Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has been one of the important raw materials in the production of toothpaste. Its role is to uniformly mix the liquid and solid raw materials of toothpaste together, and to give toothpaste the molding flow, proper viscosity and a certain brightness as well as delicateness.

The toothpaste of common type without additive formulations for special effects can use Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose as the adhesive. However, anionic Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose is sensitive to ions with high concentrations, so the combination of carboxyl groups with metal ions will reduce the water solubility of Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose, and thus  affect its thickening effects. Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose is limited in the toothpaste of high quality and special effects.

With non-ionic hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC) as the adhesive, it can enhance the resistance of adhesive to ions with high concentrations, greatly improve the storage stability of the paste, and extend the storage time of the toothpaste. Toothpaste manufacturers can use the compound of Sodium Carboxymethyl cellulose and HEC in the high-salt toothpaste, so as to make little change in the cost of the product, but great improvement in the quality of toothpaste.