Looking to improve or maintain your oral health and not sure which products to invest in? Our clinicians have given their top recommendations for products to suit all budgets, and a handy checklist so you’re never left without! If you have any questions about a dental product, leave a comment below or ask your clinician when you visit us. All of the dental products we recommend are available to buy in the practice, or we have added some links to the page to allow you to buy them directly through Amazon (affiliate links). If you would like any more information on oral hygiene, check out our page on oral hygiene.
Toothbrushes
There are many options when it comes to toothbrushes. Options include manual and electric, the size and material of the toothbrush and the strength of the bristles. Make sure children are using toothbrushes recommended for their age group to help ensure they are maintaining good oral health.
Our hygiene therapists can help to identify which toothbrush is best for you. Generally, we would recommend brushing with an electric toothbrush as they tend to give better results. Electric toothbrushes can now indicate how long you have been brushing and whether you are pressing too hard or not hard enough. Oral-B electric toothbrushes are a great option and there are ones to suit every budget. Look out for a brush which has a pressure sensor on, like this one. You would be surprised at how often you are pressing too hard!
Note – Bamboo toothbrushes are becoming increasingly popular due to being more environmentally friendly than plastic brushes. Make sure you are using a brush with the right bristle strength for you. Too soft and you won’t be cleaning your teeth effectively, too hard and you may be damaging your gums. Also look out for the brush becoming mouldy if it is left in moisture.
Toothpaste
When choosing toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride to keep the teeth strong and to protect against dental decay. Some toothpastes have ingredients to help with sensitivity, gingivitis and hardened plaque. Colgate Perioguard is great for patients who are having treatment for, or are at risk of periodontal disease. Products such as Sensodyne or Colgate Pro Relief are great for patients suffering from sensitivity. Look out for additives in toothpastes, such as whitening agents, that can degrade the tooth enamel. Make sure your toothpaste is sugar free to prevent against decay. Toothpaste tablets are now available which are a more environmentally alternative to traditional toothpaste tubes. Parla toothpaste tablets are vegan, cruelty and plastic free.
Dental Floss
Floss is used to help clean between the teeth, where the bristles from your toothbrush cannot reach. This helps to prevent decay forming in the spaces where the teeth meet. Floss is particularly helpful when you have very tight spaces between your teeth.
Inter-dental brushes
These are a good alternative to dental floss. They are small brushes with varying sizes of bristles and wire which are designed to fit in varying sizes of space between your teeth. Your hygiene therapist can tell you which size brushes you need. There are lots of different brands available. Generally we recommend Icon and Tepe as they are good quality and have a range of sizes. These brushes can be reused and cleaned by rinsing with water and dipping in mouthwash. Ideally, you should change your brushes once per week, or at least until the brushes are frayed. They need to be in good condition to get optimal results.
Mouthwash
There are many different types of mouthwash. Some target certain problems such as gingivitis (for example Colgate Perioguard) and helping to reduce the risk of cavities. Mouthwash is a good product to use between brushes, but should not be used to replace tooth brushing. Ensure your mouthwash is sugar free. Do not rinse your mouth after using mouthwash as this washes away any benefits you gain from using it! Remember – spit don’t rinse!
Retainer cleaning tablets/ Ultrasonic Bath
If you are having orthodontic treatment such ask Invisalign, we would highly recommend you use retainer cleaning tablets (such as these) or an ultrasonic bath (such as this one) to clean your aligners or retainers regularly. Treatments like Invisalign require you to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day, and so get dirty quickly. You may also stain them by drinking coloured liquids with them in. Retainer cleaning tablets alone do a good job at removing light debris or staining of your trays, but using them with an ultrasonic bath makes your trays look brand new! We recommend these for all of our Invisalign patients as they really do make such a difference.
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or would like more information on our dental product suggestions!
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