These are only recommendations, use what works for you to clean and disinfect thoroughly.

• REGULAR soft, smaller is better, angled helps.
• ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH, the best one is the Oral-B/Braun, paste is OK.
• DENTURE BRUSH, for retainers, bite guards, dentures.

• brush only side to side - most effective
• right handed, harder to reach the right side
• left handed, harder to reach the left side
• brush on the gums

• DRY BRUSHING, brush until your teeth feel smooth (soft), not by time.
• BAKING SODA, TARTAR CONTROL & PEROXIDE Peroxicare® with Tartar Control (Arm & Hammer), 49% baking soda, 0.75% peroxide.

  BAKING SODA TOOTHPASTES		TARTAR CONTROL
  Baking soda is very low on abrasion.  It's primary function is to kill bacteria.  At least 26% is required. Only Peroxicare toothpaste has enough at 49%.  Other tooth pastes have much less, and not enough baking soda:  Crest (20%), Colgate (12%), Mentadent (5%).		It works! Tartar control is a crystallization inhibitor, not an abrasive.

• FLUORIDE GEL, prescription required: Prevident® (by Colgate, with 5,000 ppm parts per million fluoride; compared to toothpaste which is 1,000 - 1,500 ppm fluoride, and fluoridated tap water 1 ppm). • Gel-Kam and Omni-Gel fluorides have only 1,000 ppm F.

  Plaque on root surfaces almost always makes teeth more sensitive.

• DESENSITIZING, 5% potassium nitrate: Denquel®, Protect®, Sensodyne®, Sensitivity Protection Crest®, Aquafresh Sensitive®, Promise®, Dental Care Sensitive®; 10% strontium chloride: Sensodyne SC®.
• BIOTENE toothpaste for dry mouth

• FLOSS, waxed is easy, but even easier are the Teflon flosses: Glide™(Gore-Tex) or Reach Easy Slide™ (by Johnson & Johnson). Disposable floss toothpicks can be very helpful.
• GLIDE THREADER, SUPER FLOSS, 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 toothpicks, Oral-B Interclean®, Stimudents®, Perio-Aid®, rubber tip, etc.

• "C" shape around teeth
• wrap floss on middle fingers
• floss 2-3 times/day [IDEAL every brushing] where tartar forms fastest/most (usually lower front)
• knot in floss for food catching areas
• floss toothpicks or floss-aid
• belowthe gum line, up and down, 5x/tooth
• behind the last tooth also

Pencil grip for the front teeth is easier / effective.

• PIN If you can see stain, you can remove it.

• THERASOL, antibacterial. special order
• PEROXYL, diluted, flavored hydrogen peroxide (1.5%).

• WATER-PIK® (model WP-60W) With baking soda, two teaspoons per full reservoir at the highest pressure setting that is comfortable. Wall mounting bracket available (1.800.525.2020). [European / 220 volt model, WP-60E] click here to see the Water-Pik page at Teledyne.

  $5 rebate coupon available contact us for details.

• NICOTINE SUBSTITUTE (patch / gum / Rx tablet - inhaler) an aid to overcome the physical dependence of tobacco.
• ANTIBIOTICS / ANTIVIRAL, prescription required, per directions on label.
• FLUORIDE SUPPLEMENTS, prescription required, for children up through age 12.
• VITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS: Centrum®, Maximum® (One-A-Day), Choice® (Giant), One Tablet Daily plus Minerals (Safeway), Spectravite® (CVS). You can check the effectiveness/requirement by your fingernails.
• BAN-A-STAIN®, for retainers, bite guards, dentures.

  SOAK, for dentures, bite guards, retainers:   plain, undiluted, white vinegar.

• STRESS REDUCTION: physical exercise, meditation, biofeedback, medication, nutrition.
• BRUSH YOUR TONGUE, stain is from bacteria that "pick-up" dark pigments from your diet.
• DECAFFEINATED coffee, soda, tea (Gentle Orange®, by Lipton).
• DISCLOSING TABLET / SOLUTION to show where plaque remains on teeth.
• KANKA®, ORAJEL® for canker sores, braces, retainer or denture irritations.

• DENTAL SPECIALISTS: orthodontist (braces), periodontist (gums), endodontist (root canal), oral surgeon, pedodontist (children).

• ONLY ONE DOSE! Do you require a new prescription (let us know)? The current American Heart Association recommendations useAmoxicillin, or Clindamycin (for individuals with an allergy to penicillin). No longer Erythromycin

• "Sugarless" gums and mints can cause decay, because they contain as their primary sweeteners sorbitol or mannitol, which bacteria can grow on. Sucrose, or table sugar, is the ingredient missing - so they can be called "sugarless". Nutrasweet® does not cause decay, but the gum that it is in has sorbitol as its primary sweetener.
• SMINTS (most 7-11, CVS, Target) contain xylitol, and do not cause decay.