Have you made your mind to work on your oral hygiene? Great! But once you enter the store, you will find a variety of dental tools to give you a confident smile.
An electric or manual toothbrush, waxed or unwaxed floss, oral irrigators, traditional floss and what not.
Neither your pockets nor your mouth can bear too many products at once.
However, there are some essentials that you cannot skip.
This article discusses these tools and how you can use them to maintain healthy teeth and a confident smile.
Keep reading below to know more!
Dental Tools – Toothbrush
The first step in your oral care routine is to look for a suitable toothbrush.
These are usually present in a variety of hard, soft and medium bristles.
It goes without doubt that you should choose a soft-bristled toothbrush.
You may ask why! Well, the answer is simple.
Toothbrushes with hard bristles are harsh on your teeth.
They will hurt your enamel and wear it down over time.
In fact, medium bristled toothbrushes will be abrasive on your teeth.
Therefore, always go for a toothbrush with soft bristles.
Now the question arises, should you choose an electric toothbrush or a manual one.
An electric toothbrush is slightly better at removing plaque.
Its rotating and oscillating head helps to remove plaque more efficiently by reaching areas the manual brush cannot.
Moreover, it is helpful for people with dexterity issues such as arthritis, Parkinson’s disease or for young children.
You can also not be harsher while using it.
Though if you brush correctly with a manual toothbrush then you can get rid of the plaque too.
The key is to brush gently in circular motions and have soft bristles.
The rest depends on your punctuality and technique.
Remember to brush twice a day and use gentle circular strokes across all pits and fissures and by keeping the brush at a 45-degree angle.
So whichever brush you choose, make sure you cause it properly.
Just don’t buy something too big for your mouth.
Its size should allow you to hold and use it comfortably.
Choosing the Right Toothpaste for a Confident Smile
You may want to choose fancy toothpaste after watching those compelling toothpaste ads however, you can get enamel protection by using fluoride toothpaste.
If you have specific oral health needs then you should tackle them by choosing the appropriate toothpaste.
Fluoride toothpaste will remineralize your tooth enamel and strengthen it.
Therefore, protecting your teeth from cavities and tooth decay.
A toothpaste specially made for sensitive teeth will combat sensitivity.
Moreover, whitening toothpaste may contain baking soda to whiten your teeth up to 1 shade.
Furthermore, these additives may break down the enamel to whiten the teeth.
Other toothpaste can be beneficial for gingivitis, removing tartar and masking bad breath.
Hence, if you have any of these concerns then choose your toothpaste accordingly.
Also, check if it has the ADA seal.
If it has the Americal Dental Accosioation Seal of Acceptance then the labels and product description, as well as the claims, are true.
So don’t just pick any toothpaste, do research into your needs and the product’s authenticity.
Flossing: Essential Dental Tools
You should floss at least once a day.
Flossing is usually done at nighttime after a day of eating and drinking but you can also floss during the day.
It removes plaque, food particles and debris stuck in the spaces between your teeth.
This decreases your chances of getting gum disease and decay.
So what kind of floss should you choose? Waxed or unwaxed?
Waxed floss is for tight spaces between your teeth.
The flossing tape will easily get through tight spaces while unwaxed may not.
If using floss thread is harder then you can use other cleaning aids instead.
These include interdental brushes, sticks and toothpicks.
While toothpicks and sticks will be harsher on your teeth and not the most ideal, interdental brushes can clean your teeth properly.
Just like floss, they are dental tools that reach places where the toothbrush cannot go.
If you pick the right size then they go easy in your interproximal spaces between your teeth.
However, you will have to measure your space at a dental appointment.
Also, reach around your teeth and beneath the gum line with the floss and similar products.
Another product to look out for is the oral irrigator or water flosser.
It is not a substitute for dental floss.
A water flosser does not cover each tooth individually like a floss, rather it releases a stream of water to your teeth.
It can reach places that are hard to brush and floss.
Hence, it can be an extra dental tool among the essential ones.
People with braces and partial dentures can easily floss their teeth, using this, without harming their orthodontic appliances.
While you are choosing your water flosser, go for one with medium pressure and not too high that it becomes unbearable.
Using a Tongue Cleaner for a Confident Smile
You can only smile confidently when you are sure your oral hygiene is great.
That also involves your tongue!
If your tongue has bacteria then your breath smells bad.
Thus you will remain conscious while speaking in social situations.
A tongue cleaner is essential just like a toothbrush and floss.
The options you have are:
- tongue brush
- tongue scraper
- toothbrush
A tongue brush and tongue scraping have the same effectiveness.
Whereas a toothbrush will be less effective than the two but not completely ineffective.
Hence, you can use your toothbrush if you do not want to invest in a dedicated product.
However, you will only see the best results with a scraper or other cleaners.
They can remove up to 75 percent volatile sulfur compounds.
You should clean your tongue atleast twice a day, just how you brush your teeth.
Make it an essential part of your morning and night routine.
If you suffer from chronic bad breath then you may have to use it after every meal.
If you use it at regularly night, then it can also ward off morning breath.
Other Important Dental Tools
Mouthwash
A mouthwash is not mandatory however, it can freshen your breath and can also kill harmful bacteria.
Though choosing a mouthwash with a specific purpose can aid in treating that.
For instance, fluoride mouthwashes help to fight cavities by remineralizing and strengthening the enamel.
Others are also antibacterial that remove the harmful bacteria behind gingivitis in your mouth.
They can reduce plaque on your teeth too.
While most commercial mouthwashes serve the purpose of masking bad breath.
If you need extra protection then you can include mouthwash in your routine.
It can also protect you from cavities and gum disease if you have trouble flossing and brushing properly.
Thus, it can be a good addition to your routine.
Whitening Treatments
Can you smile confidently if you have yellow teeth? Probably not!
White teeth exude a confident vibe.
While the best way is to get dental teeth whitening treatment, you can always start with OTC options.
These include:
- strips
- teeth whitening kit
- gel
- teeth whitening pen,
- mouthguard
- toothpaste
- mouthwash
These at-home kits containing pens, gels, strips, mouthguard and toothpaste help to lighten your teeth to varying degrees.
If you are short on budget, then you can start with OTC products.
They give good results though are not comparable to a dental treatment.
This is because the concentration of the bleaching agent is much lower in the OTC products.
Give 3 to 4 months for gels, strips and mouthguards to show you a visible difference.
Other whitening products will work better than toothpaste or mouthwash.
This is because the bleaching agent is in contact with the teeth for a shorter time to produce results.
Once you have whiter teeth using these dental tools, you can flash your smile confidently.
Dental Visits
No matter how well you take care of your teeth and oral hygiene, regular dental visits are still important.
Your dentist does not only check for cavities but also solves other oral problems.
They can timely identify oral cancer, gum disease, bite problems, gingivitis and treat bad breath, give you whitening treatments plus cleaning.
Also, ask your dentist for guidelines regarding choosing the best products for your oral care.
They can recommend the products pertaining to your current oral condition.
Thus plan your bi-annual visit beforehand.
Take the guidance and get your teeth cleaning procedure.
If you are developing any other issue, your dentist will look into that too.
Because just like the dental tools you use every day, a visit to the dentist every 6 months is also essential for a confident smile.
Thus, do not fear your dentist rather make sure to visit them regularly twice a year.
Summing Up,
Good oral care begins with the right tools.
If you want to have a confident smile then getting essential dental tools is the first step.
Buy the right toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and tongue cleaner.
If you want additional protection then you can also go for a mouthwash, oral irrigator or whitening treatments.
However, ensure that everything you use suits your needs and consult your dentist about them in your next visit.
Dr. Amal Al Qedrah Medical Center
Royal European Specialist Polyclinic