8 Oral Care Products for Optimal Oral Health

Oral care products are an essential part of your daily hygiene routine. They prevent bad breath and infections in your mouth. The products that you use daily can make a big difference in your dental hygiene. Here are some of the oral care products you need to keep your teeth and gums clean and disease-free. 

Oral Care Products: Essentials for a Brighter, Healthier Smile

1. Toothbrush

The toothbrush is arguably the most must-have amongst the oral care products alongside toothpaste. Plaque is removed from teeth, gums, and the tongue by brushing them. Brushes are classified as either manual or electric. Both toothbrush types can effectively clean teeth, and the kind of toothbrush to be selected depends on what you prefer.

2. Toothpaste

Toothpaste is either a paste or a gel. Depending on their purpose, kinds of toothpaste will contain different ingredients. Some of the most common ingredients included in toothpaste are abrasives, fluoride, and detergents.

Besides fluoride, toothpaste also contains other ingredients that benefit oral health. These ingredients can contribute to lessening tooth sensitivity and reducing the risk of gingivitis. Some of the ingredients found in these oral care products are also known to prevent the buildup of tartar and erosion of the enamel.

3. Mouthwash

Oral rinse, also called mouthwash, is one of the common liquid oral care products used to rinse and clean your teeth, gums, and mouth usually by gargling it. These products complement other oral hygiene measures, like flossing and brushing, but cannot replace them.

Mouthwashes can be classified as either cosmetic or therapeutic.

A therapeutic mouthwash contains antibacterial ingredients. The contents help reduce plaque and other bacteria that can cause gingivitis and bad breath. 

Mouthwashes that are made for cosmetic purposes temporarily reduce bad breath. They also usually have a pleasant taste. But despite being friendly to your taste buds, they do not reduce bacteria that cause cavities or gum disease. 

Mouthwash should not be used by children younger than 6 without a dentist’s recommendation, since they may accidentally swallow large amounts of the liquid.

4. Interdental Brushes

There are brushes that are especially used to clean the gaps of your teeth. These kinds of oral care products are called interdental brushes.

It comes in a variety of sizes and is generally colored based on the size of the gaps between teeth. If you’re unsure of how to use interdental brushes or don’t know where to get them, you may ask your dentist for advice. 

5. Dental Floss 

Dental floss is a set of thin fibers that are used to clean between the teeth by removing food and dental plaque from areas that a toothbrush cannot reach.

In addition to regular brushing, dental flossing is essential to prevent plaque from building up especially in between the crevices of your teeth. Plaque stuck in between your teeth can eventually cause tooth decay or gum infections.

6. Dental Tape

Unlike standard floss, dental tape is wider and flatter and comes in waxed as well as unwaxed versions. Dental tape is often more comfortable to use than standard floss for people with wider spaces between their teeth.

Plaque and food particles are not removed by simply brushing your teeth. Your standard toothbrush just can’t reach the narrow spaces between your teeth, under your gumline, or under braces. To address this, you should floss your teeth regularly.

7. Floss Picks

A floss pick is a device that makes it easier to floss between your teeth. A single piece of floss with the aid of a plastic handle is used to clean the gaps.

With these oral care products, you hold a short, taut strip of floss between two posts on a specially designed D-shaped piece of plastic. This is more convenient than using regular floss since you no longer have to wrap the floss around your fingers. 

With this oral care product, reaching the back teeth is much easier and can be completed in substantially less time compared to using traditional floss.

8. Tongue Scraper

Aside from your toothbrush, other oral care products are used to clean your tongue called tongue scrapers. There are many different tongue scrapers available today and they come in all shapes and forms. They work by scrapping starting at the back of the tongue and dragging towards the front.

Maintaining your tongue’s cleanliness is important to prevent the buildup of bacteria. Dead cells and food debris that stay in your tongue can cause bad breath and other oral health problems. 

Key Takeaways

The use of oral hygiene products is an essential part of everyday hygiene. Using them prevents bad breath and infections in the mouth.

However, the products you use to keep your gums and teeth are not the only thing that matters. Consistent and correct brushing and flossing is also key to optimal oral health. 

Learn more about oral care here.