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Dental materials designed to clean and polish the teeth that are used in conjunction with a toothbrush. These dental materials usually contain a mild abrasive, a detergent, a flavoring agent, and a binder. Dentifrices are mainly supplied in paste form (i.e., toothpaste) filling a plastic tube; dentifrices in liquid and powder forms are also available. Some dentifrices may contain therapeutic agents (e.g., fluoride) to inhibit dental caries and/or to prevent gingivitis; dentifrices containing substances appropriate for people having sensitive gums are also available. They are widely used several times a day to help maintain acceptable oral hygiene.
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