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Consumer Alert: Dihydrogen Monoxide Print E-mail
Written by Vu Le, DDS   
We have found an alarming rise in the use of dihydrogen monoxide in dental offices in the Orange County area.  This tasteless, odorless solvent, commonly used by the military, runs through the coolant plumbing most nuclear reactors.  If ingested rapidly, it can lead to hypoxia and death.  At sufficiently high temperatures, it can cause severe burns all the way through the skin.  Our undercover investigation has shown that dentists are using it to prepare teeth for fillings and crowns, usually with no warning to their patients.  Please report the abuse of dihydrogen monoxide to this number: 1-877-APRIL-FOOLS.  (dihydrogen monoxide is H2O, more commonly known as WATER)
 
We're going Xtreme and Elite, Sonicare, that is Print E-mail
Written by Vu Le, DDS   

We've noticed over the years that almost everyone with healthy gums had a power toothbrush.   While it's no substitute for flossing, anything that gives you better results with less effort is worth it.  Our office is now carrying the Sonicare Elite and Xtreme power toothbrush models.

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Three reasons gum disease won't go away Print E-mail
Written by Vu Le, DDS   

Gum disease, like diabetes, is incurable, but very treatable.  Most of our patients get better after treatment, but a few don't.  Here's the three most common reasons people can't beat gum disease...

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Can Power Toothbrushes Wear Away Your Enamel? Print E-mail
Written by Vu Le, DDS   
Some people have concerns about new power toothbrushes wearing away enamel excessively.   Most of our high-end powerbrush users have excellent gingival health, so we highly recommend the faster, more powerful brushes.  The slower power toothbrushes (the $30 and under crowd) simply don't have the RPM to make a big difference above brushing by hand.   For OralB and Sonicare, the high speed motors start around $60.  You can find excellent family packs for these two brands at your big warehouse store for $120 or less.  We would easily recommend either one.

We do not notice a higher rate of enamel wear with power toothbrushes, nor did Consumer Reports in their recent article on whitening toothpastes.  The best way to use any toothbrush is with very light hand pressure and small circular strokes.  If you're using a power toothbrush, check your manual to see if there is a reduced power setting that will help you get used to it.
 
Enamel Erosion: Toothpaste More Erosive than Brush Stiffness Print E-mail
Written by Vu Le, DDS   

Many of our patients wear down the sides of their teeth with a combination of excessive force, abrasive toothpastes, and stiff bristled toothbrushes.  A recent Scandinavian study simulated toothbrush abrasion on extracted teeth.  They found that the abrasiveness of the toothpaste had the most significant effect on how fast teeth erode.  Stiffer bristled toothbrushes had a lesser effect.  Our advice still remains the same...

 

 

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