Toothpaste and other dentifrices formulated to include a volume increasing agent (density
reducing agent) in order to significantly increase the volume of the
toothpaste at the time it is dispensed onto a
toothbrush. The inventive dental compositions preferably include a substantial quantity of entrained air or other gas in order to reduce the density, and hence the weight, of
toothpaste actually placed within a person's mouth. The result is a reduction in the amount of active ingredients introduced into a person's mouth that might be ingested. The entrained air or other gas can also increase the availability of the
active ingredient since the foamed composition increases the dispersibility of the active ingredients within
saliva. The net effect is that a person decreases the actual amount of
toothpaste without decreasing the volume, or visual amount, of toothpaste dispensed on the
toothbrush. The density-reduction effect can be augmented using a
low density filler in addition to, or instead of, entrained gas. The inventive dentifrices might be pre-foamed with a storage container or formulated to foam in situ when dispensed from the storage container.