Plastic in Toothpaste???

Yup, you read that right.  Some toothpaste companies are adding small bits of plastic to their toothpaste called polyethylene.  The claims are that the particles are to add color, and are an inactive ingredient in the paste, not even listed on the box.

So, what is the harm you ask?  Well, for starters as a dental hygienist I am seeing plenty of patients who use certain toothpastes that have blue specks around their gums when I clean them.  They may be harmless, but any foreign substance around and in our gums can be an irritant.  Irritants can result in inflammation and bleeding, although there is no conclusive evidence yet that this is occurring.

The second factor to this is environmental.  The polyethylene particles do not dissolve but just break down into smaller and smaller pieces.   The particles are being washed into the drains of our sinks, thus entering the water supply.  While they are filtered out of the public water supply, they are still present in our local rivers.

There are a few states that are starting to ban microbeads from products such as toothpastes, face wash and lotions.  Colorado is not one of them.

February is Children's Dental Health Month

So, as a dental provider I often find myself biting my tongue.  Often times I find myself in a position where I want to educate a parent that is failing to follow all of the recommendations about their children's teeth. I mean, this stuff is common knowledge right?  The problem is, that even with PSA campaigns and health care practitioners trying to put as much information out there as possible, it isn't common knowledge. 

So I find myself asking these things:  "What if they simply don't know?" ,"What if their cultural differences find certain things acceptable (even though they can put the kids at risk for future dental problems)?"  and probably the most difficult thing, "How would they react if I talked to them about it?"  

So, in honor of Children's Health Month, here are some things that all parents, grandparents and babysitters need to know.

• Baby Bottle Tooth Decay is preventable.  This is where we see very young children with cavities.  I am talking one and two year olds.  This occurs because kids are either put to bed with a bottle, or allowed to sip out of a bottle all day long.  Even with milk, this is harmful!  If your baby needs a bottle for soothing, it is best to use only water.  Obviously, this is for times other than feeding milk or formula for a "meal".  
• Juices should not be given in bottles at full strength.  Again, this is because of decay.  Diluted is best.
• Introduce a sippy cup between 6-9 months of age.  Once your child has the hang of it, you can transition from bottle to sippy cup, and then to a regular cup.  Children should be off the bottle soon after they turn one.
• Babies need to have their teeth brushed too!  Before teeth begin to erupt, a washcloth can be used to clean their gums, and to get them used to you touching their mouths.
• Limit soda, chocolate milk, juices, sports drinks and snacking on carbohydrates between meals.  This is great for everyone, because the sugars in those items will stay on the teeth and can cause cavities in adults and children
• Babies are not born with the bacteria that causes cavities in their mouths.  It has to be introduced, and commonly, this is from an adult sharing utensils with their babies.  

Here at SmileLogic in Broomfield, Colorado we want your kids to be healthy, and to prevent any poor dental experiences.  Many items are available to help with home care.  Floss aids (Gum Chucks!), Xylitol mints, toothpastes and rinses (Spry) and fluoride rinses and toothpastes are all beneficial.  We carry many of these items in our office.

We also accept Medicaid. 

Oil pulling and Essential oils

There are many options today for doing homeopathic remedies in our daily health regimen.  At our dental hygiene office (Broomfield, Colorado), we recommend several things that may be beneficial to your oral health, as well as a more "holistic" approach to dental hygiene care.

Pulling oils: 

From the past through to today oils are used to pull impurities from the mouth. Today’s recommended oils are sesame, sunflower, coconut and olive. Put a tablespoon of the oil in your mouth, and swish and hold it in your mouth for 20 minutes. Spit it out. (Do the laundry or some other task where you are occupied but remembering not to swallow the oil!  Many people do this while showering.) This can be done daily, or weekly, or when you feel like it.  

Essential oils:

Essential oils are distillations of plant essences added to an oil base. Here are a few commonly used ones:

-       The peppermint plant has been used for hundreds of years; the extraction is largely menthol. It is antibacterial, combating infection, and helps cool the mouth while preventing bad breath. It’s used in a majority of our toothpaste. Or at least the flavor of it is added, because we are used to it being there! It also helps in digestion.

-       Tea tree is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral… this is just the beginning of what this plant’s extracts can offer. Australian in origin, it was extracted in bush stills. It came into common use after Arthur Penfold wrote a series of papers about it in the 1920-30’s. Penfold’s information led to the creation of today’s tea tree industry. It is usually applied as a rubbing oil.

-       Clove is also antibacterial, and relieves (doesn’t cure) irritability, and pain of toothache. Clove oil is often used to rub on the gums of teething babies and children.

-       Neem is better known in the rest of the world for its many medicinal and other uses. For more information about this fast growing flowering tree and its uses click on http://www.discoverneem.com/neem-tree.html

While having your teeth cleaned at SmileLogic, you can request to have an essential oil polish, rather than the traditional flavored polishes that we carry.

I have tried DoTerra Oils, and really like them.  I am not a retailer of them, but they can be found online.

At SmileLogic, we like to have open options.  The best treatment is the treatment that works for you. What works for you, may not work for others, but we do encourage you to investigate these and other natural helpers of teeth and gums.