The answer is yes but the killing of germs is not the only function of the toothpaste.
There are 3 ways to win a battle
· Make the enemy weak
· Make yourself stronger
· Or both
The human mouth is home to an estimated 800 to 1,000 different kinds of bacteria. The warm and moist environment, along with hard tooth surfaces and soft tissues, prove to be optimal factors in boosting germ growth. Many of these bacteria are harmful and can form a film on teeth called "dental plaque," which causes cavities, gingivitis and eventually more severe kinds of gum disease.
Toothpastes should ideally
· Disinfect Remove the plaque (Weakening the enemy i.e. the bacteria)
· Re-mineralization of Enamel (Making yourself Stronger)
· Remove Bad Breath (give a feeling of freshness)
Removal of plaque
Toothpastes should remove the film of plaque which is on the teeth completely. The plaque gives the bacteria a safe haven and hence is necessary to remove it.
Fluoridation
The toothpaste should contain fluoride. Fluoride helps in re-mineralization of the enamel which helps in fighting cavitation.
Fresh Breathe
Toothpastes should also leave a feeling of freshness in the mouth. A total elimination of it is important because having bad breathe can be very unpleasant for the other person you are talking to.
At Vasupujya Pediatric Dental Hospital we advise our patient sot use fluoridated toothpastes because in our country most people have an RO water purifier installed at their home. The RO water purifier removes all the fluoride present in the water along with all the harmful substances. So we can say that the amount of fluoride being consumed by us is negligible. Hence it advised to use fluoridated tooth paste for all children.