How to Improve Your Smile at Home: Tips form a Mayfair Area Dentist
In any situation, too many choices can be overwhelming. Nowadays, when you visit your local pharmacy and start browsing the dental care aisle, you are flooded with choices. If you want a great smile, you have dozens of products to choose from, each with their own variations. In this article, we’re going to guide you through these decisions in order to ensure that you get the most bang for your buck, and that you see results much faster.
The ADA Acceptance Seal
The first thing to check for is the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. This seal guarantees that all the claims made on the labeling and packaging of the product are true, and they are confirmed by the ADA. Once a product passes this initial assessment, here is what you’ll need for your healthy teeth tool kit:
1. Toothbrush, Toothpaste and Dental Floss
Toothbrushes come in all shapes, sizes, and variations. However, you’ll want to focus on the hardness of the bristles, and most people will want to go with a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you choose a medium or hard-bristled brush, you risk damaging your gums. You also have the option of buying an electric toothbrush. This is a great choice for most people because it provides an optimal brushing with circular motion, and it prevents hard scrubbing that can negatively affects the gums.
Next, you’ll need to take toothpaste into consideration. The best choice here is a toothpaste that contains fluoride because it strengthens tooth enamel and prevents decay. This can then be supplemented by a toothpaste that addresses any other issues you may have, such as sensitivity, gingivitis, tartar, or bad breath. When it comes to dental floss, you can choose between waxed and unwaxed floss, with waxed floss being ideal for tightly spaced teeth. You also have your choice of flavors.
2. Oral Irrigator
An oral irrigator, or a water flosser, is an instrument that uses a stream of water under pressure to remove food from hard-to-reach areas of the mouth. This is an especially useful tool for people who wear braces or partial dentures. However, it’s important to note that the oral irrigator is a supplemental product and it is not meant to replace brushing and flossing.
3. Teeth Whitener
There’s no doubt that you can only get the best teeth whitening results at a dentist. Dentists have a range of highly effective products for this purpose. However, you can also purchase over-the-counter products at your local pharmacy. They are called whitening strips, and while they are effective, they are not as strong as the peroxide solutions used by dentists.
4. Mouthwash
Different mouthwash products have different uses. Some will address plaque, while others are effective at fighting cavities. Some may help reduce bad breath, and others will prevent gingivitis. If you have a particular issue bothering you, mouthwash can be a great way to address it. You can also ask your Mayfair area dentist for recommendations.
5. Tongue Scraper
Tongue scrapers are used to reduce bad breath. Some studies show that you can reduce bad breath by up to 70% by simply brushing your tongue. But this investment is not really necessary, because your toothbrush can do just as good a job as a scraper.
Schedule an Appointment with a Mayfair Dentist and Dental Office
Once you have your teeth cleaning kit, you will start seeing benefits if you use it regularly. However, regular dentist visits to a Mayfair area dentist are also necessary to ensure that there are no diseases or other oral health problems sneaking up on you. If you have any questions regarding which products to use, or about teeth cleaning in general, give us a call! You can also schedule a visit and get a proper diagnosis and a teeth cleaning regiment so that you can obtain the best smile possible. Smile Innovations and Dr Ziols is the premier dental office serving the Mayfair neighborhood.