Dentistry is Changing
You are a participant in the most progressive strategy to prevent tooth decay to date. Caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA) attempts to control caries based on the patient’s individual risk factors. Caries risk assessment identifies pathogenic and protective factors, and treatment focuses on strategies that reduce pathogenic factors and enhance the protective factors identified by the risk assessment. Dentistry has changed a lot in the last several years. Continued research on how cavities start and progress has lead to a paradigm shift in the thinking of dentists. We now understand that cavities are the result of too many acidigenic bacteria in your mouth. When we fill a tooth with a restoration we are treating the result of the disease, but not the cause. The cause is an unbalanced, diseased biofilm on your teeth. If we can alter this biofilm and its organisms to create a healthier biofilm composed of healthy bacteria that do not produce excessive amounts of acids, we can stop the process. BUT, it involves you and your participation for this to happen. Have you ever wondered why you may have gone through a period in your life when you had lots of cavities and then times when you did not have any? Well, we now know it was because you had a healthy biofilm during the times you did not get tooth decay. Below are some products that can help you create a healthier biofilm.
- CariFree Treatment Rinse (This is designed to eliminate a lot of the acidigenic bacteria in your mouth and it is used for about 3 weeks rinsing for one minute each night before bed) Some people experience a “burning” that they can not tolerate…if that occurs for you, decrease the time to 30 seconds and try to build up to one minute after several days. If the product is still intolerable, discontinue use and call our office.
- CariFree Maintenance Rinse (This is designed to help keep the acidigenic bacteria from re-colonizing in your mouth).
- Xylitol containing products of chewing gum or mints (These products can interfere with sugar transport in harmful bacteria, and therefore cannot be metabolized to acid nor generate a low pH in plaque. You should aim to get 6-9 grams spread throughout your day.
- Peridex is a mouthrinse that kills many harmful bacteria that reside in your mouth.
- Baking soda toothpastes help raise the pH in your mouth which the limits proliferation of the harmful bacteria.
- Dr. John’s lollipops are used to suck on morning and night for ten days. The licorice root contained in the lollipops helps limit the harmful bacteria growth.
- MI paste delivered to your teeth in trays for 15-20 minutes each day. MI paste contains products that help raise the pH of your saliva and remineralize lost enamel.
- Flouride products to help remineralize lost enamel and make it more impervious to the bacteria causing tooth decay.
More products and changes are on the horizon in our quest to limit your tooth decay, but this sums up the knowledge we now have and want you to get started on. Don’t forget and perhaps most importantly, your diet, frequency of brushing and flossing are factors that contribute or hinder tooth decay. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Dr. David A. Tanner D.D.S.
www.carifree.com code TAN4757 www.EpicDental.com www.xclear.com Look up xylitol products