Introduction
Oral health has become a vital part of general health. More and more people are getting aware of the implication of maintaining good oral health. They know how bad oral health can hamper the quality of life of an individual and can cause serious oral disease.
Several contributors lead to serious oral diseases like tobacco, nutritional status, smoking, poor oral hygiene, alcohol, and stress. Oral hygiene is considered to be the most important factor for the prevention of oral diseases. It is the responsibility of every individual to maintain good oral health; still, dentists can guide you with various methods of it. The best method of improving oral hygiene is by improving oral hygiene habits and this can be attained with the help of effective oral care products.
To rinse out the oral cavity, refresh the breath, and keep good oral hygiene, regular usage of various oral care products is mandatory. Nowadays, several varieties of oral care products are available in the markets which include toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, mouthwash, and whitening agents but out of these, toothpaste and toothbrush are the most widely used oral care product. Some other products can also be used by the recommendation of a dentist.
Out of many attractively advertised oral health products, choosing one best product can be a tricky task. A personalized approach can be a smart move as it can help in identifying the best formulation of oral care. It can easily be fit into the need of the people and a scheduled repetition of oral hygiene processes which are a must to achieve the preferred results because a healthy mouth needs lifetime care.
What are the deciding factors that influence which dental care products to buy?
The market is full of oral care products, but choosing the most appropriate product for you largely depends on some basic understanding and information on the basics: toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwashes and flosses.
- It is recommended that both children and adults should use a toothbrush with soft and gentle bristles only as harder bristles might cause gum tissue to recede(pull back), and expose the tooth root. Also, it can lead to sensitivity to cold, hot, beverages, and sweet foods. Receding gum tissue can cause tooth loss.
- Choose a right head size toothbrush that can effortlessly fit into your mouth and can brush one to two teeth together. For a very young child or infant, select a toothbrush with a very small head so that it would not hurt them.
- It is suggested that toothbrushes should be changed after about every three or four months, or earlier when the bristles start to look damaged or frayed.
- For the perfect selection of toothbrushes that best meets your unique needs, visit your dentist.
Electronic toothbrushes
One of the biggest benefits of using powered toothbrushes is that they give a constant brushing method. Electric toothbrushes can:
- It makes the brushing task easy as it limits the movement of arms and hands. People with physical difficulties, such as arthritis, or any sort of physically handicapped can be benefitted from electric toothbrush. Also, it is advantageous to people who have oral conditions (such as teeth with uneven surfaces or misaligned teeth) as it can help in thorough cleaning of all tooth surfaces.
- Ease the task of tooth brushing in those with orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, bands, and wires.
- These toothbrushes may be fun to use. The built-in timers work efficiently that show when teeth have been brushed long enough. Also, it motivates those who don’t brush their teeth habitually.
- It is a great product to fight against and to improve gum disease. In fact, several studies have proved that consistent use of powered toothbrushes (four to six months) considerably reduced the amount of dental plaque on the teeth. Thus, helps in improving the oral health of patients with periodontal disease.
- Tooth staining is no more a problem for those who use it regularly. As compared to manual toothbrushes, the scrubbing effect of electric toothbrushes might be better in possibly reducing or even completely removing surface stains on teeth.
Toothpaste
- Prefer buying toothpaste that contains fluoride as it helps to prevent cavities. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends fluoride toothpaste for all age groups. The ADA gives specific guidelines about the amount of toothpaste to use for children under the age of 6. It should be a grain of rice-size, rather than pea-sized to prevent swallowing.
- Don’t forget to check the toothpaste packaging label and ensure that it is approved by the ADA. The seal of The ADA indicates that the product has met ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness. Also, the packaging and advertising claims are clinically supported. Some manufacturers choose not to look for the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance. Though these products might be safe and useful, but their performance has not been evaluated or authorized by the ADA.
- To treat or control tartar building, select tartar control brands of toothpaste. Buy desensitizing toothpaste brands, if your teeth are sensitive to cold, hot, or sweets.
- Preference must be given to the favorite form and flavor you like as all toothpastes whether pastes or gels or spearmint or wintergreen flavors all work the same.
- If some toothpaste ingredients are causing irritation to your teeth, lips, or cheeks, change it immediately. If the problem prevails, visit your dentist. Always consider that your oral health changes with age, so your toothpaste choice may also need to change accordingly.
- Visit your hygienist or dentist, who is familiar with your dental requirements.
Water flossing or irrigating devices
Water flossing or irrigating devices, such as Waterpik® are most helpful and effective in removing food particles between teeth. It is most suitable for those:
- Who wear braces or other orthodontic appliances
- Who have an awfully dry mouth People, people with head and neck cancers
- Who have a periodontal disease
Plaque cannot be removed by using Water flossers. Only tooth brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride and regular string flossing can do that.
Mouthwashes
Mouthwashes can only refresh your breath; they do not clean teeth. Since children under age 6 tend to sallow almost everything, so mouthwashes are not good for them as these contain alcohol.
Fluoride mouth rinses
Fluoride mouth rinses cover the teeth with cavity-preventing fluoride. These rinses are usually suggested for cavity-prone people and can be used in children as young as seven if they know how to spit out a liquid instead of swallowing it.
Visit your dentist or hygienist to suggest the type of rinse that would be the most excellent choice for you.