Questions for dentists

Now I've got lots of half written rants in my drafts box, mostly about my work or on how to...... survive living with mr.H (The latter in the vain hope that the extra lean, younger vegie in Totnes might read my blog and decide she's got better things to do....like eat celery!)



Of late I've been forced to think rather a lot about TEETH.



Now I've got a whole legion of kids here, and every morning and every night i say don't forget to brush your teeth.

I spend a goodly fortune on toothbrushes and toothpaste. The thing of the moment is one that sort of foams up in your mouth and is alleged to get rid of the nasties in the small gaps between your teeth other pastes cannot reach.........but does it have the Ronseal?....Does it do what it says on the pack?
Mr H calls it "Rabies toothpaste"

Are they like shampoos and conditioners......mostly a lot of psychosociodoggiedoo to persuade people to pay more?

A lot of my work is based on best practice, which has been resonably well researched.
What sort of research goes into teeth and where is it published?

For years we have been exorted to brush and floss and pick, swoosh and swill, to flourinate or not......and yet it is now clear that it is not a good idea to do this if you've drunk a fizzy drink.

What evidence is there to support all this oral hygeine?......don't get me wrong i clean my teeth daily.

It's just that i have lots of kids and i have observed...... the one who is now nearly 16 and has probably only brushed her teeth a hundred times in her whole life is the only one who has no fillings and has had no treatment. She is the only one who gets told, lovely teeth and gums, well done every 6 months.

Her elder sister, who is fanatical about oral hygeine has treatment regularly.

Their younger brothers, who don't see the necessity of washing , nevermind cleaning teeth, have only the problems of chipped front teeth.....freefalling from bicycles.

Beth with a mouth full of amalgum is hardly a good advert for toothpaste, brushes, flosses and washes.
Very puzzled mum!