The tooth gel
introduction
Tooth gels are developed for use on the rows of teeth in order to protect or seal the tooth structure or to soothe sensitive teeth.
More and more dentists recommend the regular one Use of gentle fluoride gels for prophylactic protection against tooth decay and to create a sustainably healthy oral flora.
Since the term is not protected, there are tooth gels for a wide variety of indications that can treat the gums in addition to the teeth. Natural ingredients such as herbal tinctures and essences are often used to give the tooth gel a nourishing effect. Furthermore, drugs are also used specifically in the tooth gel in order to alleviate symptoms.
But what about the effectiveness of the individual products or are there even risks in using them?
What is a tooth gel?
There is no clear answer to this question as it is not a defined term and there are therefore many different indications for the use of these products.
The tooth gel that recommended by the dentist is a fluoride gel that is used for weekly fluoridation at home and thus protects teeth from tooth decay.
For teeth that are sensitive to pain, there are other tooth gels that achieve the sensitivity of the teeth by closing the individual canals of the tooth, but which are completely different from the tooth gel for fluoridation. Furthermore, a tooth gel can also be enriched with chlorhexidine digluconate in order to counteract inflammatory diseases of the gums or the tooth bed. In this case, the tooth gel acts more on the soft tissues and not just separately on the teeth.
Because the term dental gel is not defined, there is also, for example Toothpaste manufacturers who promote their product as a tooth gel, as the consistency is that of a gel. However, despite the name, in most cases it is just a toothpaste. These are mainly represented in naturopathy, which produce tooth gels that are enriched with herbal extracts and thus also have a calming effect on the soft tissues.
In addition, there are tooth gels especially for babies and toddlers that prevent the negative side effects of tooth eruption and also regenerate the soft tissue from the stresses and strains of teething. The tooth gels contain active ingredients that have a beneficial effect on teeth and gums, can alleviate pain and sustainably promote oral health. Many natural products such as herbal essences, but also fluoride or chlorhexidine digluconate play a role, which make the gels effective.
Which tooth gels are there?
Due to the freedom of the concept of the tooth gel, there are many different areas of application with very different modes of action. The tooth gels differ in their active ingredients and functions.
Tooth gels with fluoride content exist for weekly use on the teeth to seal and protect them. There are also gels with chlorhexidine digluconate, which are used for inflammation of the soft tissue. In addition to the preparations that only work on the teeth or only on the soft tissues, there are combination preparations that work on both the teeth and the mucous membranes. These are tooth gels with natural ingredients that have soothing effects on the tissues with herbal extracts. Tooth gels are also available for babies and small children, which act in combination on the teeth and soft tissues and alleviate the accompanying symptoms of teething. There are also gels that are enriched with surface anesthetics and numb the oral mucosa and thereby reduce pain sensations. Another variant of the tooth gel is toothpaste and toothpaste, which are also considered tooth gel due to their consistency. This variability of the tooth gels is due to the fact that the term is not protected and defined and can therefore be freely used by trading companies.
How does a tooth gel work?
The variability of the indications also ensures a variability of the mechanisms of action of the dental gels.
- Gels containing fluoride accumulate fluoride in the tooth enamel and thus strengthen the tooth structure.
- Tooth gels with chlorhexidine digluconate destroy harmful bacteria that damage the oral cavity and preserve the "good" bacteria.
- Tooth gels for the regeneration of hypersensitive tooth necks block the exposed ends of the dentin canals, so that the tooth is more robust against stimuli such as heat, cold and sweetness.
- In small children and teething problems, tooth gels cause superficial anesthesia of the tissues so that the pressure and tension caused by teething can no longer be felt.
Read about it too: Change of teeth
- Furthermore, homeopathic tooth gels can calm the teeth and soft tissue through the natural herbs, so that inflammatory symptoms such as reddened and swollen tissue can recede and painful teeth can calm down.
Who needs a tooth gel?
Tooth gels containing fluoride, which are used weekly, are suitable for everyone who does not suffer from fluoride intolerance. The fluoride ensures that dental health and oral flora are maintained and can be used once a week for children from six years of age, but also for adult patients of all ages. For those with fluoride intolerance, there are homeopathic substitutes with natural ingredients. The other variants of the tooth gels are especially used for complaints. These can be symptoms of teething in small children, symptoms of hypersensitive tooth necks or inflammatory complaints of the gums. Due to variability, the right preparation is not easy to determine. It is advisable to visit the dentist for any kind of discomfort within the oral cavity, who will prescribe the right tooth gel for the respective discomfort and explain how to use it correctly.
Risks and Side Effects
With homeopathic tooth gels, which are made exclusively from natural products, it is important to ensure that there are no allergies to ingredients, so that no anaphylactic shock can occur as a result of ingestion. The natural tooth gels should be used strictly according to the package insert and the maximum dose should not be exceeded. Otherwise there is no risk or side effect to be expected.
In the case of tooth gels with fluoride content, the maximum dose must be strictly adhered to and the fluoride gel should not be swallowed regularly, otherwise too much fluoride can be absorbed. In this case, the disease fluorosis develops, which is expressed on the hard dental tissues and skeletal bones. A toxic dose is 5 mg per kilogram of body weight, which, however, cannot be achieved by applying a tooth gel.
Read more on the subject at: Fluoridation of teeth
When used intensively with a tooth gel in which chlorhexidine digluconate is present as an ingredient, the taste sensation can change. With prolonged use, chlorhexidine digluconate can produce a metallic taste and turn the tongue and soft tissue gray. After stopping use, however, these symptoms quickly disappear.
Furthermore, for small children or dry alcoholics, it is important to ensure that the tooth gel does not contain any alcohol, otherwise there is a risk of relapse or the development of the child may be damaged. With tooth gels for babies and toddlers when teething, it is essential to adhere strictly to the package insert. Some dental gels contain the local anesthetic lidocaine, which can be toxic and fatal if the maximum dose is exceeded. Therefore, the maximum dose should be determined based on the weight of the child and should not be exceeded.
Duration of application
The duration of use is variable due to the variety of products and modes of action. While dental gels with regular fluoridation are used once a week as a prophylactic to maintain oral health, dental gels with chlorhexidine digluconate are used only occasionally or for a few days at a time until the symptoms of inflammation disappear.
The use of tooth gels for babies and toddlers to indicate teething are only used occasionally and are not suitable for permanent use. For products that treat hypersensitive tooth necks, the duration is at the discretion of the dentist and is carried out until the discomfort subsides.
Due to the variety of products, it is important to strictly adhere to the package insert and to ask the treating dentist for advice if you have any questions or uncertainties.
Tooth gel for pain
For tooth necks that are sensitive to pain, tooth gels are the solution that are able to reduce the hypersensitivity of the teeth. The reason for the uncomfortable areas are often plastering defects caused by too firm pressure or "scrubbing" when brushing your teeth. The pressure at the transition from tooth to gum causes the thin gums to retreat and the dentin that Dentine, is exposed. The dentin is characterized by its dentin canals, which are connected to the pulp, in which the nerve and blood vessels lie, which produce the hypersensitivity of these areas.
The dentin is actually covered by the gums in these areas and is now naked. The tooth gel now closes these dentin canals so that external stimuli from heat or cold can no longer directly reach the pulp. The tooth appears sealed and the pain disappears.
However, the gel can only provide temporary relief because it wears off after a while. Using it two to three times a week can quickly combat pain symptoms, but dental treatment is necessary for long-term pain relief.
Tooth gels with fluoridation can also fight pain-sensitive teeth. They work by depositing the fluoride particles in the enamel and strengthening it so that it is better protected. The fluoride gel can be used once a week and is also considered a prophylactic aid to reduce the risk of tooth decay. Tooth gels with the local anesthetic lidocaine, which numb the soft tissue and thereby relieve pain, are available for the painful teething of babies.
Read more about this at: Toothache - What To Do?
Tooth gels for the baby
Tooth gels that primarily support the process of tooth eruption are also suitable for babies and toddlers. Teething begins with the first milk teeth from the age of six months. This is the start of a few sleepless nights for parents too. When the milk teeth erupt, there is tension and pain, and the gums are often reddened. Tooth gels from naturopathy are intended to reduce tension in the gums when teeth break through and reduce the pain that occurs. Most products are made exclusively from natural ingredients and specifically made for babies, so they can be used safely without the risk of harm.
Read more at: Teething in the baby
Some dentists recommend the tooth gels during the time of tooth eruption to relieve accompanying symptoms and to soothe irritated soft tissue in the oral cavity. There are also dental gels that contain lidocaine, which is a surface anesthetic that numbs the soft tissues and relieves pain. With this product, care must be taken that the maximum dose is not exceeded. The amount used is tailored to the body weight, which also determines the maximum dose. A pea-sized amount of the gel may be used three to four times a day for a toddler aged 6 months. In general, all tooth gels for babies and toddlers are alcohol-free, gluten-free, lactose-free and contain no sugar.
You might also be interested in: Brushing the baby's teeth
Price of tooth gels
The price for the variety of different tooth gels varies in a price range of around fifteen euros. Toothpastes as tooth gels cost around three to five euros, while tooth gels for fluoridation cost between five and fifteen euros. Tooth gels for use on irritated and inflamed gums that regenerate the soft tissue are priced in a range of eight to fifteen euros. Other tooth gels, for example for use in the eruption of teeth in babies and small children, start at around five euros. Homeopathic tooth gels for treating teeth and gums cost between ten and twenty euros.
Tooth gel without fluoride
Fluoride-free tooth gels are primarily for patients who cannot tolerate fluoride. However, fluoride intolerance is extremely rare. The gels consist of natural herbal essences to maintain oral health and promote prophylaxis. There are also toothpastes that are specially made for intolerance to fluoride and are also declared as tooth gel due to the undefined definition of terms. These are nothing more than a gel toothpaste that is fluoride-free.
Read more about this at: Toothpaste without fluoride
Tooth gels without alcohol
Regardless of the indication of the tooth gel, it is advisable to ensure that it is alcohol-free, as alcohol changes the oral environment. Studies have shown that alcohol changes the composition of the saliva, thereby adversely affecting the buffer capacity of saliva and the pH value, making it easier for bacteria to attack. The oral cavity is more susceptible to diseases and this has a negative impact on oral health. For this reason, it makes sense not only to forego the alcohol content of the tooth gel in children, but generally to use an alternative without alcohol.
