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Toothpaste: Putting the squeeze on dentifrice.
Why is brushing with toothpaste important?
Brushing with toothpaste (also called a "dentifrice")
is important for several reasons. First and foremost, a toothpaste
and a correct brushing action work to remove plaque, a sticky,
harmful film of bacteria that grows on your teeth that causes
caries, gum disease, and eventual tooth loss if not controlled.
Second, the toothpaste contains fluoride, which makes the
entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promotes
remineralization, which aids in repairing early decay before
the damage can even be seen. Third, special ingredients in
the dentifrice help to clean and polish the teeth and remove
stains over time. Fourth, toothpastes help freshen breath
and leave your mouth with a clean feeling.
What type of toothpaste should I use?
As long as your toothpaste contains fluoride, the brand you
buy really does not matter, whether or not it is in paste,
gel, or even powder form, or containing a certain flavor.
All fluoride dentifrices work effectively to fight plaque
and cavities and clean and polish tooth enamel. Your dentifrice
brand should also bear the ADA (American Dental Association)
seal of approval on the container, which means that adequate
evidence of safety and efficacy have been demonstrated in
controlled, clinical trials.
If your teeth are hypersensitive to hot or cold, consider
trying a dentifrice designed for sensitive teeth
Dentifrices containing baking soda and/or hydrogen peroxide
(which are both good cleansing agents) give the teeth and
mouth a clean, fresh, pleasant feeling that can offer an incentive
to brush more, but fluoride is the true active ingredient
at work protecting your teeth. Some prefer a tartar control
toothpaste containing pyrophosphates to prevent the buildup
of soft calculus deposits on their teeth. New pastes offer
advanced whitening formulas aimed at safely removing stains
to make teeth brighter and shinier, although they can't nearly
match the effectiveness of a professional bleaching formula
administered or prescribed by a dentist.
How much should I use?
Contrary to what toothpaste commercials show, the amount of
paste or gel needed on your brush for effective cleaning does
not have to be a heaping amount. Simply squeeze on a pea-sized
dab of paste on the top half of your brush. If you brush correctly
holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and brush inside,
outside and between your teeth, the paste should foam enough
to cover all of your teeth.
Children under 6, however, should only be given a very small,
baby pea-sized dab of dentifrice on their brush.
Is brushing with toothpaste enough to fight cavities
and gum disease?
No. Although brushing thoroughly after each meal helps, flossing
your teeth every day to remove plaque and food particles between
teeth and at the gumline is just as important. Studies show
that plaque will regrow on teeth that are completely clean
within 3 to 4 hours of brushing.
Sources:
Consumers smile on Unilever s Mentadent, Laura Bird,
Wall Street Journal, May 31, 1994; Comprehensive Dental Hygiene
Care, edited by Irene Woodall, Mosby-Year Book, Inc., 1993;
Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, American Dental Association,
1993; Dentifrice use among preschool children, by Steven M.
Levy, DDS, et. al., JADA, Sept. 1993; Clinical and Biological
Aspects of Dentifrices, edited by G. Embery and G. Rolla,
Oxford University Press, 1992.
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