Good Dental Care Needs More than
Tooth Whitening Toothpastes

It doesn't matter whether you're 6 or 60, taking care of your teeth is essential if you want to stay healthy. It's especially important because 90 percent of all people will develop gum disease during their lifetime - disease which can worsen and lead to tooth loss, heart disease and major systemic infections. While not essential many people choose a tooth whitening toothpaste.

For both children and adults, what matters most is that the teeth are brushed and flossed on a daily basis, preferably two times each day. Brushing should be done with a soft, nylon brush, held at a 45-degree angle to the gum line, and each tooth should be brushed on the front, back, top and sides. Doing so betters your chances of removing plaque, the sticky film of food debris, saliva and bacteria that coats your teeth and leads to cavities and gum disease (gingivitis).

The surface of the tongue also should be brushed, to get rid of bacteria that deposit there and cause bad breath. Finish up your dental routine by flossing, using a 12- to 18-inch piece of floss wrapped around both of your middle fingers. Curve the floss around each tooth in turn, and gently scrape from below the gum line to the top of the tooth. When you're done, rinse your mouth to get rid of any loosened food particles.

Children's teeth decay more quickly than those of an adult. That makes it especially critical that parents help their children by brushing their teeth for them until they're at least 5 or 6, by which time they've developed the manual dexterity to handle the job on their own. You'll have more success getting them to brush well and regularly if you make it fun. You can do this with colorful toothbrushes modeled after favorite cartoon characters, battery-operated toothbrushes, tooth timers, rinses that reveal plaque (so the child knows which areas to brush), and fun brands and flavors of toothpaste. Tooth whitening toothpaste isn't the best choice for children.

With younger children, you can also play games, such as having the child brush your teeth or a doll's teeth first. Be sure they see you caring for your own teeth, remembering that the best teaching is by example. Also, train your kids to always spit out extra toothpaste, instead of swallowing it. Swallowing extra toothpaste can lead to stomachaches. When the toothpaste contains fluoride, as most do, swallowing too much also can lead to fluorosis, a condition that leaves permanent spots on the child's teeth.

When you select a toothpaste for your child, be sure to get one made especially for children. The flavorings in many adult toothpastes are unpleasantly strong for most kids. Often, they will complain that adult toothpastes sting their mouth, and thus they will resist brushing. Instead, use only a pea-sized dot of children's toothpaste (too much will create lots of foam, which can interfere with the child's ability to see where he's brushing). Or, you can try an alternative product such as OraMD®. Adults who are experiencing mouth sores or rashes around the mouth also may want to try alternative products, as these are symptoms that can indicate an allergy to some common toothpaste ingredients. Some tooth whitening toothpastes cause irritation as well. Whitening toothpaste isn't for children especially. Ask your dentist if you have any concerns about your family's dental care routine.