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Brushing off plaque can greatly reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease! But it can be really really hard to do. Why? Plaque is white and fuzzy, and on a white tooth, it's very hard to see. It usually hugs right along gumlines, where little ones and teenagers don't like to brush. And plaque is super sticky stuff! It takes a while to brush it all off.
As Pediatric Dental Specialists, we have been frustrated at the lack of good dental products to help show kids and grown-ups where these plaque germs are being left behind. Moms and Dads - do you remember when you were little, we use to chew on those red tablets that turned our mouths pink where the germs were? That was great, right?! We could see the germs! Well - those plaque disclosing tablets are hard to find (though you can find them here if you're interested) and the red dye stains counters and sinks. There used to be a great over-the-counter mouth wash called "Agent Cool Blue" that would turn the germs blue before you brush - but Listerine has stopped making it.
Frustrating, right?! How can we show kiddos where the germs are and help them brush better? Well, Cedar Rapids Pediatric Dentistry has started working with Plaque HD - a company that has designed a toothpaste with plaque disclosing built right in! It's really easy and has two yummy flavors (Mint and Bubble Gum Berry). You can get tubes directly from our office at any time! Tubes are also available online at the company's website: www.PlaqueHD.com . The tubes are large and should last a while at your home, and even grownups can use it to see their germs! Using this toothpaste can make brushing more effective and more fun for everyone. It keeps kids brushing longer and in the right places, and it's easy for parents to step in and demonstrate because grownups will see the germs too!
Follow the simple instructions above! Each tube will have instructions enclosed. This is a real game-changer for oral health and we are so excited to be able to offer it to our families. If you have any questions about this or any other oral health product, don't hesitate to ask one of our pediatric dentists or any of our trained staff members!
And for any nerdy parents out there, or those that would like more information, here are links to a few great studies showing how the use of this product can help your family achieve better oral health outcomes!
http://scidoc.org/articlepdfs/IJDOS/IJDOS-2377-8075-03-103.pdf
http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(16)30971-8/pdf