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Your dentist will recommend that you use dental products at home, such as dental floss or interdental brushes to ensure you maintain your oral health.. But how do you know which ones you should use? In this guide, we discuss the different dental products for home use, their benefits, how to use them and which ones to purchase from us.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste and mouthwash
Making sure that you choose the right everyday dental products is essential to ensuring you maintain great oral health. Your toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash are apart of your everyday routine, but how do you know they’re right for you or that you’re using them correctly?
Using the right toothbrush
When it comes to choosing your toothbrush, it can be easy to select the cheaper manual option. However, electric toothbrushes promote benefits such as more effective cleaning and ease of use. They also encourage correct cleaning techniques and improve your gum health.
To meet your oral health needs and preferences when looking for a new electric toothbrush, it’s beneficial to look for features such as:
- Different brushing modes, such as modes which help sensitivity or gum care
- Cleaning technology that promotes plaque removal, such as rotating or sonic technology
- Pressure sensors to make sure you aren’t brushing too hard, as this can cause gum damage or enamel erosion
A timer to make sure you’re brushing your teeth for the recommended time of 2 minutes
What should your toothpaste include?
Fluoride is the most common ingredient you should look for when choosing your toothpaste. It’s the most beneficial ingredient to help strengthen your tooth enamel, prevent tooth decay and reduce the chance of cavities.
Other ingredients which are beneficial to your oral health are potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity, zinc citrate to reduce the buildup of plaque and calcium carbonate, which can help clean teeth and remove stains.
Ingredients to avoid when using toothpaste
Ingredients such as Triclosan, artificial sweeteners and Propylene Glycol should be avoided when choosing toothpaste. The ingredients can not only have a negative effect on your dental health, but they can also have a negative impact on your overall health.
If you’re unsure whether or not your toothpaste is beneficial to your oral health, talk to your dentist.
You can purchase unflavoured toothpaste from Forward Dental Care if the minty taste isn’t your preference.
How to choose the best mouthwash
Using mouthwash after brushing your teeth can add many benefits to your oral hygiene, including giving you a fresh breath, reducing bacteria in your mouth, and providing additional protection with fluoride.
Discuss with your dentist which one will be best for you and your dental health.
Tips for using mouthwash
If you want to add using mouthwash into your daily oral hygiene routine, here are some tips to make sure you’re using it effectively:
- Follow the labels for recommended directions of use
- If you use fluoride mouthwash, only use it once a day
- If you use cosmetic mouthwash, this can be used multiple times a day
- Don’t eat food or drink liquids other than water for 30 minutes after using mouthwash
id=”interdental=brushes”Interdental brushes
Interdental brushes are the most important and recommended dental products to use daily, they are small, thin brushes designed to fit within the gaps between your teeth, helping you reach where your toothbrush may not be able to. They are available in a range of materials, colours and sizes to ensure you can find the best brush for your teeth and to suit your dental needs.
What are the benefits of interdental brushes?
Interdental brushes offer the most important benefits when it comes to maintaining your oral health at home:
Effective plaque removal: Interdental brushes can reach the tight spaces between your teeth which your toothbrush may not be able to reach, and are able to remove the plaque and food particles which could cause cavities or gum disease.
Gentle on your gums: Compared to dental floss, interdental brushes are gentle on the gums due to their soft bristles. This makes them a great option for people who have sensitive gums or have experienced bleeding gums in the past.
Preventing bad breath: Interdental brushes remove any food particles and bacteria within your teeth and gum tissues, this prevents bad breath and gives you a fresher, cleaner smile.
How do you know which interdental brush size to use?
During your check up, your dentist will trial different sized interdental brushes to help you find which size is the best one for you to use.
How do you use interdental brushes?
Interdental brushes are easy to use. After choosing the right sized brush, simply place the brush in the gap between your teeth and move the brush back and forth or in a rotating motion to ensure effective cleaning. Ensure you don’t apply too much pressure as this could lead to gum irritation. Once you have repeated this in all the gaps between your teeth, rinse the interdental brush under water to remove any debris and let the brush air dry.
As the main benefit of using interdental brushes is removing food debris and bacteria, it is recommended that you use the brushes once a day, in the evening before brushing your teeth to remove any food debris from during the day.
Where can I buy interdental brushes?
At Forward Dental Care, we supply a wide range of TePe and Optim interdental brushes in various sizes and materials to ensure that our patients have access to the best interdental brush for them. If you are unsure about which interdental brush is best for you, discuss it with your dentist at your next appointment.
Dental floss
Dental floss is a thin, soft piece of thread which is used to remove food particles and plaque in the gaps between your teeth and within your gum tissue. Available in different forms, flavours and thicknesses, dental floss is an essential step to your dental care routine.
What are the benefits of using dental floss?
Similarly to interdental brushes, dental floss offers several benefits to your dental health including:
Effective plaque removal: Flossing can help you remove plaque build up from between your teeth and along your gum line, helping the prevention of dental issues such as cavities.
Prevention of gum disease: The removal of plaque and food debris helps the prevention of gum inflammation, infection or even periodontal disease.
Overall health: Not only does using dental tools, including dental floss, have a beneficial impact on your dental health, but it also has a positive effect on your overall health. Practising oral activities like flossing can help prevent potential systemic health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
How do I use dental floss?
Break off around 10 inches of floss, you want to make sure that you break off enough to ensure tension, and wrap it around your middle things at both ends leaving around 1-2 inches to work with.
Once you have ensured tension, gently guide the floss between your teeth with a back-and-forth motion. When you have reached your gum line, curve the floss around the bottom of each tooth ensuring you move it beneath the gum line to remove any food debris or plaque.
After doing this, use a new section of your piece of dental floss to move across to the next gap in your teeth.
It’s important to floss at least once a day, before brushing your teeth to ensure you reduce the chance of food debris and plaque causing dental issues such as cavities. If you have any concerns or queries about using dental floss, talk to your dentist.
Choosing the right dental products for home use for you
There are many benefits to using different dental tools at home, but you need to make sure you choose the right ones which suit your preferences, your oral hygiene goals and your current oral hygiene. If you’re unsure about which tools to use, book an appointment with our dental team.
