The single most important thing that we all need to remember is that consistency is key. If we can consistently brush, floss, and stay aware that our daily nutrition is a big influencing factor, we can maintain stable and healthy oral health—which can directly also improve our overall systemic and heart health. When I discuss home care routines like brushing and flossing, I am typically met with the question, “if I need to only do one, which one should I do: floss or brush?” When I explain that the toothbrush and the dental floss serve to clean two totally different areas, patients are surprised. Floss is thought to be an adjunctive tool to brushing, and this is false. Floss cleans the surfaces in between the teeth, which are surfaces that the toothbrush bristles cannot access. This is why both toothbrushes and floss need to be used each morning and each evening.
Avoid products with alcohol! Believe it or not, many mouth rinses contain alcohol. Studies show that using mouth rinses with alcohol several times a day over extended periods of time can be linked to incidents of oral cancers. In addition, if you are a smoker, the mouth rinse with alcohol can have a synergistic effect and even increase the risk of oral cancers in smokers.
You should also avoid products with Triclosan! Triclosan is an endocrine disrupter and can weaken the immune system and lead to allergies and eczema in children when used from a young age.
Do mouth rinses with essential oils. They are great for reducing inflammation of the gums. Oil pulling is also a great option for decreasing gingival inflammation—and it whitens the teeth!
Find out if the dentist really listens to his or her patients. It is important that the dentist you see listens to you and understands your requests, concerns, and fears. Many times, dentists treat all patients the same—as if one size fits all—and this could not be further from the truth when it comes to dental care. It’s also important to find a dentist that is open-minded and will not get upset or frustrated by any of your questions. Ask questions that matter most to you, such as, “is your dentist open to not using fluoride-based polishing agents at your cleanings?” or, “is your dentist aware of the various carcinogens in the materials that are used in most dental offices, like BPA, Bis-GMA, and Triclosan?” or, “does your dentist still place amalgam fillings?”
There are many issues, concerns, and debates when it comes to the amalgam versus composite filling comparison. To simplify the situation, 50% of silver amalgam filling material is made of mercury. The other 50% is made of copper, tin, and other trace metals. These are toxic and deadly materials that have no place being anywhere near your mouth. (Drop the mic.)
Any one that you use! Just kidding. I prefer electric over manual toothbrushes. Among the electric toothbrushes available, Sonicare is my favorite! There is a timer that turns off when you have brushed for two minutes. In addition, if you press too hard, it stops working with the same force to prevent recession that most people tend to cause by brushing too hard. The newer models of Sonicare are Bluetooth-enabled—which I’m not crazy about. We have concerns with EMFs, so adding Bluetooth is another concern. However, the technology is incredible. If you download the Sonicare app, it will show you the specific surfaces on each tooth that you may not be accessing properly where plaque is accumulating, allowing you to improve your oral hygiene independent of a dentist. It will also monitor how many times a day you brush your teeth and how long you brush each time. All the information collected by the app can be forwarded to your dentist, as well.
If you are interested in learning more about how our dental services can help you, please call our Woodland Hills office at (818) 716-6722 for an appointment.