The Dental Resource Advisor shares his
professional insight on today's over the counter products!
Toothbrushes (manual)
Toothbrushes (electric)
Toothbrushes (sonic)
Floss
Tooth Paste
Tooth Paste Whiteners
Tooth Paste Desensitizers
Fluoride Rinses
Mouth Wash
Denture Cleanser
Denture Paste and Powders
Tooth Ache Kit
Temporary Filling of Cement
Pain Relief
Canker Sores (aphthous ulcers)
Lip Balm
Saliva Substitutes
Sugarless Gums and Candies
Home Fluoride Analysis
Emergency Dental Kit
Orthodontic Appliance Cleaner
Partial Denture Cleaner
1. I recommend the "ORAL-B" line of tooth brushes
Size 40 Large
Size 35 Medium
Size 35 Advantage control grip, soft
Size 30 Small
Child’s
Infant/baby starter kit
Oral —B products can be reached at http://www.oralb.com
2. Collis curve
Designed by dentist George Collis. Both outside and inside bristles are arched 90
degrees to reach into the gum line easily. Very useful for those people who have
periodontal problems, hard to reach areas, or limited dexterity. This brush is only
available through your dentist
3. "End-Tuff" brush
Basically a brush with only a few bristle tufts at the very end. Excellent for back
molar teeth where access is difficult and with single teeth that are crowded.
4. "Proxy" brush
Basically a miniature baby bottle brush used to clean in between teeth. Brush is
replaceable. Brush tips come in different sizes but we only recommend the very small
cylinder style. Excellent toothbrush used around braces.
Currently no available automated toothbrush is substantially better than a conventional
manual brush But personally I’ve noticed that patient compliance is better with an
automated toothbrush thus making them more beneficial. Most all manufactures of automated
brushes do not recommend their product for those patients that require antibiotic
premeditation before routine dental work For those that still desire an automated tooth
brush I recommend the" interplak".
Recent reports by an independent testing agency showed that sonic and ultrasonic
toothbrushes did not outperform the conventional manual tooth brush. Claims that these
brushes removed plaque 4-6 mm beyond bristle tips could not be confirmed. However patient
compliance seems to be higher which makes the product more beneficial. Most all
manufactures of sonic and ultrasonic brushes do not recommend their product for those
patients that require antibiotic premeditation before routine dental work. For those that
still desire a sonic toothbrush I recommend the" sonicare".
1. Glide
Simply the best dental floss. From the maker of "gor-tex" this floss slides
easily between teeth without tearing or shredding. Is about 2-3 times the price of regular
dental floss but well worth it.
2. Super floss
Strips of floss about 2 feet long. The middle 6 inches are surrounded by soft
compressible foam about 3 mm in diameter. Excellent for cleaning between teeth around
crowns, and under bridgework.
3. Waxed floss
Lightly waxed floss comes in different flavors; any generic brand will do.
Warning! Tarter control tooth pastes are
causing mouth sores and peeling of the mouth lining in a small percentages of individuals.
If you have persistent mouth sores, inside of your cheeks feel sore and rough, or notices
a sloughing of your inside cheek please discontinue use of there tooth pastes and see your
dentist for a follow up.
Ages 20-65. I recommend "colgate total"; it’s unique formula continues
to work even after you stop brushing. Yes, even after you eat or drink. In fact, Colgate
Total®; is the first and only toothpaste to receive the ADA Seal of acceptance for
protection against plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. It's revolutionary because no other
toothpaste made in the United States contains the antibacterial ingredient Triclosan.
Ages under 20. Any fluoride containing tooth paste is good whether its is sodium
fluoride, monoflurophosphate, or stannous fluoride, although stannous fluoride has a
shorter shelf life.
Ages over 65. Change in age often brings with it: a demise in the the immune system,
change in the amount and consistency of saliva, diet alterations, change in the micro
flora of the mouth, and a loss of digital dexterity With these changes often comes an
increase in dental decay and periodontal ( gum) disease. I recommend "colgate
total" tooth paste supplemented with a high fluoride tooth paste such as
"prevident" (by prescription only) later in the day.
I recommend both "Rembrandt" and "Pearl Drops" Both do a somewhat
effective job to promote teeth whiting although not nearly as effective as bleaching.
For people with intermittent sensitivity to: cold, touch, air, any brand of
desensitizing tooth paste that contains potassium nitrate will do. I recommend,
"sensodyne". It takes about two weeks of continued use until effective. If
discontinued the sensitivity will return.
Fluoride rinses are basically useless, don’t waste your money.
Mostly effective short term: a breath mint may be a better choice. The exception is
"Listerine" which has shown clinically to have some antibacterial action.Also
"Peridex" (chlorohexidine) is the most effective long acting antibacterial mouth
wash but is available only by prescription.
"Stain-Away" is the superior denture cleaner of choice Expect to pay more and
it may not be available in all stores However, a good stiff denture brush is still the
best! Other commercial cleansers do a somewhat effective job.
"Stain-Away Plus" is available at most major drug store chains
such as: Eckerd, Kroger, Phar-Mor, Osco, Savon, Rite Aid, and Walgreens.
Contact Stain Away Plus at 1-800-USA-1525 or write to Regent Labs Inc.,
Dept. net , 700 West Hillsboro Blvd. #2-206, Deerfield Beach, Fl 3341.
When maximum denture retention is needed due to: poor fit, old denture, or chronic
soreness a denture paste is best I recommend "Polygrip". When the denture fits
fairly well and only a small additional amount of retention is need, a powder will do. I
recommend " fast-teeth".
Many products are available to help ease the pain of a toothache. These products only
work for dental nerve pain or "pulp "pain. This type of pain arises from: decay,
lost filling, lost crown, or a fractured tooth. The active ingredient is either 20%
benzocaine liquid or Eugenol ( oil of cloves). Eugenol is far superior. Eugenol needs to
be reapplied every two hour or as needed. This is only an emergency measure and should be
followed with a visit to your dentist.
There are two excellent products that are extremely useful: "Dentemp" or
"Tempanol". These kits are a liquid —powder that when mixed can be placed
into or onto a tooth. If it is a loose crown these can be placed into the crown and then
the crown can be reinserted onto the tooth with biting pressure. There is usually a reason
why a tooth breaks, filling comes loose, or a crown comes off, see your dentist
immediately
Advil ( Ibuprophen) in 200 mg tabs is the over the counter drug of choice for pain. For
severe pain an adult can take a prescription dose up to 800 mg every six hours
(that’s four 200 mg tabs). Ibuprophen should not be used in patients who have shown
hypersensitivity to this drug, or in individuals who have shown sensitivity to aspirin and
other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents.
For children use "Pedia-care" or "children’s liquid Motrin",
both are liquids and follow direction on the box. Besides being an effective pain killer
ibuprophen is an extremely effective fever reducer. Use these medications short term till
you can see a dentist.
Avoid triggering foods: often nuts, chocolate, acidic fruits. Avoid trauma: toothbrush
trauma, cheek biting, etc.. Avoid Sodium Lauryl Sulfate often found in most toothpastes.
Both Biotene and Rembrandt canker-free toothpastes are free of
sodium lauryl sulfate and are available in most drug stores.
Avoid the" tarter- control" toothpastes. For relief, cleanse the area with
" Listerine" and then rinse your mouth with an mixture (mixed 50/50) of elixir
of "Benadryl" and "Kaopectate" and then apply either "Zilactin
B" or "Orabase B" or by prescription is "Aphthasol" If persists
for more than 14 days see your dentist.
Use only lip balm that has a SPF of at least 15. The lip is a common site for sun
induced cancer.
Many sugarless gums and candies take the chemical structure of sugar, sucrose,
fructose, glucose, manitose, ribose and replace part of it with an alcohol radical, thus
manitol, ribitol etc. While these are technically sugar free they are not necessary decay
free. Be sure to check the label. The only true sugar free candies or gums containing
either Nutrasweet or Xylitol. Xylitol while not seen yet in a lot of products has the
added benefit of being both sugar free and a antibacterial agent. Xylitol gums have been
used in European school lunch programs and have had impressive results in significantly
reducing tooth decay in children
Be advised that while carbonated drinks may contain Nutrasweet they are still harmful
for teeth. Carbonated drinks contain carbonic acid, and long-term excess uses can
literally cause teeth to dissolve.
A dry mouth can be occurring for a variety of reasons; loss of saliva gland function, a
change in saliva consistency, medications for hypertension, depression, congestion and
systemic diseases such as lupus, diabetes, and Siogren’s syndrome.
While it is often difficult to get, relief here is a list of things you can try:
- Alert your physician, ask him/her if there are any other medications that cause a less dry
mouth.
- Keep a water filled plant mister at you bed side. A mist rather than a sip of water does
a better job moisturizing the mouth. Put a little lemon juice into the water: it helps to
stimulate the saliva glands.
- Consider sugarless gums or candy to help try and moisturize your mouth.
"Xylifresh" is an excellent choice and is available in health food stores.
- Use a moisturizing gel like "Oralbalance."
- Use a saliva substitute such as "Glandosane",
- Consider a prescription of "Salagen" (generic is Pilocarpine Hydrochloride, 5
mg, three times a day). Very effective although some minor side effects so consult your
physician or dentist.
- Consider home application of topical fluoride via custom-made fluoride trays.
Home Fluoride Analysis
Dentist and parents have had no convenient way to determine fluoride levels in their
drinking water to tailor amounts of supplemental fluoride other than to contact local
water departments. Often times water supplies may come from a variety of sources and the
fluoride concentration may vary according to the time of day. Most local water departments
will perform a fluoride analysis if water samples are brought to them
A home fluoride analysis kit is now available for $11.00 from: Omni products 1550 N
Florida Mango Road, Suite 1 West Palm Beach Fl. 33409 or by calling 1-800-445-3386. The
kit is complete with postage paid mailer, report, and educational materials Results are
reported in ppm ( parts per million ) so parents can track their child’s fluoride
uptake..
EMERGENCY DENTAL KIT
Includes tube of Cavit for temporary filling, dental stick and examination mirror, oil
of cloves for toothache pain, cotton tipped applicators, aspirin, cotton rolls and balls,
sterile gauze pads, toothbrush and toothpaste and an emergency dental manual…all for
$15.95.
Call CAMPMOR at 1-800-226-7667. Ask for item 80502-A.
Orthodontic
Appliance Cleaner
A superior orthodontic appliance cleaner is made from
the same people that make the denture cleaner "
stain-away" It is available in most major drug store chains such as:
Eckerd, Kroger, Phar-mor, Osco, Savon, Rite Aid, and
Walgreens. Or call 1-800-USA-1525. The product is also available from
Regent Labs inc., Dept.net, 700 West Hillsboro Blvd.
#2-206, Deerfield Beach Fl. 33441
Partial Denture
Cleaner
A superior partial denture cleaner is made from
the same people that make the denture cleaner "
stain-away" It is available in most major drug store chains such as:
Eckerd, Kroger, Phar-mor, Osco, Savon, Rite Aid, and
Walgreens. Or call 1-800-USA-1525. The product is also available from
Regent Labs inc., Dept.net, 700 West Hillsboro Blvd.
#2-206, Deerfield Beach Fl. 33441
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