At Sonic Dental, we are committed to providing customers with the best products for maintaining their aligners, retainers, and dental guards. Our Sonic Dental Cleaning Tablets are designed to help you keep your dental appliances clean and fresh. While these cleaning tablets are optional rather than a necessity, they offer an effective and easy way to clean your devices, giving you an added layer of convenience and confidence. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the ingredients in our tablets, explaining what each one does, and ensuring you that all ingredients are safe and approved.
Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Sodium bicarbonate, better known as baking soda, is a common ingredient found in many cleaning products due to its powerful cleaning properties. In our cleaning tablets, it works as a gentle abrasive, helping to remove surface debris and stains from your dental appliances. It’s also effective in neutralizing odors, leaving your retainers, aligners, and guards fresh and clean. Additionally, sodium bicarbonate is considered safe and non-toxic, making it suitable for use in products intended for oral care.
Potassium Peroxymonosulfate
Potassium peroxymonosulfate is an oxidizing agent used in cleaning products for its ability to break down and eliminate organic matter, such as bacteria and plaque, that can accumulate on dental appliances. When the cleaning tablet dissolves in water, potassium peroxymonosulfate releases oxygen, which helps to disinfect and sanitize your aligners or retainers effectively. It is commonly used in professional cleaning products, and studies have shown it to be effective in breaking down biofilms and eliminating germs on surfaces, including dental devices.
Sodium Percarbonate
Sodium percarbonate is a compound made up of sodium carbonate (washing soda) and hydrogen peroxide. It is an eco-friendly and effective cleaning agent, as it releases hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water. Hydrogen peroxide is well-known for its disinfecting properties and ability to kill bacteria and viruses. Sodium percarbonate helps with stain removal and ensures your dental devices are thoroughly sanitized. It’s safe and widely used in a variety of cleaning applications, including oral care products, due to its gentle yet effective action.
Citric Acid
Citric acid is a naturally occurring acid found in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges. It’s commonly used in cleaning products for its ability to dissolve minerals, such as calcium buildup and tartar, which can accumulate on dental devices over time. In our cleaning tablets, citric acid helps to enhance the cleaning power by breaking down mineral deposits and leaving your aligners or retainers free from residue. Citric acid is safe for use in oral care products and is approved by regulatory authorities for its gentle and effective action.
PEG-150 (Polyethylene Glycol)
Polyethylene glycol, or PEG-150, is a water-soluble polymer used to help improve the texture and dissolve the cleaning tablet effectively in water. It also acts as a stabilizer, ensuring the other ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the tablet. PEG-150 is generally considered safe and is widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and oral care products due to its non-toxic and gentle properties.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant, which means it helps to lower the surface tension of water and allows it to penetrate and remove debris and oils more effectively. In our cleaning tablets, SLS aids in breaking down residue and oils that may be on your dental devices. It also helps with the foaming action, which can give the impression of a more thorough cleaning process. While SLS has a reputation for being a harsh detergent in certain concentrations, the amount used in our tablets is safe and specifically formulated for use in oral care.
Sodium Benzoate
Sodium benzoate is a preservative commonly used in food and personal care products to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. It helps to keep the cleaning tablets stable and effective throughout their shelf life. It’s considered safe by the FDA and is approved for use in a wide range of oral care products due to its non-toxic and safe nature.
TAED (Tetraacetylethylenediamine)
TAED is a stabilizer and activator that boosts the effectiveness of the cleaning process. It works alongside other ingredients like sodium percarbonate to help enhance the oxygen-releasing action during the cleaning process, making your devices even cleaner. TAED is used in many laundry detergents and is safe for use in oral care products, helping to maintain the longevity and effectiveness of your cleaning tablets.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint oil is added to our cleaning tablets for its fresh, refreshing scent, making sure that your dental appliances don’t just look clean but also smell pleasant. Additionally, peppermint oil has antibacterial properties, which can help provide an extra layer of freshness by eliminating bacteria. It’s a natural and safe ingredient widely used in oral care products like toothpaste and mouthwash.
CI 73015 (Food Coloring)
CI 73015 is a colorant used to give the cleaning tablets a distinctive color. It is a safe food-grade dye approved by regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EFSA for use in various consumer products. The purpose of the color is to help you identify and distinguish the tablets from other products while ensuring no impact on safety or effectiveness.
Are Our Cleaning Tablets Safe?
Absolutely! Each ingredient in our Sonic Dental Cleaning Tablets is carefully selected and used in the optimal concentration to ensure both effectiveness and safety. These ingredients are widely used in both oral care and general cleaning products, and they have been approved by regulatory bodies, including the FDA and EFSA, for safe use.
While our cleaning tablets are an optional extra, they provide a convenient and highly effective solution for those who want to ensure their aligners, retainers, and dental guards are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. The Sonic Pro Ultrasonic Cleaner can be used without the tablets, but using the tablets will give you a deeper clean with additional antibacterial properties, ensuring your dental appliances stay in top condition.
Conclusion:
Our Sonic Dental Cleaning Tablets offer a scientifically-backed and safe solution for keeping your aligners, retainers, and guards clean. While they are not a necessity, they can provide an added layer of convenience and confidence, giving you an easy way to keep your dental appliances fresh, clean, and free of bacteria. Each ingredient is carefully chosen for its cleaning properties and safety, ensuring a product that you can trust.
If you have any questions about the ingredients or how to use the tablets, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help!
References:
- "A review on the effectiveness of potassium peroxymonosulfate as an oxidizing agent in cleaning and sanitizing," Journal of Cleaner Production.
- "Citric acid as a dental plaque disintegrator," Journal of Clinical Dentistry.
- "Safety assessment of sodium bicarbonate and sodium percarbonate in oral care products," Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology.
- "Polyethylene glycol: A review of its applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics," Toxins.
- "Sodium Benzoate: Its applications and safety profile," Food and Chemical Toxicology.