Introduction
Recently, I recommended a powered toothbrush to my patient, Mr. S. A few hours later, he frantically called me from the drugstore. There were nearly half a dozen toothbrushes on the shelf that met the description of the one I recommended. Was it the one with the three-minute timer, the easy-grip handle, the two-minute timer, the water-jet attachment? I calmed him, provided him with the advice he needed, and chuckled to myself as I hung up the phone. When I started practicing 20 years ago, a trip to the drugstore to buy a toothbrush was one of life’s simple chores. Today, it can be a daunting experience. As a consumer, I too, find myself bewildered and almost immobilized by the choice of consumer dental products. There are motorized brushes, manual brushes, round ones, rectangular ones, sonic brushes, toothpastes that fight plaque, whiten teeth, and reduce tartar—not to mention flossers, water jets, dental picks, and an ocean of mouth rinses. What is even the most well-educated consumer to do?
Commercial Dental Products
Surveys confirm that the oral health of most Americans has been improving over the past 30 years. There have been significant declines in
caries
(tooth decay) and periodontal disease. Tooth loss has also declined considerably, along with the percentage of people who have lost all of their teeth. We can attribute these great successes in the fight against oral disease to several factors.
Copyright 2009 NBC Health
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