Posts Tagged ‘Wild Flossers’

Nope, nada, gone. Wild Flossers – you can’t find ‘em anymore – that’s because they were discontinued by Johnson & Johnson in August 2009. Some online resources still have them, but once that runs out they’re gone.

So … Glide has always been the best floss, the platinum standard for almost 25 years. You won’t find a dental professional using anything else (#1 brand of floss in dental office use, and #2 floss in retail.). Glide does comes as a floss pick too, and now that you can’t get Wild Flossers, look for ‘Crest Glide Floss Picks’.

“Every tooth in a man’s head is more valuable than a diamond.”
- Miguel de Cervantes

Toothbrush

• REGULAR soft, smaller is better, angled helps. My favorite is an Oral-B toothbrush.
• ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH, Sonicare (FlexCare H6911).
• DENTURE BRUSH, for retainers, bite guards, dentures.

Toothpaste

• DRY BRUSHING, brush until your teeth feel smooth (soft), not by time, click here.
• TARTAR PROTECTION (ingredient: pyrophosphate)
  >> preferred: PEROXICARE,  ADVANCE WHITE, or COMPLETE CARE (Arm & Hammer)
• SENSITIVE, 5% potassium nitrate (with tartar protection / control): Colgate Sensitive Enamel Protect, Colgate Sensitive Multi Protection, Sensodyne Full Protection or Sensodyne Tartar Control with Whitening. Colgate and Sensodyne have the only desensitizing toothpastes with tartar control (not just any one, but only these four listed).
• BIOTENE for dry mouth. Also for canker sores, it has no SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate).

Sensitive toothpaste warning label

If I have recommended that you can/should use Sensodyne toothpaste, it is best used exclusively all the time.

• Q: Why does the package state that if the pain or sensitivity still persists after 4 weeks of use, we should visit the dentist? [from the Sensodyne web site]
• A: The FDA requires this statement on the packaging of all over-the-counter desensitizing toothpastes. Sensitive teeth may indicate a more serious problem that may need to have prompt care by a dentist. Your dental professional may recommend that you use Sensodyne daily if he or she has ruled out other dental or medical issues.

Between Teeth

• FLOSS, waxed is easy, but even easier is Glide™. Professional flossing: floss on middle fingers.
• GLIDE FLOSS PICKS, for kids. These are GREAT for adults and children, click here.
• GLIDE THREADER, floss threaders for under bridges, splints, and/or braces.
• INTERDENTAL BRUSH (Oral-B) or PROXABRUSH® (Butler), save your handle – replace the brushes. The Oral-B handle is much easier to use. Butler and Oral-B make travel versions. Use this from both the cheek side and tongue side.
• OTHER, floss holders, toothpicks, Stimudents®, etc.

Rinses

• SALT WATER, more effective than mouthwash any day. A saturated solution (4 teaspoons / pint of water or 1 teaspoon in 4 ounces of water) swished between teeth for at least a minute. More effective because: much more comfortable and tolerable, antibacterial, no alcohol, easily available, cheaper. Time of day doesn’t matter, often leaving it premixed in the shower is very helpful (pint bottle with a sport top).
• THERASOL, antibacterial (ethoxylated tertiary amine and capryl/capramidopropylbetaine). Special order, click here.
• PEROXYL, diluted, flavored hydrogen peroxide (1.5%).

I specifically recommend against PerioGard, Peridex, chlorhexidine gluconate. Although these products are antibacterial, the side effects of increased tartar and stain are too great, AND there is an equally effective solution: TheraSol.

Irrigation

• Waterpik® (model WP-60W) With baking soda, two teaspoons per full reservoir at the highest pressure setting that is comfortable, click here. Wall mounting bracket available (1.800.525.2774). [220 volt internationl model, WP-60E - special order from Water Pik].

Etc.

• Xylitol, cavity-free, products.
  • Fragmints (mints)
  • Xponent gum
  • Dr. John’s Candies

Sorbitol and mannitol are the primary sweeteners in most sugarless gums, and although they reduce decay compared to sucrose (commonly referred to as ‘sugar’), xylitol does not cause decay.

• NICOTINE REDUCTION (patch / gum / lozenge / Rx tablet – inhaler) an aid to overcome the physical dependence of tobacco.
• DENAVIR, prescription required, antiviral cream for cold sores.
• FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENTS, prescription required, for children up through age 16.
• VITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS: Centrum or it’s equivalent. You can check the effectiveness/requirement by your fingernails.
• Sea-Bond Denture Brightening Gel Cleanser (formerly Ban-A-Stain), for retainers, bite guards, dentures. Available in drug stores.
• STRESS REDUCTION: physical exercise, meditation, biofeedback, medication, nutrition.
• BRUSH / SCRAPE YOUR TONGUE, stain is from bacteria that “pick-up” dark pigments from your diet. Tongue scrapers can also help prevent halitosis.
• DECAFFEINATED coffee, soda, tea.
• DISCLOSING SOLUTION to show where plaque remains on teeth, click here (2 Tone Disclosing Solution).
• CANKER COVER for canker sores, more info click here.
• KANKA®, ORAJEL® for irritations from braces, retainers or dentures.

SOAK for dentures, biteguards, retainers: plain, undiluted, white vinegar.

The most significant impediment to flossing has typically been the floss.  It breaks, shreds, and gets stuck.  Glide is the only floss I recommend (Glide, Glider Threader Floss for bridges and braces, Glider Floss Picks [below]).

Three Impediments to Flossing

• Which floss: the easiest floss is Glide.
• How you hold it: middle fingers.
• When you floss: most people try to at bedtime. It’s often easier to get done every day when done in the morning.

How often to floss?  We all heard to floss once a day, but the bacteria are growing between teeth just like those areas you brush – would you brush only once a day?  Ideally, flossing is most effective when done at the same frequency as brushing.  So, if you brush, floss too!  At the very minimum, floss the lower front teeth every brushing (this is where tartar typically forms most).

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers.
• Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it collects plaque or shreds.
• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle back and forth rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
• When the floss reaches the gumline, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently move the floss away from the gum with up and down motions to clean above and below the gumline.
• Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth. Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.
• People who have difficulty handling dental floss may prefer to use aids that include floss holders, special brushes, picks or sticks.  Additionally, a Waterpik can be very helpful.  It does not replace flossing, but it is much better than not flossing.  For many people, both flossing and a Waterpik are indicated.
• GLIDE THREADER, floss threaders for under bridges, splints, and/or braces.

Glide Floss Picks

If adults had picked up the flossing habit in childhood, perhaps more people would be following their dentists’ and hygienists’ recommendation.  These flossers are designed to encourage kids to develop early flossing habits (these are great for adults too). 

You don’t need to use a new one each time. That’s like using your toothbrush once and discarding it. Just rinse and reuse, until it frays or shreds. Though disposable, the product is very thin to minimize the amount of plastic used – be sure to throw it in the recycle bin.

In addition to making flossing easier for children 6 and up, Glide Floss Picks make flossing easier to do for younger children.  Kids teeth and gums benefit from flossing just as much as adults.

Cheaper imitations exist (cheap floss that shreds and breaks easily), and are not nearly as easy to use.  As with most tools, when they are more difficult to use, they go unused.