This section will review key dentifrice ingredients that provide stability and esthetic benefits. These nontherapeutic dentifrice components are called inactive ingredients, additives, or excipients and include binders, surfactants, buffering agents, humectants, preservatives, sweeteners, flavorings, and dyes (Figure 22). These components are essential to keep the dentifrice properly mixed with a smooth consistency, and they make the product palatable to the consumer. Three dentifrice ingredients (abrasive, humectants, and solvent) typically represent about 95% of the dentifrice ingredients.
