What To Look For In Oral Products

What To Look For In Oral Products

There’s tons of overpriced, well-advertised products on the shelves that you can buy cheaper for the same use. Some would say mascara from K-Mart has the same effect as Chanel mascara, which will cost about three or four times more in department stores. Others might say Wal-Mart foods taste the same as anything you can buy from Whole Foods.

However, when it comes to oral products, you do not want to go solely off of price. You buy these products for a reason, and it’s to maintain your health, fight diseases and remove plaque. While good habits are required on top of purchasing the products, you want to look for certain features when deciding if it’s the product for you or not.

Toothpaste

The popular brands you know of, like Crest and Colegate, typically sell highly effective toothpaste products.

One important feature to look for is the ADA Seal of Acceptance. This seal means that the American Dental Association has approved of the product for safety, effectiveness and scientific proof of all advertising and packaging claims. While there are safe and effective products without the seal (often because the company didn’t seek the seal), the only way to know for sure is to look for that ADA seal.

Additionally, make sure the chosen toothpaste has fluoride. Fluoride is the substance that actually helps fight the cavities. While some toothpastes are tastier, they may not have this essential ingredient to really prove effectiveness on your teeth.

Toothbrush

We will just say it bluntly: Power toothbrushes are way better than manual. They have deep-cleaning properties that better clean your teeth and can have helpful timers. However, if you do opt for manual toothbrushes, make sure you find one with soft bristles. This is especially true if you have sensitive teeth or gums. Ironically, softer bristles are much better at removing plaque than hard bristles are, and you’re less likely to allocate too much pressure.

Tongue Scraper

It’s unfortunate, but too few people have a tongue scraper sitting in their medicine cabinet. This helpful tool, which is usually free from your dentist’s office, removes tons of bacteria from the dirtiest part of your body: the tongue, which houses billions of bacteria. While you can clean the tongue pretty effectively using a toothbrush on it and cleaning as you would with your teeth, a tongue scraper can do it even better. If you stick out your tongue and notice a white layer coating your tongue, this is the dead bacteria covering up the live bacteria in your tongue. By scraping this layer off and rinsing with mouthwash, you expose and kill tons of this bacteria. Ask your dentist where you can find one.

Mouthwash

The best way to finish any oral care routine is with mouth wash. It kills any last bacteria left in your mouth and sends it down the drain. While you may want to consult with your dentist to see which wash is best for you, it’s best to look for one with fluoride to assist with the prevention of tooth decay.

Lindsay Bradshaw is a blogger for Lakeway Cosmetic Dentistry in Austin, Texas. She thinks everyone should get a tongue scraper.

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