depending on source). After studies
proving fluoride aided in protection from tooth decay, many
toothpastes were reformulated to include sodium fluoride.
Fluoride's effectiveness was not universally accepted. Some
consumers wanted fluoride-free toothpaste, as well as artificial
sweetener-free toothpaste. The most commonly used artificial
sweetener is saccharin. The amount of saccharin used in
toothpaste is minuscule. Companies like Tom's of Maine responded to this demand by
manufacturing both fluoridated and non-fluoridated toothpastes, and toothpastes without artificial
sweetening.

Many of the innovations in toothpaste after the fluoride breakthrough involved the addition
of ingredients with "special" abilities to toothpastes and toothpaste packaging. In the 1980s, tartar
control became the buzz word in the dentifrice industry. Tarter
control toothpastes claimed they could control tartar build-up around
teeth. In the 1990s, toothpaste for sensitive teeth was introduced.
Bicarbonate of soda and other ingredients were also added in the
1990s with claims of aiding in tartar removal and promoting healthy
gums. Some of these benefits have been largely debated and have
not been officially corroborated.

Packaging toothpaste in pumps and stand-up tubes was introduced during the 1980s and
marketed as a neater alternative to the collapsible tube. In 1984, the Colgate pump was
introduced nationally, and in the 1990s, stand-up tubes spread throughout the industry, though
the collapsible tubes are still available.
COMPONENTS OF TOOTHPASTE

• Mild abrasive. With some help from your toothbrush, these help to remove debris and
surface stains.

EXAMPLES:

o hydrated silica
o calcium carbonate,
o calcium pyrophosphate
o dicalcium phosphate dihydrate

• Humectants. This ingredient helps to prevent water loss and keeps your toothpaste.

EXAMPLES:

o Sorbitol
o hydrogenated starch hydrolysate
o Propylene glycol,
o PEG: Disadvantage: bitter taste
o Advantage: 1. sweet & coolness feeling 2. Anticarrier

• Flavoring agents. This is what gives your toothpaste a little bit of sweetness, and that
minty fresh scent. Since these do not contain sugar, they also do not promote tooth decay.

Purpose:

o Influence consumer acceptance

o Leaves a fresh clean feeling after brushing
o Considered highest cost ingredient in the toothpaste formulation
o Examples: Peppermint, spearmint, menthol, wintergreen, cinnamon

• Thickening agents. Also known as binders, these help to stabilize the toothpaste
formula.

Examples: cellulose gum and carrageenan

• Detergent. That foaming action comes from detergent. It also helps to spread the
toothpaste through your whole mouth and helps clean teeth.

They may have all the same basic ingredients, but all toothpastes are not the same.
Depending on the toothpaste, other ingredients can also be added for other benefits. Here are
some important things to keep in mind when choosing your toothpaste:
 • Decay prevention. Fluoride is a natural cavity fighter that helps to strengthen tooth
enamel and fight tooth decay. Not all toothpastes contain fluoride. Be sure to always use
toothpaste containing this cavity-fighting mineral.
• Plaque and gingivitis. Several toothpaste contain active ingredients that can fight plaque
and gingivitis, an early form of gum disease.
• Whitening. If you’re looking for a little extra sparkle in your smile, “whitening” toothpastes
have special chemical or polishing agents that help remove more surface stains than
regular toothpastes.
• Desensitizing. If you have sensitive teeth, you may want to consider using a desensitizing
toothpaste. These contain compounds which help to reduce tooth sensitivity.

MANUFACTURING PROCESS

1. After transporting the raw materials into the factory, the ingredients are both manually
and mechanically weighed. This ensures accuracy in the ingredients' proportions. Then the
ingredients are mixed together. Usually, the glycerin-water mixture is done first.

2. All the ingredients are mixed together in the mixing vat. The temperature and humidity
of vat are watched closely. This is important to ensuring that the mix comes together correctly. A
commonly used vat in the toothpaste industry mixes a batch that is the equivalent of 10,000 four-
ounce (118 ml) tubes.

• FILLING THE TUBES

3.Before tubes are filled with toothpaste, the tube itself passes under a blower and a
vacuum to ensure cleanliness. Dust and particles are blown out in this step. The tube is capped,
and the opposite end is opened so the filling machine can load the paste.

4. After the ingredients are mixed together, the tubes are filled by the filling machine. To
make sure the tube is aligned correctly, an optical device rotates the tube. Then the tube is filled
by a descending pump. After filled, the end is sealed (or crimped) closed. The tube also gets a
code stamped on it indicating where and when it was manufactured.

• PACKAGING AND SHIPMENT

 5. After tubes are filled, they are inserted into open paperboard boxes. Some companies
do this by hand.

6. The boxes are cased and shipped to warehouses and stores.

QUALITY CONTROL

Each batch of ingredients is tested for quality as it is brought into the factory. The testing
lab also checks samples of final product.

TOOTPASTE HAZARDS

In 1997, the FDA ordered toothpaste manufacturers to add a poison warning on all
fluoride toothpastes sold in the U.S. The warning reads:

“Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used
for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately.”

The FDA requires this warning because children who swallow too much fluoride
toothpaste can suffer acute poisoning, even death. In fact, a single tube of bubble-gum flavored
Colgate-for-Kids toothpaste contains enough fluoride (143 mg) to kill a child weighing less than
30 kg. (Whit ford 1987a).