Xylitol and Dental Benefits

Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth consume the sugars we eat. When we eat food containing ordinary table sugar (sucrose), it gives bacteria on your teeth energy to thrive, allowing them to multiply and start making acids that can eat away the enamel on teeth. This “acid attack” causes the tooth decay process. This is when xylitol comes in to save the day. Xylitol is a natural sweetener derived from the fibrous parts of plants and Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS wants you to learn all about it.

Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can be found in gum, mints, or candy. It can also be found in dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Aside from slowing down the tooth decay process, dental benefits of xylitol also include a decrease of bacteria. Xylitol enhances the remineralization of teeth, particularly in small decay spots just developing in the tooth enamel. So next time you decide to sweeten your coffee or tea with some sugar, add a little some cavity-prevention with xylitol.

If you have questions about xylitol, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533. 

Shopping for Toothpaste

Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS understands while walking through the dental health aisle at the drugstore, that the selections of toothpaste can be overwhelming. Should you go for tartar control, fluoride, sensitive, or whitening toothpaste? How do you decide? When it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs. The best way to discover what those are is by scheduling an oral exam with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS here in Fairfield, CT. In the meantime, here are some options to consider while browsing:

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste helps reduce oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


•  Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exact what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions regarding oral hygiene, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533. 

The Proper Flossing Technique

Each time you visit the dental practice of Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS our staff gifts you with a goody bag after each professional cleaning, but how many of you actually go home and use it? We’ve heard every excuse in the book as to why our patients aren’t flossing enough. One of them being, “I don’t know how to.” Fortunately, after you follow this proper flossing technique, you won’t need to use that excuse anymore.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the office, visit www.drkeithrudolph.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Keith Rudolph, DDS in Fairfield, CT, call 203-254-9533.