Hi, Ellie:
Since the time we talked a few months ago, I had a couple of questions for you that I was hoping you could answer or give an opinion on.
Four months after the dentist found “the beginnings” of a cavity in our daughter’s teeth, he says the cavity is “progressing” and wants to put a temporary medicated filling in to spread fluoride throughout the tooth. The good news: the other teeth look great, and there is no sign of decay (we’ve been doing the xylitol and Zellies religiously!). I wondered what you think of the temporary filling thing. We have mixed feelings about it. The other option is to keep trying to remineralize the tooth, which I would love to do. I just feel like we’re not doing something right. How important is the topical fluoride in conjunction with the xylitol? I’ve been more diligent with the xylitol than the fluoride. In addition to these two things, is there anything else I can be doing?
I want to do the best thing for her, and I also don’t want her tooth to rot out of her head. I guess I’m a bit freaked, and I’m lacking information so I don’t really know what to do.
Anyway, any information you can provide would be very helpful. Thank so much,
C
Hi C,
I will try to answer your questions to the best of my ability but obviously without seeing the teeth it is impossible to know what is really the best option.
Some temporary fillings contain fluoride which is helpful. You do need to combine xylitol and fluoride if you want teeth to repair and remineralize.
Xylitol alone cannot repair a cavitation completely, nor can fluoride. It is the combination of the two that is terrific!
You could also ask your dentist about fluoride varnish This is a resin that is painted on the decay and this adds fluoride continuously for several months to help add the fluoride to the xylitol that you are doing.
If you decide to keep going by yourselves ensure you get some ACT rinse onto the teeth twice a day and remember you can use a drop of ACT on a toothbrush and brush it over teeth…bubblegum ACT is well accepted by kids and really works well.
Keep a daily chart strive for at least five exposures to xylitol and two to fluoride.
Best Wishes,
Ellie
ellie@zellies.com
26 Corporate Woods
Rochester, NY 14623
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