ACT Anticavity Fluoride Rinse
My wife's dentist recommended that she start using ACT Anticavity Fluoride Rinse as a way to help her teeth out. As a fluke, I had used the same product 15 years
earlier, not because anyone recommended it to me as much as I saw an advertisement for it in a magazine, and it reminded me of Lavoris, a red, cinnamon tasting mouthwash
I'd used as a kid, the only one my mother ever bought before Scope came out.
Before one can best evaluate a product like this, you want to
learn more about anticavity rinses and whether they're legitimate or not. To do that, the best place for information on this subject was the
Journal of the American Dental Association page. Their conclusion was this:
"Antimicrobial mouthrinses are safe and effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis, and they should be a part of a daily comprehensive oral health care regimen
that includes brushing, flossing and rinsing to prevent or minimize periodontal disease."
That doesn't mean they didn't have worries. They're not happy that alcohol is one of the main ingredients, as some studies have shown that alcohol can do damage to gums.
Oral cancer is associated with too much consumption of alcohol also, as well as something called Xerostomia, which is another way of saying dry mouth. However, the
JAMA believes that, if people follow the instructions on the bottle to the letter, this is a very good product for many people to use for good dental hygiene.
Of course, there are always some things to watch out for. If you're on a low salt or salt free diet, it's recommended you talk to your doctor before using it. It's
also recommended to talk to a doctor if you're pregnant or breast feeding. And, there are some minor side effects sometimes, such as headaches, upset stomach, weakness,
or some minor tooth discoloration if used long term. That part seems odd, since one wouldn't expect a dentist to recommend something that they weren't hoping you'd use
forever.
That brings us back to ACT. It's a unique product because you actually measure out the dosage via the top of the bottle before you dispense it, to make sure you
don't get too much of it, which is more of a concern than too little. You're also supposed to use it only once a day, no matter how many times you brush your teeth, and,
to make sure you don't ingest any, which they consider dangerous, you're not supposed to eat OR drink anything for at least 30 minutes after using it.
The taste,… well, it's not unpleasant, which is a good thing, but it's still a mouthwash, so you won't be craving it afterwards. If you buy the green one, you get a
slight minty taste; the red one is a slight cinnamon taste. If your dentist recommends this product, it's safe enough if you follow the directions. Even if your
dentist doesn't, this isn't that bad an idea to help prevent cavities and tooth decay. Why did I stop using it? I have no idea!
