Bienvenue, chocophiles! I thought I had found something really cool for this week: chocolate toothpaste. As it turns out, I didn't read the label carefully enough. Theodent is not, in fact, chocolate-flavored toothpaste, but rather "Whitening Crystal Mint" toothpaste that is made with an ingredient found in chocolate. What makes this toothpaste special is that it represents an alternative to fluoride. I'm not clear on what the anti-fluoride craze is all about, but apparently there are quite a few people clamoring for fluoride-free dental care as these types of products keep cropping up.
Theodent is made with Rennou, which is a conglomeration of ingredients that form this toothpaste's non-fluoride active ingredient. Rennou is made with theobromine, which is a compound that naturally occurs in the cacao bean. Theobromine is Caffeine Lite; its chemical structure is very similar to caffeine, and it has a similar effect on the body, but to a much lesser degree than caffeine. One major difference between caffeine and theobromine is that while caffeine can weaken your teeth, theobromine actually strengthens it. This is the second thing that makes Theodent different: it strengthens your enamel.
Though I was disappointed that brushing my teeth was not going to mean a chocolate treat, I have enjoyed using this toothpaste. It comes in swank-town packaging, complete with fancy fonts and a shiny bronze cap. It has a neutralizing effect, much like other fluoride-free toothpastes I've used in the past (though I don't have anything against fluoride, I am always curious to try these sorts of things!). While other toothpastes have left my mouth tasting like, well, toothpase, when I am done brushing my teeth with Theodent, my mouth doesn't taste like anything. It just feels clean, which is pretty sweet.
Theodent is made with Rennou, which is a conglomeration of ingredients that form this toothpaste's non-fluoride active ingredient. Rennou is made with theobromine, which is a compound that naturally occurs in the cacao bean. Theobromine is Caffeine Lite; its chemical structure is very similar to caffeine, and it has a similar effect on the body, but to a much lesser degree than caffeine. One major difference between caffeine and theobromine is that while caffeine can weaken your teeth, theobromine actually strengthens it. This is the second thing that makes Theodent different: it strengthens your enamel.
Though I was disappointed that brushing my teeth was not going to mean a chocolate treat, I have enjoyed using this toothpaste. It comes in swank-town packaging, complete with fancy fonts and a shiny bronze cap. It has a neutralizing effect, much like other fluoride-free toothpastes I've used in the past (though I don't have anything against fluoride, I am always curious to try these sorts of things!). While other toothpastes have left my mouth tasting like, well, toothpase, when I am done brushing my teeth with Theodent, my mouth doesn't taste like anything. It just feels clean, which is pretty sweet.