Dairy products rich in calcium and phosphate promote remineralization (the re-storage of minerals) of the teeth and thus their hardness and resistance to caries. The industry has translated this effect into dental care products containing the active ingredient complex Recaldent, which delivers calcium and phosphate to the tooth structure. Fruit makes an important contribution to our health with its valuable ingredients. However, the fructose (fruit sugar) contained in fruit increases the risk of tooth decay, and fruit acids such as malic and citric acid can lead to erosion, i.e. loss of tooth structure due to the effects of acid. Therefore, to counteract erosion, the following procedures are recommended:
- After consuming acidic foods and beverages, wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth. This time is needed by the saliva to buffer the acid and provide minerals such as calcium and phosphate to the tooth surface.
- Dairy products contain a lot of calcium and phosphate and reduce the dangerous pH drop caused by acid exposure. If consumed with or after acidic foods, they contribute significantly to erosion control.
- Toothpastes or mouthwashes with fluoride increase the resistance of tooth hard substances against acid attacks.
- Tooth protection with the active ingredient complex Recaldent: provides calcium and phosphate for reintegration into the crystal structure of the tooth hard substances.
The active ingredient Recaldent, a CPP-ACP complex (casein phosphopeptide – amorphous calcium phosphate), quickly binds to the tooth surface via CPP and provides the natural minerals calcium and phosphate in excess, which are inserted into the hydroxyapatite crystal lattice of the tooth hard substance – a process called remineralization (re-storage of minerals). In the aqueous oral environment, this process constantly interacts with the demineralization (decalcification, dissolution of minerals) of the tooth structure. The decalcification process and thus the softening of the tooth surface are caused by acidic foods or by acid as a metabolic product of cariogenic bacteria (bacteria that cause caries). Recaldent is contained in GC Tooth Mousse Paste and in GC MI Paste Plus, the latter having an even stronger effect on remineralization and hardness increase than the pure CPP-ACP complex due to the addition of fluoride (900 ppm). The caries-protective (protecting against caries) effect of saliva is also promoted by positively influencing the mineral balance and saliva flow rate. – The preparations are available in dental offices.
Indications (areas of application)
- Caries prophylaxis (prevention of tooth decay).
- Restoration of the tooth through remineralization
- For hypersensitive (hypersensitive) tooth necks.
- After professional dental cleaning (PZR).
- During orthodontic treatments
- To support the natural flow of saliva in xerostomia (dry mouth).
- At high risk of caries to reduce caries activity.
- In case of loss of tooth structure – e.g. MIH (molar incisor hypomineralization: see below for explanation).
- In case of erosions
- In case of loss of tooth structure due to wear, incorrect tooth brushing technique or parafunctions such as bruxism (grinding).
- After radiation therapy (Radiatio)
- During pregnancy
- In gastroesophageal reflux disease (synonyms: GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease; gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); gastroesophageal reflux disease (reflux disease); gastroesophageal reflux; reflux esophagitis; reflux disease; Reflux esophagitis; peptic esophagitis) – inflammatory disease of the esophagus (esophagitis) caused by the pathological reflux (reflux) of acid gastric juice and other gastric contents.
- Before and after bleaching (bleaching treatment of the teeth).
Recaldent for molar incisor hypomineralization
Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a disorder of the formation of the tooth hard substances enamel and dentin (dentin), which is increasingly diagnosed worldwide in recent decades. The cause is a disorder of the cells that form tooth structure from the eighth month of pregnancy to the 60th month of life, the etiology (cause) of which has not yet been conclusively clarified.The molars (rear molars) and incisors (incisors) of the permanent teeth are particularly affected, but also the deciduous molars. The teeth show mild calcification disorders such as island-shaped brownish-yellow opacities (“opacity”; measure of the opacity of translucent materials) up to severe substance losses due to collapses of the tooth hard substances associated with high pain sensitivity. MIH is not a calcium deficiency disease of the teeth, but the proportion of organic and thus soft substances in the hard substance is too high and its crystal structure is consequently unstructured. Nevertheless, studies have shown that after three years of daily application of GC Tooth Mousse Paste – in a splint for 20 min before going to bed – there was indeed an improvement in the crystal structure in terms of healing.
Contraindications
- Allergy to milk protein
- Allergy/sensitization to benzoate preservatives.
The procedures
GC Tooth Mousse and GC MI Paste Plus toothpastes are not used to clean teeth like toothpastes, but are applied after brushing.
I. Application at home
I.1. without splint
- Daily in the morning and evening depending on the indication
- After brushing, apply at least a bean-sized amount to the teeth of the upper and lower jaw with a finger or brush / interdental brush.
- 3 to 5 min undisturbed allow to take effect
- Then distribute the remaining cream with the tongue again in the mouth and leave to act for 1 to 2 min.
- Then spit out any remains and do not rinse. Residues may also be swallowed.
- 30 min after application do not eat or drink.
I.2. with splint
The application of the cream with a custom-made splint (dental office) is particularly suitable when a longer exposure time is indicated – so in MIH. In this case, the splint filled with the cream is worn for 20 minutes before going to bed. The rest of the procedure corresponds to I.1.
II. application in dental practice
II.1. without splint.
The procedure is the same as for home use, although dental professionals have better opportunities to apply the preparation on and between the teeth and to aspirate excess saliva before and during the application time. II.2 With splint
First, an individual splint is fabricated in the dental laboratory. Existing splints such as bleeching or grinding splints can also be used. The advantage of splint application is that it saves material and is less diluted by the saliva. The application time and procedure after removal of the splint correspond to I.1.
Possible complications
- Allergic reactions to milk protein or the preservative.
