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At Home Dental Hygiene Aids

At Home Dental Hygiene Aids

At Home Dental Hygiene Aids Sunnyvale, CA

 

Dental Product Review & Oral Health Products

Visit any pharmacy or the health and beauty section of a supermarket today, and you are faced with a large, and many say confusing, array of over-the-counter remedies and devices designed to help you tend to your hygiene and health-care needs.

There are many high-quality products on the market today for at home dental hygiene. There also are many products of dubious value.

Whatever over-the-counter dental product you buy, it is strongly advised that you ensure it has the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. Should you have any doubt about a particular product feel free to call and ask Sunnyvale dentist Dr. Gupta.

Over-the-counter dental instruments are fraught with danger. These include scaling devices and picks. Use of the products, even when following the instructions, can put your teeth and the soft tissue of your mouth at risk of tearing, bruising and other injury. You also may accidentally chip a tooth.

It is best to consult Sunnyvale Dental Care office instead of trying to do a repair job yourself.

How to Choose the Best Toothbrush

Never before has there been such a dizzying array of toothbrushes on the market. Consumers are inundated with new designs, materials, attachments, and colors.

Sunnyvale dentist Dr. Gupta says, “Whatever toothbrush design you choose, the most important thing is that you use the toothbrush-at least  three times a day.” Toothbrushes accomplish one major purpose: removing plaque. A good quality toothbrush with well-made bristles will accomplish that.

Moreover, how long you spend brushing your teeth is as critical as how often you brush your teeth. Many people simply brush for a few seconds, spit, and place the toothbrush back in the cup. Most family dentists recommend to spend at least 3 minutes brushing your teeth. This helps to ensure that the brush doesn’t miss hard-to-reach or often neglected surfaces. Use short, circular motions and brush at a 45-degree angle.

Following are some tips for choosing a toothbrush:

  • Choose toothbrushes with soft, round-headed bristles Avoid big-headed toothbrushes. Sunnyvale dentist Dr. Gupta recommends that you buy a toothbrush with a compact head-1″ by 1/2″-so you can easily reach the small areas of your mouth.
  • Some toothbrushes today have wide handles. This helps you control the toothbrush better. So, choose a toothbrush with a handle that is long enough and wide enough for you to handle. You should replace your toothbrush at least four times a year-more often if you have been sick.

Electric vs. Manual Toothbrushes

There are a wide variety of electric toothbrushes on the market today. Some are even disposable. A few models have even received positive reviews by the American Dental Association.

Electric toothbrushes, for the most part, can be just as effective as the old-fashioned, non-powered varieties. Some studies have shown electric toothbrushes cover more area quickly because of their rapid, rotating bristles.

If only the novelty of them, electric toothbrushes may encourage more frequent brushing among people who normally hate to brush. They also may be advantageous for people who have arthritis, or for children with braces who find it more difficult to navigate around the appliances with a manual toothbrush.

A few things to remember about electric toothbrushes: Some are expensive; nearly all cost more than a conventional toothbrush. They also require recharging. And most people who use an electric toothbrush for the first time may experience a little bleeding from the powerful bristle action on their gums. In most cases, the bleeding will stop after a few uses.

Sunnyvale dentist Dr. Gupta recommends Sonicare or Oral-B electronic toothbrushes.

Types of Floss

Dental floss comes in a variety of colors, materials and even flavors. Waxed varieties are slipperier, allowing people with extremely tight spaces between their teeth to floss more easily. Popular flavors of floss include wintergreen and cinnamon. Waxed floss does tend to fray more than unwaxed floss.

A type of material called wide floss can be effective for people with large spaces between their teeth, or for people with delicate bridge work.

Floss can be purchased in small self-dispensing boxes. Floss can also be purchased in special, single-use holders, which are useful for people who have a hard time wrapping floss around their fingers, including those with dexterity problems or arthritis.

Benefits of Water Picks

At Sunnyvale Dental Care, we believe that there is never a suitable substitute for daily brushing and flossing but Dr. Gupta recommends using a water pick as a supplemental method to aid with your oral hygiene.

While some products, including water irrigation devices (or “water picks”), may be useful for specific applications, they do not accomplish one major task: removing plaque.

Water picks use powerful tiny bursts of water to blast away food particles and other debris in hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Dentists use professional-grade water picks when preparing a tooth for restoration, or in general cleaning and exams.

People with painful gum disease or highly sensitive gums may find water picks useful for supplementing their brushing regimen. And people with orthodontia, including braces, have found water picks quite useful because toothbrush bristles often get stuck.

Learn more when you visit Sunnyvale Dental Clinic. Call Sunnyvale Dentist Dr. Gupta at 408-720-0900 to schedule a consultation today!

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