We recently talked about the process of remineralization and how this helps prevent tooth decay, so today we want to share with you a product that we recommend to many of our patients to help remineralize their tooth. Because when it comes to taking care of our teeth, sometimes it may require more than brushing and flossing to protect them.
For some of us genetics may not be in our favor and thus we may be more susceptible to tooth decay. In cases like this, MI Paste is arguably one of the best products to help fight and prevent decay.
What is MI Paste?
MI Paste is a topical tooth paste that contains essential minerals (Calcium and Phosphate) which are used to repair and fight tooth decay. These crucial minerals come in the form of CPP-ACP (Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phophate) who the creators of MI Paste have called RECALDENT.
MI Paste is available with and without Fluoride, so if you are anti-Fluoride you can also enjoy the benefits of this amazing product. The Fluoride variant will be named MI Paste Plus and have a red cap, while the non-fluoride variant will have a white cap and just say MI Paste.
Why do I need MI Paste?
The way we like to explain the need for MI Paste to our patients is:
"Through out the day bacteria in our mouth produces acids from the sugars that we consume. These acids will remove minerals from the outer layer of our teeth and when we lose enough of these minerals this will lead to tooth decay. What MI Paste does is put these minerals (Calcium and Phosphate) back into our teeth by a process called remineralization. This strengthens our teeth teeth and protects us against a future "Acid Attack" that may lead to tooth decay".
Essentially we are using Calcium and Phosphate to repair our tooth enamel that was been removed by acid-causing bacteria.
It is important to understand that our saliva naturally has these protective minerals in its composition, but depending on how many "Acid Attacks" we have throughout the day, it may not be sufficient enough to prevent tooth decay. That's where the need for MI Paste may be beneficial.
How do you use MI Paste?
MI Paste is simple to use, first lets start by saying that this is not a paste that you'll be using to brush your teeth, so don't put it on your toothbrush.
Start by flossing and brushing your teeth first, then put a pea-sized amount of MI Paste on your finger and apply to all of the surfaces of your teeth. Leave it on for 30 minutes, spitting out periodically. You may rinse your mouth after 30 minutes, but it's not required if you're not using the fluoride variant (MI Paste Plus).
Something I like to do every night after I apply MI Paste is to put on my retainers. I do this because it prevents me some salivating as much. I also believe that by doing this I'm allowing more product to have direct contact with my tooth for a longer period of time, instead of being dissipated away from my tooth by the saliva. I think this could lead to higher remineralization results, although I have no evidence for this so take it with a grain of salt.
The only downside to MI Paste could be the price. I've had several patients be amazed by the benefits of MI Paste, only to be discouraged by the price when it's time to pay. My dental office sells it for $25, but it can range anywhere from $20-$30. This may seem a lot to pay for a tube that is only 40g and less than 4 inches tall, but if you're using a pea-sized amount of product this should last you a couple of months.
If you happen to be allergic to any milk protein and/or benzoate preservatives, you should avoid using MI Paste to prevent any sensitivity or allergy.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. We hope this product helps you prevent tooth decay and protect your teeth. If you have any questions please leave them in the comment section below. If you enjoyed and found it educational please share it with your friends and family on Facebook and follow us on Instagram. It only takes 1 minute of your time and it helps us out a lot. Thanks :)
Resources:
http://www.mi-paste.com/about.php