Teeth whiteners, dry mouth products. etc. You Use them? (vs, gums, mouthwash)
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Do these products work, or only for some people?
CVS and other stores have tooth whiteners, dry mouth relief, enamel protectors, fixodent, etc. When I was young, these things were unavailable. Of course, toothpaste is and was. Mouthwash is unpalatable to me.
My dentists have not recommended them, except for flossing..
Then I thought, why would they? Cynically, it is in their best interest for us to have more dental work done. They do not share the same ethical preventative standards of reputable physicians. I am not saying they are unethical, either. Arguably, it is not unethical not to mention OTC aids, is it?
Do these products work, or only for some people?
CVS and other stores have tooth whiteners, dry mouth relief, enamel protectors, fixodent, etc. When I was young, these things were unavailable. Of course, toothpaste is and was. Mouthwash is unpalatable to me.
My dentists have not recommended them, except for flossing..
Then I thought, why would they? Cynically, it is in their best interest for us to have more dental work done. They do not share the same ethical preventative standards of reputable physicians. I am not saying they are unethical, either. Arguably, it is not unethical not to mention OTC aids, is it?
Teeth whiteners are purely for improved appearance. Enamel protectors include toothpaste and mouthwash with fluoride, which strengthens the enamel. I've seen the mouth rinse for dry mouth but neve had a reason to use it. Fixodent is for dentures.
The only thing my dentist has recommended is dental floss and rinsing my mouth with mouthwash for a minute after brushing my teeth. Rising with mouthwash is mainly for the gums. If you use a fluoride mouthwash it will strengthen the teeth enamel. They obviously recommend fluoride products. I did one fluoride treatment in the dentist's office. No idea if it made a difference.
Do these products work, or only for some people?
CVS and other stores have tooth whiteners, dry mouth relief, enamel protectors, fixodent, etc. When I was young, these things were unavailable. Of course, toothpaste is and was. Mouthwash is unpalatable to me.
My dentists have not recommended them, except for flossing..
Then I thought, why would they? Cynically, it is in their best interest for us to have more dental work done. They do not share the same ethical preventative standards of reputable physicians. I am not saying they are unethical, either. Arguably, it is not unethical not to mention OTC aids, is it?
Whether any dentist mentions any OTC aids or not may depend on that dentist and how much they choose to stress being proactive. Every dentist I've ever used suggests a fluoride toothpaste but they don't expect me to buy it from them. They recommend flossing too, but don't sell me the floss. They might hand me a free sample. When the various protective rinses came out some suggested using those in between brushing but they don't make me buy it at their office. I drink a lot of tea. It stains my teeth over time. I can recall my current dentist suggesting Crest whitestrips periodically. She could push me into signing up for more expensive professional whitening at her office but she doesn't. She just mentions that its available if I want it.
Last edited by Parnassia; 10-31-2021 at 06:48 PM..
I drink a lot of tea. It stains my teeth over time. I can recall my current dentist suggesting Crest whitestrips periodically. She could push me into signing up for more expensive professional whitening at her office but she doesn't. She just mentions that its available if I want it.
My dentist said that all those OTC teeth whitening is just marketing gimmick for people obsessed with "glow in the dark" preternaturally white teeth.
He said that right melamine sponge (kind of magic eraser but enamel safe, NOT made of formaldehyde) does much better job for a fraction of the price.
Those who think that the eraser is more abrasive than whitening/polishing cream/paste used by dentists might be surprised to learn that even
mechanical cleaning by toothbrushing produces more polishing scratches on the tooth surface, whereas use of the melamine sponge resulted in only minimal scratches. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26629557/
Another quite effective solution is 5% hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda to create brushing paste.
My dentist said that all those OTC teeth whitening is just marketing gimmick for people obsessed with "glow in the dark" preternaturally white teeth.
He said that right melamine sponge (kind of magic eraser but enamel safe, NOT made of formaldehyde) does much better job for a fraction of the price.
Those who think that the eraser is more abrasive than whitening/polishing cream/paste used by dentists might be surprised to learn that even
mechanical cleaning by toothbrushing produces more polishing scratches on the tooth surface, whereas use of the melamine sponge resulted in only minimal scratches. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26629557/
Another quite effective solution is 5% hydrogen peroxide mixed with baking soda to create brushing paste.
Do they make melamine sponges designed for cleaning/whitening your teeth? The ones I see are for household cleaning.
Most whiteners contain chemicals that can weaken or destroy the enamel and enamel does not repair itself. A good fluoride toothpaste and flossing is best for healthy teeth.
Check with a dentist for professional teeth whitening recommendations.
Most whiteners contain chemicals that can weaken or destroy the enamel and enamel does not repair itself. A good fluoride toothpaste and flossing is best for healthy teeth.
Check with a dentist for professional teeth whitening recommendations.
True. Every method weakens the tooth enamel. Least harmful is LED light treatment. All are quite short lasting.
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