Hi Earl,

I'm not sure if there is a direct connection between MS and being cavity prone. The number one factor in getting cavities is usually diet related, secondly effective oral hygiene and thirdly medications that decrease the flow of saliva.

You can brush your teeth 100 times a day, but if you're efforts are ineffective, or your diet is not so great you will get cavities. There is a certain technique to brushing and flossing that allows you to thoroughly clean your teeth and you only need to do this twice a day. I'll list a link for that later.

We are not genetically predisposed to getting cavities. So that statement he made is totally false. He needs to look further into what you are and aren't doing with cleaning your teeth... your diet... your medications. These are the culprits, not genetics.

A few helpful suggestions here....

**Use a very soft bristle brush with a non abrasive toothpaste that contains pure ingredients, no dyes, sugar, saccharin, preservatives or sodium lauryl sulfate. The brand that I personally use and recommend to our patients is made by a company called "Jason". It can be bought in health food stores or online. I use their "power smile" toothpaste.

** Use floss that easily fits between your teeth and use it gently but thoroughly. Unwaxed is best if you can fit it, but use what works for you.

**NEVER use a mouthwash that contains alcohol or dyes or preservatives. The alcohol decreases the salivary flow predisposing you to cavities. The alcohol and other junk irritate the gum tissue which can alter the cell structure and predispose you to some serious complications. So it's just best to avoid any product with those ingredients. "Jason" also makes mouthwash that is therapeutic and with only pure ingredients.

**Instead of using fluoride in your toothpaste or mouthwash, use products that contain "Xylitol". http://www.xylitol.org/dental-info-about-xylitol

A good online source for xylitol containing products is www.vitacost.com
They also sell "Jason" products at great prices! Also on this site are gum and mints with Xylitol called "Spry" made by Xlear. These products are very helpful in increasing the flow of saliva and if used daily, can reduce the incidence of tooth decay. I have witnessed this with our patients who routinely use these products for the last several years....

** Use a tongue scraper every night before you go to sleep, after you have brushed and flossed. This will eliminate alot of bacteria in your mouth.

**Another great oral hygiene tool is called "softpicks" by Sunstar Bulter G.U.M. These can be purchased in most supermarkets or targets in their dental aisle. These work better than proxi brushes or toothpicks. Here is what they look like..http://www.target.com/p/Butler-GUM-S...k/-/A-10993798

Here is a description on effective tooth brushing:
http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/brushing.htm

And one on flossing:
http://www.adha.org/oralhealth/flossing.htm

With regard to diet and tooth decay... huge correlation....

All soft drinks including soda, snapple, fruit juices, lemonade, any drink that contains any form of sugar with the exception of xylitol... slowly demineralize the enamel on our teeth as our teeth bathe in it when we drink it. So it best to drink water.... or brush and rinse thoroughly after we drink a sugary drink.

All sugary foods especially things like raisins or other dried fruit that sticks to our teeth, as well as diets low in nutrition, high is long chain carbs containing starches and sugars will contribute to tooth decay.

It is imperative to try an eat a well balanced diet, avoid as much sugar containing foods/drinks and fast foods as much possible. There is no nutritional value in these types of foods and tooth decay is frequently abundant in people who have these diets even when their oral hygiene is ok.

So hopefully this information is helpful to you.... and can help you to avoid cavities in the future.

Stay in touch and let us know your thoughts about all of this.......

Bryanna