Frequently Asked Questions

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How is Dental Air Force® different than toothbrushing?

Dental Air Force® does not have a brush. It uses a precision jet of air, water and dental cleaner to access the tiniest spaces between teeth and along the gum lines. Both manual and powered tooth brushes are over aggressive on some surfaces of teeth (the cheek-side), under aggressive on other areas and doesn't even get in between most teeth at all. Many people have created grooves and sensitivity along the gum line due to poor tooth brushing technique. Dental Air Force® eliminates the over abrading issues. A toothbrush's performance deteriorates with its first use. Dental Air Force® is consistent from month to month. A tooth brush harbors teeming amounts of bacteria for chronic inoculation every time you use it.

Dental Air Force® penetrates the greasy film on and between your teeth, exposes the plaque to air and additionally oxygenates the site, blows the plaque out from between teeth and neutralizes the odor. Back to Top

Does Dental Air Force® replace flossing?

Yes it does. Now you can replace both toothbrushing and flossing with one cleaning using Dental Air Force®. The American Dental Association (ADA) surveys reveal only 5% of people floss. And research shows only 18 - 35% of plaque is actually removed by flossing. Dental Air Force® removes plaque between teeth and this is were its performance outshines power and manual toothbrushes. Back to Top

How does it whiten or bleach teeth?

Teeth become stained because 1. plaque on the surface of teeth absorbs the stain, or 2. the tooth itself absorbs the stain. Consequently, there are two types of whitening - extrinsic (on the surface) and intrinsic (below the surface).

Extrinsic whitening is removing the stains from the surface by using an abrasive (i.e.: toothpaste, scraping, Dental Air Force® dental cleaner). Intrinsic whitening or bleaching is removing the stains below the surface with a bleaching agent (i.e.: professional bleaching or hydrogen peroxide with Dental Air Force®).

The whitener in professional and home bleaching products is most commonly carbamide peroxide, which breaks down to hydrogen peroxide. Professional bleaching uses 16% carbamide peroxide, which is equivalent to the 3% hydrogen peroxide one buys retail. When you replace the water in the cup with hydrogen peroxide and clean your teeth twice a day, you achieve the same results as professional whitening gradually over about a one-month period. The whitening effect accumulates over time and is the preferred method of bleaching teeth.

Hydrogen peroxide acts as a bleaching and disinfecting agent. The additional benefit is the continuous and routine disinfection and oxidation between teeth and tissue. Back to Top

Is this like a Water Pik?

Dental Air Force® is VERY different than a Waterpik or an oral irrigator. Oral irrigators use water to try to remove plaque. But plaque is very much like grease and resists removal with just water. Dental Air Force® uses air and a dental cleaner with water to break through the plaque barrier. The air oxygenates the spaces between teeth and along the gum line, making it difficult for the anaerobic plaque-causing bacteria to live. Baking soda is a neutralizing agent that acts on the acids produced by the bacteria. It is an abrasive that breaks up the plaque's sticky film. It also removes the odor caused by the plaque. The water flushes away the bacteria and debris off the surfaces of the teeth. Oral irrigators DO NOT replace brushing. Oral irrigators can not bleach your teeth.

Flossing is something most people don't do. The American Dental Association or ADA reports 5% of the population floss. In addition, flossing in one area and moving the floss to another can move the periodontal-causing bacteria from an infected area to a healthy site. Back to Top

Is this like a Sonicare, Braun Oral-B or Interplak?

Dental Air Force® is VERY different from Sonicare, Braun Oral-B or Interplak. Dental Air Force® does not have a brush. It uses a precision jet of air, water and dental cleaner to access the tiniest spaces between teeth and along the gum lines.

Both manual and powered tooth brushes are over aggressive on some surfaces of teeth (the cheek-side), under aggressive on other areas and doesn't even get in between most teeth at all. Many people have created grooves and sensitivity along the gum line due to poor tooth brushing technique. Dental Air Force® eliminates the over abrading issues. A toothbrush's performance deteriorates with its first use. Dental Air Force® is consistent from month to month. A tooth brush harbors teeming amounts of bacteria for chronic inoculation every time you use it.

Dental Air Force® uses air to oxygenate the spaces between teeth and along the gum line, making it difficult for the plaque-causing bacteria that live in the absence of air (anaerobic species) to live. Baking soda is a neutralizing agent that acts on the acids produced by the bacteria. It is an abrasive that breaks up the plaque's sticky film. It also removes the odor caused by the plaque. The water flushes away the bacteria and debris off the surfaces of the teeth.

Toothbrushes can not bleach your teeth. Back to Top

What is plaque?

Plaque is composed of bacteria, (both live and dead), the waste products from bacteria, food particles and other dead cells that the bacteria feed upon. This composition forms a greasy, sticky film on and in between teeth.

All bacteria are not alike. There are about 400-500 different species of bacteria in our mouths. No place on your body, inside or out, has this many species of bacteria. They can be divided into two different groups - 1) the kind that breathe air (aerobic) and 2) the kind that live in the absence of air and will actually die in the presence of air (anaerobic). Bacteria between teeth are the most dangerous because they survive without air and in the presence of air they die.

Dental Air Force® uses air to change the environment in those spaces between teeth and around the gum line where anaerobic bacteria thrive. It does this by bombarding the spaces with air, water and baking soda. The air oxygenates the area, making it difficult for the anaerobic bacteria to live. Baking soda acts as an abrasive that breaks up the plaque's sticky film. It is a neutralizing agent that acts on the acids produced by the bacteria. Baking soda also removes the odor caused by the plaque. The water flushes away the bacteria and debris off the surfaces of the teeth.

Hydrogen peroxide used in the water bottle will further disinfect your mouth. It also provides a whitening affect on your teeth over a period of time. Back to Top

Will this help my periodontal disease?

The Dental Air Force® is another tool in the treatment of periodontal disease. It will not cure the disease. It will not substitute for professional treatment of the disease. Periodontal disease needs a disciplined regimen to control it that includes meticulous and frequent dental cleaning at home, frequent dental office visits for professional perio treatment, a prescription rinse and perhaps deep rooting and planing. Not one thing is going to be the miracle cure.

There are many reasons why people get periodontal disease. It is contagious, so you have to treat the whole family. Also, if you have an infection in one area of the mouth, floss that area and then take the same floss and move it to a healthy site, it may be infecting that site. You can't rely on professional treatment only. You must maintain and strict at-home regimen as well - e.g.: using Dental Air Force® or brushing/flossing perhaps 3x a day.

Like tooth brushing, flossing, 3 month perio cleanings, the Dental Air Force® assists in the prevention and is a tool to use if you have perio problems. Your dentist can use this appliance to dispense prescription antimicrobial rinses, such as Peridex. Unlike toothpaste, our dental cleaner will not contaminate the Peridex. It replaces brushing and flossing and is FDA approved for marketing for these purposes.

We have not done any clinical studies to demonstrate if pockets are reduced. Our studies are comparing the system to powered tooth brushing. Summaries are found at: http://www.dentalairforce.com/professionals.html. Basically they show that 1) the Dental Air Force® did not harm the dentin (enamel), 2) it removed plaque equally well from between teeth, cheek side and tongue side surfaces (this is VERY important because the toothbrush basically can't get in between the teeth like the Dental Air Force®, resulting in the Dental Air Force® cleaning 62% better BETWEEN teeth, and the toothbrush often over abrades the cheek side surfaces causing grooves between teeth and gums), and 3) the Dental Air Force® cleaned at a safe level of abrasion of soft tissue (gums). Using this system will certainly be beneficial to your gums.

We have antidotal feedback from customers who have gone to their dentist or hygienist after using the system for a few months and get feedback that their teeth and gums never looked better and that pockets have been reduced. However, we do not make claims that the system will reduce pockets. It was invented by a practicing dentist, whose philosophy and expertise is in the prevention of periodontal disease.

Studies are showing that people with heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory infections etc. have a greater risk when they have periodontal disease. The mouth is a portal for all kinds of germs that can lead to or make worse other problems in the rest of the body (not just the mouth).

Periodontal disease is caused by bacteria. There are about 400-500 different species of bacteria in our mouths. No place on your body, inside or out, has this many species of bacteria. They can be divided into two different groups - 1) the kind that breathe air (aerobic) and 2) the kind that live in the absence of air and will actually die in the presence of air (anaerobic).

Dental Air Force® uses air to change the environment in those spaces between teeth and around the gum line where anaerobic bacteria thrive. It does this by bombarding the spaces with air, water and baking soda. The air oxygenates the area, making it difficult for the anaerobic bacteria to live. Baking soda is a neutralizing agent that acts on the acids produced by the bacteria. It is also an abrasive that breaks up the plaque's sticky film. Baking soda also removes the odor caused by the plaque. The water flushes away the bacteria and debris off the surfaces of the teeth.

Hydrogen peroxide used in the water bottle will further disinfect your mouth. It also provides a whitening affect on your teeth over a period of time. Back to Top

I have very sensitive teeth and use special toothpastes that helps my teeth from being sensitive to hot and cold. Would your product help?

First of all, the sensitivity you are experiencing was caused over a period of time. The toothbrush was probably the actual cause of the sensitivity to begin with. In trying to brush "well" and remove the bacteria between your teeth, you over abraded the surface of your teeth. Clinical studies show that Dental Air Force® gets in between your teeth, without over abrading the surface of your teeth, hence why it replaces flossing. The sensitive tooth paste you are now using leaves a coating over your teeth so you don't feel the hot and cold. However, you are still using and contributing to the root cause of your problem - the tooth brush! So you are further damaging the tooth surface. Those teeth really need to have a sealant applied by a dentist. Using Dental Air Force® will prevent further damage and sensitivity to the surface of your teeth.

In addition, some people are allergic to the sodium laurel sulfate found in most tooth pastes. If your "sensitivity" is actually an allergic reaction to the toothpaste, the Dental Air Force® cleaner will help since it does not contain this ingredient. Back to Top

Do you have to use it twice a day?

Our clinical studies compared Dental Air Force® with the American Dental Association (ADA) recommended frequency (twice daily) and duration (2 minutes) of tooth brushing. To gain the full benefit of plaque removal between teeth and around the gum line, the system must be used at least twice a day. Each cleaning uses 1 teaspoon of cleaner in the cup, which is enough cleaner for a 2 minute cleaning. If you choose to use the system only once daily, please augment your oral hygiene by using a tooth brush another time each day.

Everyone grows plaque at a different rate depending on diet, salivary flow, periodontal condition, amount of crowns, bridges, orthodontic appliances, frequency of teeth cleansing, etc. It is the thickness of biofilm on your teeth that Dental Air Force® has to whittle away at. Sometimes it takes more than 2 minutes of cleaning at each use to fully remove this biofilm. Just continue to use the slurry that is already in the mouth and reintroduce it between the teeth and under the gums. You can effectively use the system for 3-4 minutes with the 1 teaspoon of cleaner. Or you can add another teaspoon of cleaner and liquid and additionally clean your teeth for even longer periods of time. You may want to use more if you grow plaque faster.

Dentists have seen significant improvement in the health of the tissue in patients who have used this system twice a day over approximately a two-month period. Back to Top

Would I be able to use the cleaner on my tongue as well, instead of a tongue scraper?

Yes, you can scrape your tongue with the end of the tip. The drawback is that it is not as wide as a tongue scraper, so you would need more "strokes". The advantage is that you will blow away the debris and neutralize the acid with the cleaner. Back to Top

Is it safe to use on baby teeth?

Dental Air Force® is safe on baby teeth. A child being able to use the system safely depends on the age and dexterity of the child. All children are different. You will need to be the judge of your child. An adult should direct the hand piece and aim the spray - with the child helping occasionally for practice. Once you feel the child can use the hand piece correctly, you will only need to supervise. Parents find the best results with having their children use it in the shower. Back to Top

How does this appliance work with braces, crowns, bridges and implants?

Dental Air Force® is particularly effective on orthodontic appliance and people with crowns, bridges and implants. Imagine the difference between power washing your porch deck or using a broom. Which is going to do a superior job? Dental Air Force® gets into all the tiny cracks and crevices where a toothbrush just can not reach. Back to Top

Can it be used on dentures?

Dentures can be cleaned while still in the mouth using Dental Air Force®. However, the best way is to remove them and take them into the shower with you to clean all surfaces. Dental Air Force® comes with a free shower extension kit to enable you to take the hand piece in the shower. Back to Top

What are the cleaner ingredients?

The dental cleaner is a powder that contains sodium bicarbonate, natural mint flavoring, xylitol and stevia. Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda, xylitol is a sweetener that also has anti-caries properties, stevia is also a natural non-caries sweetener. All ingredients are natural.

The cleaner is free of sodium laurel sulfate, an ingredient found in most toothpastes that many people are sensitive or allergic to.

It is packed in 1 lb bulk tubs and uses 1 tsp in the reusable cup that comes with the system. Back to Top

Can one prepare their own cleaner if the primary ingredient is baking soda?

The sodium bicarbonate that we use is not the same as the over the counter variety. It has 3 different grinds or coarseness that makes it very effective at removing the bacteria from in between teeth and under the gums. The over the counter variety is much to fine and is all the same particle size. Ours is also encapsulated for slow release even after rinsing.Back to Top

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