Massaging teeth with high-fluoride toothpaste after eating offers strong protection against caries, according to a recent study in Acta Odontologica Scandinavia.
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg's Sahlgrenska Academy conducted a study of a Swedish toothpaste with more than three times as much fluoride as standard toothpaste (AOS, February 9, 2012). To evaluate its effectiveness, 16 volunteers used a variety of brushing techniques, either high-fluoride or standard toothpaste, and brushed either two or three times a day, according to a university press release.
The study revealed that those who used the high-fluoride toothpaste three times a day had four times more fluoride protection than those who used standard toothpaste twice a day, researchers found.
They also tested a method that involved rubbing the toothpaste onto the teeth with a finger. The "massage" method was as effective as a third brushing in increasing the amount of fluoride in the mouth, according to the researchers.
