FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
My preferences for a toothpaste: It should have fluoride and be moderate in abrasivity….Yes, that is basically it! In my opinion, unless you have special conditions that need to be addressed, all the other stuff is marketing hype. If you look at the ingredients in most toothpastes, they will be very similar to each other!
My recommendation is that my patients use a soft toothbrush. The plaque you are removing is a soft biofilm. A soft toothbrush will be able to effectively and gently remove that biofilm before it hardens into tartar/calculus.
Plaque is soft, tartar(calculus) is hard. That is the simple version. When plaque (bacterial colonies, and their byproducts) sits around long enough, the minerals in your saliva(calcium, phosphates, etc) harden it into tartar.
It helps to know what concentration the bleaching product is. All bleaching products can make your teeth sensitive, but the moderate-strength products are safe for your teeth. In my practice, I use a 21% carbamide peroxide formula which is safe and effective. That is not to say a stronger concentration will harm your teeth, but I feel moderation is always best. No matter what strength you use, crowns and fillings will not bleach.
It helps to know what concentration the bleaching product is. All bleaching products can make your teeth sensitive, but the moderate-strength products are safe for your teeth. In my practice, I use a 21% carbamide peroxide formula which is safe and effective. That is not to say a stronger concentration will harm your teeth, but I feel moderation is always best. No matter what strength you use, crowns and fillings will not bleach.