The Most Important Dental Care Products
Keeping your smile healthy means taking good care of your teeth and gums. TV commercials and magazines promote fancy gadgets, while drugstores carry an array of brushes, special flosses, and whitening products. Ultimately, you really only need certain basic products to maintain optimal oral health:
Toothbrushes
These days, you can choose from manual or electronic, as well as angled or straight. As well, bristles come at different levels, soft, medium, and hard. The best toothbrush is which ever one gets you to brush regularly. Most dentists recommend soft-bristled brushes because they won’t damage the enamel.
Toothpaste
Each year, Americans use 40 gallons of toothpaste. When making your choice, what matters most is that you pick toothpaste with fluoride, even if your drinking water is fluoridated, to help strengthen teeth and prevent decay.
Dental Floss
It’s a good idea to look for the American Dental Association seal of approval on any products you purchase, including floss. If the space between your teeth is really tight, consider getting the lightly waxed variety.
Rinses
Though no substitute for brushing and flossing, using a mouth rinse can slow the formation of plaque. Even swishing your with water can help. Be careful not to overuse mouthwash because it can create dry mouth and make bad breath worse.
Miscellaneous Products
Deciding whether to invest in auxiliary dental care items, such as night guards, irrigators, or whitening trays, really depends on your personal situation. Talk with your dentist to get his or her recommendation before making any purchase so that you don’t do more harm than good.