DENTAL TOPICS by Dr. Charles M. & Dr. Chas M. Carpenter WHAT HELPS FLUORIDE CLEAN TEETH? Each toothpaste ingredient serves a different purpose. Abrasives help remove food, bacteria, and stains from teeth. Humectants are used to keep toothpaste from drying out. Thickeners give toothpaste the right consistency. Even detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate are used to create foam when brushing occurs. However, the most important ingredient in toothpaste and other oral hygiene products like mouthwash is fluoride. The bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars and starches that accumulate on teeth when we eat, releasing acids that damage tooth enamel and cause a range of oral hygiene issues. Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, which helps fight acid damage. It can even reverse the early stages of acid damage by re-mineralizing decaying teeth. Do you have questions about the i importance of fluoride in dental health care? At CARPENTER DENTAL, our approach to addressing our patients' dental needs includes educating them on effectively avoiding future problems, thus promoting optimal oral hygiene. To this end, our mission is to provide open and free communication and the highest standard of personalized care in an environment of health, mutual understanding, and respect. We have office hours by appointment at 1086 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort. Please call 570-331-0909. P.S. Even if you drink fluoridated water it is still necessary to use a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste increases concentrations of fluoride in teeth, even in areas with a high level of fluoride in the drinking water. Dr. Charles M. & Dr. Chas M. Carpenter Carpenter Dental 1086 Wyoming Avenue Forty Fort, PA (570) 331-0909 Elaine Carpenter RDH www.carpenterdental.com DENTAL TOPICS by Dr. Charles M. & Dr. Chas M. Carpenter WHAT HELPS FLUORIDE CLEAN TEETH ? Each toothpaste ingredient serves a different purpose . Abrasives help remove food , bacteria , and stains from teeth . Humectants are used to keep toothpaste from drying out . Thickeners give toothpaste the right consistency . Even detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate are used to create foam when brushing occurs . However , the most important ingredient in toothpaste and other oral hygiene products like mouthwash is fluoride . The bacteria in the mouth feed on sugars and starches that accumulate on teeth when we eat , releasing acids that damage tooth enamel and cause a range of oral hygiene issues . Fluoride strengthens tooth enamel , which helps fight acid damage . It can even reverse the early stages of acid damage by re - mineralizing decaying teeth . Do you have questions about the i importance of fluoride in dental health care ? At CARPENTER DENTAL , our approach to addressing our patients ' dental needs includes educating them on effectively avoiding future problems , thus promoting optimal oral hygiene . To this end , our mission is to provide open and free communication and the highest standard of personalized care in an environment of health , mutual understanding , and respect . We have office hours by appointment at 1086 Wyoming Ave. , Forty Fort . Please call 570-331-0909 . P.S. Even if you drink fluoridated water it is still necessary to use a fluoride toothpaste . Fluoride toothpaste increases concentrations of fluoride in teeth , even in areas with a high level of fluoride in the drinking water . Dr. Charles M. & Dr. Chas M. Carpenter Carpenter Dental 1086 Wyoming Avenue Forty Fort , PA ( 570 ) 331-0909 Elaine Carpenter RDH www.carpenterdental.com