Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 8/23/2006

Question
Is there any powder type of material that a person can use in the mouth while flossing to provide more grinding power against plaque? In this regard is it smart to floss with baking soda power? When a person flosses should all the teeth at and below the gumline be perfectly smooth? Thanks

Answer
Dear Al,

Dental floss is intended to remove bacterial plaque and other soft deposits on tooth surfaces, and does not require the use of additional abrasive agents to achieve this objective. You may choose to floss with baking soda, but this will not confer any additional benefit.

Ideally, tooth surfaces should be smooth, but they often are not. This may be due to congenital or acquired surface imperfactions, tooth decay, or surface tartar deposits. These surface irregularities do impede efforts to effectively clean the teeth, but they should not be managed without professional care. That is why home-administered oral hygiene must be accompanied by periodic professional cleanings. Your dentist can remove tartar and root-surface imperfections to facilitate your own oral hygiene.

Hope this helps...

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY