Is it safe?

Dear Dr. Ellie:

I am concerned with the safety of this product. I am a 15 year old boy who has never had a cavity, and I intend to keep it that way. I also want clean, healthy, strong, and most importantly, white teeth. I have a Sonicare toothbrush, and hope that that will help to remove stains and make my teeth whiter. Will it? I have also bought Listerine and Act to try out your system, and use Pronamel with a Sonicare. How safe is it?

How safe is your system?

I am really worried that I will do something to my teeth that will later prove to be harmful. Will this system make my teeth whiter,and after how long? I am also hesitant about the CLOSYS. I have never heard of it, and am worried about unregulated products. It is also WAYYY too expensive for me, so I am wondering if it is worth the expense. And could you explain where you got the information that white teeth is just reflected light, I have never heard of that. I look forward to hearing from you. I admire you and appreciate the website. You rock!!
SK

Hi SK,

The best response to your question - is "There are no Guarantees."

I use this system. My children, family and friends use this system and have done so for many years.

I would suggest that you since you have good teeth - ask your dentist and follow their advice.
I wonder what products you trust now.

My website was designed to help those without any other dental resources, those with ongoing dental problems or those who cannot afford to correct them. The products are over the counter - and well respected for years. For example, I cannot even tell you about a Sonicare toothbrush - I think for many things there cannot be real guarantees- For example, do multi-vitamins work? I take them. I believe they are worth taking - but do we know for sure?

If you are trying to take truth out of "research", the best research to consider is Evidence Based Research.

Xylitol has been studied in this way and found to reduce the population of bacteria that cause mouth acidity, and mouth acidity can lead to cavities, staining and broken teeth. A litmus test can show anyone that xylitol will remove harmful acidity from the mouth.

Xylitol has been used in other countries for many years.
Check out these advertisements on the Links page of my site: they are from other countries:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFdH1E9VsI4

Your questions are good ones but no one can truthfully give you guarantees.
Remember, the worst things for your teeth are sorbitol, juice, soda and sports drinks.


Good luck and thanks for your question,
Ellie Phillips, DDS

Sorbitol is Main Ingredient in Crest Toothpaste

Dear Dr. Ellie:

I do not know if you have read the label recently, but Crest here in Chicago has sobitol as its major ingredient. I thought you might want to look into this.

Thank you. PB
P.S. I checked the label at several different stores just to be sure.


Dear PB,

Much as I dislike sorbitol and work to educate people against it - sorbitol is inexpensive and is in many products. It appears that the harmful bacteria of dental disease learn how to process sorbitol quite quickly, grow and thicken.

I would be concerned if you were consuming sorbitol.

I would be concerned if you were not using xylitol but only using sorbitol.

Providing you are on a program to eradicate the harmful bacteria of dental disease with xylitol - this amount of sorbitol in toothpaste should not be an issue.

Thanks for your message - please let me know if you have any other questions.

Ellie Phillips, DDS

Xylitol as a Mouthwash

Dear Dr. Ellie,

I have a question about Xylitol that you can post on your blog if you think it would be good. I purchased a pound of granular xylitol and have *occasionally* used it, because I've been under the assumption that I had to swish it around in my mouth so that it would cover my teeth. I'm not a big fan of mouthwashing, so I conveniently forget to do it! I read on your blog that simply swallowing xylitol is good.. is this so? I would probably still swish it around like a mouthwash before swallowing, but perhaps it would make me more inclined to use it! Also, what number of times per day do you recommend my type of xylitol use? Is one teaspoon or tablespoon in the morning sufficient?

Thanks a lot!
Robert in North Carolina

Dear Robert,

Xylitol has many health benefits - as a dentist I am excited that regular use of one and a half teaspoons can stop plaque forming on teeth! Dental benefits plateau (or don't get any better ) at 10 grams: about 2-3 teaspoons a day.

You can swish it around your mouth and spit out - but xylitol is a healthy, diabetic-friendly sugar substitute. Xylitol is used in many countries in candy and gum. In Scandinavia it is regularly used for baking in place of sugar.

I believe in moderation in all things - but enjoy your xylitol.
Swish it or consume it.

Research shows the best time to consume xylitol is after meals and drinks - as a tooth protective food.

Thanks for your question.

Ellie Phillips, DDS

Hate the taste of Listerine?

Dear Dr. Ellie,

I'd rather have the proverbial wooden teeth than use Listerine - it makes me gag every time and that incredibly gross tastes stays with you for months. Yuck!!!

SJ.


Hi SJ,
Check out the latest vanilla, mint or natural citrus Listerine flavors - and feel free to dilute half water - it still works!

I have nothing to do with the Listerine company - just years of work as a clinical dentist.
Research shows (and from looking at teeth I would agree) that rinsing with Listerine twice a day is just as effective as flossing.

I work with a lot of people who either cannot (disabled in some way or lack manual skills) and with those who do not want to floss. If these folks use Listerine as part of a special program - we can help them enjoy great oral health.

The active ingredients in Listerine are essential oils (eucalyptus, thymol and menthol), The formula is virtually the same since it was introduced as a surgical antiseptic in the nineteenth century!

The problem with Listerine is that it really should not be left on teeth - for various reasons.

I loved your message - but I wouldn't recommend wooden teeth - they get very soggy!

Thanks for your message,
Ellie Phillips
www.zellies.com

Biotene

Dear Dr. Ellie,

Recently I have been seeing television ads about BIOTENE mouthwash, as well as seeing stocked on local store shelves.

I noted with interest that it contains, you guessed it: Xylitol.

What do you know about this product? Is it worth using, and if not what are its particular drawbacks?

Hi JM,

Thanks for you question.
I am always happy to see xylitol as an ingredient in oral care products. The problem is, unless you follow patients closely for at least ten years, I do not know if you can really "measure" how good a product is.

For example, there are clinical trials that show Colgate Total is effective. I would not use it because the triclosan it contains reacts with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform in the mouth. This reaction obviously did not show up in lab testing.

I have years of clinical practice looking at the teeth of patients who were using the products I recommend. I LOOKED at teeth - day in and day out. Personally, I only recommend the rinses I use (Closys, Listerine and ACT). I will only stand behind the things that I personally KNOW work for almost everyone.

I like the idea of combining dilute fluoride as a rinse with xylitol eaten after every meal, snack or drink. ACT is a great rinse - and combined with regular small doses of xylitol should give you the results you desire. You will have to read my book (hopefully published later this year) to get the details of why I believe this. It is a 200 page discussion!!

On the other hand, if you love Biotene and your dentist has only wonderful things to say about your oral health - it might be enough reason to use it!

Hope I helped answer your question fairly
Ellie

Testimonial

Dear Dr. Ellie,

I thought I would send you a short email message to let you know that I just went for my regular hygienist appointment. On these visits, I usually get a 20 minute scaling followed by a lecture on correct flossing technique etc etc. However, this time, after a quick blast followed by a polishing, I was sat upright and then told - "Your teeth are actually very clean. See you in six months." This is a first!

Best wishes-
Mark

Testimonial

Dear Dr. Ellie:

My name is Margaret and I have a handicapped son whose dentist suggested zellies 5 months ago. We took their advise and ordered. Matt is a faithful user of your product and had the best check up in his 23 years. They said he had very little plaque and his gum tissue was the healthiest they had ever seen it. My overly tactile son who doesn't floss may now enjoy a healthier mouth with less complications due to his various disabilities. Thank you for Zellies.

Sincerely,
Margaret and Matt

More recent news on Bisphenol A

There is growing concern about the effects of Bisphenol A, currently used in plastic bottles, baby bottles, dental sealants and more. NPR (National Public Radio) has done several stories lately on this subject -- We encourage you to listen to the reports on Bisphenol A from this trusted news source.

ECC - Early Childhood Caries

Dear Dr. Ellie,

I have taken my son to 3 dentists now to try and find a treatment plan I can get on board with. He has been diagnosed with severe ECC, and 2 out of 3 recommended 4 crowns on his front 4 teeth under general anesthesia. All have said that there are no nutrition based approaches to slow or halt the progression. Two said Xylitol wouldn't help at all, and one said that it would, but only because it would be displacing sugar in his diet (which is low in sugar anyway). Can you tell me what type of routine you would recommend to slow the decay in his teeth? I have night weaned him, as I feel breastmilk pooling on his teeth will exacerbate the problem. I was thinking brushing 2 times per day with a xylitol containing toothpaste - Would you recommend the floride rinse applied to the brush? I also would like to start feeding him some xylitol candies after meals - is there any type of flavor sample pack so I can determine what flavors he will eat?
Thanks in advance!
Worried Mom

Dear Worried Mom,
My concern
Yours is a message that I read over and over - there must be hundreds of mothers who have the same story.

My goal is to figure out why this is happening. You all have a similar "profile". You appear to all be mothers who are careful about nutrition and yet you have children around 2 years who have been diagnosed with ECC You are all mothers who nursed - but I continue to be convinced that we should not blame nursing for this.

I would be happy to send you a book on Xylitol if you would like to read it - also some samples.
Please let me your name and address.
I would be thrilled if you will help me try to figure this out.
If you think of anything that could be the reason - I would be interested.

Similarities
The mothers that I consulted with have all used teething gels - some that contain citric acid, sorbitol and sugar.
They also remember a course of antibiotics at the time the teeth were erupting.
One child has had a lot of acid reflux and ear infections. Does any of this ring a bell with you? Asthma, mouth breathing, nasal blockage, sorbitol?

Preventive Tactics
Cavities are the result of damage caused by a particular kind of mouth bacteria. Small amounts of xylitol will remove this kind of bacteria from the mouth. I would definitely recommend using a baby tooth wipe (www.Spiffies.com) or make your own solutions of granular xylitol in warm water and wipe over teeth.

You could also use about a quarter of a teaspoon in a small amount of water as a drink taken at the end of each meal. You need small amounts throughout the day - this is the best way to rid the mouth of these harmful germs.

Ending the meals with xylitol will allow the teeth to build minerals back into them. Putting a little dilute sodium fluoride onto the teeth can also help "heal" them. (Imagine a cut on your knee- the deep tissue has to heal first and then the surface skin will regrow over the top: xylitol works on the deep tissue to remineralize it and ACT fluoride helps put minerals back in the surface layers).

You child is obviously too young to rinse with ACT safely - but you can either apply it to the affected teeth on a Q-tip or just use a drop on a clean toothbrush.

You will not only arrest the problem but expect to see improvements.
If you want to use any toothpaste at all - use a small amount of Crest regular old fashioned paste - but the taste may be too strong for a baby this age. Kids vary in their toleration of this paste.

Let's start here - and if you give me your address I will send you information and some samples.

Let me know what works for you,
Ellie PHillips
www.Zellies.com
www.CleanWhiteteeth.com
Dental Health for Everyone!
26 Corporate Woods,
Rochester NY 14623
1-877-DR-ELLIE
585-272-1270

Tooth Erosion

Hello Dr. Ellie,

My teeth are eroding at the speed of light and no one seems to be able to identify why. I have been asked every question in the book (eating disorder, soft drinks, PH of saliva, etc.) I have done test after test and no results. Everything is normal. Yet, my teeth are really bad and sensitive and getting worst quickly. Any ideas?

Thanks for your time. C

Dear C,
I think you may like to read this Email from one of my patients:
It may give you some confidence in this system:

From Sally Dixon,
I am more than happy to share my experience with The
Zellies Complete Mouthcare System with any of your patients...so please feel free to share this with the patient you mentioned, and anyone else who complains of sensitivity, and use my testimonial on the Web site.

I've suffered with sensitive teeth for many years, which has only gotten worse as I've gotten older. I couldn't even chew juicy foods, such as fruit, without zings of real pain. I've tried all kinds of toothpastes for sensitive teeth, including Sensodyne, none of which really helped at all. Nor did the prescription fluoride toothpaste or fluoride treatments my dentist recommended
for me. He explained that women are more prone to gum recession as they get older, while men are more likely to wear down their teeth. Dr. Ellie told me the same things, as well as why the special toothpastes don't work for the long-term
-- all they do is temporarily "plug" the tiny channels that lead to the nerves of the teeth, without naturally strengthening and protecting the teeth over time.

After learning so much from Dr. Ellie, I went on the
Zellies Total Mouthcare System in October of 2007. In less than two weeks, my teeth felt less sensitive. I've been using the system just about every day, especially at night before bed, and six months later, my teeth are much less sensitive. Not only that, they look much better! Before the Zellies system, I noticed a lot of yellowing/darkening at the gum level of my teeth, and they were looking darker and duller overall. Now they're whiter, stronger-looking and shinier -- so much so, that before too long, I will need to replace a crown in the front of my mouth that is distinctly darker than the rest of my new and improved smile!

I can't say enough good things about the Zellies Total Mouthcare System. I eat 12-15 Zellies mints a day, after meals and snacks, and use the system morning and night. It takes only a few minutes and I'm convinced it's the best thing I've ever done for my teeth. Still doubtful? Just try it for six months. You'll be amazed at the differences in how your teeth feel and look. This really works!

-- Sally Dixon, another loyal Zellies user

So...I will just shoot off a list of questions for you to think about - then some suggestions.Please send me a reply if I can help more - I would be happy to help you stop this problem:

You may want to look at this blog posting:
http://askdrellie.blogspot.com/search/label/erosion

We are searching for hidden acidity and/or chlorine:
Sports drinks
Sucking lemons, grapefruits - lemonade etc
Whitening products
Red bull - diet drinks
Acid reflux
Do you use Listerine?
Vitamin C tablets, vitamin water
Using chlorine in some way - pool swimmer?
Wine or beer before bed?
Do you work in a battery factory?( had to ask!)

Suggestions: To strengthen teeth -
Start immediately with ACT mouth rinse.
Use at least three times a day - definitely last thing at night
Let the liquid swish around your teeth for as long as possible and then spit out.
Try not to eat or drink for at least half an hour after using.

I would like to know what you use for toothpaste - mouth rinse?
Check out my website details:
http://www.zellies.com/store.asp?pid=14406&catid=19708
This system really works - you can get everything you need ( except Zellies) in Walgreens - I beg you to start with the ACT and xylitol IMMEDIATELY.
The xylitol ( Zellies or any other brand that is 100 percent xylitol) will heal deeper layers and then the surface layer will heal with the ACT.
Imagine a cut knee - the skin heals over again - so can your teeth. It is called remineralization.

Good luck - please keep in touch - I would be happy to help (no charge)
Ellie Phillips
www.Zellies.com
www.CleanWhiteteeth.com
Dental Health for Everyone!
26 Corporate Woods,
Rochester NY 14623
1-877-DR-ELLIE
585-272-1270

Thank You! And Some Questions

Dear Dr Ellie,

Thank you so much for the whole box of wonderful Zellies mints and gums. We actually love everything, though surprisingly, the kids prefer the mints over the gum.

We are getting ready to place an order in the near future as supply is running low. I have no worry it will arrive promoptly, as I was so pleasantly surprised that the generous samples arrived so soon. We are following the brushing system we talked about over the phone. I am really hoping it works out. Just a few follow up questions---can we use the granulated xylitol with any juice? I was intending to mix it with our apple cider vinegar water---but in the blog I read not with anything acidic? is that right? Also, can the kids use listerine? I was thinking I could just use it to brush the teeth with instead of our plain dry brushing/tooth soap method.

Thank you,
G

Hi G -

Thanks for the message.

I will answer your questions in the text below.
Hope you understand my answers.Thanks again for your note - please keep in touch,
Ellie

Can we use the granulated xylitol with any juice?
Yes you can use xylitol anywhere you use sugar.
The recommended safe amount is large - but xylitol is fiber and should be introduced slowly if you are going to use large amounts in place of sugar.

For dental health you only need 1-2 teaspoons a day. To sweeten drinks some people add tablespoons of sugar - I would not do this with xylitol - at least not straight away! Your body has to become used to large quantities.

The body makes 15 grams naturally - I think this is the "natural" amount.
I will continue to recommend 1-2 teaspoons a day since I believe in moderation!

I was intending to mix it with our apple cider vinegar water---but in the blog I read not with anything acidic?
The best way to eat xylitol is to protect teeth from acidic drinks (like cider vinegar or lemon juice/lemonade etc). The best way to do this is not put it into a drink but eat a little xylitol (on a spoon, as a mint, gum or dissolved in a little water - whichever you prefer) AFTER the cider-vinegar/ lemonade etc. drink.)

If you tested the pH of your mouth with litmus paper you would see xylitol raises the pH to safety immediately after the drink and in this way stops any tooth damage.

Can the kids use Listerine?
I would never recommend using Listerine without ACT.
Kids can start using ACT when they are able to rinse and spit (around 6 years old).

Any child with front adult teeth ( 8-9years) are fine to start using the system. They may like to dilute the Listerine or use one of the "ADA approved" flavor Listerine kinds. Kids of this age will like the fact that their new front teeth - (that often look yellowish) - will start to become whiter and whiter looking.

This is because the enamel is getting harder and harder - and hard enamel makes light bounce off the teeth - and makes them naturally appear shiny and white. This is the way nature intended it to be - (we just speed up the process with Listerine and ACT )!

- Ellie Phillips DDS

Xylitol Gum Dosage Information

Dear Dr. Ellie:

I see you recommend a number of mints per day, but I can't find a recommendation on how often I should chew the gum and how many pieces...can you help.

Thanks, SC

Dear SC,

You are correct - I just looked at the site and I agree - you cannot find out easily how much gum makes the daily "dose".

What you are looking for is between 6.5 and 10 grams a day - more will not help your teeth - less may not work. Each mint is 0.5 grams and each piece of gum is 0.7 grams.

I usually tell people to try and eat one or two mints or a piece of gum after every meal and snack. Most of us eat four or five times a day and snack (or have a drink) a couple of other times.

Eight to ten pieces of gum or a mix and match of mints and gum (or two pieces of gum three or four times a day) will work well.

This will have a positive effect by reduction in mouth bacteria - which can usually be achieved in six months to one year. Following this - you can use the xylitol as a protective measure - just eating some after every meal or snack as a tooth-protective food.

Hope this helps,
Ellie Phillips
www.Zellies.com
www.CleanWhiteteeth.com
Dental Health for Everyone!
26 Corporate Woods,
Rochester NY 14623
1-877-DR-ELLIE
585-272-1270

Is it working?

Dear Dr. Ellie,

I have been chewing Xylitol gum for about 2 months after finding your website. However, I'm not sure if I had the recommended 6.5 grams or more each day. If I only had about 4-5 grams a day is there any benefit? or did i just waste time and money for the past 2 months?

Thank you, C

Dear C,

Xylitol works in different ways:

Helpful benefit #1
Every time you eat a piece of gum you are helping your teeth harden themselves. This happens because xylitol stimulates calcium rich saliva into your mouth and this raises the pH levels in your mouth to exactly the correct pH for remineralization of teeth to occur. The more you harden teeth - the better! ( never wasted).

As far as effect - you have to out-balance the amount of damage you are doing to your teeth. If you are someone with a lot of "risk factors" or you sip soda or acidic drinks all day - your teeth will need a lot of help!
If you have a healthy mouth with plenty of natural mineral-rich saliva - four pieces of gum is probably enough to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Beware- "risk factors" spring up on us - (for more details read The Power of Xylitol Book available on my website!)

Helpful benefit #2
Xylitol works by slowly wiping out the bacteria of dental disease - the critters that cause gum disease and cavities. For this - you DO need at least 6.5 grams of xylitol each day - and if you have dental disease in your mouth ONLY that level will eradicate the problem. They have research to show that at 10 grams a day you reach a "plateau" effect - in other words more xylitol will not make more bacteria go away.

If you have gum disease that is not improving - check your the amount you are regularly consuming. If you are still having cavities - check your the amount you are regularly consuming. If your teeth are still sensitive - check your risk factors - in other words the reasons you have damage to your teeth and try to balance this damage with repair!

I hope this answers your question.
Sorry it took me a while to get back to you - very busy!
Ellie Phillips
www.Zellies.com
www.CleanWhiteteeth.com
Dental Health for Everyone!

26 Corporate Woods,
Rochester NY 14623

1-877-DR-ELLIE
585-272-1270

Orbit vs. Zellies

Dear Dr. Ellie:

What is the difference between Orbit gum and yours?

- DH in Rochester, NY


Dear DH -

Zellies gum and mints are sweetened with only 100 percent xylitol - no artificial sweeteners added. Xylitol is made by the human body and so it appears to be well tolerated even up to about 100 grams a day. Harmful mouth bacteria ( the ones that cause dental disease) are unable to process xylitol - no matter how long you have eaten it for - and they die out.

Orbit and Trident gum are around 98 percent sorbitol and only 2 percent xylitol. (Xylitol is expensive and sorbitol is an inexpensive sugarless sweetener.) Sorbitol is poorly tolerated and many people have gastric cramping, gas and bloating after eating sorbitol.

Worst of all - harmful mouth bacteria learn how to process sorbitol after the third stick of gum - They "learn" how to derive energy from it - to grow and thicken. It appears that this may result in gingivitis, and symptoms of acid reflux.

Alternating high doses of sorbitol (with resultant growth of bacteria) and big quantities of regular sugar in the diet does not appear to have been studied. I would imagine very negative results. I worry that kids these days chew Orbit and then drink sweetened sodas. Teens today have an alarming increase in acid reflux and gingivitis.
Interesting????

Hope this answers your question,
Ellie Phillips
www.Zellies.com
www.CleanWhiteteeth.com
Dental Health for Everyone!
26 Corporate Woods,
Rochester NY 14623
1-877-DR-ELLIE
585-272-1270