Ingredients --
Sodium monofluorophosphate
Chemical Formula: Na2PO3F
Synonyms
MFP
Description
White crystals.
Uses
Sodium monofluorophosphate
is used in toothpastes
to protect tooth enamel from attack by bacteria (cavities,
also known as
caries).
It was developed to avoid infinging on the Crest patent for
stannous fluoride.
The active part of the molecule is the fluoride ion, which
is why two other fluorine containing compounds,
sodium fluoride,
and stannous fluoride are also used.
Like stannous fluoride, sodium monofluorophosphate
can be used with abrasives
that contain calcium, which prevents sodium fluoride from
being effective.
Fluorides work in two ways. They reduce the ability of
bacteria to make acids, and they remineralize the areas of
the tooth that have been attacked by acids from bacteria.
By Simon Quellen Field