As per the subject line. I have two toothpastes from the same brand
with identical ingredients with the exception that one contains Zinc
Citrate and the other Potassium Citrate. Yet they each make different
claims about their usefulness.
The Zinc Citrate one claims to: The Potassium Citrate one claims to:
help fight cavities and help fight cavities and
tooth decay tooth decay
strengthen enamel strengthen enamel
freshen breath freshen breath
reduce oral bacteria reduce oral bacteria
remove plaque remove plaque
...but only the Potassium Citrate one claims to be formulated for
sensitive teeth?
What are the sensitive souls missing out on by not getting their Zinc?
What's so desensitising about Potassium? Why did somebody in the
supermarket put some toothpaste in the wrong box for me to pick up
because I didn't read the label properly? Why am I writing this
drivel?
Nick
As per the subject line. I have two toothpastes from the same brand
with identical ingredients with the exception that one contains Zinc
Citrate and the other Potassium Citrate. Yet they each make different
claims about their usefulness.
The Zinc Citrate one claims to: The Potassium Citrate one claims to:
help fight cavities and help fight cavities and
tooth decay tooth decay
strengthen enamel strengthen enamel
freshen breath freshen breath
reduce oral bacteria reduce oral bacteria
remove plaque remove plaque
...but only the Potassium Citrate one claims to be formulated for
sensitive teeth?
What are the sensitive souls missing out on by not getting their Zinc?
What's so desensitising about Potassium? Why did somebody in the
supermarket put some toothpaste in the wrong box for me to pick up
because I didn't read the label properly? Why am I writing this
drivel?
On 14/05/2026 07:16, Nick Odell wrote:
As per the subject line. I have two toothpastes from the same brand
with identical ingredients with the exception that one contains Zinc
Citrate and the other Potassium Citrate. Yet they each make different
claims about their usefulness.
The Zinc Citrate one claims to: The Potassium Citrate one claims to:
help fight cavities and help fight cavities and
tooth decay tooth decay
strengthen enamel strengthen enamel
freshen breath freshen breath
reduce oral bacteria reduce oral bacteria
remove plaque remove plaque
...but only the Potassium Citrate one claims to be formulated for
sensitive teeth?
What are the sensitive souls missing out on by not getting their Zinc?
What's so desensitising about Potassium? Why did somebody in the
supermarket put some toothpaste in the wrong box for me to pick up
because I didn't read the label properly? Why am I writing this
drivel?
Nick
Marketing. They need to be slightly different formulations so they can
have different pack colours and claims. Sensodyne Pronamel is
particularly good at this.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39572408/ has some info.
On 2026-05-14, Nick Odell <nickodell49@yahoo.ca> wrote:
As per the subject line. I have two toothpastes from the same brand
with identical ingredients with the exception that one contains Zinc
Citrate and the other Potassium Citrate. Yet they each make different
claims about their usefulness.
The Zinc Citrate one claims to: The Potassium Citrate one claims to:
help fight cavities and help fight cavities and
tooth decay tooth decay
strengthen enamel strengthen enamel
freshen breath freshen breath
reduce oral bacteria reduce oral bacteria
remove plaque remove plaque
...but only the Potassium Citrate one claims to be formulated for
sensitive teeth?
What are the sensitive souls missing out on by not getting their Zinc?
What's so desensitising about Potassium? Why did somebody in the
supermarket put some toothpaste in the wrong box for me to pick up
because I didn't read the label properly? Why am I writing this
drivel?
Zinc is an essential nutrient, particularly for middle-aged or elderly men. >Most people get enough in their diet but if you are worried then getting
more zinc is a great excuse to eat oysters, or other shellfish.
Potassium is important for the action of nerves and muscles so it could >reduce pain. Bananas are the canonical potassium-rich food.
Brushing helps remove bacteria (plaque) and that fights cavities and decay, >so do the abrasive, detergent and fluoride in all toothpastes. That helps >freshen breath for most people.
Fluoride helps strengthen enamel. It converts hydroxyapatite in enamel into >hydroxyfluoroapatite which is harder.
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