Community dentistry: toothpaste ingredients: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Community dentistry: toothpaste ingredients

Sample item

Which ingredient of toothpaste is the foaming detergent?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Sodium lauryl sulphate

Sodium lauryl sulphate is the detergent that produces foam and helps remove debris. Abrasives such as calcium carbonate clean and polish, and humectants such as glycerol prevent drying.

Option by option

  • A. Sodium fluoride

    Sodium fluoride is the anticaries agent.

  • B. Glycerol

    Glycerol is a humectant.

  • C. Calcium carbonate

    Calcium carbonate is an abrasive.

  • D. Sodium lauryl sulphate (correct)

    Correct. SLS is the foaming agent.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is D, Sodium lauryl sulphate. Sodium lauryl sulphate is the detergent that produces foam and helps remove debris.

Why is "Sodium fluoride" not the answer?

Sodium fluoride is the anticaries agent.

Why is "Glycerol" not the answer?

Glycerol is a humectant.

Why is "Calcium carbonate" not the answer?

Calcium carbonate is an abrasive.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Community dentistry: toothpaste ingredients in Dentistry. Abrasives such as calcium carbonate clean and polish, and humectants such as glycerol prevent drying.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Community dentistry: toothpaste ingredients?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.