As a pediatrician and a grandfather, Ray Wagner took special notice of his daughter’s complaint.
“Dad, do you know how hard it is to find a clean washcloth three times a day?” Sarah Barker asked her father one day about two years ago.
Barker was talking about the task of wiping her daughter Baylee’s gums and teeth to keep them free of bacteria, to prevent the mouth infections and tooth cavities that afflict more than 40 percent of babies and children by age 5.
The result of that off-the-cuff remark is Spiffies, grape-flavored towelettes that contain a substance known to destroy bacteria that can cause tooth decay and gum disease in little mouths.
So far, Spiffies are available at just one store - the Sunflower Market at 7877 E. Broadway. They can also be bought through Wagner’s Web site, www.drrays.com, or by calling 615-0751 in Tucson.
But
Wagner, who sees patients at El Rio Health Center’s clinic
near Interstate 19 and West Valencia Road, presented Spiffies
at two major national meetings last year: for the American Academy
of Pediatric Dentistry in May and the American Academy of Pediatrics
in October. Both times, Wagner said, the response was enthusiastic.
Spiffies are advertised in some medical journals. Now Wagner and his wife, Marti, Dr. Ray who came up with the Spiffies name and is president of Dr. Ray’s Products, are gearing up to place their product in stores around the country. They’re also working with their development team to create spearmint-, strawberry- and apple-banana-flavored Spiffies.
“There are no studies on these wipes, but there’s a strong rationale for their use,” said Wagner, who urges using Spiffies along with toothbrushing.
Pediatricians typically don’t even examine the teeth of their youngest patients, he said. “We’re often bypassing the teeth to look at the tonsils.”
But baby teeth are the only teeth children have until they are 6, when permanent teeth start coming in. While there, they provide structure to the jaw. If they fall out too soon, the child is at greater risk for crooked teeth and a faulty bite.
Little
ones are at high risk for infection from a form of strep that
is passed to them by their mothers and others who kiss them, taste
their baby food or share their spoons. Called Streptococcus mutans,
the bacteria feed on sugars and simple starches, then spew out
various organic acids that dissolve tooth enamel and irritate
gums. Other bacteria can do this, but Strep mutans is the major
offender, Wagner said.
Once there’s a hole in the tooth, an abscess can follow, causing toothache and infecting facial tissues. Some children need treatment with intravenous antibiotics or surgery at a cost of thousands of dollars, Wagner said.
Parents can help prevent this by wrapping a Spiffies around an index finger and wiping the youngster’s teeth and gums three times a day. It works because Spiffies contain xylitol, a natural substance found in many fruits and vegetables that is sweet like sugar. But instead of being consumed by bacteria, it consumes bacteria and prevents decay and infection before they can start.
Although Spiffies have not been subjected to clinical trial, xylitol has, Wagner said. Studies have shown it can stop the growth of another kind of strep bacteria that causes children’s ear infections. More than 20 studies have found xylitol can significantly reduce the incidence of cavities in children.
The Gerber baby food company makes baby toothpaste with xylitol, and it’s found in some adult mouthwashes and toothpastes, as well as chewing gums and candies.
Dr. Laila Hinshaw, a children’s dentist in Tucson, said she uses Spiffies on her 10-month-old daughter, Mikaila.
“The first year of life is the best window of opportunity,” Hinshaw said. “The more we can reduce the bacteria count now, the lower the risk of developing dental cavities in the future.”
Contact reporter Jane Erikson at 573-4118 or at jerikson@azstarnet.com.
David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Dr. Ray Wagner uses his Spiffies product to clean the teeth and gums of 6-month-old Uriah Nish, who is held by mom Janella Jones. Wagner and his wife, Marti, have formed Dr. Ray’s Products and are trying to get Spiffies sold in stores throughout the country. In Tucson, one Sunflower Market sells the wipes.