As my sig line explains, I have a vested interest in this conversation.
I've chosen to respond to PrincessPerky's post, not to pick on her, but because she makes a few really interesting points. Hope this is helpful.
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Originally Posted by PrincessPerky
toothpaste isn't all that neccessary This is true for the most part. I do use toothpaste, but my DD7 dislikes it so I allow her to brush with a dry toothbrush every other day. She has fluoride in her multi-vitamin so I do not worry. Brushing with a dry toothbrush is actually beneficial because it gets off more plaque. Sometimes people use too much toothpaste and think they are doing a better job than they really are at getting rid of the yuckies.
...bleaching teeth isn't actually good for em (though prettier) and the abrasiveness can be equaled by brushing better. Fluoride has no bleaching effects whatsoever. It is a mineral that strengthens the outer layer of your tooth. Whitening/Bleaching products are made from completely different materials.
floride is in many peoples water and not proven to be all that it is craked up to be.... The fluoride debate does still exist, although most dental professionals still believe that some fluoride is good for your teeth. There can be negative effects (white spot lesions) from too much fluoride, but it has to be an extremely large quantity to produce these effects on your teeth. Of course, as we already know you NEVER swallow fluoridated toothpaste because it will cause stomach upset...unless you eat an entire tube and then you need to see a doctor (and a psychiatrist!)  Also, well water may contain fluoride, depending on where you live. You can have your well water tested to see if you already have a great enough quantity to be beneficial. |
If you are just dying to learn more about dental hygiene, you can check out my webpage - I have a whole page dedicated to it! *LOL*