Latest Fact Sheet

Season 3, Ep 3 - Toothpaste

· Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. It is harder than iron and steel.

· Tooth decay is the result of the bacteria that are present in our mouths converting carbohydrates in the foods we eat into acids. The acids, along with the bacteria and food debris make up plaque – a sticky film that attaches to our teeth. If plaque isn’t removed, the acids gradually dissolve tooth enamel and holes form in the tooth.

· Tooth decay is the second most common human disorder - it is second only to the common cold.

· As boring as it sounds, tooth brushing and flossing are the best ways to remove plaque from teeth.

· Do you know how to brush your teeth properly? Possibly not. A 2008 study in the USA found that only a quarter of the participants came close to following tooth brushing recommendations.

· The correct technique for brushing teeth is called the Modified Bass

· Teeth should be brushed for two minutes twice or three times daily. The average person brushes for only 46 seconds. Brushing more than three times a day isn’t advised because it can cause damage to the gums.

· While toothpaste can help your toothbrush remove plaque and food debris, toothpaste containing fluoride also helps protect against tooth decay – fluoride can be incorporated into the tooth making it stronger and more resistant to tooth decay.

· As well as being in toothpaste, fluoride is also found in food. Seafood, bread, breakfast cereals and noodles all contain fluoride.

· It’s recommended that adults and children use toothpaste containing 1000ppm fluoride. This corresponds with 0.22% sodium fluoride or 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate.

· Children don’t need as much toothpaste as adults – a smear is enough until the age of six. Six year olds and older can use a pea sized amount.

· It’s important that children don’t swallow toothpaste because too much fluoride leads to enamel fluorosis. Fluorosis can be mild and appear as white flecks on the teeth but in worse cases the teeth become brown and mottled. In most cases this is only a cosmetic problem but it cannot be reversed.

· Fluoridated water supplies are also common in New Zealand – around half of us have fluoridated water supplied to our homesLess than 10% of us floss daily – regular flossing is important because it removes ‘interproximal’ plaque – this is plaque found where the gum and the tooth meet. Flossing also removes plaque between teeth.

· Flossing reduces the risk of gums becoming inflamed which can lead to gingivitis and gum disease. Studies also suggest that flossing can also reduce the risk of heart attacks, stroke and diabetes.

· Even children need to floss! Parents should floss for toddlers as soon as they have teeth that are side by side.

· Tooth whitening products can employ different methods – some contain abrasives that try to rub of stains on the tooth surface. For stains deeper in the tooth, peroxide is used – it penetrates the enamel and breaks down stains.

· In most cases, mouthwashes aren’t a necessary part of your oral hygiene plan. They can be useful for some people – for example, people who have had oral surgery and people prone to gingivitis. It’s a good idea to check with your dentist whether mouthwash is necessary.

· Some experts believe that the alcohol in mouthwash could make its users more likely to develop oral cancer. This is disputed by other experts, including the American Dental Association. Alcohol-free mouthwashes are available.