Recommended products

The following products are proven to be of benefit to our child patients and are readily available in local retail stores or, in some cases, from our office.

TOOTHBRUSHES

We recommend any soft, small toothbrush. The bristles must be small to avoid harming the gum tissue, and small to permit access to the back teeth. The Crest and Oral-B brushes are noted for their quality. It is important to have several brushes in use at once, so the brush can dry out between uses. Also, change the brushes every few months.

Electric toothbrushes can also work well:

SpinBrush electric toothbrush (Crest) is inexpensive and comes in a variety of fun styles for children. Available at local drug stores.

Sonicare- the sonic toothbrush (Optiva Corporation) www.sonicare.com
This brush uses sonic vibrations to help remove bacteria from hard to reach areas, expecially for patients with gum disease and those in orthodontic appliances. Recommended for teenagers and up.

DENTAL FLOSS

The recommended dental floss is “Johnson and Johnson waxed dental floss”.

Available at local stores. Note that other brands tend to get stuck between the teeth. 

For those who have trouble managing dental floss, we suggest these products:

Glide Floss Picks (Crest) “Helps make flossing simple.”
(800) 645-4337

Interdental Flossups (Longs Wellness) Available at Long’s Drug Stores.

Also very helpful for cleaning between the teeth are:

Doctor’s BrushPicks toothpicks (Dental Concepts) www.brushpicks.com
(866) 866-6871 BrushPicks are especially recommended for patients with gum disease, orthodontic appliances and some space between the teeth.
Available at Long’s Drug Stores.

Proxabrush (GUM-Butler) Proxabrush handles and tapered refills (#614)
are recommended for patients with gum disease to clean thoroughly inbetween the teeth where there are deep pockets. Available at local drug stores.

TOOTHPASTE

We recommend any toothpaste with fluoride for children old enough to rinse and spit.

Colgate TOTAL is especially recommended.

Enamel Care toothpaste (Arm & Hammer) with liquid calcium and fluoride.
We recommend Enamel Care for patients with loss of tooth enamel (decalcification) due to poor brushing and orthodontic appliances. Note that there are many Arm & Hammer toothpaste products, but only the Enamel Care has the liquid calcium. This product is difficult to find.

Fluoridex toothpaste (Discus Dental) has 1.1% sodium fluoride and is recommended for sensitivity relief, orthodontic decalcification, and prevention of decay in patients with a high rate of decay. Available for purchase at our office or on prescription.

MI Paste (Recaldent) Topical paste with bio-available calcium phosphate.
For patients with decalcification of enamel. Available for purchase at our office.

MOUTHRINSE

ACT .05% fluoride anticavity rinse. Recommended for all patients old enough to rinse for 30 seconds and then spit. Available at local drug stores.

Listerine antiseptic mouthrinse (Pfizer) Recommended for patients with or at risk for gum disease. It does not contain fluoride for cavity protection, so use it with ACT rinse. Try the Cool Mint or Citrus flavors.

FLUORIDE

Fluoride helps reduce dental decay by strengthening tooth enamel. Fluoride is absorbed into the teeth when present in the mouth. Fluoride toothpaste and mouthrinse are recommended for all patients (and parents, too!)

Fluoride foam or varnish is applied as part of our routine cleaning procedures in the office.

Some areas of Santa Clara Valley have fluoride in the water. If your area does not have fluoride, your doctor may prescribe additional fluoride drops or tablets as needed.

XYLITOL

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that has been shown to reduce decay.
Exposure to xylitol in very young children and patients with a high level of tooth decay is especially helpful. Several daily doses are recommended.

Spiffies:
Spiffies are individually wrapped, disposable wipes designed by a
pediatrician to clean baby’s teeth wherever and whenever you need to. Spiffies contain xylitol, a natural, safe ingredient that tastes great and is a proven cavity fighter. www.drraysproducts.com Available at Long’s Drug Stores.

Grins and Giggles (GERBER)
A mild toothpaste for babies and very young children. It contains xylitol for control of harmful bacteria. It does not contain fluoride and is safe to swallow. We recommend for use as a toothpaste with a small toothbrush only after teeth have erupted. We do not advocate its use as a “gum cleanser” for babies without teeth. Available at Long’s Drug Stores.

Orbit and Trident gum contains some xylitol. Recommended for all patients old enough to chew gum.

TheraGum (Omni) is sweetened with 100% xylitol for patients with a high rate of decay. Use several times a day. Available on special order from our office.