question for any dentists out there

**raffijian** · 12-03-2011, 06:52 AM

I had a recent visit to my dentist and he was saying that there was a conference he had gone to recently where the speaker did research and determined that toothpaste is a source of wearing down the enamel on the tooth and not the brush itself.

Some of it made sense but I was wondering if anyone else might have heard similar stories from their dentists or if there are any dentists in this forum want to chime in.

Thanks.

Rafi

**Rhon** · 12-03-2011, 06:37 PM

Considering toothpaste is an abrasive I can see it.

**The Pontificator** · 12-03-2011, 06:51 PM

Allow me to pontificate

As a chairside assistant in the Navy I worked for more than one dental officer whose opinion was that toothpaste was unnecessary and did little more than make your breath nice for a bit. it's more important to mechanically move the plaque every 24 hours through proper brushing (with a soft bristle brush) and FLOSSING. Need fluoride? use a rinse. An occasional go-round with regular old Crest mixed with a bit of baking soda is ok just don't overdo it.

My routine is brush, floss, scrape tongue, and rinse with warm saline. If you have gingivitis you need to FLOSS. Also helpful is an occasional rinse with a 50/50 mix of H202 (hydrogen peroxide) and water. NEVER USE UNDILUTED HYDROGEN PEROXIDE as a dental rinse! You will eff up the natural flora in your mouth...and you could get "hairy tongue". I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP.