Dental Home Care Tips

1. Brush 2x/ day ideally with an electric toothbrush (Sonicare or Oral B) using fluoride toothpaste. Alternatives to fluoride toothpastes are: Baking Soda or Arginine Bicarbonate.

2. Fluoride mouthwash once per day

a. We recommend a non-alcoholic mouthwash such as ACT anti-cavity fluoride rinse www.actoralcare.com

3. Increase the amount of arginine in your diet. Eat spinach, soy, seafood, and nuts

a. Arginine helps raise and maintain a normal pH in your mouth

b. Basic Bites – Sugar free chocolate-flavored soft chew which coat the teeth in Arginine Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate. (available at www.basicbites.com)

c. Tom’s of Maine Fluoride-Free Rapid Relief Sensitivity tooth paste which has Arginine Bicarbonate in it. This is a great alternative for those people who choose not to use a fluoride tooth paste. (www.tomsofmaine.com)

4. Use Xylitol daily. Try to get 6 grams per day. Xylitol can be in the form of gum, mints, lollipops, lozenges, and sprays.

a. Xylitol is a sugar sweetener that is naturally occurring; the main bacteria which cause tooth decay cannot digest xylitol and the bacterial growth will be stopped.

b. Where to get it:

i. IceBreakers Ice Cubes Gum

ii. Trident Gum

iii.www.nuvorainc.com mints and slow dissolving tablets

iv. www.drjohns.com lollipops (Glylic lollipops)

5. Licorice root and Cranberry extract are also beneficial at suppressing the main bacteria which cause decay

a. Loloz – an all-natural lollipop and lozenge, with the active ingredient Cavibloc which is an extract of licorice root. (available from Amazon)

6. Dry Mouth – preventing and controlling dry mouth plays a key role in preventing tooth decay and bad breath. All of the recommended tips above will help with dry mouth and bad breath along with sipping water throughout the day.

7. Iced Tea has natural Fluoride in it, just try to avoid adding sugar.

8. Cheese is also very beneficial in fighting tooth decay (Casein protein); real cheese not Kraft’s singles. 9. Try to reduce snacks in between meals, and if you have a sugary treat try to have it with a meal and rinse with water after you eat it. It’s not the amount of sugar that you eat it’s the amount of time it’s in your mouth.

10. Try to avoid acidic foods; the bacteria that cause cavities love an acidic environment. Rinse with water after eating or drinking acidic foods.

Have more questions about how you can improve your dental home care and overall oral health give us a call.

Brand D. Robinson, D.D.S. and Tyler C. Melzer, D.M.D

4265 Fallon Street Suite #2

Bozeman, MT 59718

Telephone (406) 587-7411

Fax (406) 587-2357

E-mail: [email protected]