Miami
Beach Dentist
“Brushing
your teeth is the cornerstone of good oral health. Learn about the different
types of toothpaste and how to select one that's right for you.”
Toothpaste is not always paste. It
can be a gel, powder, or paste that you brush onto your teeth and gums to help
get rid of accumulating plaque and improve your oral health. According to the
American Dental Association (ADA), toothpaste is important to oral health
because it helps to remove plaque and its bacterial buildup on teeth and fights
off periodontal (gum) disease. Most toothpaste also contains fluoride, which
bolsters tooth enamel and fights tooth decay.
What's in Toothpaste According to
Miami Beach Dentist?
The exact composition of different
toothpastes may vary slightly depending on the benefits being touted by the
particular brand (such as whitening teeth or reducing gum inflammation). In
general, toothpastes include the following ingredients:
- Gentle abrasives, such as magnesium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, calcium carbonate, hydrated aluminum oxides, and phosphate salts.
- Glycerol, sorbitol, or other so-called “humectants,” substances that keep the toothpaste from drying out.
- Thickeners like seaweed or mineral colloids, synthetic cellulose, or natural gum to give the toothpaste a homogeneous appearance and texture.
- Fluoride to help make tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to decay.
- Flavoring agents that do not cause tooth decay, such as saccharin.
- Detergents, such as sodium lauryl sarcosinate, to make the toothpaste foamy.
Miami Dentist on How to Pick the
Right Toothpaste for Your Teeth
With the dizzying array of toothpaste
choices in a typical drugstore aisle, it can be daunting to try and find one
that's right for you. “One almost needs a PhD degree to weather the dental
'aisle of confusion',” says Richard H. Price, DMD, spokesperson for the ADA,
and a former clinical instructor at Boston University Henry M. Goldman School
of Dental Medicine.
When choosing a toothpaste, the
first order of business is to make sure that the product is safe and will do
what it claims. Toothpastes containing fluoride are regulated by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) since they make disease-fighting claims. These
products will display a standard “drug facts” panel on the packaging listing
active ingredients, warnings, and other relevant information. Toothpastes
without fluoride are considered cosmetics and, therefore, do not fall under FDA
supervision. However, these products should still provide a list of
ingredients. To avoid counterfeit and unregulated products, steer away from any
toothpaste that doesn’t clearly state ingredient information or is not properly
labeled.
Confused toothpaste shoppers can
find additional guidance by looking for the ADA seal of approval. This symbol
indicates that the manufacturer has participated in a voluntary testing program
conducted by the ADA to gauge a product’s safety and effectiveness. Any
toothpaste containing sugar, for example, will not get the ADA seal of
approval. “With the ADA seal on it, you know
that it will do what it says,” notes Dr. Price, who is retired from a 35-year
private group dental practice in Newton, Mass. Hundreds of oral care products bear
the ADA seal. To see a complete list of ADA-approved toothpastes, check out the
ADA Web site.
The Benefits of Fluoride in
Toothpaste
A key ingredient in toothpaste is
fluoride. Fluoride has broad benefits for people, both young and old. “Fluoride
toothpaste is not just for kids — it is beneficial for us our whole lives,”
says Price. “The fluoride in the toothpaste heals and remineralizes microscopic
cavities as they form, it hardens the tooth surface, making it more resistant
to the acid attack of bacteria, and slows down the action of these
acid-producing bacteria.”
Fluoride Safety
Although the FDA requires fluoride
toothpaste to carry a warning label urging parents to contact a poison control
center if their child accidentally consumes a large quantity of toothpaste, the
ADA’s Council on Scientific Affairs takes the position that the FDA warning
overstates the risks of ingested fluoride to children. According to the ADA
statement, children cannot swallow enough fluoride from toothpaste during
normal brushing to cause any serious problems. Nevertheless, to be on the safe
side, Price recommends limiting children under age 5 to a pea-sized amount of
toothpaste and supervising their brushing since most young children haven’t
learned to rinse rather than swallow at the end of brushing.
Toothpaste for Particular Tooth and
Gum Conditions
No matter what your personal oral
health needs are, there’s likely a toothpaste for you.
If you have sensitive teeth, look
for products with ingredients such as potassium nitrate or strontium chloride.
To fight gingivitis or tartar buildup, choose a toothpaste that contains
pyrophosphates, triclosan, and zinc citrate. In addition, you can find products
designed to combat bad breath or formulated with special abrasives to help
whiten stained teeth.
“If you have special needs, such as
teeth that are sensitive to cold or heat, or problems with tartar buildup, look
for toothpastes that address these issues that carry the ADA seal, or speak
with your dentist for a recommendation,” Price advises.
call us for an appointment. Our
office serves the Miami Beach, Miami, Sunny Isles, Bal Harbour, and Coral
Gables area.
Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Kaplan, takes pride in creating beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. He enjoys making a difference in his patient’s lives through patient education, innovative dentistry, and state-of-the-art dental care. Dr. Kaplan believes that dentistry is a science and an art.
If you are unhappy with your smile call our office to make an appointment with Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Kaplan. Call our team at 305-531-1633 to schedule an appointment. We specialize in restoring dental implants, teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental crowns, dental bridges, cosmetic dentistry, dental emergencies, and restorative dentistry.
Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Kaplan, proudly serves the Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, South Beach, Miami, Coral Gables, South Miami, and other local areas. Please tell your friends about our dental practice.
Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Kaplan, takes pride in creating beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. He enjoys making a difference in his patient’s lives through patient education, innovative dentistry, and state-of-the-art dental care. Dr. Kaplan believes that dentistry is a science and an art.
If you are unhappy with your smile call our office to make an appointment with Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Kaplan. Call our team at 305-531-1633 to schedule an appointment. We specialize in restoring dental implants, teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental crowns, dental bridges, cosmetic dentistry, dental emergencies, and restorative dentistry.
Miami Beach dentist, Dr. Kaplan, proudly serves the Miami Beach, North Miami Beach, South Beach, Miami, Coral Gables, South Miami, and other local areas. Please tell your friends about our dental practice.
Miami Beach Dentist Dr. Kaplan
Alan S. Kaplan D.M.D
Miami Dentist
400 Arthur Godfrey Road Suite # 502
Miami Beach, FL 33140
T: 305-531-1633
http://www.alanskaplandmd.com
Miami Dentist
400 Arthur Godfrey Road Suite # 502
Miami Beach, FL 33140
T: 305-531-1633
http://www.alanskaplandmd.com
