Which Toothpaste Should I Use?

We know you've been there - staring at the aisle in the drug store at the different kinds of toothpaste, each promising to be the best at something — like "fighting cavities", "tartar control", "whitening", or "decreasing tooth sensitivity". With so many options on the shelves, you might be wondering which one is best for you? Let us help you choose. 

What is Toothpaste?

Toothpaste, officially known as dentifrice, helps to amp up your toothbrush’s cleaning abilities. The main ingredients of most toothpaste include:

• Abrasives—The most important thing toothpaste does is remove unwanted stuff off the surface of your teeth. Long ago, people used gritty materials like brick dust, charcoal, tree bark, and animal hooves to clean their teeth. Thanks to technology and modern science, we now have much gentler ingredients proven to be safe and effective.
• Detergent—An ingredient more often associated with dishes or laundry, detergent is what makes toothpaste foam. This helps move particles off your teeth that water alone cannot.
• Fluoride—This mineral strengthens tooth enamel and makes teeth more resistant to decay. Small children tend to swallow a lot of paste as they are learning to brush (and too much fluoride is not good to ingest), so there are many without fluoride to choose from. 
• Humectants—These substances keep the paste from drying out, which is very helpful since you take that cap on and off several times each day.
• Flavor—Toothpaste has flavors like peppermint, cinnamon, and bubblegum without any sugar or components that would cause tooth decay.

What to Look For In A Toothpaste

Fluoride is the most important ingredient in toothpaste and it’s a must even if your water has fluoride in it. It's a natural mineral that hardens the enamel and makes teeth more resistant to cavities. Fluoride is perfectly safe in small amounts and research has shown that it can dramatically decrease tooth decay. Any toothpaste with fluoride will do for most people as long as they’re brushing, flossing and visiting their dentist regularly, as well as eating a healthy diet.

If you don’t experience any particular type of dental issue and simply want healthier teeth overall, Raleigh dentist Dr. Jeff M. Morrison DDS suggests Crest Pro Health. “It’s the only toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association in six categories,” he says. “It whitens, reduces sensitivity, and helps prevent cavities, gingivitis, plaque, and bad breath.” "Colgate Total is also a great all-around toothpaste for most patients. It contains both fluoride and triclosan to fight cavities and gingivitis, and also helps to fight bad breath."  

If you have a specific issue, like sensitive teeth, here are a few different types you may want to consider:

• Anti-cavity Toothpaste—Anti-cavity toothpaste usually contains fluoride at higher levels than regular toothpaste. This helps stop tooth decay and prevents it from worsening by protecting teeth from acids generated by harmful bacteria that live in your mouth. If you don’t have fluoride in your water, you may want to give an anti-cavity toothpaste a try or talk to Dr. Morrison about prescription toothpaste.
• Tartar Control Toothpaste —Tartar, sometimes called “calculus,” comes from bacterial plaque that has hardened and, if left on the teeth, can contribute to gum disease. No matter how much you brush, once the tartar has formed, only that little pick your dentist or hygienist wields can scrape it off. However, toothpastes containing tartar-fighting ingredients can prevent the plaque from hardening, making it easier to brush off. 
  
• Whitening Toothpaste — Most whitening toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients like magnesium carbonate or dehydrated silica gels that will remove surface stains. This could be a good choice if you have mild staining. Other whiteners that may be used in toothpaste include hydrogen peroxide, which claims to bleach teeth, and polyphosphates, said to keep highly pigmented food and drink from staining enamel. "However, the whitening ingredients in toothpaste aren’t concentrated enough or in contact with tooth surfaces long enough to be effective," says Dr. Morrison "and polyphosphates may cause canker sores and other mouth lesions, or tooth sensitivity." If you want to really whiten your teeth, you should schedule a professional whitening treatment. 
• Desensitizing Toothpaste —Tooth sensitivity occurs when the tooth’s enamel is damaged, exposing dentin, the next layer of the tooth. Different compounds in toothpaste for sensitive teeth are touted for their ability to relieve sensitivity. Used regularly, desensitizers can ease sensitivity, but we recommend scheduling an office visit first. “You need to know what’s causing your sensitivity,” says Dr. Morrison. "For example, untreated gumline cavities, excessive brushing, and aggressive flossing can all lead to sensitivity." If sensitivity lingers after dental treatment, Dr. Morrison might suggest a desensitizing toothpaste, or for persistent discomfort, an in-office treatment such as concentrated fluoride.
• Children’s Toothpaste — Children under age 12 should use children’s toothpaste — it’s specifically formulated for “baby teeth” and isn’t harmful if swallowed because it contains less fluoride than adult toothpaste. This toothpaste also comes in different flavors to make brushing more appealing for kids.
• Natural Toothpaste — Natural toothpaste, formulated without artificial ingredients and foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate, can be an excellent option but a lot of natural brands don’t use fluoride. This can be a benefit for babies and toddlers who tend to swallow toothpaste but if you’re trying to avoid cavities and you’re old enough to know how to spit when brushing, be sure fluoride is included. 

For all toothpaste sold in stores, look for seals of approval from The US Food and Drug Administration and the American Dental Association. The FDA tests toothpaste for safety and the ADA makes sure that toothpastes actually do what they claim to. The most important thing is that you buy toothpaste that you will encourage you to brush, because the mechanical action of brushing your teeth is much more crucial than the type of toothpaste you use, as long as your paste contains fluoride.

Brushing and flossing twice a day is critical in preventing tooth decay, and so is visiting your dentist twice a year. If you’re still not sure what toothpaste is best for you, schedule an appointment with us today — we’ll be happy to help you find the right fit!

Five Reasons to Start Flossing Your Children's Teeth Early

According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), flossing is the single most important weapon against plaque.  Gaining an early start on flossing can significantly reduce cavity-causing bacteria in your child's mouth, leading to healthier teeth and gums.   Here are five great reasons to start flossing early:

Flossing Gets Rid of Plaque

Plaque is a soft, sticky film that constantly builds up on your teeth and contains millions of bacteria. When your child eats, the bacteria in plaque use the sugars in the food to produce acids that eat away at the tooth enamel. Repeated attacks cause the enamel to break down, eventually resulting in a cavity (or hole) in the tooth surface.  

30% of Tooth Surface Not Reached by Brushing

Brushing cleans the surface of the teeth - but about 30% of your child's tooth surface is unreachable by their toothbrush.  That's why flossing is so important.  It removes plaque and tiny amounts of food debris in between teeth.  

Dental Hygiene Visits Are Easier For Your Child

Plaque that is not removed daily by brushing and flossing between teeth can eventually harden into tartar around the gum line. Flossing allows you to remove the plaque that causes tartar while it's in its early form: sticky, soft and pliable.   Once plaque becomes tartar, it can't be removed without professional help.  Most kids (and adults) don't enjoy the scraping the Dental Hygienist must do to remove tartar.    

Flossing Can Save Money and Time

In an era of rising health care costs and diminishing insurance benefits, it pays to take steps to reduce your dental expenses. Flossing is inexpensive, easy and takes under a minute.  Compare this to the costs (missed work, cost of care) associated with having a cavity filled.

Early Oral Hygiene Routines Lead To Better Outcomes

Teaching your child to floss when they start to brush will help them develop a strong oral hygiene routine that will have a significant impact on their dental health.   

How To Help Your Child Floss

Once a child’s teeth start to fit closely together, usually between the ages of two and six, parents should get their children in the habit of flossing daily.  Here are some tips on helping your child become a good flosser:

• Learning Curve.  Because flossing requires more hand-eye coordination and dexterity than most young children have, they will need help with flossing from an adult until they can start doing it on their own.  As a general rule, when your child starts to learn cursive (around second or third grade), they’re skilled enough to floss solo.  
• Good habits take time to develop.  Give your kids some positive reinforcement.  A combination of gentle reminders and praise when kids floss (both with help and on their own), will keep them excited about taking care of their teeth.
• Be a good example.  Brushing and flossing your teeth alongside your kids will reinforce good habits to them and enable you make sure that they are doing it correctly.
• Follow up.  Even older kids can use some follow-up.  Make sure your older kids and teens have dental floss available, are using proper flossing technique, and are flossing each day. 
• Fun Flossing Tools.  The best flossing tools for children are the ones that will make flossing a fun and a life-long daily habit. Winding dental floss around little fingers can be tricky.   Luckily, kid-friendly floss sticks are available in a wide variety of colors, shapes and characters. 

Our Dental Hygienists are trained to teach flossing skills to our youngest patients, and will happily give you some tips to help at home.  Is it time for their cleaning and exam?  Give our office a call at 919 755 3450 or schedule online.  

Was this blog post helpful?  If so, please leave a comment.  Also, share other dental health topics you may be interested in.  Thanks for visiting!

Why Do Dentists Want You To Come In Every Six Months?

           I hear this all the time when I tell a patient who just had a great check-up that I'll see them in six month - "Really? Six months. But my teeth are healthy." I understand - everyone is busy. If you don't have dental insurance, a routine cleaning and exam is an added expense. Instead of a waste of time and money - I suggest you to look at that exam as 30 minutes that can have a real impact on your teeth, your overall health, and your wallet.

The American Dental Association recommends semi-yearly exam and cleanings. That being said, everyone is different. Some adults with no risk factors and a great oral hygiene routine can get away with pushing it out to every nine months, while others really should stick to the twice yearly recommendation.  People with periodontal disease definitely need to get in every 3 or 4 months.  Children, because their teeth and jaws are still developing and they're still learning good oral hygiene habits, really need to come in every six months. 

Your oral health can change pretty quickly. A lesion can appear. A filling can fall out or a tooth fracture.  Decay or periodontal disease can start. You may not even be aware that anything is wrong. The time you spend here can mean much less time in our office down the road, much less expense, and if you have oral cancer - much earlier intervention and care.

In general, our "hygiene" appointments - which include a cleaning and exam - are about 30 minutes[1]. We cover a lot in that time.  I'll evaluate the health of your and gums, checking for redness, inflammation or signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease. I'll do an oral cancer screening, perform a head and neck examination, and check the health of your teeth, jaw and bite. I'll look for evidence of tooth decay, damaged fillings, contact between your teeth, and any broke or loose teeth. Your Dental Hygienist will also do a thorough cleaning of your mouth. This will include removing any plaque and tartar, polishing and flossing your teeth. She'll point out any areas that you may need to focus on, and talk with you about maintaining good oral hygiene at home between visits. Once your examination and cleaning are complete, I'll tell you about the health of your teeth and gums and we'll discuss any recommendations to improve your dental health.

Believe me when I say it's worth it. In my 30+ years as a dentist, I've identified areas that turned out to be cancerous lesions in a number of patients, and have referred many patients follow-up care because of suspected diabetes, reflux, eating disorders and other problems. I've also helped countless patients sleep better with our custom-made sleep apnea devices (and there are a lot of health benefits to getting a good night of sleep), and have resolved chronic headaches in people with our oral appliances.

People think 'no pain, no problem', or have a false sense of security because cosmetically their teeth look good. The truth is, many dental issues can advance without pain until they're very serious and requires more invasive and expensive treatment. If you have insurance - we accept just about any plan and are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna and Delta Dental Premier - the cost of a 6 month cleaning and exam will probably be covered. Take advantage of it - even if you had a great visit in the past. If you don't have insurance - consider investing in the St. Marys Street Dental Health Plan - our in-office dental savings plan, which provides two cleanings and dental exams (including x-rays, periodontal and oral cancer screenings) per year at a significant cost savings, along with discounted care.

For more information on our financial options, or to schedule an appointment, please call us at 919 755 3450. You can also schedule online.  See you soon.

[1] If you're a new patient the initial cleaning and exam takes about an hour

Eight Ways to Help Your Anxious Child At the Dentist

As a dentist, and the father of a child who has dental anxiety, I know how helpless, embarrassed, and even frustrated parents feel when their child is experiencing a high level of anxiety at a dental appointment.  With the right amount of empathy, support, skills and coaching, nearly every child can overcome this fear.  

Here are my suggestions - as a dentist and a dad -  on how you can help your child deal with anxiety at the dental office:

Don't Share YOUR Dental Anxiety  

If a parent struggles with anxiety at the dentist - and I know a lot of adults do - there's a good chance their child will, too.  Why?  Because when you voice your fear, avoid going to the dentist, make jokes about how much you dislike dental appointments - your child picks up on it.  Addressing your own dental anxiety may help limit how much your child models these same behaviors.

The Benefits of the Dental Visit  

It's easy for a  frustrated parent to portray the dentist and a dental visit as a consequence or form of punishment for their child's poor oral hygiene.  Don't use threats like: "If you don't brush your teeth the dentist is going to use the drill to fix your cavities" - or something equally frightening.  Instead, emphasize how happy he is going to be when your child has a great check up, or how proud you'll be when the Dental Hygienist tells you that he has done a great job brushing.  Let them know the dentist is there to help keep their teeth healthy just as their pediatrician helps keep their body healthy. 

Visit Early  

Bring your child in at age three for their first visit.  We'll have a friendly chat, let them touch the instruments, see the inside of their mouth with the intraoral camera, listen to the noise of the suction machine, and sit in the chair.   We'll even take a quick peek in their mouth and let them get a toy out of the treasure box.   If your child shows signs of anxiety early on we can start to work on it.  Unaddressed dental anxiety usually just get worse.

Acceptance and Empathy 

Accept and empathize with - rather than invalidate - your child's anxiety.   Try to get at the specifics of their fear - are they worried about pain?  Fear of the unknown?   Getting a shot?  Loud or strange noises?  Taking a moment to understand and accept their feelings will allow you to support your child more effectively.  Share their fears with our staff so that we can assure their comfort when they're at the office. 

Don't Overreact 

It is hard to see your child upset, but as parents, we have to tolerate their distress, remain positive and calm, and move forward with the dental appointment because it's in the child's best interest.  Calling off the appointment or procedure,  providing excessive reassurance to a crying child, or appearing to be overly concerned about their anxiety may actually strengthen and reinforce it.  

We've found that often a child's anxiety will lessen when mom or dad remains in the waiting room during the appointment.  This lets the child know that their parent is confident  they're going to be fine, which alleviates some of the fear and allows the child to calm down. 

Help them Manage Their Anxiety  

If the sound of the suction machine is terrifying we can take a few minutes to let them see it and experiment with putting it in their mouth.  Prepare them for the appointment -  let them know the week before, the day before and the day of the appoint that they will be coming in to see the dentist.  Arrive early so they can sit calmly in the waiting area for a few minutes.  Help them come up with some calming strategies.  Do they have an item that keeps them calm?  We don't mind if their favorite toy or blanket is in the chair with them.   You can also download a kids or some special music for them to listen to on earphones while we work.  Finally, even very young children can practice simple breathing or relaxation techniques.  

Reward Brave Behavior 

Instead of paying attention to anxious behavior, or expressing disappointment about how they acted during the visit, praise their use of anxiety management skills - even if it was minimal.   Were they able to go into the exam room on their own?  Did they stay in the dental chair?  Did they get through the exam without crying?   Or maybe they cried for just for a minute?  These are all great steps.  

Prevention is Key 

The best way to help your anxious child?  Make sure they take great care of their teeth at home, and bring them in for regular exams and cleanings.  We can identify areas where they may need to improve their brushing, or intervene at a very early stage if there  is a problem.   With good oral hygiene, they may be able to avoid potentially anxiety-inducing procedures and simply have pleasant, comfortable visits for cleanings and exams.

We'll work together with you to make your child's dental experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible.  If you have questions or want to schedule an appointment, please contact us.   Do you have other calming strategies you've used with your anxious child a medical or dental visit?  Feel free to share in the space below.  

As always - we always welcome new patients (even anxious ones).  

Most Common Place You Get Cavities

Perhaps one of the most dreaded phrases a child - or adult- can hear during a regular check-up is “You have a cavity.” At Jeff M. Morrison & Associates DDS, we never want to say these words! That's why our primary goal is prevention. But it's also helpful to know where you're most likely to get cavities - so you can target where you brush and floss. Here is a list of the places you're most likely to get a cavity.

In the Grooves

On the chewing surface of your back teeth there are many grooves (called fissures) that run in the teeth as well as small holes or pits. These are common places for cavities. 

In Between your Teeth

In a normal mouth, all the teeth touch each other except for the ones all the way in the back. In the area between the teeth, it is hard to fit a toothbrush and easy for plaque to grow and create a cavity, especially if you’re not flossing daily.

At the Margins

The margins of fillings, crowns, bridges, and other dental work aren't always as smooth as we’d like it to be. This area, between the restoration and the tooth, is an easy place for plaque to grow. 

Just Above the Gumline

This is a common place for cavities, especially for people who drink lots of energy drinks and soda because the acids in these drinks can pool around the gumline and attack the teeth, creating a cavity.

At the Roots

When you have periodontal, or gum, disease the bone and gums that surround the teeth gradually fall down. This exposes the root surface of the teeth. The root surface is much softer than the hard enamel shell that encases the tops of our teeth making it easier for cavities to occur on the root surface.

Next to a Partial

It's easy for food to get trapped between a partial denture and the natural teeth. Plus, there’s usually a metal appliance that fits around the tooth making it easy for plaque to grow. If you have a partial denture, Dr. Morrison or your Dental Hygienist will come up with an oral hygiene program tailor-made for you.

Under Fillings 

Fillings that have worn away, chipped, cracked or fallen out provide an entry point for the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Good oral hygiene along, with a healthy diet, is the best way to avoid a cavity. Here are some tips:

• Good brushing.  Make sure you’re brushing the grooves and pits of your teeth. 
• Keep flossing. We recommend flossing every day. If you find you can’t get the floss to go down or come back up from between the tooth, give our office a call. 
• Fluoride: It's important for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years to be exposed to fluoride. Adults benefit from fluoride, too. New research indicates that topical fluoride -- from toothpastes, mouth rinses, and fluoride treatments -- are as important in fighting tooth decay as in strengthening developing teeth. 
• Regular cleaning and exams. With twice yearly cleaning and exams, you can often prevent a cavity from occurring, or catch one in the earliest stage - which is easiest (and less expensive) to treat. 

Worried that you may have a cavity? Don't wait! Give give us a call at (919) 755-3450 or schedule an appointment with Dr. Morrison online.



Source:

1. http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-cavities

2. http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/fluoride-treatment