"A dentifrice is a substance used with a toothbrush for the purpose of cleaning the accessible surfaces of the teeth". Webster described the term dentifrice as derived from dens [tooth]and fricare[to rub].Toothpaste, tooth powder and gels are collectively called as dentifrices. Dentifrice is also the French word for toothpaste. Tooth paste contains abrasives to clean and whiten the teeth, flavours for the purpose of breath freshening and dyes for better visual appeal. Effective toothpastes are those that are formulated for maximum bioavailability of their actives. Tooth powder is an alternative to toothpaste. It comes in both fluoride and non-fluoride versions