Importance of Zinc Citrate in the Toothpaste Industry
What is Zinc Citrate?
Produced by complete neutralization of psychiatric acid with the highly pure zinc source, subsequent precipitation, and dehydration, zinc citrate is available in the forms of dihydrate and trihydrate. Due to the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, zinc citrate is mainly used in dental products such as chewing gums, mouthwashes, and toothpaste.
Zinc site trade also can inhibit or reduce the formation of tartar and dental plaque, which is also one of the main reasons for its use in dental care products. Other uses of zinc citrate include beverages, functional foods, and food supplements, which are increasing daily.
Zinc citrate is a zinc salt of citric acid with a molecular formula of C12H10O14Zn3. Zinc deficiency is treated with dietary supplements in which zinc citrate is available. West Bengal Chemical Industries Ltd (WBCIL) manufactures zinc citrate, which is available as white or a white granular powder and is generally odorless. Due to the nearly neutral test compared to other zinc salts, physiological compatibility, and superior bioavailability, organic mineral sources are preferred in many applications over inorganic sources for zinc citrate. The zinc content in zinc citrate is 31% which is the highest compared to the other organic zinc salts.
Toothpaste Industry of India
The majority of growth in the urban market has been accounted for by the gel segment. A significant portion has been owned by Colgate in the toothpaste industry in India. Along with other minor businesses like Dabur, Balsara Hygiene, and others, two of the leading participants in the toothpaste industry in India are Hindustan Lever Limited and Colgate Palmolive.
52% of the market share has now been captured by Colgate Dental Cream, making it the leading product in the market. A product of Hindustan Lever Limited named CloseUp has 23% of the market share and is far behind. Colgate Gel is the third largest player in the market with a 10.5% capture over the market. Other brands capture the other 14.5% of the market share which include Neem, Cibacca, Forhans, Sensoform, Babul, and Pepsodent.
Colgate has been crowned to be the most well-known oral brand in India. There is respect for all individuals and the conduct of the business is done with honesty which makes it a dedicated brand. High-quality oral products such as mouthwashes, toothbrushes, and toothpaste are provided by Colgate along with dental health advice from experts. The gluten-free and sugar-free features of this vegan toothpaste make it an attractive product.
Red paste by Dabur protects against dental issues including weak gums and teeth, yellow teeth, poor breath, toothache, plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. A 30% improvement in oral care hygiene index is observed in comparison to ordinary toothpaste and is much cheaper than Colgate. Toothpaste was first introduced by Hindustan Lever Limited in 1975.
Importance of Zinc Citrate in the Toothpaste Industry
Zinc is present in the dental hard tissues, dental plaque, and saliva in the oral cavity of an individual. Periodontal and poor oral health is associated with zinc deficiency whereas oral diseases like halitosis, periodontitis, and gingivitis can be cured with medication with the supplementation of zinc.
Animals were fed a zinc-containing and zinc-deficient diet in a research study with rats, which included the evaluation of the effects of zinc deficiency on the oral tissues of the rats. A higher mean pocket depth was observed in the zinc-deficient rats and a lower gingival index was indicated in the zinc-containing rats (p = 0.001).
As compared to the zinc-containing rats, zinc-deficient rats displayed a deposit of aphthous on the floor of their mouth. The oral and periodontal health of the zinc-deficient rats was found to be lesser and worse than the zinc-containing rats. Another study was conducted with certain patients by washing their mouths with mouthwash containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and 0.28% zinc lactate. Two other groups were formed, in which one group was left alone with no mouthwash and another group was only provided with CPC.
After 6 weeks, a greater reduction of gingival indices and plaque was observed in the patients who were using the mouthwash containing CPC and zinc as compared to those using only CPC or no CPC. For inhibiting calculus deposition and controlling plaque formation zinc salt lexing citrate is used in the production of toothpaste and mouth rinses.
Halitosis is helped to be reduced with the initiation of volatile sulfur compound production by the zinc citrate present in this toothpaste. The reduction of salivary flow along with lingual trigeminal nerve sensitivities and decrease in taste has been on the list of diseases that have been associated with zinc deficiency. The effects of zinc citrate in the production of toothpaste can be beneficial for having prolonged effects in maintaining saliva and reduction of plaque.
Dental caries can be avoided or resisted by the presence of zinc in the enamel of teeth. Hydroxyapatite is made more resistant to acid dissolution when zinc competes with calcium to attach to apatite which is proved by studies based on synthetic apatite. The solubility of non-carbonated and carbonated apatite was reduced by the incorporation of zinc along with the reduction of solubility to acid.
Remineralization is promoted and dentine demineralization is prevented more effectively with the use of toothpaste which contains more zinc and fluoride. The occurrence of dental caries is contributed by the inhibition of the formation of plaque and production of dental black by inhibition of acid and inhibition of bacterial growth by targeting glycolytic enzymes, especially in streptococcus mutants, all triggered by an increased concentration of zinc. Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum at the viruses that cause gingivitis which can be prevented by supplementation of zinc. The gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria found in gingivitis along with the Campylobacter species face cell membrane disruption and oxidative stress due to zinc citrate nanoparticles.
Finally, it is concluded that inhibition of the growth of oral bacteria and otogenic bacteria can be possible with the use of toothpaste containing zinc citrate and the effect can last as long as 12 hours or more. This, in comparison to the normal toothpaste containing regular fluoride, showed more effect. The absorption of zinc ions used in zinc citrate-rich toothpaste was found to be much better on the tooth surface.
The bacterial growth was inhibited and the formation of black was eradicated which helped in the protection of teeth from microbial growth. Thus, zinc citrate is an effective zinc salt that has a significant role to play in the toothpaste industry. The companies should look out for the use of more and more zinc citrate in manufacturing their toothpaste. This will help to provide better results in comparison to the competitors of a particular brand in the market and also help to increase the market capture. The goodwill of the company can also be boosted. Thus, zinc citrate is an essential element for the production of toothpaste and plays an important role in the toothpaste industry.
A multifunction ingredient, zinc citrate is used for the production of mouthwash and toothpaste which has a primary function to help fresh the breath by reducing the impact of odorous compounds that are produced in an individual’s mouth due to bacterial formation. Zinc also fights against the bacteria and germs causing dental cavities and other dental and oral problems and diseases.
To provide zinc and medication against zinc deficiency, zinc citrate is a nutritional supplement that contains the zinc salt form of citric acid and zinc. Many biological processes require zinc as a key element. The immune system is trended and zinc also acts as an antioxidant.
Zinc citrate is used for the treatment of plaque-related diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease and also for the treatment of oral mucosa diseases such as aphthous ulcers. Periodontal problems like gingivitis are treated and prevented with the use of toothpaste or mouthwash which includes zinc citrate.
According to the research that has been conducted zinc oxide is found to be inferior in terms of absorption to zinc citrate. Zinc citrate is better absorbed by the enamel of the teeth. Zinc citrate was in pair with zinc gluconate which is a nutritional benchmark, in terms of superior absorption as compared to zinc oxide.
Zinc citrate has been found to have an absorption rate of 61.3% which when compared to other forms of zinc is the highest. Next to zinc citrate, the second best-absorbed form of zinc salt is zinc gluconate which has a 60.9% absorption rate. Zinciderate in the form of zinc salt mixes best with water which makes it an easily absorbable mineral when consumed as a dietary supplement by individuals.
Zinc sulfate is considered to be the least easily absorbed form of zinc which might cause stomach upset and is not recommended to be taken as a dietary supplement. However, zinc sulfate is considered to be the cheapest form of zinc. Zinc monomethionine, zinc glycerate, zinc acetate, zinc citrate, and zinc picolinate are the more easily absorbed forms of zinc salt.
The addition of zinc to fluoride toothpaste has not resulted in the ability to reduce caries according to the research conducted. However, a reduction of enamel demineralization and a modification of remineralization can be caused due to a low concentration of zinc.
Zinc reduces tooth decay and cavities and helps in the remineralization and demineralization of an individual’s teeth. Gum diseases like mild periodontal disease and gingivitis are reduced with the use of zinc citrate-induced toothpaste.
Produced by the complete neutralization of citric acid with the help of a highly pure source of zinc, zinc citrate is available in the trihydrate and dihydrate forms. Then the processes of dehydration and subsequent precipitation are followed.
Other minerals that are found in toothpaste are Phosphorus and Calcium along with fluoride which help the teeth from becoming yucky and soft. These minerals also help in the prevention of the formation of dental cavities.