Question

What is the main constituent of a toothpaste? How does it check decay of teeth?

Answer 1

• Calcium phosphate is the main constituent of a toothpaste.
• It is basic in nature and hence increasing the pH level in our mouths neutralizes the acids and thus helps in checking the decay of teeth.
• Since the pH of our mouth is around 6-7 that means acidic and toothpaste is basic in nature resulting in neutralization reaction.
• A neutralization reaction is the reaction of an acid and base to form salt and water.
• For example:

$\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to \mathrm{NaCl}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$