Abrasive minerals like silica, limestone, aluminum oxide, and various phosphate minerals do the cleaning in the toothpaste that you use. Fluoride is used to reduce cavities. It comes from the mineral fluorite. Most toothpastes are made white with titanium oxide , which comes from minerals called rutile, ilmenite, and anatase. The sparkle in some toothpaste comes from mica. The toothbrush and tube containing the paste are made of plastics from petroleum.