Compass—Collective Interests

By: Rachel L. Grabenhofer

This edition examines oral care formulas to address erosion and sensitivity with an article by Faller. Also, Rigano discusses the components of toothpaste and their functions. New findings in naturals and sun care are also always of interest, and in this issue, Tooley et al. describe a water-based titanium dioxide dispersion for natural UV protection. Finally, Becker et al. present a time-saving method to pre-evaluate filler pigments for soft focus effects.

Theobromine for Tooth Decay Prevention

By: Katie Anderson (Schaefer), Cosmetics & Toiletr…

While it may help to protect teeth from decay, fluoride at high levels also has been reported to irritate the gastrointestinal tract and some manufacturers have formulated products without it. However, toothpastes without fluoride are not providing any real benefit beyond cleansing, says Arman Sadeghpour, PhD, who, by chance, stumbled across another raw material that exhibits better anti-cavity efficacy than fluoride without adverse health effects.

Licorice Substances Found to Inhibit Oral Bacteria

Scientists have identified two substances in licorice that kill the oral bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Aloe Vera Toothpaste

Organic personal care brand Kiss My Face has substituted aloe vera gel for water in its latest oral care launch, Whitening Aloe Vera Toothpaste. This toothpaste is formulated with aloe vera to heal and soothe.

Solid Toothpaste Tablets

Lush has introduced a line of solid toothpaste tablets. Toothy Tabs are said to foam like "regular" toothpaste to clean teeth and leave your mouth feeling fresh.

Researchers Find Cavity-causing Bacteria in Infants

Researchers at the University of Illinois have confirmed the presence of bacteria associated with early childhood caries (ECC) in infant saliva. The research, which was published in PLoS One in the article “Comparative analysis of salivary bacterial microbiome diversity in edentulous infants and their mothers or primary care givers using pyrosequencing” proposes the need for infant oral care.