After a rather challenging year, it is time to make your oral health a priority again. You might not have been able to see your dentist for routine check-ups during quarantine, but luckily there are lots of ways you can look after your dental health every day. Here are some of the dental products recommended by Next Smile™ dentists to keep your smile healthy and beautiful for years to come.
With COVID-19 restrictions in place, a lot of people have been unable to get the medical care they require. That includes regular dental checkups and appointments. Even access to dental care products was challenging at times.
- Electric toothbrushes and manual toothbrushes
- Oral irrigators and water flossers
- Piksters or interdental brushes
- Tongue cleaner
- Mouthwash
How to Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene in 2021
- Good quality toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes vs manual toothbrushes
Brushing your teeth twice a day is one of the best ways to keep your teeth and gums in shape. Choosing a good toothbrush is essential, but so is using the correct technique. We tend to
brush too hard to “get rid of” all the bacteria and use toothbrushes that are too stiff and coarse, which can create a host of issues.
It is a common misconception that purchasing a ‘hard’ bristled toothbrush will provide a more intense, thorough clean. It is recommended to buy a brush that is either soft or extra-soft and with a small head. This prevents the bristles from damaging your teeth and gums. Brushing too hard is a thing, and it can slowly wear away at your enamel if done too vigorously.
As a general rule of thumb, electric toothbrushes are the most thorough tool and ensure a good clean of your mouth. They provide added motion and rotation to clean all surfaces thoroughly. Most come with a timer that alerts you after two minutes, giving you a good estimate of how long you should be brushing for.
Click here to learn how to take care of your All-on-4® and dental implants.
- Oral irrigators and water flossers
Dental floss, as your dentist will have reminded you many times, is considered the most effective tool for cleaning between your teeth. But it’s not the holy grail of dental hygiene: If you’re not diligent about using the right technique, you could be leaving a lot of food behind.
Oral irrigators and water flossers are a new advancement in dental care and at-home-hygiene and get to spots that are otherwise hard to reach. They work by shooting a streamline of water and air through a small hole to clean in between teeth and gums. The water pressure gets to places your toothbrush can’t and is much faster than flossing. They are an efficient and effective way of removing plaque from between teeth and around gums.
Oral irrigators and water flossers are exceptionally useful for people with braces and dental implants, such as All-on-4®, or those who have trouble with traditional flossing. But, don’t throw away your dental floss just yet. Although they are a good addition to your oral hygiene care routine, they’re not a substitute for brushing and flossing. There are specific floss for implants - we would recommend the iDontix X-floss to help you clean those hard to reach places.
- Piksters or interdental brushes
A lot of people are familiar with these: The little colourful brushes fit between your teeth and can make your life easier, especially if your teeth aren’t super straight or you’re wearing braces. To enhance your flossing routine, interdental brushes are a great addition to your oral hygiene.
They can help you prevent cavities, gum inflammation and bad breath, allowing you to reach where your regular toothbrush can’t. Pikster is a popular brand in Australia. They come in different sizes to provide you with options for different sized gaps in your teeth and are great for hard to reach places!
- Tongue Cleaner
Cleaning your tongue should be one of the most important steps in your daily oral care. A tongue cleaner or scraper usually comes in a “U”-shaped piece of metal that you place at the back of your tongue and pull forward, scraping off the bad stuff.
To make sure your breath doesn't smell bad, it gets rid of plaque and odour-causing bacteria. This is important because your tongue is the perfect surface for bacteria to grow, which can cause a range of health issues.
- Mouthwash
Advertising has been telling us for years that using mouthwash is great for our oral health. But why do most of us still skip it? Dentists believe that it’s because we simply don’t understand how it works. Fact is, mouthwash not only reduces the amount of acid in the mouth, but it also helps clean hard-to-brush areas and remineralises the teeth. Ensure you use a good antibacterial mouthwash, and ask your dentist for recommendations if you’re unsure.
And don’t forget, keeping up with good oral hygiene can save you from a lot of trouble down the road. If you’re ever experiencing any pain or discomfort, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your dentist. If you require urgent treatment, seek immediate care.
Next Smile™ has clinics in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Wollongong, Perth, and Adelaide. To find your nearest clinic or arrange an appointment, visit our website!