Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

The truth about toothpaste

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27th Special Operations Aerospace Medicine Squadron

Our morning routine can be somewhat mindless and monotonous. It is the same thing day after day, week after week, month after month.

We wake up, shower, get dressed for work, brush our teeth, fix our hair and before we know it we are at work doing the daily grind.

Do any of us really think about these mindless tasks while we are doing them? The steps never seem to change; while brushing our teeth we squirt the toothpaste on our toothbrushes, brush for two minutes rinse and spit. We never stop to think that maybe we are doing something wrong since it is something we do every day.

If you would stop and actually read the directions of the toothpaste you are using, it does not tell you to rinse after brushing, and why should it?

Are we to assume that the toothpaste we use every day works in the two minutes it takes to brush it on, just to be rinsed out of the mouth. In reality, scientists have spent a lot of time, money and research perfecting toothpaste.

Everyone should read the directions and guidelines set forth by the American Dental Association and take those recommendations.

Toothpaste helps remove plaque, a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and gums throughout the day and night. Plaque can cause tooth decay and can also lead to gum disease if left unremoved.

Common toothpaste contains calcium carbonate which is a mild abrasive which helps remove that plaque while brushing. Your typical toothpaste also contains fluoride, which despite what you may have heard is beneficial and vital to strengthen the tooth enamel and help prevent cavities.

To ensure your toothpaste is the best choice for you, it is important to look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is the gold standard when it comes to evaluating the safety and efficacy of dental products.

It is equally important to follow the directions on your toothpaste label. Do you want whiter teeth, to prevent cavities, to freshen bad breath? The choice is yours, just make the smarter decision.

The next time you wake up to start your morning routine for the thousandth time in a row, take a second to actually do it right. After brushing, do not rinse and wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking. You might be surprised at your next exam by just how much your oral heath may have improved.