The Top Dentist-Recommended Products To Improve Your At-Home Dental Care
Keeping your oral health in check when you’re at home is just as important as visiting the dentist regularly – and with the emergence of TikTok, dentistry is trending, which means patients are more interested than ever in what products they can purchase to take their oral health to the next level and have their teeth look whiter, brighter and cleaner as a result.
However, as social media is a prime place to spread information, how do you know which products are effective? Fortunately, we’re dentists (and somewhat expert in preventive dentistry), so who better advise you on what to buy? So, without further ado, here’s our curated list of our favourite oral products to enhance your at-home oral hygiene routine.
Electric Toothbrushes
- Benefits: Superior cleaning, built-in timers, various modes
- Downsides: More expensive than manual brushes and require charge
- Extras: You’ll need to purchase additional heads to swap now and again
- Costs: From £30 to £150, depending on the brand and features you like
Electric toothbrushes have been around for yonks and should be a staple in your dental care routine, especially if you suffer from problems like gum disease. Electric toothbrushes provide consistent brush strokes and pressure and are more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from your teeth, not to mention they’re easier to use. Plus, some types of electric toothbrushes also come with built-in timers, so you can brush your teeth daily to the recommended period.
Water Flossers
- Benefits: Easy to use, effective at removing debris, gentle on gums
- Downsides: Requires water and electricity, does not replace flossing completely
- Extras: Some models offer different pressure settings and tips
- Costs: From £40 to £100, depending on the brand/features
If you’ve been on TikTok recently, you might have noticed that the latest rage concerns water flossers or oral irrigators, which are an excellent addition to your routine. However, while they do a great job removing food particles and rinsing away plaque by shooting water between teeth, they should not completely replace string floss. As water flossers cannot replicate the scraping motion of strong floss, it’s not always effective in removing tartar-causing plaque that can lead to gum disease, so it’s important not to replace it with traditional daily flossing methods.
We usually recommend water flossers for patients who might find it difficult to floss when undergoing certain dental treatments like braces or living with certain prosthetics like bridges. Several are available on the market, and neither is particularly better, so it’s OK to choose one within your budget.
Boutique Whitening Kits
- Benefits: Professional-grade results, customisable, convenient
- Downsides: More expensive than over-the-counter options
- Extras: Often come with desensitizing gels
- Costs: From £100 to £300
“Professional dental bleaching has a good long-term influence on the level of oral hygiene and serves as a significant motivation factor for maintaining the health of the oral cavity.” The National Library of Medicine concludes. So, for those wanting to brighten their smile and boost the condition of their teeth, then at-home whitening kits like Boutique Whitening might be for you. Boutique Whitening kits offer patients the chance to have professional-grade whiteners at home, where they’ll administer the product through custom-fitted trays, which they can wear overnight or up to a few hours daily, making them a great option for those who want a whiter smile without the frequent dental visits, or wasting their time with over-the-counter whitening strips.
Fluoride Toothpaste
- Benefits: Strengthens enamel, prevents cavities
- Downsides: Some may find the taste unpleasant
- Extras: Available in various formulations
- Costs: From £2 to £10
The toothpaste you use can make a world of difference, with some types targeted to treat and manage different dental conditions and problems. For example, fluoride toothpaste can help strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities (if you live in the UK, it’s also in our tap water and many dental products already).
In small doses, fluoride strengthens tooth enamel against acids from mouth bacteria. However, moderation is recommended because ingesting too much fluoride can be toxic and lead to problems like dental fluorosis (where the tooth enamel becomes discoloured).
Additionally, suppose you have dental conditions like gum disease, sensitive teeth, or even teeth prone more to decay. In that case, it’s best to use dental products like mouthwash, flossers and toothpaste that help manage your conditions. For example, you can even purchase over-the-counter medicated mouthwash, which can help reduce the symptoms of throbbing and bleeding gums and help you reverse the effects of gingivitis.
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