Toothpaste Tales: The 'Paste' that's a 'Face-palm' – A Microscopic Mix-Up!

 

Have you ever accidentally used toothpaste to clean your face? It's a common mix-up, especially in the morning rush, but here's why it's not a good idea!

 

Toothpaste and facial cleanser are staples in our bathroom cabinets. Occasionally, we might reach for the wrong tube. But why should you never scrub your face with toothpaste or attempt to brush your teeth with face wash? Let's zoom in and examine these products through the hi-mag pro!

 

Hi-Mag Pro Lens

Difficulty: ★★★★☆

Peering through the microscope, we discover that toothpaste contains minuscule "grains." These tiny grains are actually familiar toothpaste ingredients, including silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, and silicates.

 

In toothpaste, these components, when combined with a toothbrush, function through an "abrasion" process to effectively "eliminate dental plaque and food residues from the tooth surface." Nevertheless, since toothpaste's cleaning prowess hinges on "abrasion," it's not suitable for cleaning dentures (as it can damage the denture surface), and most certainly, it's not meant for washing your face!

 

How to Observe: Take a small amount of toothpaste, mix it with water, and inspect it through your hi-mag pro lens

Under the microscope, you'll spot irregular granules within the toothpaste.

 

Key Insights: Common Toothpaste Ingredients

  • Abrasives: Comprise about 50% of toothpaste ingredients. These are solid particles that aid in removing dental plaque and food residues from the tooth surface, such as silica, aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate, silicates, and more.

  • Fluoride: Assists in enamel formation.

  • Surfactants: Help toothpaste foam and ensure an even distribution of ingredients, enhancing its cleaning ability.

  • Humectants: Prevent toothpaste from drying out and becoming powdery. Examples include glycerin, sorbitol, xylitol, and so on.