Which Dental Product is best for You

Confused about which dental product is for you?

 

There has been an explosion of available choices on your dental product aisle.  Finally, the manufacturers are realizing that not everyone wants to whiten teeth, reduce plaque, control sensitivity and fight gingivitis at the same time.  It was reported that in 2007, 102 new products were introduced.  This number was reduced to 69 in 2010.

 

Interesting dental facts:

38% of Americans floss more than once a day

2 minutes is the recommended amount of time to brush, 27 seconds is the average American brush time

352 different types of toothpaste were reportedly sold in January 2011

 

How does "specialty" toothpaste work? 

Tartar control-pyrophosphates, triclosan, zinc citrate or sodium hexametaphosphate help prevent tartar accumulation on the teeth

 

Sensitive teeth-strontium chloride or potassium nitrate help block the transmission of sensation from the surface of the tooth to the nerve.

 

Baking soda-sodium bicarbonate has been used to clean and whiten teeth while deodorizing breath "naturally".  It is reported to dissolve deep within the gum tissue and harder to reach places between your teeth.

 

Whitening products-silica and enzymes act as mild abrasives to scrape surface stains caused by coffee, tea or red wine.  These products are ineffective on internal stains, such as tetracycline stains.

 

Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Va. 24153

540-387-3844

New Findings

Researchers have found a novel way to signal whether people are diabetic or prediabetic:  Look at their teeth, according to a study in the Journal of Dental Research.  An estimated 25% of diabetics currently go undiagnosed, increasing their risk for complications, including periodontal disease, a bacterial infection that can damage bone and teeth.

For those a little Apprehensive about Dental Surgery- Sedation Dentistry

One of the major benefits of sedation dentistry is that people often feel like their dental procedure lasts only a few minutes, when in fact it might have taken hours to perform. Therefore, complex dental procedures such as smile makeovers or extensive rebuilding procedures that normally require multiple visits can often be performed in fewer appointments.  If you are reluctant to change the appearance of your smile because you are afraid or anxious about undergoing long or complicated dental procedures, sedation dentistry can make you feel comfortable during the treatment process and help you achieve a smile you can be proud of.  Also, because sedation dentistry addresses some of the fears that keep people from going to the dentist on a regular basis, sedation dentistry patients are more likely to receive recommended routine care. As a result, they are less likely to neglect their oral health or allow oral health problems to build to the point when drastic dental treatments become necessary.
Call us at Complete Dental Care- Caroline Wallace DDS at 540-387-3844 for any questions you may have.
Complete Dental Care
103 South Colorado Street
Salem, Virginia, 24153