If your Dentist recommends prescription strength toothpaste is it really worth it?

Has Dr. Snyder ever recommended to use a special prescription strength fluoride toothpaste? Is it really worth the extra cost? The answer is YES*!

*You only need to use prescription strength fluoride toothpaste if Dr. Snyder recommends it.

Prescription strength fluoride toothpaste which is 1.1% sodium fluoride is only available as prescription strength and cannot be purchased over the counter or online. Prescription strength fluoride toothpaste has the OTC percentage of just regular toothpaste, but has tri calcium phosphate added.

The high concentration of fluoride helps remineralize teeth, and has also been shown in lab studies to help reverse white-spot lesions.

Backed by ten years of clinically-proven performance, prescription strength fluoride toothpastes are designed to prevent, repair and reverse white spot lesions while gently cleaning the tooth. They feature a low-abrasive formula and create acid-resistant mineral in dentin tubules, for a pleasant and effective experience with every brush. In addition, Prescription strength toothpastes are prepared at an optimized neutral pH to help balance the mouth’s environment. As with any fluoride toothpaste, they also have the ability to recharge fluoride-releasing sealants and restorations – further enhancing their remineralizing effects to create stronger, healthier smiles.

The human tooth is far more extraordinary than we give it credit for, in both mineral composition and structure, and patients may not fully understand how big an impact their care choices can have. The small calcified structure has a unique tissue composition that is only found in the oral cavity and is limited to dental structures – and isn’t bone like many patients believe. Bones are designed to be flexible to resist fracture and contain living proteins to repair themselves fairly quickly if broken. Teeth, on the other hand, consist mainly of hydroxyapatite (Ca₅(PO4)₃(OH) or HA), a hard, white inorganic crystalline mineral made up of calcium and phosphate, that is easily broken down by acids, sugars and other factors.

Demineralization and remineralization are lifelong processes that occur constantly and simultaneously in the mouth whether patients pay attention to oral health or not. As discussed above, the tooth is an intricate mineral structure that reacts to external stimuli to trigger these processes. Its health is heavily dependent on saliva (a natural source of calcium and phosphate) and the mouth’s overall pH level. The mouth is at its healthiest when there is equilibrium between the mineral content of the tooth and the saliva, and it’s constantly working to maintain this balance. In a neutral pH environment, hydroxyapatite dissolves minimally and supersaturates the calcium and phosphate-rich neutral saliva, resulting in the minerals resorbing into the teeth – i.e. remineralization. This perpetual give-and-take is healthy and, if kept stable, ensures strong teeth.

However, achieving this balance is far more difficult than it sounds. Demineralization occurs when the pH level of the mouth drops below neutral and creates an acidic environment. Hydroxyapatite crystals begin to dissolve at approximately 5.5– 6 pH, disintegrating enamel. This reaction resaturates the oral fluid with calcium and phosphate, buffers the acidity and neutralizes the pH of saliva – but at the expense of the tooth structure. Many factors including diet, age, genetics, medication, medical conditions and more can change the pH level of saliva. While the oral fluid will eventually neutralize on its own, it may not do so efficiently or quickly enough to avoid damage. This is where fluoride and fluoride toothpaste come into play.