Dimensions of Dental Hygiene

Running head : The SUMMARY OF ARTICLE

The Summary of Debi Gerger 's Article

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The Summary of Debi Gerger 's Article

The article of Debi Gerger (2008 , RDH , MPH , entitled `Xylitol several times a day . may help keep caries away ' states that xylitol which is commercially available as a noncariogenic sugar substitute has the potential to reduce caries rates by preventing Mutans Streptococci growth

Gerger also mentions that to perform a caries risk assessment pathological , risk factors and protective factors of caries must

be first determined . After determining such factors , the next procedure would be determining the patient 's caries risk level . There are two approaches to determine risk levels including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry 's Carries-Risk Assessment Tool (CAT ) and the Caries Management by Risk Assessment (CAMBRA

According to Gerger 's article , managing dental carries include at-home and in-office recommendations . The at-home recommendations include daily oral hygiene with fluoride-containing toothpaste , mouth rinsing drinking water , antibacterials and Xylitol-containing products . The in-office recommendations include dental procedures done by dental hygienists and dentist

In addition , Gerger 's article also mentioned that 25 of American children aged 2 to 5 , and half of 12 of the ages 12 to 15 have tooth decay . He also mentions that tooth decay is highly infectious at any age bracket

Gerger states that Caries management with the use of xylitol decreases the amount of MS and raises the salivary pH level because MS is unable to metabolize xylitol and xylitol inhibits...