Patient Education And Products

Recent News

OLDER AMERICANS FIND IT HARDER TO GET DENTAL CARE. The New York Times reports that older Americans find it particularly difficult to obtain adequate dental care as “fewer than half of Medicare beneficiaries have visited a dentist in the past year, a rate that sinks to 26 to 28 percent at lower income levels.” About 20 percent of Americans over age 65 have untreated cavities, the National Center for Health Statistics has reported, while “better hygiene and fluoridation means more older people have more teeth to preserve, over lengthened life spans, than in the past.” Difficulties arise when most Americans leave the work force and lose employer dental insurance, if they ever had it. The New York Times reports, “Medicare offers no help, and Medicaid, varying by state, generally pays skimpily for limited procedures.” The piece adds that preventative care lowers costs in the long run, according to researchers at the University of Maryland Dental School.
Click here to read the full article.

Dry Mouth

Our hygienists, Carla and Deb recommend XyliMelts for our patients who suffer from dry mouth. Use during the day or at night to help relieve dryness in mouth. After brushing and flossing, place the self-adhering disc to the inside of your cheek to help stimulate saliva flow.

After brushing and flossing, swish and gargle with Biotene rinse to help with symptoms of dry mouth

<br/>

Use Biotene spray as needed throughout the day to help keep mouth moist.

Use Biotene toothpaste as a part of your daily oral hygiene home care routine to help prevent the symptoms of dry mouth.

After brushing and flossing, swish and gargle with Biotene rinse to help with symptoms of dry mouth.

Use Biotene Moisturizing Gel to keep mouth moist during the day or just before bed.

Use Biotene toothpaste as a part of your daily oral hygiene home care routine to help prevent the symptoms of dry mouth.

If you need a great product for healing minor mouth irritations and eliminating bad breath, our hygienists, Carla and Deb recommend CloSYS. It’s ideal for sensitive mouths and kills bacteria without alcohol or additives that could cause burning.

Manual Tooth Brushes

An exceptionally made Swiss toothbrush recommended highly by all of us here at Vitelli Comprehensive dentistry! From the ergonomically designed handle to the rounded polyester bristles (of which there are FIVE TIMES as many as a regular toothbrush!), this toothbrush cleans remarkably well while helping to prevent gum recession. We recommend an overlapping, rolling stroke, focusing on the gumline and sweeping up or down in the direction that teeth grow. Brush 2 times a day for a full 2 minutes each time for best results and remember to replace your toothbrush with the changing of the seasons (every 3 months).

A unique activated charcoal toothpaste that helps to keep teeth white by absorbing food staining debris without abrasion or bleaching. Brush thoroughly for 2 full minutes, let the activated charcoal paste remain on your teeth for 30 seconds to remove stains before rinsing thoroughly.

The kids version of the exceptionally made Swiss toothbrush recommended highly by all of us here at Vitelli Comprehensive dentistry! From the ergonomically designed handle to the rounded polyester bristles (of which there are FIVE TIMES as many as a regular toothbrush!) We recommend an overlapping, rolling stroke, focusing on the gumline and sweeping up or down in the direction that teeth grow. Brush 2 times a day for a full 2 minutes each time for best results and remember to replace your toothbrush with the changing of the seasons (every 3 months).

Powered Tooth Brushes

Sonicare toothbrushes are highly recommended by our hygienists, Carla and Deb. They use the same “sound-wave” technology as the ultrasonic scaler we use when you come in for your hygiene and wellness visits. We recommend that you brush twice a day for the full two minute cycle (don’t turn it off early!). The sonicare toothbrush has a timer that will give you a “hesitation signal” every 30 seconds that prompt you to move to the next quadrant in your mouth. If you spend 30 seconds in each quadrant, you will have brushed thoroughly in your entire mouth for the full two minutes.

Mouthrinses

A great multipurpose rinse that kills germs and prevents cavities. It has a stronger taste, so if you’re used to the taste of the blue Listerine, this one kills germs just as well, but also prevents tooth decay.

To help keep food stains from building up on your teeth from coffee, tea, red wine, etc, this rinse is a great addition to your daily routine.

Listerine Total Care Zeio is a great multi-purpose rinse that is alcohol-free for those folks with a dry mouth or who prefer a rinse with a milder taste. Kills germs and helps prevent cavities.

Interdental Cleaners

For effective cleaning in between teeth, especially for those who have larger spaces in which floss may not be as effective in removing sticky plaque and food debris. Helps to keep gums healthy and prevent cavities from starting between teeth.

Dr. Vitelli’s favorite “fluffy floss”. Listerine gentle gum care floss separates and cleans effectively under the gumline and in between your teeth.

A unique floss that has micro ribs (like the tread on tires) built into the floss to effectively “scrub” plaque away from in between your teeth and under the gumline.

Glide floss is great for those with tighter contacts. It has a teflon-like coating that allows it to pass easily between teeth. Nice, fresh mint flavor.

Glide floss is great for those with tighter contacts. It has a teflon-like coating that allows it to pass easily between teeth. Unflavored.

Proxabrushes recommended very often by both of our hygienists, Carla and Deb. They clean very effectively, especially in places where patients have larger spaces and floss just isn’t as effective.

These are the refill brushes for the proxabrush handle. It is for those smaller spaces between their teeth

These are the refill brushes for the proxabrush handle. It is for those with larger spaces between their teeth.