92 replies to this topic

[freddie]

This is my latest realization of what is best for my gums and teeth.

 

I don't use fluoride toothpaste, it makes me feel tired and cold. In the Relative Dentine Abrasivity (RDA) index regular toothpastes have on average a score of 125  because of silica (quartz) content. Calculus is made of calcium phosphate so I don't use enamel repair toothpastes either because it feels like they contribute to the tartar.

 

What I use is a mix of water-sodium bicarbonate at a ratio of 98% water and 2% sodium bicarbonate.

 

A) I swish my mouth before (acidic) meal and after meal. It acts as a powerful buffer which stops almost all acid attacks. I don't swallow because it can have a counter effect on stomach acid. This leads to enamel having a chance to remineralize itself. It also slows down calculus formation because the bad bacteria uses acidic environment to produce the polysaccharide plaque. Sodium bicarbonate also disrupts and files the plaque and food rests slides off the teeth more easily because of less sticky plaque. Starch or debris on the teeth dissolves by itself quicker. When my mouth feels acidic by itself it may be a sign that plaque is forming and it is helpful to rinse with the mix to neutralize the acidity and help remineralization.

 

Bad bacteria grows more in acidic environment, Streptococcus mutans grows most effectively and makes plaque at a pH of around 4.5 to 5.0, so swish with the mix to raise the pH when mouth feels acidic.

 

B) I dip my toothbrush in this mix, not in pure powder because it is abrasive (2.5 Mohs scale, RDA 7. https://capitolpremi...e-toothpastes/)

 

C) I bring with me a small travel bottle with the mix for rinsing.

 

The efficacy of sodium bicarbonate is mentioned in several research papers.

 

This paper shows that sodium bicarbonate containing toothpaste was 67% better than regular toothpastes for reducing gingivitis and plaque. https://www.haleonhe...Claim_Study.pdf

 

This paper confirms the efficacy, "Putt et al.⁶ showed that dentifrices containing 20–65% NaHCO₃ exerted a superior and significant cleaning effect following a single, timed brushing compared with both sodium fluoride/silica-based and triclosan/copolymer-based dentifrices." https://pmc.ncbi.nlm...les/PMC5986814/

 

"Antibacterial activity of baking soda", https://pubmed.ncbi....h.gov/12017929/

 

Baking soda disrupts biofilms etc. https://www.todaysrd...oda-toothpaste/

 

I also used my beard trimmer on my manual toothbrush as a lawn mower to make the surface like a rugged mat, now it is more effective at cleaning my teeth. Think default slippery nylon pipe vs rugged rope, the latter catches more effectively onto dirt.

 

My mouth and teeth feel very clean and my gums are much healthier now. I think this is the golden solution to teeth and gum problems. I will update if it doesn't work in the long run.

Edited by freddie, 12 November 2024 - 11:47 PM.

[freddie]

Sodium bicarbonate by itself which I mentioned in previous post didn't clean properly at gum line.

 

I recently discovered that (Fluoride-free) toothpastes with calcium carbonate, some of which also contains sodium bicarbonate, seems significantly more effective at cleaning the teeth off plaque even with a manual toothbrush compared to regular toothpaste. I smear them also on tooth floss to clean off plaque between teeth. Together with dissolved salt rinse it can be effective against plaque, " Salt water was as effective as chlorhexidine in reducing dental plaque". https://pubmed.ncbi....h.gov/28914244/

 

The calcium carbonate abrades the plaque and soft tartar more effectively than hydrated silica yet it is not more abrasive on dentin**, 3 vs 2.5-5 on Mohs scale, tooth enamel is 5. It also gives calcium to the enamel and plaque (stops caries)* but can not scratch the enamel (but can scratch dentin depending on formulation). It is different than calcium phosphate which may contribute to tartar and is found in some remineralizing toothpastes. Tartar is composed of calcium phosphate (80% vs calcium carbonate 3%), tartar without phosphate is brittle and can dissolve easily.

 

The tartar for the first time actually recedes with brushing and becomes easier to scrape off with a wooden toothpick. Even Colgate Tartar Control couldn't do it.

 

 

*The anti-caries efficacy of calcium carbonate-based fluoride toothpastes https://pubmed.ncbi....h.gov/16004249/

 

**"A comparison between different abrasives with similar particle sizes showed that silica presents higher RDA values than calcium carbonate." (Relative Dentin Abrasion index) https://www.research..._of_dentifrices

 

https://onlinelibrar....2006.tb00091.x

 

Edited by freddie, 26 December 2024 - 11:00 PM.

[freddie]

There is though a research paper which says dentrifices/toothpastes with calcium carbonate of sharp/pointy granular shapes and large particle size has a Relative Abrasivity Index value of approximately 240* which is very abrasive**, can wear down dentin, and even more so with hard brushing, therefore caution can be appropriate here. Personally I limit toothpaste to just a little and also swipe a bar soap with the toothbrush. Curiously one toothpaste with calcium carbonate says RDA is only 45*.

 

*https://www.research...asives_in_vitro

 

**https://mcglonedenta...enver-colorado/ "151-250 Regarded as Harmful Limit"

 

***https://www.ecco-ver...vera-toothpaste

Edited by freddie, Yesterday, 06:52 AM.