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Preventing Decay

Carifree

Embraces the new science

The CariFree system was especially developed to embrace the new science of testing forand treating dental bacterial infection. Here ishow the CariFree System works.

CariScreen the easy 1-minute test

The quick and easy CariScreen test determines your level of decay-causing bacteria. It takes only one minute to determine if you have a low,or high risk of developing cavities inthe future.

Since risk factors change over time, it is recommended that you take the CariScreen test once per year.

New research in dental care

New science discovers cause of cavities

New discoveries show that a bacterial infectionmay be the cause of tooth decay and cavitydevelopment. This new science may affect how your dental professional assesses your dentaltreatment plan.

Promote healthy teeth – stop filling cavities

CariFree employs advanced infection testingand treatment technology to promote longterm dental health, instead of simply treatingsymptoms by filling cavities.

How is it possible? The advanced CariFree systemmeasures the amount of harmful bacteria onyour teeth. If harmful decay-causing bacteria areidentified, the CariFree treatment plan may beprescribed by your dentist.

Additional new findings

Good oral hygiene may not stop cavities. Even if you brush, floss, and visit your dentistregularly, harmful levels of the decay-causingbacteria may still be present.

A bacterial infection on your teeth can also be transmitted to others. Studies show that harmfuldecay-causing bacteria can be transmitted toother members of your household.

If the bacterial infection remains untreated, progressive steps of decay could include: formation of cavities, leading to crowns, root canals, or ultimately to tooth loss.

Treatment Program

The treatment consists of using a series of CariFreeantibacterial mouth rinses to reduce the bacteriallevels on your teeth, giving you a better chanceof avoiding future dental decay. It’s that simple.

There are two types of rinses:

CariFree Treatment Rinse— A two-part treatment rinse that kills the harmful destructive bacteria onyour teeth. It has an elevated pH that is designed to offset the acidic condition of the infection.

CariFree Maintenance Rinse— Designed to createan environment in your mouth which prevents thedestructive bacteria from re-establishing itself. Italso has an elevated pH which promotes a healthyoral environment.

Please click here to read our Carifree Patient leaflet.

Please click here to read our patient leaflet on The Caries Balance.

Please click here to read our leaflet on The Caries Imbalance.

Visit the CariFree site for more information

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener found in many fruits and vegetables and is even produced by the human body during normal carbohydrate metabolism. Xylitol is typically manufactured from birch trees or other natural xylan-rich sources

Clinically Proven

In scientific studies over more than 30 years, dental researchers have pointed to xylitol as a key ingredient in the fight against tooth decay. Found in natural sources, such as fruits and vegetables, xylitol is a familiar sweetener in sugar-free products such as chewing gum. Xylitol not only adds a pleasant taste, but also reduces the incidence of tooth decay.

It Tastes Good

Xylitol has the same sweetness and bulk as sucrose, with 40% less calories and no aftertaste. In fact, xylitol is the sweetest of all bulk sugar substitutes. Plus, it has a very pleasant cooling sensation when it dissolves in the mouth, making xylitol a great partner in applications with mint and citrus flavors.

Xylitol Is In Many Products Already

Xylitol is widely approved for use in foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in many countries around the world. Current xylitol products include chewing gum and other confectionery, pharmaceuticals (syrups and chewable tablets), and oral hygiene products such as toothpastes and mouthwashes, and dietetic and diabetic foods.

Can Anybody Use Xylitol?

Xylitol is a low-glycemic sweetener and is metabolized independently of insulin. Xylitol does not cause the sharp increase in blood sugar levels or the associated serum insulin response, which is usually seen following consumption of other carbohydrates. Thus, xylitol can be recommended as a sugar-free sweetener suitable for diabetics as well as for the general population seeking a healthier lifestyle.

Dental Benefits of Xylitol

Despite the improvement in dental health achieved through the use of fluoride, caries incidence is still widespread and cause for concern in many countries. Decreasing sugar intake and finding practical means of combating its detrimental effects remains a priority in controlling the incidence of caries.

One way to achieve this goal is to provide confectionery sweetened with dentally safe sugar substitutes. Xylitol is particularly recommended for this purpose since in addition to not causing cavities it actually:

• Helps reduce the development of cavities (dental caries)
• Resists fermentation by oral bacteria
• Reduces plaque formation
• Increases salivary flow to aid in the repair of damaged tooth enamel (remineralization)
• Compliments fluoride in oral hygiene products

Xylitol has been recommended by several dental associations worldwide through endorsement of sugar-free confectionery products in which xylitol constitutes at least 50% of the total sweetener.

How Xylitol Fights Tooth Decay

Clinical studies conducted in populations with both high and low cavity incidence show that supplementing a normal diet with regular consumption of xylitol (e.g. sweetened chewing gum > 2 times/day) is of clear benefit to the teeth. When carbohydrate or sugars are consumed, acid is produced in the mouth and the pH drops rapidly below pH 5.5, causing demineralization of tooth enamel and potential cavities. Since xylitol is a five-carbon polyol, oral bacteria do not metabolize it and therefore no acid is produced. When xylitol products are used the pH balance in the oral mouth is quickly returned to a safe level above pH 5.5, minimizing the erosion of enamel and enhancing the remineralization process. The pleasant sweetness also stimulates saliva flow, which helps to rinse away excess sugar residues and neutralize any acids that have been formed. When xylitol is consumed habitually for several months, the mutans streptococci are shed from plaque to the saliva. Although high numbers may still be found in saliva, they are less virulent and do not adhere as tightly to the teeth, and this means acid attack is not occurring at the tooth surface.

In conclusion, xylitol is both non-cariogenic in that it does not contribute to caries formation and is cariostatic because it prevents or reduces the incidence of new caries. Xylitol actually reduces the amount of plaque and the number of mutans streptococci in plaque. No other sugar substitute has been shown to function in this way.

Please note: Patients can buy Xylitol sugar substitute and Spry gum and sweets at the practice.

Visit the Xylitol site for more information

Referrals

Dental and medical professionals who wish to make a referral to us please click on the link below