Editing Toothpaste (section)

===Abrasives===
Abrasives constitute 8-20% of a typical toothpaste.<ref name="Lippert-2013" /> These insoluble particles are designed to help remove plaque from the teeth.<ref name="Aspinall-2021">{{cite journal | vauthors = Aspinall SR, Parker JK, Khutoryanskiy VV | title = Oral care product formulations, properties and challenges | journal = Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces | volume = 200 | pages = 111567 | date = April 2021 | pmid = 33454623 | doi = 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.111567 | s2cid = 231634828 | url = https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/95441/1/Oral%20care%20product%20formulations-revised%20unmarked.pdf }}</ref> The removal of plaque inhibits the accumulation of tartar ([[Calculus (dental)|calculus]]) helping to minimize the risk of gum disease.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = van der Weijden F, Slot DE | title = Oral hygiene in the prevention of periodontal diseases: the evidence | journal = Periodontology 2000 | volume = 55 | issue = 1 | pages = 104–23 | date = February 2011 | pmid = 21134231 | doi = 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2009.00337.x }}</ref> Representative abrasives include particles of [[aluminum hydroxide]] (Al(OH)<sub>3</sub>), [[calcium carbonate]] (CaCO<sub>3</sub>), [[magnesium carbonate]] (MgCO<sub>3</sub>), [[sodium bicarbonate]], various [[calcium hydrogen phosphate]]s, various [[silica]]s and [[zeolite]]s, and [[hydroxyapatite]] (Ca<sub>5</sub>(PO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>3</sub>OH).

After the [[Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015]], the use of [[microbeads]] in toothpaste has been discontinued in the US,<ref>{{Cite web|title=What Are Microbeads In Toothpaste?|url=https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/brushing-and-flossing/what-are-microbeads-in-toothpaste|work=[[Colgate-Palmolive|Colgate]]|date=|access-date=November 28, 2022}}</ref> however since 2015 the industry has shifted toward instead using [[FDA]]-approved "rinse-off" [[Metallised film|metallized-plastic]] [[glitter]] as their primary [[abrasive agent]].<ref>{{Cite news|author=Caity Weaver|title=What Is Glitter? A strange journey to the glitter factory.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/style/glitter-factory.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 21, 2018|access-date=November 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Trisha Bartle|title=TikTok Is Going Deep On The Glitter Conspiracy Theories–Is It Toothpaste, Boats, Or Something Else?|url=https://collective.world/tiktok-is-going-deep-on-the-glitter-conspiracy-theories-is-it-toothpaste-boats-or-something-else/|work=Collective World|date=October 17, 2022|access-date=November 28, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author=Dr. Beccy Corkill|title=The Glitter Conspiracy Theory: Who Is Taking All Of The Glitter?|url=https://www.iflscience.com/the-glitter-conspiracy-theory-who-is-taking-all-of-the-glitter-66761|work=[[IFLScience]]|date=December 21, 2022|access-date=January 18, 2023}}</ref> Some brands contain powdered white [[mica]], which acts as a mild abrasive, and also adds a cosmetic glittery shimmer to the paste. The polishing of teeth removes stains from tooth surfaces, but has not been shown to improve dental health over and above the effects of the removal of [[Dental plaque|plaque]] and Calculus.<ref name="Weinert-2005">{{cite book | vauthors = Weinert W | chapter = Oral Hygiene Products | title = Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry | date = 2005 | publisher = Wiley-VCH | location = Weinheim | doi = 10.1002/14356007.a18_209 | isbn = 3527306730}}</ref>

Abrasives, like the dental polishing agents used in dentists' offices, also cause a small amount of enamel erosion which is termed "polishing" action. The abrasive effect of toothpaste is indicated by its [[Relative dentin abrasivity|RDA]] value. Toothpastes with RDA values above 250 are potentially damaging to the surfaces of teeth. The [[American National Standards Institute]] and [[American Dental Association]] considers toothpastes with an RDA below 250 to be safe and effective for a lifetime of use.<ref>{{cite web |title=Toothpastes |url=https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/toothpastes |website=www.ada.org |publisher=American Dental Association |access-date=6 July 2021}}</ref>