• 26 APR 18
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    Dental Products That Promote Good Oral Health

    dental products

    With so many dental products on the market today, it can be tricky knowing which are worth your dollars. You only get one set of permanent, adult teeth, so using available tools to aid you is essential. Too many adults suffer from tooth decay, gum disease, missing teeth and dental emergencies due to poor oral hygiene habits. That doesn’t have to be you! Learn what dental products you need to have in your home and how to use them properly. With a few minutes each day, you can be on your way to better oral health in no time!

    How to Choose a Toothpaste

    When selecting a toothpaste, our team at Evanson DDS can help you out! One of the most important things to look for when choosing a toothpaste for your pearly whites is the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.  A product that holds this seal has met all the ADA criteria to prove it both effective and safe for your use. You should also choose a toothpaste that is fluoride enriched to help with the fight against cavities and tooth decay.

    Flavor doesn’t contribute to toothpaste effectiveness, neither does the consistency–you can choose gel or paste. What you should decide is which feels the best for your mouth. If you find that your teeth are more sensitive with a certain kind of toothpaste, avoid it and let your dentist know.

    So Many Toothbrushes?? How Do You Decide?

    When it comes to choosing a toothbrush, no, they are NOT all alike. Toothbrushes are divided by size (infant, toddler, youth and adult). What really differs between these toothbrushes is not the presence or absence of cartoons, but the size/type of the bristles and brush head. Most dentists recommend soft bristles, for adults and kids, especially if you have sensitive teeth or gums.

    You might think that harder bristles would be more effective at removing plaque from your teeth, but actually they can cause real damage to your gums and teeth enamel and should be avoided.

    How long can you keep a toothbrush around? About 3 months, after that, it’s time for a new one. Of course, you can always replace it sooner if you notice that the bristles are suffering and showing signs of fraying or excessive wear.

    Are Powered Toothbrushes Better?

    In this high-tech world, many rush to believe that a power toothbrush must be better than a manual one, but really, there isn’t much difference. The key is how you brush and how frequently you brush.

    In some cases, a powered toothbrush can make toothbrushing easier. Some conditions necessitate a power toothbrush such as: arthritis, old age, misaligned teeth, physical limitations, and sometimes braces or other orthodontics.

    It has also been shown that power toothbrushes help to eliminate or reduce surface tooth-stains.

    Sonic vs. Electric-Powered Toothbrushes–What’s the difference?

    When it comes to power toothbrushes, you can choose between two different categories of product:

    • Sonic toothbrushes: make 30,000 and 40,000 brush strokes per minute, (compared with about 300 per minute if you brush by hand.) The bristles rotate in a back-and-forth motion. Brush pushes fluid between teeth and under the gum line to remove hard-to-reach plaque (only sonic toothbrushes can make this claim).
    • Electric toothbrushes: make 3,000 and 7,500 strokes per minute. While there are different kinds of electric toothbrushes, most bristles in this design sit in a round head spin together. Some rotate and pulse to help remove plaque and reduce gingivitis.

     

    Water-flossers or Water Picks

    A popular product among those with braces or other orthodontic devices are water picks. They help remove food that can get trapped in a dental appliance.  Water picks are not substituted for toothbrushes. They are not designed to remove plaque, but they do help remove food that you just can’t reach.

    Mouthwash

    Mouthwash is a great tool to add to your arsenal against tooth decay. Most mistakenly think that mouthwash is simply to fight off bad breath. But, it doesn’t much more than that. Mouthwashes help in the fight against gum disease if you purchase one that is also advertised as a bacteria-fighting rinse. A product with fluoride also helps to prevent tooth decay. Please note, alcohol-based mouthwash isn’t good for children under 6 to rinse with because it is hard for them not to swallow some of the liquid. Our friendly Evanson DDS staff can help you determine which mouthwashes are safe for young mouths.

    Need Help Choosing Dental Products? We Can Help!

    If you would like some help choosing between the hundreds of dental products on the market today, we are here to help! Call us at (720) 409-0008 to set up an appointment for a dental exam and to get your health questions answered!

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