• stannous • Part of Speech: Adjective Meaning: Made of,
containing, or otherwise pertaining to tin. Notes: The active
ingredient in fluoride toothpaste is stannous fluoride (SnF2),
an antimicrobial chemical that bonds with the enamel to deter
the effects of the acid and plaque buildup that eat away at the
enamel. The acids and plaque are produced by microorganisms
enjoying the carbohydrates and sugars in our mouths (another
reason for reducing sugar and carbs). Of course, don't overdo
it: you don't want stannous teeth like those of Jaws in the
James Bond movies Moonraker and The Spy who Loved me. In Play:
The term stannous fluoride sounds so scientific that it is easy
to overlook the fact that it refers to a common household metal.
This word would have come in handy earlier in the century when
wags called Henry Ford's Model T a Tin Lizzy. Owners could have
retorted, "'Tis a Stannous Elizabeth that I own." It says the
same thing but in classier terms. Wouldn't you rather eat food
from a stannous container tha