Do you want a beautiful and healthy smile?
Here’s a dirty little secret: gum disease, tooth decay, and pain won’t get you there. But, proper oral hygiene can result in a nice smile and prevent most dental diseases. The American Dental Association (ADA) reminds us that our mouths are windows into the health of our bodies, and it is essential that we follow the recommended guidelines for optimum oral and dental health.
So what are those, you ask.
Read further.
- Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
- Floss or clean in between your teeth once a day.
- Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months
- Visit your dentist regularly
- Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit in-between snacks
No matter your age, oral health is important because your teeth are with you till the end. Beyond just health benefits, almost 60% of people feel more confident and positive simply by being satisfied with their smile.
Better social life?
Here we come.
The pro tips in this bite-sized read are for preventative care to avoid painful diseases and costly treatments, and teeth whitening tips to boost your confidence for a better lifestyle.
Let’s get started.
Brush Your Teeth with a Powered Toothbrush
Proper oral hygiene and a beautiful, healthy smile are age-old testaments to brushing your teeth regularly (twice a day). But frankly, you can do better than manual toothbrushes. In today’s age, it’s far more effective to remove plaque, germs and thereby avoid gum diseases with a powered toothbrush. Plaque is the sticky, colorless film that adheres to the surfaces of your mouth within four to twelve hours after brushing. And you would not want to hear this- the house of bacteria forming in your mouth.
But worry no more, I researched some products for you that I believe will help you decimate those microscopic germs.
Product Recommendations
Philip’s Sonicare toothbrushes are industry leaders with patented technology for oral cleansing. The following two options are not only affordable and highly effective, but smart in tech, too:
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Rechargeable Toothbrush
Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 4100 Rechargeable Toothbrush can remove up to 7x more plaque than a manual toothbrush in a set 2-minute timer. You’re also reminded when it’s time for a replacement to maximize the effectiveness of every brush long-term. The pressure sensors ping you if you’re brushing too hard for your teeth and gums, and the adjustable speeds/preset modes help you gradually build up brushing power.
Philips One By Sonicare Battery Toothbrush
Philips One By Sonicare Battery Toothbrush: the micro-vibrations from the powerful motor and the tapered bristles effectively polish your teeth to the bone (pun intended). This brush is better for traveling as it flexes a 3-month long battery life, compared to 14 days with the first option. It also has a 2-minute timer with notifications every 30 seconds.
Rinse with Therapeutic Mouthwash
There are two kinds of mouthwash: cosmetic and therapeutic. We recommend the latter because, in addition to just breath-freshening (like in cosmetic mouthwash), therapeutic mouthwash has active ingredients to control/reduce gingivitis (gum disease), plaque, and tooth decay. You’re hitting more birds with one stone. Although, keep in mind that children should not use this product unless directed by a dentist.
The American Dental Association says mouthwash can be a helpful addition to your daily hygiene routine since the cleansing chemicals can touch areas your toothbrush may have trouble with. Therapeutic mouthwashes contain antimicrobial agents, like Chlorhexidine and Cetylpyridinium and essential oils, which are effective in reducing the germs in your mouth.
Product Recommendations
Two products worthy of recommendation are:
This mouthwash is packed with ingredients that are alcohol and toxin-free. It contains aloe vera which has a soothing and healing effect.
A study shows that aloe vera has the ability to reduce plaque and gingival bleeding, and it does not stain your teeth, unlike Chlorhexidine.
Dead Sea Salt and Xylitol are also proven ingredients to reduce the harmful bacteria in your mouth. What more you can ask for a mouthwash?
Periogen Rinse: containing baking soda within its formula, this mouthwash is equipped to efficiently reduce the acidity of plaque fluid and improve periodontal health.
This rinse has been clinically proven to prevent and reduce tartar; safe and not acidic with a pH of 7.5; and does not contain bleach and alcohol. It is great for kids at least six years of age and adults with braces, implants, or bridges.
The formulation is to prevent plaque (the sticky colorless film that binds on your teeth) from hardening into tartar- the bacteria build-up that irritates your gums. Tartar is that gunk that covers your tooth, gets under your gum line, and sticks to your fillings or dental work.
This award-winning mouthwash is a sure way to bring down the calcified coats on your gum lines.
Use Oral Irrigators to Clean in Between Your Teeth
Also known as dental water jets or water flossers, oral irrigators force out plaque and food debris between teeth and below the gum line with a high-pressure pulsating water stream. It’s like a water toothpick you can use to improve oral health.
You ask me why they are Oral irrigators better than regular flossing or interdental brush?
Here’s why:
- It reduces gingival bleeding
- Lessens gum inflammation
- Aids in plaque removal
If you wear braces, have non-removable bridgework or crowns, dental implants, or bleed easily, oral irrigators are a viable option to flush out sensitive, hard-to-reach areas. Complemented with a sonic toothbrush, irrigation can significantly reduce plaque and gum inflammation compared to flossing and a manual toothbrush.
Product Recommendations
You know where to find powered toothbrushes (previous section). But, you may be wondering where to look for your water toothpick to eliminate manual brushing and flossing. We have two solid recommendations for their performance and reliability:
Water Flosser, Professional Cordless Dental Oral Irrigator by Laluztop: you can choose between 5 pulse water flow modes. The 360º rotatable nozzle allows you to reach those hard-to-reach areas. The waterproof irrigator is incredibly versatile with 2 standard jet tips, 1 orthodontic tip, 1 periodontal tip, 1 nasal cleaning tip,1 tongue cleaner, and 2 toothbrush heads.
Cari Pro Cordless Water Flosser
This FDA-registered dental product comes with a two-year warranty to ensure you are happy with your purchase. It comes with the traditional four tips- standard, ortho, pocket, and brush tips. The waterproof design makes it safe for baths and showers as well.
Want to get rid of a tiny steak strip in between your teeth? Choose the Pulse button to flush out annoying food debris that makes your mouth taste funny; or Soft and Normal - for the typical day of your no-string- flossing!
Use Teeth Whitening products
A healthy smile can be more than just its literal meaning. Whitening your teeth has some dazzling indirect benefits, too. It has been shown that dental aesthetics like whiter teeth have a positive effect on the oral-health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, and self-esteem. You’re also seen as more attractive–so people are more drawn to you, thus aiding in better social interactions and relationships. Remember that smiles are contagious–white smiles, though.
Product Recommendations
Before trying teeth-whitening products, it’s best to consult with your dentist if you have oral health conditions like existing tooth fillings or gingivitis. With that out of the way, some popular and highly effective teeth-whitening products are:
Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects Kit
If you use the strips once a day consistently for 30 minutes, you could remove 14 years’ worth of stains for a whiter smile.
You may be wondering how they work: each of the plastic strips you apply to the front of your teeth are coated with a gel that contains either Carbamide Peroxide or hydrogen peroxide–chemicals known to whiten teeth. Once applied, the special peroxide gel will seep into the teeth to help remove stains and lighten the teeth.
Cali White Vegan Teeth WHITENING KIT with LED Light
You can expect to see a 2-8 whiter shade smile within just 7 days of use–for 10-30 minutes a day. Their patented Universal Comfort fit Tray, and Custom Thermoform trays provide complete upper and lower bite coverage, allowing the gel to fill crevices between teeth and whitening molars, giving a uniform whitening effect on all teeth.
The VEGAN plus-side: If you choose to purchase this product, you can ensure that you’re supporting a cruelty-free production because no animal tests and harm are done.
Parting Words
You made it to the end. Congrats. Hopefully, you’ve realized that the right tools are essential alongside your daily oral health best practices. Taking these preventative measures for your oral health and using the whitening products for a beautiful smile will not only save you agony in the long run, but boost your confidence, self-esteem, and mood, too.
Go kill some nasty oral bacteria and shine your dazzling white teeth to blind some eyes, tiger.
