Why Your Toothpaste Isn't Working

You can’t win a ball game without playing both offense and defense. The same is true when it comes to fighting off cavities.

If it seems like no matter what you do, you still get cavities, it’s time to re-evaluate your dental health strategy. Because toothpaste is usually the number one tool used to battle tooth decay, it’s the perfect place to start.

Most toothpaste only uses fluoride to protect teeth, which is a solid defensive strategy, but a really weak offensive one. The problem is fluoride alone can’t fight the real culprit: bacteria.

But don’t worry, there is hope and we’re going to tell you how to increase your offensive and win the battle against cavities once and for all.

Acid Is What’s Causing Your Cavities

Acid is the real cause of those cavities you can’t seem to avoid. There are two main sources of acid: the food and drinks we consume and bacteria that lives in our mouth.

When it comes to acidic foods and drinks some of the main offenders are citrus fruits, coffee, red wine, tomatoes, and soda. A good rule of thumb is that if a food stains your teeth, it’s probably acidic. Acid wears down enamel and leaves your teeth vulnerable to attack.

Bacteria is another factor that contributes to the damage done to teeth by acids. Even if you’re limiting acidic foods and beverages, bacteria can turn any fermentable carb you consume into acid.

Fermentable carbohydrates include things like white bread or anything sweetened with sugar or high fructose corn syrup. When residue from these carbs stick around in your mouth, bacteria digest them and turn them into acids that damage teeth.

Your Toothpaste Might Be Hurting, Not Helping You

Changing toothpaste isn’t the answer to fighting off the damage done to your teeth by acids. The best overall strategy against tooth decay involves everything from what you’re putting into your mouth to how and when you brush your teeth.

In fact, brushing at the wrong time can actually make things worse by driving the acid into the teeth. For example, avoid brushing your teeth immediately after drinking a soda, sport drink, or coffee. And make sure you always rinse with water before brushing your teeth right after consuming anything.

On the other hand, if you don’t brush regularly, it gives the bacteria a chance to gain a foothold. This can start a chain reaction that starts with bacteria generating acid and plaque. Plaque then hardens quickly into tartar. Tartar makes it more difficult to clean your teeth, much the same way food hardens on dirty dishes if they’re left in the sink for too long before washing. At this point, your toothbrush and toothpaste will be able to scrub away at recent dirt, but won’t make an effective difference against tartar.

Most OTC toothpastes scrub away bacteria and add fluoride to help strengthen your teeth, but they don’t eliminate the bacteria—especially in hard-to-reach places.

Another thing to look out for in most toothpastes is sweeteners. These can actually make cavity-causing bacteria a bigger problem than before you brushed. And, if this weren’t discouraging enough, bacteria love to live on toothbrushes.

With so much stacked up against our dental health, we need a reliable reinforcement that can go on the offensive against the onslaught of bacteria, acid, and tartar.

Xylitol is the Reinforcement Your Mouth Needs

Fortunately, there is an answer. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that doesn’t break down like sugar and can help eliminate bacteria and maintain a neutral pH level in the mouth. In addition, xylitol keeps bacteria from sticking to your teeth. This is the offensive partner you need to make those cavities retreat once and for all.

Regular use of xylitol will get rid of the bacteria that’s causing your cavities and help your teeth regain the strength they’ve lost from on-going damage. Because xylitol cannot be fermented by bacteria, instead of growing and attacking your teeth, the bacteria literally starve to death.

When you add xylitol to your dental routine you clean house and get the cavity-causing bacteria out of your mouth for good. Once that harmful bacteria is gone, your mouth and teeth can start to heal and become stronger. And don’t forget about that bacteria-ridden toothbrush. When the bacteria is out of your mouth, you will no longer be leaving it on your toothbrush.

The primary way xylitol helps keep your mouth on the offensive is a process called remineralization. Acid, plaque and tartar wear away the outer layers of your teeth, which are made of calcium and phosphate. Once you’ve eliminated the culprits that caused all the damage, you need to restore these crucial mineral layers of your teeth.

Xylitol not only banishes the bacteria, but helps you produce healthy saliva that contains just what you need—calcium and phosphate. By increasing the amount of healthy saliva, xylitol helps your mouth naturally restore the parts of your teeth that have been weakened.

How to Add Xylitol to Your Dental Care Routine

The best news of all is how easy and affordable it is to incorporate xylitol into your dental care routine. You don’t need to invest in fancy, overpriced products to reap the benefits of xylitol. In fact, it’s as simple as chewing a piece of gum or having a mint.

Epic Dental has created both gum and mints that contain enough xylitol to start ridding your mouth of dangerous bacteria right away. Simply swap out your usual gum or after-dinner mint for one with xylitol, and take better care of your teeth without even trying.

If you want to include xylitol in all aspects of your dental care, you can also use toothpaste and mouthwash that contain xylitol. Toothpaste with xylitol gives your mouth everything it needs for optimum health—fluoride to help strengthen your teeth and xylitol to wipe out cavity-causing bacteria. When you combine good dental care habits with the added power of xylitol, you’re in for a future of bright smiles and cavity-free dental visits.

If you’re tired of painful dental visits that only deliver bad news, it’s time to take charge of your dental health by fighting tooth decay with more than toothpaste. Find out how easy it is to add xylitol to your dental routine today.