Most frequently asked questions about toothpaste are answered here.
1. How long does a tube of OJOOK toothpaste last?
For an adult who brushes their teeth twice a day, the toothpaste can last between 4 to 7 weeks. You don’t need to put too much on the toothbrush when brushing. Apply a pea-sized amount on a dry toothbrush, brush thoroughly, and rinse.
2. Does toothpaste expire?
Toothpastes do expire and we recommend you pay attention to two types of expiration dates for any toothpaste.
First, there’s a manufacturer-recommended expiration date for unopened products. You can find this expiration date engraved on the end of the aluminum tube for all OJOOK toothpaste. There’s a year and month date for the recommended duration of use.
Separately, there’s another type of expiration date called “period after opening” or PAO. Some toothpaste may not have this information. On OJOOK toothpaste it is 6 months, and you can find this information on both the aluminum tube and the outer carton box. It means, once the product is open, it is recommended to be used within 6 months from the opening date.
3. Are toothpaste tubes recyclable?
Most toothpaste tubes are made of plastic and nearly impossible to recycle due to contamination and the types of plastic it’s made of (LDPE). However, OJOOK aluminum tubes are 100% recyclable. OJOOK made a conscious, sustainable decision to use aluminum for our toothpaste tubes. Aluminum is referred to as a miracle metal, because it can be recycled an infinite number of times and each time it’s recycled, it saves 90% of energy compared to the virgin material.
4. How do I recycle aluminum toothpaste tubes?
For OJOOK aluminum tubes, it’s very simple. First, unroll the end of the tube, then cut on the side and rinse any residual toothpaste from the tube. Then put it in a curbside recycling bin that accepts metals.
5. Can I recycle conventional plastic toothpaste tubes?
Unfortunately, the short answer is that it’s not easy. For plastic tubes, the best way to know if you can is to inquire about the recyclability to the brand.
- If the material is made of pure virgin LDPE (category 4), you might be able to drop them off in designated LDPE recycling facilities after washing inside thoroughly. Please note that LDPE is not collected by curbside bins, so please do not discard there.
- If the plastic tube is laminated with metal or other types of materials, or made of recycled (PCR, post consumer recycled) plastic materials, unfortunately you need to discard it for landfills.
6. What are toothpaste ingredients?
At OJOOK we categorize toothpaste ingredients in the following seven categories. 1) Treatments, 2) cleaning ingredients, 3) binder & humectant, 4) flavors, 5) sweeteners, 6) coloring and 7) preservatives. At OJOOK we formulate ours with only twelve, simple ingredients and water. In conventional toothpastes however, there are typically 15-25 ingredients that are often impossible to pronounce.
- Treatment ingredients: Nano-hydroxyapatite, Korean roasted bamboo salt, xylitol, pine tree oil, and potassium chloride
- Cleaning ingredients: Hydrated silica, baking soda, sodium cocoyl glutamate (coconut driven), and menthol
- Humectant and binder: Glycerin, water, and xanthan gum
- Free of flavor, sweetener, coloring and preservatives
7. How do I brush my teeth properly?
Use gentle circular motions and brush all surfaces of the teeth. When brushing along the gum line, hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to the gums and continue using gentle circular motions. Choosing the right toothbrush and toothpaste is as important as the brushing technique. For a toothbrush, make sure it has soft bristles and use toothpaste that’s gentle and not overly abrasive. For OJOOK toothpaste, we recommend avoiding any food or drink for 30 minutes after brushing to have nHA and Korean roasted bamboo salt to achieve the best results.
8. Can I use OJOOK with fluoride products?
Absolutely. Fluoride and nano-hydroxyapatite are both scientifically proven remineralizing ingredients and they work differently in protecting teeth. The two ingredients do not interfere with each other due to different enamel remineralization mechanisms. Fluoride creates a protective barrier called fluorapatite with calcium in saliva, while nano-hydroxyapatite directly bonds to tooth enamel without any other substance required. Feel free to use OJOOK products with your favorite fluoride products, such as fluoridated mouthwash.
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