Toothpaste could be Ruining Your Teeth
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Every morning and night, like clockwork, we follow through with the same old tooth brushing ritual. We run the brush under cold water, glob on some toothpaste and go to town on our pearly whites.
It seems like a worry-free tradition. However, several studies by dental professionals indicated our toothpaste may be causing damage to our teeth, and using less or no toothpaste may even remove more plaque.
According to an article by huffintonpost.com, abusing toothpaste due to a desire for whiter teeth has been a leading cause of tooth damage for decades.
Dr. Thomas Abrahamsen, a leading clinical researcher in the field of dentistry, said patients who abuse toothpaste believe that more brushing will lead to whiter teeth, when in reality, it causes enamel to thin and dentine to get closer to the surface, causing an “overall darker appearance.”
Boston dentist Dr. Valdemar Walz said patients should stop using toothpaste all together.
“Stop using toothpaste and brush with an electric toothbrush and water and then floss,” Welz said, adding, “Don't use toothpaste because almost all toothpastes are abrasive.”
A study by researchers from the Netherlands revealed brushing without toothpaste removes more plaque from the teeth, according to an article by the Health Information Center.
In the study, 36 people used manual toothbrushes and standard toothpaste. They allowed plaque to build for 48 hours, and then the researchers had them brush one side of their mouths with toothpaste, and the other without. After two minutes of brushing, the researchers found using toothpaste reduced plaque by 50 percent, but the side without toothpaste had a 56 percent plaque reduction rate.
The researchers said, “The mechanical action of brushing (moving the brush up and down or sideways) may have been the main factor in determining effectiveness of plaque removal.”
However, the article also stated, “…brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste is recommended by dentists as an important component of good daily dental hygiene and to fortify and strengthen teeth to prevent tooth decay.”
So what’s the answer?
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Another side note, most mainstream commercial brands of toothpaste contain sodium lauryl sulfate(SLS) which is widely known to be an irritant, and can cause canker sores, a non-infectious but painful sore on the inside of the mouth. I used to have frequent problems with cancer sores as a kid, but since I switched to a toothpaste that did not contain SLS, I have never had this problem again.
June 20, 2011 - 11:00amThis Comment
I have been using more natural toothpastes for a while now to get away from all the junk. My dentist was just telling me that the best thing for your teeth is an electric toothbrush and gentle pressure. I think I might save my money with those natural toothpastes and spend it on the toothbrush instead.
June 24, 2011 - 2:40pmI have been brushing my teeth with nothing but water for the past 7 years, and have never had any problem with them. I also rinse my mouth with salt water I find this routine works best.
May 1, 2012 - 12:17pm