The Nitty-gritty on Toothpaste

The Nitty-gritty on Toothpaste

I Fact Sheet Toothpaste Abrasivity I

Toothpaste has many functions: It delivers fluoride to prevent cavities, cleans your teeth by removing dental plaque and food from your teeth, polishes your teeth and removes stains surface over time, and freshens breath. Overall, toothpaste promotes good oral health.

What’s in toothpaste?

Toothpaste, also known as dentifrice, is available in paste or gel form. Despite the many types of toothpaste that exist, some ingredients are common to most varieties. These include:

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Abrasives, such as silica, to brush

away the leftover food and plaque on your teeth with the help of your toothbrush. Abrasives also polish your teeth and remove stains over time, making the teeth appear whiter.

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Fluoride to make the entire tooth structure more resistant to decay and promote remineralization, which makes your teeth stronger.

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Antimicrobial/antigingivitis agents, such as stannous fluoride or triclosan, to fight bacteria in dental plaque and gum disease.

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Anti-tartar agents to help prevent the formation of tartar, also referred to as calcified plaque.

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Desensitizing agents, such as stannous fluoride or potassium nitrate, to relieve tooth sensitivity.

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Surfactants (detergents) and foaming agents to carry away debris from the mouth and between teeth.

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Binding agents to bind all the components of the toothpaste together.

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Humectant to prevent your toothpaste from drying up.

• Flavors and sweetening agents to make the brushing experience more enjoyable.

Why do toothpastes contain abrasives?

Like other products that are designed

to clean, toothpastes contain abrasive agents to help remove stains from teeth. While toothpaste must be abrasive enough to remove surface stains and dental plaque, it must not be so abrasive that it wears away vital tooth enamel.

How do I minimize the risk of tooth wear?

Wear on the teeth can be minimized by practicing proper brushing techniques,

which includes using short and gentle strokes in a circular motion with a soft- bristle brush.

How do I know which toothpaste is right for me?

When it comes to choosing the best toothpaste for you, it’s important to think about your unique oral health needs. Some toothpastes aim to alleviate pain associated with sensitive teeth. Some help to control plaque and tartar. Some are designed to remove stains and whiten teeth. Some do all of the above. Because each toothpaste is uniquely formulated

to perform specific functions, speak with your dentist to determine which is right for you.

Resources

www.knowyourteeth.com

Brought to you by the AGD, this Web site answers important dental health questions, offers the latest information on current treatments, provides tips for first-rate oral hygiene, and it can help visitors find highly qualified general dentists near where they live.

1.877.2X.A.YEAR

AGD’s toll-free referral number. Call to locate an AGD member dentist in your area.

Published with permission by the Academy of General Dentistry. © Copyright 2010 by the Academy of General Dentistry. All rights reserved.

對牙膏的基本知識

單張 - 牙膏磨蝕力

牙膏具有多種功能：它提供了氟化物防止蛀牙，從你的牙齒去除牙菌斑和食物而清潔你的牙齒，擦亮你的牙齒並漸漸去除表面污漬，和去除口氣。總體而言，牙膏促進良好的口腔健康。

牙膏內有些什麼？

牙膏，也被稱為牙粉，可在糊劑或凝膠形式。儘管有許多類型的牙膏存在，大多數品種有些成分是常見的。這些成分包括：

•磨料，例如二氧化矽，加上牙刷刷走吃剩的食物和菌斑。磨料也擦亮你的牙齒和漸漸去除污漬，使牙齒更加潔白。

•氟化物使整個牙齒結構衰減更耐和促進再礦化，使你的牙齒更堅固。

•抗菌/ 抗牙肉敏感劑，如氟化亞錫或三氯生，對抗牙菌斑和牙周病。

•防牙垢劑，以幫助防止牙垢的形成，也被稱為鈣化菌斑塊。

•降敏劑，如氟化亞錫或硝酸鉀，以減輕牙齒敏感。

•表面活性劑（清潔劑）和泡沫劑從口腔和牙齒之間帶走碎屑。

•結合劑，組件牙膏的材料結合在一起。

•保濕劑，以防止你的牙膏乾涸。

•香精和甜味劑，使刷牙體驗更加愉快。

為什麼牙膏含有磨蝕劑？

像其他清潔產品，牙膏含有磨蝕劑，以幫助清除牙齒色斑。而牙膏必須有足夠的磨蝕力去去除表面污漬和牙菌斑，但是它不能過多磨蝕力去除重要的琺瑯質。

我該如何盡量減少牙齒磨損的風險？

可以通過練習正確的刷牙技巧可能令牙齒磨損最小傷害，其中包括用軟毛牙刷。使用短而溫柔筆觸的圓周運動。

我怎麼知道哪支牙膏適合我？

當談到選擇最適合你的牙膏，重要的是要考慮你的獨特的口腔健康需要。有些牙膏的目的是減少或去除敏感牙齒的疼痛。一些有助於控制牙菌斑和牙垢。有些是專為去除污漬和美白牙齒。有些有上述所有的工能。因為每種牙膏擁有獨特配方以執行特定的功能，請與您的牙醫談談，以確定哪些是適合你。

資源

www.knowyourteeth.com

由AGD帶來給你，這個網站回答重要的牙齒健康問題，提供有關當前治療的最新信息，提供提示一流的口腔衛生，並且它可以幫助你的附近找到高素質的牙醫。

1.877.2X.A.YEAR

AGD的免費轉介電話。打電話去找一個在您的區域AGD成員牙醫。 ©版權所有2010一般牙科學院。保留所有權利。

Relaxed?

Sedation allows dentists to create a state of relaxation and thus manage the fear and pain patients may experience during dental procedures. There are several different types of sedation in dentistry.

• Local anesthesia is administered by injecting medication into tissue or by applying a medication topically to an area to eliminate sensation.

• Minimal sedation is used most frequently in dentistry and usually involves taking medications orally. All bodily functions remain normal and the person is able to breathe on his or her own. The patient may respond normally to verbal commands and may experience some degree of amnesia about what happened during their dental appointment. Nitrous oxide or “laughing gas” may be used to achieve minimal sedation and in combination with a recommended dosage of oral medication.

• Moderate sedation is achieved by using medications that can be taken orally or intravenously (IV). Patients who undergo moderate sedation are awake and respond to touch and/or verbal commands. All bodily functions remain normal, and the patient does not need assistance breathing.

• Deep sedation can be achieved by injecting medication, giving oral medica- tions, and in combination with gases. Patients who are deeply sedated are not easily awakened but may respond to some stimulation. Patients may need some breathing assistance at deeper levels.

How does it work?

Patients who are minimally sedated inhale nitrous oxide through a mask during

their dental appointment and/or may take a recommended dosage of a single oral sedative medication. Moderately sedated patients generally have taken a

medication or a combination of medi- cations while in the dental office. The medication causes the patient to become sleepy and feel relaxed. The dentist will give the patient specific instructions and you will be asked to avoid driving while you are on the medications.

What kinds of medications are involved?

To reach a level of minimal sedation,

a mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen (30-50 percent) may be used, possibly in combination with a minimal dose of an anti-anxiety (benzodiazepine) pill. In com- bination with nitrous gas, it is important that patients take only one type of drug under minimal sedation.

Moderately sedated patients also generally take benzodiazepines. The most common benzodiazepines prescribed by dentists include Valium®, Halcion, Xanax, and Ativan. Patients who are deeply sedated may receive benzodiazepines combined with opioids.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of sedation in dentistry?

Minimal and moderate sedation reduce anxiety that is typically associated with dentistry and allow the patient to relax. The amnesia usually associated with these methods also is a plus for many patients.

However, sedation in dentistry does have disadvantages. Minimal seda- tion usually cannot be administered to

patients with respiratory problems like emphysema or asthma or those who are sensitive to the class of drugs used for minimal sedation.

With moderate sedation, the level

of sedation cannot be adjusted without administering additional medications and sensitivity to certain medications can be

a factor. Also, the patient should be pre- pared for supervision after the dental visit until the effects of the medications have passed. This applies to sedation adminis- tered both orally and intravenously.

With intravenous deep sedation,

a needle has to be put in the arm or hand, so it may not be the most relaxing method if you are afraid of needles. It

is possible to experience complications, such as hematoma (a localized swelling filled with blood) at the site where the needle entered. In addition, recovery from IV-administered or oral medica- tions may not be complete at the end of dental treatment, so the patient should be prepared to be escorted home by a responsible adult.

Is it safe?

Sedation is safe although you should talk to your dentist and/or the specialist and gain a thorough understanding of how

it works and what is expected of you before the procedure. Your medical his- tory will be examined comprehensively to ensure safe sedation and your vital signs will be monitored throughout the entire procedure to confirm that your blood pressure, pulse rate, and blood oxygen levels are normal.

I Fact Sheet Sedation I

Resources

www.agd.org

At the AGD’s Web site, you can search more than 300 oral health topics, post dental questions, sign up for e-newsletters, find an AGD dentist, and more.

1.877.2X.A.YEAR

The AGD’s toll-free referral number. Call to locate an AGD member dentist in your area.

單張 鎮靜劑

輕輕鬆鬆？

鎮靜劑允許牙醫造成一個放鬆的狀態，因此管理病人可能在牙科治療過程體驗的恐懼和疼痛。牙科有幾種不同類型的鎮靜劑。

•局部麻醉: 注射藥物進入組織或外用局部麻醉

，以消除感覺。

•牙科最常用的輕微的鎮靜劑通常涉及口服藥物。所有身體功能維持正常，而病人是能夠自己呼吸的。病人可以正常回應口頭命令，並可能出現一定程度短期的失憶 (尤其是他們在看牙醫發生了什麼事。)

一氧化二氮或“笑氣”也可以被用來做到輕微的鎮靜劑還可以與口服藥物配合所需的劑量。

•中等鎮靜劑是由口服或靜脈(IV)的藥物。病人是清醒和正常回應觸摸或口頭命令。所有的身體功能維持正常，病人並不需要呼吸協助。

•深度鎮靜劑可以通過注射藥物，給予口服藥物，並結合笑氣。深度鎮靜劑的病人不容易叫醒，但可能對一定的刺激做出反應。病人可能需要一些呼吸援助。

鎮靜劑是如何做到功效？

輕微鎮靜劑通過面罩吸入一氧化二氮及/或可服一次口服鎮靜藥物。

中等鎮靜劑病人一般採取一種或多種類型的藥物。該藥物會導致病人變得昏昏欲睡，感覺輕鬆。牙醫會給病人的具體指示，你會被要求避免駕駛。

鎮靜劑包括何類型的藥物？

達到最輕微的鎮靜水平，可以混合一氧化二氮和氧（ 30％-50％ )，也有可能聯合用抗焦慮丸（苯二氮卓

 )。一起用，重要的是，病人只需要一種藥物。

[如果口服藥丸, 有很高的機會加入一氧化二氮漸漸地得到期望的結果] 

中等鎮靜劑病人也普遍採取苯二氮。牙醫規定的最常見的包括苯二氮安定® ，酣樂欣， Xanax等，和阿蒂凡。[英文名為準]  深度鎮靜劑病人可能接受苯二氮卓結合阿片類藥物。

鎮靜劑有什麼優點和缺點？

輕微的和中等鎮靜劑減少焦慮並讓病人放鬆。對很多病人, 相關的失憶也是一個優點。

然而，牙科鎮靜劑確實有缺點。有呼吸系統問題(如肺氣腫或哮喘或藥物敏感)的病人通常不能用最輕微的鎮靜劑.

中等鎮靜劑: 不能給予額外的藥物去加深鎮靜水平.  

藥物敏感是另一個缺點。此外，治療後, 病人需要別人照顧直至藥物的影響已經過去了。這包括口服和靜脈注射鎮靜劑。

靜脈深度鎮靜劑，需要在手臂或手使用一根針，所以如果你怕針, 它可能不會是最輕鬆的方法。

有可能遇到的並發症，如血腫（局部腫脹,充滿血液)。此外，從靜脈或口服藥物, 牙科治療結束後,  病人不能立即不完整的甦醒，因此病人應準備由一個負責任的成年人陪同回家恢復。

它是不是安全的？

鎮靜劑是安全的，雖然你應該向你的牙醫和/或專家談論 ，並深入了解如何做到功效和過程，還有你的期望。

您的醫療歷程記錄將被全面檢查，以確保安全地面

 鎮靜和會在整個過程進行監測你的生命體徵，以確認你的血壓，脈搏和血氧水平是正常的。

資源

www.agd.org

在AGD的網站，可以搜索超過300口腔健康的主題，張貼牙科問題，簽署了電子通訊，找到一個AGD牙醫，等等。

1.877.2X.A.YEAR

該AGD的免費轉介電話。打電話在您的區域找到一個AGD成員牙醫。