There are pros and cons to using a product that contains stannous fluoride. While stannous fluoride is more effective in controlling gingivitis than the more traditional sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride can cause stain. It is an active ingredient in the Crest Pro Health toothpaste and Crest Pro Health mouthwash. There are a warnings on the products noting this fact and that with proper plaque removal this can be avoided. However, complete plaque removal can be difficult to achieve. Any plaque left on the teeth then harbors the stain. This stain is not permanent and is removed during your professional cleaning, just unsightly and a nuisance between appointments.
Another toothpaste ingredient is sodium lauryl sulfate. This ingredient causes the foaming as you brush. If you suffer from aphthous ulcers, you may want to get a toothpaste without this ingredient. Some studies have shown the ulcer will heal quicker and others claim it may lessen the number of breakouts. Tom’s of Maine and some versions of Rembrandt do not have sodium lauryl sulfate.
The Reisman Dental Group hygiene team is a stickler for flossing! Flossing helps to keep your smile healthy and prevent those little problems from becoming big ones. When plaque is not removed with brushing AND flossing, the bacterias present are allowed to cause infection in the tissues (a.k.a. gingivitis and periodontal disease). Flossing will not cure the infection but it will put your mouth at lower risk for disease.
How to Floss:
- Use about 18″ of floss. We recommend a woven or ultra floss. This type of floss will “grab” more of the sticky plaque you are trying hard to remove.
- Wrap the floss around middle fingers. This will feel akward for first few times, but will soon become habit. This allows for more dexterity and keeping the tension on the floss, which reduces shredding.
- Gently work the floss between the teeth then gently follow the curve of the tooth.
- Be sure to clean under the gumline, but avoid snapping the floss into the gum. This can cause trauma and that is when flossing becomes painful.
Flossing the same time of day will make it easier in forming the habit. Flossing before brushing is usually recommended so that the fluoride in your toothpaste can remineralize surfaces you have cleaned between the teeth.
Happy Flossing!
Teeth sensitivity is a common concern for a lot of patients. We are constantly being asked “why do I have sensitive teeth”? There are several reasons why a patient can experience sensitive teeth. The most common reason is due to gum recession. Gingival recession means the attached gums have receded causing the root of the tooth to be exposed. All of our nerves are held in the roots of our teeth. Therefore, causing our teeth to be sensitive to either cold liquids, cold air, or acidic liquids and foods. The way to treat teeth sensitivity is to start by switching to a sensitive toothpaste. There are several out on the market that can be very helpful, like Sensodyne. When using a toothpaste like Sensodyne, one must use the senstive toothpaste exculsively. It can take up to two weeks before the patient will be able to notice a difference. WE would encourage the patient to continue using the sensitive toothpaste even after they feel the sensitivity is gone.
