“What Toothpaste Should I Use?”

Posted by drgracesun on March 15, 2009 under Information | Be the First to Comment

Toothpaste (or a gel dentifrice) is something most of us take for granted – it’s always there when we need it, and most of us don’t give much thought to what it’s made of. With the toothpaste market as big as it is, with many different products promising different effects, it can be a tough job to choose which pea sized potion will give you a dazzling smile, kissable breath, rid you of dental sensitivity, or fight against dental and gum disease.

Toothpaste is a cleansing agent used to clean your teeth and aid in the elimination of halitosis (bad breath). The main cleaning is done with the mechanical friction effect from brushing with your toothbrush. Toothpaste acts as a lubricant, easing the friction of the brush’s bristles on your teeth and gum. A modern toothpaste does incorporate several key elements, so in your two minute “good brushing routine with a pea size potion,” you can do quite a bit of good for your mouth. Toothpaste has abrasives to scour off bacterial films, it has fluorides to harden tooth structures against decay. It can also contain different active ingredients serving various purposes, such as triclosan (an antibacterial agent which fights against plaque-forming microbes), pyrophosphate (a tartar control agent), potassium nitrate (desensitizer), carbomide peroxide (bleaching agent) and sodium lauryl sulfates (detergent and foaming agent to carry away debris).

Some ingredients like lauryl sulfates can irritate soft tissues, or allergic reactions with certain people (often replaced with lauryl sarcosinate). There are many other inactive ingredients in toothpaste, like thickeners which serve for the right viscosity and moisture of the paste, water softener to make detergent work better, flavor and sweetener for a more pleasant brushing experience. Wow, there are too many chemicals in that little bit of paste! If you prefer a more holistic approach for your oral hygiene, you may choose all-natural products like Tooth & Gums paste (which are antibacterial but contain no artificial chemicals).

Other things about the marketing slogan “Teeth Whitening” – this simply means removing surface stains, not actually whitening the color of your teeth. Make sure your children do not consume any fluoride -containing toothpaste, only use as a topical agent. After brushing, be sure to rinse well. If you still have questions about which toothpaste is right for you, consult with your dental professional!

“Why Floss?”

Posted by drgracesun on February 5, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information | Be the First to Comment

Flossing your teeth is one of the most basic forms of oral hygiene, something that every person (except denture-wearers and babies) should do twice a day. But why is flossing so important?

Dental floss is a nylon fiber filament commonly used to clean the spaces in between a person’s teeth, and in between a person’s tooth and gum. The floss is moved in between a person’s teeth with a moderate amount of pressure, scraping along each side of each tooth for a few seconds. This action, when floss is pressed down as far as it can go between the gum and the tooth, removes both food particles and bacterial plaque under the gum line. Floss should be C-shaped, wrapping around three sides of a tooth following the contours of the tooth when being moved up and down, which can also clean the front and back segments of the tooth.

Improper flossing (or occasional irregular flossing) can lead to bleeding of the gums. This is not bad as long as you are not cutting into and injuring the gum! When your gums bleed, it is a sign of inflammation and possibly the beginning of gingivitis . It is important to continue flossing when blood appears, it will dissipate and eventually stop occurring as daily flossing becomes regular practice. If you do experience excessive or prolonged bleeding, rinsing with diluted hydrogen peroxide solution (the brown bottled over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide is 3%, you need to add at least an equal amount of water to dilute the solution to 1-1.5% for rinsing) will control the bleeding and at the same time reduce the amount of anaerobic bacteria in the mouth.

Although overly vigorous flossing can create gum tissue damage, regular daily flossing is essential for proper oral hygiene maintenance, and should become as natural as brushing in your daily routine. When combined with regular brushing, proper oral hygiene can and will prevent numerous potential hygiene-related problems such as gum disease, halitosis (bad breath), and dental caries (tooth decay).

Please consult with your dental professional for your personalized home care program. If you have braces or fixed dental bridge work, regular flossing might be challenging. A flosser or threader might be needed to aide in flossing. Hydrofloss (an irrigator device) might also be helpful. If you have advanced gum problems and need an additional home care program to follow, antioxidant supplements and interproximal brushes will help to maintain your dental health.