Non-Therapeutic Dentifrice Ingredients Providing Stability or Esthetic Benefits

Dentifrices contain a number of ingredients that stabilize the product and/or provide esthetic benefits, in addition to the ingredients that provide therapeutic or cosmetic benefits. This section will review key dentifrice ingredients that provide stability and esthetic benefits. These nontherapeutic dentifrice components are called inactive ingredients, additives, or excipients and include binders, surfactants, buffering agents, humectants, preservatives, sweeteners, flavorings, and dyes (Figure 20). These components are essential to keep the dentifrice properly mixed with a smooth consistency, and they make the product palatable to the consumer. Three dentifrice ingredients (abrasive, humectants, and solvent) typically represent about 95% of the dentifrice ingredients.

Figure 20. Representation of common dentifrice components.

Figure 20. Representation of common dentifrice components.