TOOTHPASTES:

Our doctors are often asked if there is a specific toothpaste we recommend. In general, if there is a toothpaste you love using once or (ideally) twice daily, that is already a great choice! But if we had to recommend a specific one, any toothpaste with ingredients that promote a healthy mouth and add strength to our natural enamel are the best types.

So with that said, we do recommend two kinds of toothpastes in particular that can address specific concerns or individual considerations:

1) Prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste, for example Prevident or Fluoridex.
_{If our dentists notice a high-cavity risk situation, we can write you a prescription for Prevident, or you can purchase Fluoridex directly from the office. Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that helps our natural enamel become more resistant to erosion by acids. Adults can benefit from a stronger and more integrative percentage of fluoride in our toothpaste especially if we are noticing decay faster than you are able to stay ahead of it on your own with your normal oral hygiene routine. Some medical insurances may have prescription coverage for Prevident, and some of our patients find it faster or more affordable to use the Fluoridex we keep in stock at the office for your convenience.}

2) Nano-hydroxyapatite toothpaste, either with or without flouride.
<sub>If you have heard of hydroxyapatite (HA), we are happy to see this gaining more popularity in the US. It has been used in toothpastes in Japan and by NASA astronauts for some time. It also helps make our natural enamel more resistant to acid-erosion, but not quite as strong as fluoride. HA is a key mineral that makes up enamel, dentin, and bones. It has also been shown to have a tooth-whitening effect without causing sensitivity!

You can find this over-the-counter on websites like Amazon. Make sure the toothpaste contains at least 10% HA.

We like and recommend the brand Supermouth. They have multiple oral health products for those of us who are cautious about the other harmful chemicals in normal toothpastes and dental floss, and they also have options if your family is cautious about using flouride. If you would like to try this brand, you may use our code to get a discount: beachwoodfam or click this link: https://supermouthpro.com/pro/beachwoodfam</sub>

WHITENING:

Take-home teeth whitening is a simple, effective and convenient treatment to enhance your smile and improve the appearance of your teeth. Our take-home teeth whitening kits can help lighten the stains and discolorations caused by foods, drinks, tobacco use, medication, poor dental hygiene, age and other factors so that you can once again enjoy the benefits of a brilliant white smile.

While we do not currently provide in-office whitening, we do have kits you can take home and use at your convenience. The whitening kits you’ll find at our office are prescription-strength and include pre-filled trays so there is no need for measuring anything out or having impressions made of your teeth. You may wear your trays at whatever time best fits your schedule, day or night. Over the course of several weeks, you should see noticeable improvement in the color of your teeth.

Whitening can cause your teeth to be more sensitive. We always recommend you have us do a dental checkup before you start to whiten to make sure there are no issues that might cause dental pain or trauma. Often, combining a whitening treatment with a stronger toothpaste is a great way to whiten teeth while minimizing sensitivity.

Over-the-counter whitening is generally safe for most patients, such as Crest Whitestrips.

The kits we keep in stock at the office are Opalescence Go.