Sensory Investigation of Toothpaste Particle Perception in the Mouth.

Area of Science:

• Oral Care Science
• Materials Science
• Consumer Product Development

Background:

• Toothpaste mouthfeel, particularly grittiness, significantly impacts consumer satisfaction.
• Understanding the physical properties that contribute to perceived grittiness is crucial for product development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the mouthfeel attributes of toothpaste, focusing on particle perception and the "grittiness" sensation.
• To establish correlations between toothpaste physicochemical properties and perceived particle presence, size, and homogeneity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized panel evaluation for subjective sensory assessments.
• Employed rheology, tribology, and surface characterization techniques to measure objective properties.
• Applied statistical analysis and developed predictive models.

Main Results:

• Panel assessments showed particle size and homogeneity perception positively influenced particle presence perception.
• Rheological parameters (yield stress, flow index, high shear viscosity) and tribological/surface properties (coefficient of friction, surface roughness) significantly correlated with particle perception.
• Developed predictive models with high accuracy (R² > 0.88) linking physicochemical properties to mouthfeel perception.

Conclusions:

• Physicochemical properties of toothpaste, including rheology and tribology, are key drivers of perceived mouthfeel and grittiness.
• These findings enable better prediction and optimization of toothpaste texture for enhanced consumer experience.
• The study provides valuable insights for the development of toothpastes with desirable sensory attributes.