Someone wrote a letter to the Anchorage Daily News today attacking toothpaste manufacturers and dentists for purporting a fraud of "biblical" proportions on people by selling toothpaste. By his own admission, he only has a few teeth left and wanted to inform people that baking soda and peroxide are more effective than toothpaste at preventing periodontal disease. As a dental professional, I feel I should inform everyone that it is best to get dental advice from people with more than a few teeth. But I will set the record straight. You do not need anything on your brush at all to effectively brush your teeth. Toothpaste used to only be for freshening and fluoride delivery. Now, many contain chemicals that prevent plaque and tartar accumulation, decrease microbial activity, reduce stain, etc. The very best thing you can do for yourself is get a power brush and use it. Get your teeth examined and cleaned at the interval recommended to you by your dentist and hygienist and not what your insurance will cover. Floss daily...floss...daily! You may still get periodontal disease, but normally it can be controlled. The trifecta for losing your teeth is to be a chain-smoking, diabetic grinder so do everything you can to give up smoking, control your blood sugar and wear a night guard made by a dentist if suggested to you by a dental professional. That is all!
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 04:44:53 +0000
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