Protecting and caring for your teeth should be a priority in your daily hygienic routine, not only for aesthetic reasons but for health and comfort reasons as well. We all want a gorgeous smile, but we also all want a healthy mouth free of cavities, abscesses, or other painful and harmful conditions. Sometimes we are at an increased risk for tooth decay, though, and need extra help. For this, dentists offer prescription toothpaste that is stronger in order to really get the job done.
It is possible for certain people to have disadvantages when it comes to dental hygiene. The enamel – the protective covering over the tooth – is thinner with some individuals. Others are more prone to dental decay. Therefore, normal toothpaste just will not cut it. Regular toothpaste has as its active ingredient fluoride, a substance that is great for preventing cavities, fighting tartar, reducing plague, and generally keeping your teeth strong and protected. When regular toothpaste does not have enough fluoride to make a difference, prescription toothpaste may be given to you.
Prescription toothpaste usually contains a higher and stronger concentration of fluoride than regular toothpaste, in order to make up for these deficiencies. Most brands, for example, have somewhere in the neighborhood of 5,000 parts per million, which is strong enough for a prescription. Because of this, prescription toothpaste should not be given to children, but only to adults. If used properly, prescription toothpaste can reduce cavities by over 75{15aeb35eec840799df247626cfa6821cb9499241e90aba7a245c8546144fd8f4} and can even reverse decay in some cases.
There are several brands of prescription-strength toothpaste on the market for use. Colgate, the manufacturer of the leading brand of regular-strength toothpaste, makes a prescription-strength variety called Duraphat 2800. They also make a product called PreviDent 5000 that is only used once daily in place of regular toothpaste. PreviDent also comes in other varieties for dry mouth and sensitive teeth. Your dentist will likely have other options for you to use as well.
If you think you need stronger toothpaste, then consult your dentist for his or her advice. If you have to use prescription-strength toothpaste, then be sure to follow the instructions given to you by your dentist and apply it regularly. Doing so will make your mouth far stronger and healthier than with regular toothpaste.