WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE TOOTHPASTE LABEL

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=

Toothpaste provide a little mechanical help with brushing plaque off your teeth. That's the main reason they exist.
Here's what to look for if you try a new brand:

• ABRASIVES

Particles of grit help to scrape bacterial plaque from your teeth. Some common abrasives include calcium carbonate, silica, aluminium oxide, and magnesium carbonide. Charcoal can also act as an abrasive, but some dentists caution that charcoal can be too harsh. 

• FLUORIDE

Bacteria are constantly attacking and eroding tooth enamel, and your teeth are constantly trying to build themselves back up. (Saliva naturally contains calcium to aid in this process.) This process, called remineralization, is helped along by fluoride.

All toothpastes that have a SABS seal must contain fluoride.

If you have a specific reason why you need to avoid fluoride, ask your dentist about an alternative.

• INGREDIENTS FOR TEXTURE AND FLAVOR

Everything else is just there to make the toothpaste easy and pleasant to use. Humectants help the substance to keep a gel-like texture; foaming agents make it bubble up as you brush.

Most toothpaste variants also contain flavourant and artificial sweeteners (eg. xylitol, saccharine).


https://bit.ly/2KUFUaY

TIPS FOR BETTER DENTAL HEALTH

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=

We all know the advice for healthy teeth --brush twice daily and don't eat too much sugar.
But there's a little more to preventing tooth decay than these guidelines suggest.

Here's a few more helpful tips:

1. Brush up on your skills

The mechanical act of toothbrushing removes the very sticky dental plaque. Plaque forms naturally on teeth immediately after you've eaten; and even after toothbrushing. But this film of initial film of plaque doesn't cause damage to the teeth until it reaches a certain stage of maturity. The exact amount of time this takes isn't known; but is at least more than 12 hours. 

• Take 2 minutes to brush teeth for removing plaque;
• Brush at night and one other time daily;

      2. Use flouride toothpaste

The key ingredient in toothpaste is fluoride, which prevents tooth decay. Fluoride replaces lost mnerals in teeth and also makes them stronger.

For maximum benefit, use toothpaste with 1350-1500ppmF.

    3. Spit, don't rinse

Once you've brushed, don't rinse your out -you're washing away the fluoride. This can be a difficult habit to break, but can reduce tooth decay by up to 25%

    4. Limit 'sugar hits'

How often you eat sugar also matters.

Typically, your teeth can be exposed to four "sugar hits"  -episodes of sugar intake -daily without irreversible damage to the teeth.

Why not try counting how many sugary hits you have a day?

Summary

Brush twice daily, use fluoride toothpaste, spit don't rinse, eat and drink nothing after brushing, and don't have sugar more than four times daily. Easy!

https://bit.ly/2KUFUaY

AD BREAK

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=

Back 2 Nature Toothpaste

This is a fluoride-free toothpaste formula, with no artificial flavours or colours, and no nasty toxins like SLS. The safe natural ingredients work to clean and brighten your teeth, giving your whole family healthy smiles to be proud of. A dash of grapefruit and clove oils have been added, to care for your gums and add a pleasant taste. Back 2 Nature toothpaste will soon be a favourite fixture at your family’s bathroom sink!

Click on the link to experience a great new toothpaste taste.

https://www.faithful-to-nature.co.za/back-2-nature-toothpaste

Pure Smile Environmental Bamboo toothbrush

This 100% natural, biodegradable toothbrush is made from bamboo wood. The brush will break down harmlessly after use, unlike ordinary plastic toothbrushes. The special charcoal-infused bristles provide a gentle but thorough cleaning, with detoxing benefits. 

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TOOTHPASTE

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=





Have you ever given a thought to how the humble toothpaste came to be?
For the sake of weekend unwinding, I will make today's Blogpost a history lesson for you to mull over.




Toothpaste, floss and toothbrushes have been a staple in most people's hygiene routine since the 1950's. But that's only 60 years ago.
Then what did people do to keep their teeth clean thousands of years ago? The answer will make you greatful that you use mint-flavoured toothpaste.

Around 5000BC, Egyptians started using a paste to clean their teeth. This was before tooth brushes were even invented.
Ancient toothpastes were used to treat some of the same concerns that we have today – keeping teeth and gums clean, whitening teeth and freshening breath. The ingredients of ancient toothpastes were however very different and varied. Ingredients used included a powder of ox hooves' ashes and burnt eggshells, that was combined with pumice. The Greeks and Romans favored more abrasiveness and their toothpaste ingredients included crushed bones and oyster shells. The Romans added more flavoring to help with bad breath, as well as powdered charcoal and bark. The Chinese used a wide variety of substances in toothpastes over time that have included ginseng, herbal mints and salt.

 In 1824, a dentist named Peabody was the first person to add soap to toothpaste, followed by John Harris in the 1850s who added chalk as an ingredient. Colgate mass-produced the first toothpaste in a jar. Dr. Washington Sheffield, an American dentist, thought it was unsanitary for multiple people to dip their toothbrushes into one jar of toothpaste. So in 1892, he developed the first toothpaste in a collapsible tube getting his inspiration from paint tubes used by artists. Four years later, Colgate developed a dental cream that was packaged in collapsible tubes. After World War II, advancements in synthetic detergents allowed manufacturers to replace the soap used in toothpaste with emulsifying agents that worked better. One of these agents is a chemical compound named, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate. SLS is a foaming agent that can also be found in products like hair shampoo. And remains of SLS are still found in many types of toothpaste today. By the 1960s, fluoride became standard in toothpaste.
During much of the middle and later decades of the 20th century, the most significant change in toothpaste was the development of medicated products intended to remedy diseases and/or conditions of the teeth and/or gums. A relatively new ingredient called Triclosan provides another level of protection against cavities, plaque, gum disease and bad breath.
The current trend, which started to emerge at the start of the 21st century, is the demand for toothpastes that whiten the teeth and give them an iridescent shine. And by 1987, the first whitening toothpaste was invented.
 No matter what type of toothpaste you use today, it’s important to be consistent in brushing your teeth.

What does toothpaste actually do?

Most toothpaste contain abrasive ingredients that help scrub away stains and plaque on your teeth. The abrasives have to be harsh on plaque but gentle on your teeth so it does not damage your enamel. This ingredient also helps to polish your teeth so they look fresh and clean after you brush your teeth.


Does brushing without toothpaste work?

Some dentists recommend the practice of "dry brushing" to their patients.
This is how it's done:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes, using a toothbrush without toothpaste.
• Use the brushing technique your oral hygienist recommends (circular or up & down along the gumline).
• Make sure to hit the tough spots where plaque builds up, such as behind the bottom teeth.
• Use a dab of toothpaste at the end to get the fresh breath and the benefit from fluoride. The trick here is to simply put the pea-sized amount on your tongue and swish.

And American dental researcher, Thomas C. Abrahamsen, advocated the "dry brushing" technique. His rationale behind this, is that the friction from brushing rids the teeth of plaque; and not necessarily the toothpaste.

A lot of dental professionals have tried it out first, before prescribing the method to their patients.
I have done it myself a few times and it does work.
So I would recommend it to my Oral Hygiene patients, provided they don't stop using toothpaste altogether.

https://bit.ly/2KUFUaY



KIDDIES' TOOTHPASTE

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=

Today's Blog is about a topic that doesn't get a lot of discussion. Children's toothpaste.
This question came to me from a reader who has a problem with her children swallowing their toothpaste.

She says: "My children are two and three years old. I've noticed that the children's toothpaste says 'Do not swallow' but they do. Is this bad for them?"

Another mother wanted me to discuss whether the 'kiddie's toothpaste brands are worth the money.

Toothpaste manufacturers have long marketed toothpaste aimed at children. These toothpastes have a lower concentration of fluoride than adult toothpaste. A low dose of fluoride over a long period of time, affects the enamel formation of the teeth in a positive way. Spitting out toothpaste help to maintain this positive effect of low dose fluoride.
When the children swallows the toothpaste, it gives them a 'spike' or high concentration of fluoride in their blood supply. The increased fluoride level in the blood can then disrupt the cells that are forming the adult teeth.
And it can also cause stomach upset.

The best advice I can give is to get the toothpaste that is age appropriate for the children. Follow the directions given on the pack. And teach them how to spit. Make this part of the lesson when teaching them how to brush their teeth.

Children's toothpaste do meet the guidelines on the appropriate flouride content.
Another justification is that children sometimes find the taste of mint toothpaste too strong and prefer other flavours.
Sometimes children can be resistant to having their teeth brushed. The brands make toothbrushing fun and make children more willing to take part. They do this by using cartoon characters on the packaging and advertising. 

The one drawback to buying children's toothpaste, is that you may pay considerably more than for  adult toothpaste.


https://amzn.to/2xb8zie

        

DENTAL FLUOROSIS

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=

FLUOROSIS OVERVIEW

The risk of putting your child on fluoride tablets, is first and foremost an overexposure to fluoride.
And that is essentially what fluorosis is.
While the permanent teeth are forming, the excess fluoride gets taken up by the tooth enamel. And after eruption, the teeth may appear mildly discoloured. There may be lacy white markings that only dentists can detect.

The below picture shows the fluorosis condition in it's mild form.

 

 

However, there are also a moderate and severe form of the condition. With moderate fluorosis, all the surfaces of the teeth are mottled and teeth may be ground down and brown stains frequently "disfigure" the teeth. Severe fluorosis is characterized by brown discolouration that are widespread, pitting, and teeth often present a corroded-looking appearance. Although fluorosis is not a disease, its effects can be psychologically distressing and difficult to treat.

People with fluorosis are relatively resistant to dental caires, but it may present a cosmetic concern.

 

 

FLUOROSIS CAUSES

 

A major cause of fluorosis is the inappropriate use of fluoride-containing dental products such as toothpaste and mouthrinses. Sometimes, children enjoy the taste of fluoridated toothpaste so much that they swallow it instead of spitting it out.  

 

But there are other causes of fluorosis. For example, taking a higher-than-prescribed amount of a fluoride supplement during early childhood can cause it. So can taking a fluoride supplement when fluoridated drinking water or fluoride-fortified fruit juices and soft drinks already provide the right amount.

 

FLUOROSIS TREATMENTS

 

In many cases, fluorosis is so mild that no treatment is needed. Or it may only affect the back teeth where it can't be seen. the appearance of teeth affected by moderate-to-severe fluorosis can be significantly improved by a variety of techniques. Most of them are aimed at masking the stains.

 

 

Such techniques may include:

• Tooth whitening and other procedures to remove surface stains; note that bleaching teeth may temporarily worsen the appearance of fluorosis.
• Bonding, which coats the tooth with a hard resin that bonds to the enamel
• Crowns
• Veneers, which are custom-made shells that cover the front of the teeth to improve their appearance; these are used in cases of severe fluorosis.
• MI Paste, a calcium phosphate product that is sometimes combined with methods like micro-abrasion to minimize tooth discolouration. 

FLUOROSIS PREVENTION

Parental vigilance is the key to preventing fluorosis.
Once you know how much fluoride your child is getting from drinking water and other sources such as fruit juices and soft drinks, you can work with your dentist to decide whether or not your child should have a fluoride supplement. At home, keep all fluoride-containing products such as toothpaste, mouthrinses and supplements out of the reach of young children.

https://bit.ly/2KUFUaY

 

 









 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



FLOURIDE TABLETS FOR KIDS

  

https://offerforge.net/?a=28162&c=322012&s1=

 

 

 

The Peadiatric Dentistry Blogpost, drew a lot of interest.

And once again it is my Mommy panel who had a flurry of questions. So one mother wanted to know: "Should my child be taking fluoride tablets or not?"

 

FLUORIDE

 

I wrote a post on Fluoride two months ago. But here is a recap.

Fluoride is the ingredient in toothpaste that strengthens teeth and prevents cavities from forming. It is also a mineral that occurs in some natural water sources and certain foods, such as fish, salt and milk. So Fluoride plays an important role in healthy tooth development and cavity prevention.

 

Fluoride combats tooth decay in two ways:

 

1. It is incorporated into the structure of developing teeth when it is ingested.
2. It protects teeth when it comes in contact with the surface of the teeth.

 

KIDS FLUORIDE NEEDS

 

So how much fluoride do kids' need?

In general, kids under the age of 6 months do not need fluoride supplements. If you live in non-fluoridated area, your doctor or dentist may prescribe fluoride drops, tablets or vitamins after your baby is 6 months old. The dosage depends on how much fluoride naturally occurs in the water and your child's age. Only kids living in non-fluoridated areas or those who drink only non-fluoridated water should receive supplements.

 

Fluoride in SA

South Africa’s water supplies are not fluoridated. In Cape Town, the levels of fluoride in the water are much lower than the optimal level required to prevent the formation of cavities.
In such cases where fluoride levels in the drinking water are low, fluoride supplements can be of value. These supplements are an effective way of reducing the incidence of cavities in children who are at high risk.

In Cape Town, the recommended dosages would be as follows:

• 0 to 6 months: none


• 6 months to 3 years: 0.25mg


• 3 to 6 years: 0.5mg


• 6 to 12 years: 1 mg

Zymafluor: 4 drops = 1 tablet = 0.25mg
Listerfluor: 5 drops = 0.25mg
It is better for the child to suck or chew the tablet instead of swallowing it. In young children, however, the tablet should be finely crushed and dissolved in water. The longer the tablet is in contact with the teeth, the more beneficial the effect.

Fluoride drops would be the better option in very young children, as they are unable to chew or swallow tablets. There is always a possibility of overdosage  with these supplements and with this there is a risk of developing fluorosis of the permanent teeth. Parental supervision is therefore assential.



CONCLUSION

My personal opinion on this whole question is that fluoride supplement should ideally be prescribed to children who are at a high risk of tooth getting decay. And only if the primary drinking water has a low fluoride concentration. The decision to prescribe supplements is based on the child's individual need. I would advise mother's to consult a dentist first, before giving their children fluoride supplements.
I'm sure this article have been of some help. Don't forget to fill out a comment or any other questions you may have in the space below.

https://bit.ly/2KUFUaY