The key difference between stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride is that the stannous fluoride can act against gingivitis, plaque, tooth sensitivity and protect from cavities whereas the sodium fluoride protects our teeth only against the cavities.
Stannous fluoride is the commercial name of the chemical compound, tin(II) fluoride. It is very common as an ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash liquids. It can act against many tooth diseases. Therefore, it is relatively expensive. Sodium fluoride is also a common ingredient in toothpaste that can protect our tooth against cavities, but it does not have a wide range of activity as for stannous fluoride.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Stannous Fluoride
3. What is Sodium Fluoride
4. Side by Side Comparison – Stannous Fluoride vs Sodium Fluoride in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Stannous Fluoride?
Stannous fluoride is the commercial name of tin(II) fluoride that has the chemical formula SnF2. The molar mass of this compound is 156.69 g/mol, and it appears as a colorless solid. The melting point of this compound is 213 °C, and the boiling point is 850 °C. The crystal structure is monoclinic. We can produce this compound by evaporating a SnO solution in HF (40%).
Furthermore, this compound is an important ingredient in some toothpaste because it can act against gingivitis, plaque, tooth sensitivity and protect from cavities. Therefore, it is typically more expensive than other fluorides. Moreover, it can act as a reducing agent. There, the fluoride ions can get oxidised. In addition, these SnF2 molecules form dimers and trimers by combining with each other.
What is Sodium Fluoride?
Sodium fluoride is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula NaF. It is a colorless solid that readily dissolves in water. Another name for this compound is Florocid. The molar mass of this compound is 41.98 g/mol. The melting point is 993 °C, and the boiling point is 1,704 °C. The crystal structure is cubic.
Figure 01: Both Stannous Fluoride and Sodium Fluoride are Important Ingredients in Toothpaste
Moreover, we can produce this compound via neutralization of HF acid. This HF acid comes as a byproduct of the fertilizer production using fluorapatite. We can use alcohols to precipitate NaF. It is an important ingredient in pharmaceutical products and toothpaste. It can protect against cavities in the tooth.
What is the Difference Between Stannous Fluoride and Sodium Fluoride?
Stannous fluoride is the commercial name of tin(II) fluoride which has the chemical formula SnF2. The molar mass of this compound is 156.69 g/mol. Moreover, its melting point and boiling points are 213 °C and 850 °C respectively. Sodium fluoride is an inorganic compound having the chemical formula NaF. The molar mass of this compound is 41.98 g/mol. In addition, the melting point and boiling point of this compound are 993 °C and 1,704 °C. The key difference between stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride is that the stannous fluoride can act against gingivitis, plaque, tooth sensitivity and protect from cavities whereas the sodium fluoride protects our teeth only against the cavities.
Summary – Stannous Fluoride vs Sodium Fluoride
Both stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride are important ingredients in toothpaste. The difference between stannous fluoride and sodium fluoride is that stannous fluoride can act against gingivitis, plaque, tooth sensitivity and protect from cavities whereas sodium fluoride protects our teeth only against the cavities.
Reference:
1. “Tin(II) Fluoride.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 July 2018. Available here
2. “Sodium Fluoride.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 July 2018. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.’Toothpasteonbrush’By Thegreenj – Ain wirk, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia