5 Top Toothpaste Myths

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

1. Everyone should use only fluoridated toothpastes
Studies and research indicate a strong correlation between the use of fluoride and the reduction of dental caries. In fact, as a result of those findings, many schools began adopting fluoride programs and community water fluoridation was instituted.

Today, 67 percent of the U.S. public water systems use fluoride to help prevent decay. The decision to use toothpaste with or without fluoride should be determined mutually by you and your dental professional, taking into consideration your community water fluoride content and your risk for dental caries.

2. Toothpastes are essentially all the same
Toothpastes are NOT all created equal. Toothpastes carry various levels of abrasivity which, if too abrasive, can lead to sensitivity and premature wear on teeth. Many toothpastes contain colors and dyes that can stain; alcohol that is harsh and dries the mouth; saccharin and artificial flavorings.

Many high-quality toothpastes contain no artificial flavorings or dyes; they are alcohol-free and saccharin-free. They may contain safe and unique ingredients such as Xylitol and sucralose, herbs, essential oils and may offer fluoride and fluoride-free options. Read labels to ensure you and your family are using a toothpaste that is safe and effective and meets your individual needs.

3. Whitening toothpastes will whiten my teeth
Contrary to what advertisers lead us to believe, it is simply not possible for commercial whitening toothpastes to actually whiten teeth. Whitening toothpastes are not formulated with the same active ingredients or concentrations found in professional whitening systems.

These toothpastes are only able to remove some surface staining caused by foods and beverages through the action of abrasive agents. The high rate of abrasion found in most of these whitening toothpastes can lead to increased sensitivity and premature wear on teeth and cosmetic surfaces.

4.The more toothpaste I use, the cleaner my teeth
More is NOT better; it’s usually a waste. Toothpaste is designed to assist in cleaning and removing plaque, stains and food debris. Most of the cleaning action actually comes from the mechanical efforts your toothbrush provides, along with proper technique, and not how much toothpaste you’re using.

When overloading your toothbrush with toothpaste, most of it usually finds its way down the drain. Additionally, children using fluoridated toothpastes should always be supervised to apply a controlled amount of toothpaste and to avoid swallowing.

5. Using toothpaste will keep my breath fresh
Many commercial-brand toothpastes contain strong artificial flavorings that can very often illicit a mild to intense burning sensation, giving it a “fresh” feeling and providing a temporary cover-up for odorous bacteria. Simply because it feels strong in the mouth does not necessarily mean it is killing the bacteria responsible for bad breath.

There are toothpastes that contain ingredients that actually neutralize a specific group of bacteria referred to as Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs). This group of bacteria is responsible for oral malodor. And, when these VSCs are neutralized, the bacteria becomes ineffective and longer lasting fresh breath is achieved — safely, effectively and without the burn!

Our Office: 760-323-2771

Bummed Out About Home Bleaching Agents

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

Home Tooth whitening products are available for use to remove external stains from teeth by abrasion or  bleaching. Their safety and effectiveness can come into question. Kits that contain abrasive agents can give you a white smile initially by removing surface stains, but they can be harmful over the long run because they accelerate the natural aging process.These kit may cause the enamel of teeth to be worn away to reveal the yellow dentin behind it. Such kits can also cause recessions on gums (meaning the roots will be exposed) and consequently cause tooth abfraction on the roots of teeth concurrent with sensitivity to cold and air.


It is of utmost importance to have the abfraction checked by our office, so the sensitivity be stopped. There is various treatment that can help further breakdown and abfraction of the roots, including dental bonding or  dental veneers.


IF YOU DO HAVE ANY EXISTING SENSITIVITY, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU NOT DO ANY TEETH WHITENING OR BLEACHING OF TEETH until all the necessary treatment for the sensitivity is rendered.


Teeth bleaching or tooth whitening products are usually carbomide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide derivatives with different concentration. You should be screened for your gums, root sensitivity, any micro cracks, micro leakage possibly from your fillings , or abfractions by our office before you put whitening and bleaching products in your mouth.


In closing, I highly advise you to have a full check up and consultation with our office before you do any kind of teeth whitening to avoid further damage to your precious teeth and smile.


760-323-2771

The Effects Of Aging On Teeth And Gums

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

As the average lifespan of our nation’s population is increasing, so too is the need for maintaining proper oral health care.  The goal, of course, is to retain our teeth for all of these extended years.  Though aging can have some negative effects on our teeth, I am encouraged to report that many of my elderly clientele are even more diligent and knowledgeable in the area of oral hygiene than some of their younger cohorts.  While dentures are still available, their prevalence in the dental office is significantly reduced from years in the past. 

It is important for the aging population to pay attention to certain scenarios that may present in the oral environment with age.  The saying, “He’s a bit long in the tooth,” originates from the fact that gum recession over time tends to expose more and more of the root surfaces of one’s teeth.  Often associated with this root exposure is increased sensitivity to cold and hot liquids and air brought in through the mouth.  A simple solution to this problem is to have us bond a desensitizing agent to the tooth or to place a filling on the exposed surface.  These treatments are incredibly effective at eliminating tooth sensitivity both painlessly and immediately.  Patients are thus free to enjoy ice cream, coffee and cold beverages that same day.

Exposed roots are also more predisposed to cavities, or “root caries” as we call them.  This is because the tooth structure below the gum line consists of a softer mineral than the more resistant enamel on the outer portion of a tooth.  Routine cleanings and check-ups, sometimes with even greater regularity than the typical six-month recall, can serve to head off at the pass any cavities that may otherwise run amuck. 

Decreased salivary flow can result with age as well.  Our saliva contains a buffer against the acids that result when foods breakdown in our mouths.  The absence of this saliva leaves our teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.   Certain medications can interfere with normal salivary production as well.   We may elect to counteract this decreased salivary flow with other medications.  The best defense against the harmful effects of low salivary flow is the same as that for most age-related dental challenges: immaculate oral hygiene and regular visits to our office!

760-323-2771

When Should My Child First See The Dentist?

Dr Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

Parents frequently ask me when their young child should first see the dentist. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that children be seen shortly after their first tooth erupts and no later than their first birthday. As any parent knows, many babies and toddlers are not ready to cooperate with a full dental exam at this young age. 


Our dental office may perform visual exams on children who are very young while the child sits comfortably in the parent’s lap. In the first couple years, the mouth is so small and the teeth are so few that a quick visual exam may be able to tell us what we need to know without having to perform a full exam with tools. At this age, we find it most helpful to have a discussion with the parents on proper dental care for young teeth and how to avoid any major problems, like baby bottle tooth decay.

In our office we try to keep these first few dental appointments calm and fun so that the child can associate the dentist with a positive experience. We don’t force young children to cooperate in ways that make them fearful because dentistry is often associated with anxiety anyway. I have treated many adult patients who still have dental anxiety due to unpleasant childhood experiences at the dentist. As a team, parents and our office can work together to make going to the dentist an enjoyable and fear free experience for their children.

760-323-2771

Pregnant Moms & Dental Health

A few of our patients are new mom's to be. When a woman is pregnant, there are a lot of obvious hormonal changes. Dentally this can manifest as bleeding gums. The best preventative there is closer attention to good oral hygiene and a good diet.

Sometimes ladies develop a red purple bump or swelling on the gums called a pregnancy tumor (which sounds scary, but is benign).

It is best to avoid x-rays or medications especially during the first trimester, so we may delay any treatment or routine diagnostic x-rays a few months. Hopefully the patient has good oral health so that little problems will not turn into bigger ones because of treatment delay. There are many other good sites with information for expectant moms. In fact, here is one from the: ADA. Things are not always so easily planned but, if you are thinking about starting a family, make sure your dental treatment needs are in good order beforehand.

Oh, and don't forget to schedule your baby for their first dental visit by age one!

760-323-2771

Dangers Of An Abscessed Tooth

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

You woke up in the morning, put your clothes on and went to take your small breakfast. Everything seemed to be the same except an unpleasant feeling in your oral cavity accompanied by a general discomfort. You went to the bathroom, found a mirror and opened the mouth.

That moment you realized what was the cause of the pain you had had while chewing, the cause of that bitter taste in the mouth, the sudden and unknown sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, and that unpleasant bad breath that could be easily felt the first moments of that day.

Dentists call it “tooth abscess“. At first abscess looks like a swelled area that turned red. It hurts and you can feel how the temperature increased. Abscess usually appears when a tooth cracks or develops a deep cavity and the pulp is exposed.

Then bacteria invades the center of the tooth and the pulp starts to die. As the tooth infection progresses, pockets of pus form at the root of the tooth. Sometimes a patient will not even know abscessed tooth exists until he has a routine exam and x-ray.

An abscessed tooth must be treated. If it is ignored then complications are inevitable. Here are some of really frequent dangers of tooth abscess:

1. Loss of the tooth –  It is a painful process and you need to avoid it.

2. Spread of infection to the jaw bone – mandible or maxilla are strongly effected by abscessed tooth infection.

3. Spread of infection to soft tissue – tooth abscess can cause facial cellulite or Ludwig’s angina, a rare disease that is accompanied by fever, deviation of the pharyngeal walls, an impending airway disaster, including muffled voice, inability to tolerate secretions, and protruding tongue.

4. Sinusitis – any infection or inflammation of the sinus cavities behind the nose and eyes. Symptoms vary according to which sinus cavity is infected.

5. Brain abscess – this very important organ is situated close to the infected area. Tooth abscess and abscesses in and around the nasal sinuses, face, ears, and scalp may work their way into the brain.

6. Blood infection – the blood flow increases to the trouble area. If the abscess ruptures into neighboring areas or permits the infectious agent to spill into the bloodstream, serious or fatal consequences are likely. It is called blood poisoning – a term commonly used to describe an infection that has spilled into the blood stream and spread throughout the body from a localized origin. Blood poisoning, known to physicians as septicemia, is also life threatening. In this case important organs are affected like heart, for example.

7. Death – indubitable it is the worst and dangerous complication of abscessed tooth and it must be avoided.

Now you know that the abscessed tooth danger is big enough and next time when you feel uneasiness and dental pain, you should not ignore it and pay us a visit. This reduces the risk of tooth abscess and eases you from its dangers.


760-323-2771

Cavities Are Preventable

Dr. Jay Jorgensen D.D.S.

Cavities are preventable and caused by certain types of bacteria (germs) that live in your mouth.  Bacteria stick to the film on your teeth called plaque. The bacteria feed on what you eat, especially sugars (including fruit sugars) and cooked starch (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc.).  About 5 minutes after you eat, or drink, the bacteria begin making acid as they digest your food.  This acid can break down the tooth’s outer surface and dissolve valuable minerals that protect your teeth.  The result is cavities. 

You are not born with the bacteria that cause cavities. These bacteria are usually transferred to you at a young age by your primary care taker, most often your mother.  To reduce the chances of passing the bacteria to your children, avoid sharing utensils, straws or other items that may have saliva on them.    


How to Prevent Decay 
• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste 
• Clean between teeth daily with floss 
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacking 
• Visit us regularly for professional cleanings and exams  
• Ask us about:  
Dental sealants
Xylitol gum and mints  
Fluoride treatments including varnish 


Call us today: 760-323-2771