Choosing the right dental products is simpler than you think, and much of it boils down to personal preference combined with products that have been proven to be safe and effective for healthy smiles. Here’s what you should look for when shopping for oral care products!

A Soft-Bristled Toothbrush

Toothbrushes with hard bristles can damage tooth enamel over time. Brushing harder isn’t the same as brushing effectively. You should be as gentle and as thorough as possible when brushing your teeth—and a soft-bristled toothbrush can help you do that.

You can also consider using an electric toothbrush if you prefer. As long as you’re choosing a softer toothbrush—and, of course, brushing your teeth twice a day—the design doesn’t matter as much [1].

Fluoride Toothpaste

Unless you’ve been directed otherwise by your dentist, choose a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride has been shown to strengthen your tooth enamel, which can reduce instances of tooth decay and even tooth sensitivity.

If you have a medical condition or are allergic to fluoride, talk to your dentist about other toothpastes you can safely use. And remember, children shouldn’t use toothpaste with fluoride before the age of two [2]!

Floss

Flossing is an important part of any oral care routine and for preventing gum disease. You have many different choices when it comes to floss, whether you prefer flavored, waxed or unwaxed, and different materials such as nylon or silk.

You can even use floss holders or interdental cleaners such as water floss, which can be hugely helpful for people who have traditional braces to clean in between their brackets and wires. As long as you’re flossing once a day, it doesn’t matter which floss you choose!

Mouthwash

There are a few different types of mouthwash, and it’s important to remember that mouthwash, fluoride rinses, and therapeutic mouthwashes aren’t all the same.

Regular mouthwash is antibacterial and can help control plaque growth. Since it contains a certain amount of alcohol, regular mouthwash isn’t intended for children under the age of six [3]. Always read the label and follow the instructions!

Fluoride rinses are designed to cover the teeth with fluoride and strengthen them to prevent tooth decay. While they may also freshen breath, they aren’t designed to reduce plaque.

Therapeutic mouthwashes are typically prescribed by your dentist in the event that you have an oral health condition such as oral thrush or gum disease that needs a special formula to treat. Regardless of which mouthwash you choose, look for ones that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance!

When choosing dental products, you can make the appropriate choices for you and your family by following the above guidelines. Otherwise, choose a flavor and brand you love and continue to care for your smile in between your regular dental visits!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4144140/
2. https://wwwhttps://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-
topics/mouthrinse.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/fluoride/more-info
3. https://www.ada.org/en/member-center/oral-health-topics/mouthrinse

The post What to Look For When Selecting Dental Products appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Although having sensitive teeth is typically a chronic problem, the discomfort can be managed. One of the ways to manage this discomfort is with the right toothpaste. There are certain ingredients you can look for in desensitizing toothpaste that’ll help ease your pain and protect your teeth. Check the label for these helpful sensitivity fighters!

Calcium Phosphate to Remineralize Teeth

Since tooth enamel is composed of mostly calcium, calcium phosphate in your toothpaste can actually help to remineralize your teeth. Although you can’t replace the tooth enamel that’s been lost, the calcium phosphate can work to strengthen and protect your remaining tooth enamel from sensitivity.

When you lose tooth enamel, sensitive nerves become exposed and can carry the temperature of whatever is in your mouth to the pulp of your tooth. Tooth enamel can be lost through harsh brushing, frequently eating acidic foods (think sugar), and teeth grinding.

When you regularly brush with toothpaste that contains calcium, your saliva can help replenish your teeth with this important mineral to prevent painful sensitivity from occurring.

Potassium Nitrate to Stop Sensitivity

Potassium nitrate is a compound that works to block nerves at the tooth’s surface from
reaching the sensitive, interior pulp of your tooth.

Potassium nitrate helps to desensitize your teeth and reduce your discomfort by soothing these nerves. Potassium nitrate is considered to be a safe ingredient in toothpastes and is helpful for many people with tooth sensitivity.

Although effective, toothpastes that contain potassium nitrate may take 2-4 weeks to show results. It’s important to be consistent with brushing your teeth with the toothpaste and don’t give up. The results you experience will make waiting for this ingredient to work worth it!

Fluoride to Strengthen Enamel

Fluoride is an essential ingredient in desensitizing toothpastes that can help strengthen your tooth enamel and prevent sensitivity. Fluoride is also excellent for preventing tooth decay, making it a safe and effective ingredient for many people.

Most over-the- counter toothpastes contain fluoride, but if your tooth enamel is severely
compromised, you may need prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste. You can ask your
dentist about this toothpaste to help combat your sensitivity and desensitize your teeth if
regular desensitizing toothpastes aren’t helping.

Look for these ingredients when you shop for desensitizing toothpaste to help manage your tooth sensitivity. Your dentist can also talk with you about which ingredients would be most beneficial for your unique smile and may recommend specific brands. When it comes to tooth sensitivity, toothpaste can be an important tool for helping to manage pain!

The post Which Toothpastes Are Best for Tooth Sensitivity? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

From what type of toothbrush you should buy to whether or not you need to clean it, here’s
everything you need to know about your toothbrush!

What Kind to Buy

The best kind of toothbrush to buy is any soft-bristled one. Even if you’ve bought firm
toothbrushes for years, here’s why you should switch: harder brushing damages tooth enamel. The bristles combined with toothpaste eliminates the need for you to brush very hard in order to remove plaque and bacteria. A gentle brushing is all that’s needed to clean your teeth and protect tooth enamel. So make it a little easier by getting a toothbrush that’s softer!

When It Needs to Go

Your toothbrush has a pretty short life due to the fact that it’s exposed to bacteria day in and day out. The American Dental Association recommends you get a new toothbrush every four months at the maximum. You should replace your toothbrush sooner if:

 The bristles are frayed (these can damage gum tissue)
 People in your house or you have been sick and you want to be extra careful about
spreading germs
 You just received treatment for tooth decay or gum disease

Fortunately, toothbrushes are relatively inexpensive. Keep a spare one in your bathroom and when you open it, write the date on the package so you know when to replace it!

How to Store It

Since bacteria love to grow in moist, dark environments, keeping your toothbrush in a place like this is a bad idea. Bathrooms tend to be exposed to humidity, so your toothbrush is already at a disadvantage. You can still store your toothbrush in the bathroom, but be sure to keep it in an open space. Use a toothbrush holder and if you share the holder with anyone else’s toothbrush, be sure they don’t touch.

Don’t Ever Share

It’s never a good idea to share your toothbrush with anyone, even if they are a family member or your spouse. Bacteria can easily transfer from mouth to mouth and if the person you share with has gum disease, you could even be exposed to blood. Keep an extra toothbrush on hand for guests but never share your own.

Cleaning Your Toothbrush

It’s almost impossible to get rid of all the bacteria on your toothbrush, so sanitizing it isn’t only unrealistic, it also hasn’t been shown to have much of an effect on your oral health. Giving your toothbrush a thorough rinse after brushing is typically all that’s needed. If you want to give your toothbrush a deeper clean, you can soak it in mouthwash for up to 15 minutes. This isn’t normally necessary if you’re replacing your toothbrush as needed.

When was the last time you replaced your toothbrush? Taking good care of your toothbrush is essential to keeping your smile healthy. Purchase the right one, store it properly, and never share. Rinse it out after every use and you’re good to go. Happy brushing!

The post Everything You Need to Know About Your Toothbrush appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The good news is that as long as you’re brushing your teeth regularly, the type of toothpaste
you use won’t matter as much. Here are a few things you can look for when choosing
toothpaste at the store to help you make the best pick!

Talk to Your Dentist about Fluoride

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends fluoride in toothpaste as it can help cut
down on the prevalence of cavities in both children and adults. However, many sources of
water are also enhanced with fluoride to help stop tooth decay. If you or your child receives
multiple sources of fluoride, it could be affecting your tooth enamel.

The important thing is to talk to your dentist during your checkup about your consumption of
fluoride. If you’re consuming water that has fluoride in it as well as using a toothpaste with
fluoride, there’s a chance you could be receiving too much of this mineral. Your dentist can help
you determine whether or not you should select a traditional fluoride toothpaste or skip the
fluoride with fluoride-free formulas.

Check for the ADA Seal

Although all toothpastes will get the job done, those who have the American Dental
Association’s seal on them have a few characteristics about them that may further help your
smile. All toothpastes that have ADA approval have the following features in common:

 They all contain fluoride
 They do not contain any sugar
 They have been proven to be safe
 They may help with tooth sensitivity and gum disease

The ADA seal on your toothpaste can help ensure you’re choosing a quality paste. There are
several brands of toothpastes that contain the ADA seal of approval, including natural brands
such as Tom’s and Hello, both of which make toothpastes for kids!

Do You Have Sensitive Teeth?

If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, choosing a toothpaste that’s marketed for people like you
may help. You can talk with your dentist about which brands are most effective, but any
toothpaste that’s for sensitive teeth may be able to relieve your discomfort.

Toothpastes that are for sensitive teeth often contain the same abrasive agents for scrubbing
and plaque-fighting features as other toothpastes, so there’s no reason not to get some added
protection from your sensitivity while you brush! Always talk to your dentist about your tooth
sensitivity to ensure your tooth enamel is healthy.

What kind of toothpaste do you use? Some people have their favorites while others try a
different kind every time they run out. It’s important to brush your teeth twice a day regardless
of what type of toothpaste you use. Ask your dentist if toothpaste with fluoride is your best bet,
look for the ADA seal of approval, and opt for a sensitive option if you need it. Happy brushing!

The post What Do I Look for When Choosing Toothpaste? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Always Rinse After Use

Rinsing your toothbrush after use is crucial. You don’t need hot or even purified water to do this—a careful rinse with tap water is all that’s needed. Rinsing your toothbrush removes the used toothpaste, food particles, and can help remove other bacteria from the bristles, which can help extend the life of your toothbrush.

Never Share

Sharing toothbrushes is never recommended. You can expose yourself to dangerous bacteria, viruses, and even blood borne pathogens from people who bleed while they brush. If you’re in need of a toothbrush, you can chew gum, use your finger, or floss and use mouthwash—but never borrow a friend or family member’s toothbrush!

Keep in an Open-Air Space

After your rinse your toothbrush, it’s important to let it dry out in a place where there’s sufficient air circulation. Keeping your toothbrush in a drawer or even behind the mirror isn’t a good idea—these places don’t allow the toothbrush to properly dry out and can even encourage the growth of bacteria and mold. Toothbrush cases can easily harbor bacteria as well!

The best way to store your toothbrush is by keeping it upright in a container that allows it to dry out. If you share a toothbrush container with another person or several people, it’s important to not let these toothbrushes touch. Storing your toothbrush upright allows water to drain off the bristles and the open-air space allows it to dry out and not harbor dangerous bacteria.

Replace Every 4 Months

Our toothbrushes need to be replaced whenever they begin showing signs of wear—this is just as true for electronic toothbrushes as for standard ones! You can easily get rid of the attachment of electronic toothbrushes and get a new one when needed. Standard toothbrushes are inexpensive and affordable to replace!

A good way to tell if your toothbrush is reaching the end of its use is to examine the bristles. If the bristles are frayed, they’re not properly cleaning your teeth and gums. You may also want to replace your toothbrush after an illness or if you’ve recently received treatment for tooth decay or gum disease, as your toothbrush may be holding on to bacteria that could re-introduce these problems to your mouth.

A general rule is every four months—keep track of when you last replaced your toothbrush, and always keep a spare in your home for easy replacement when the time comes!

The post How to Keep Your Toothbrush Safe and Clean! appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Sharing Bacteria Can Increase Risk for Cavities

We all have different kinds of bacteria in our mouths—how healthy is the person’s mouth that you’re sharing your toothbrush with? How healthy is yours? The bacteria that causes cavities, called streptococcus mutans, is contagious! Sharing your toothbrush with another person could increase your risk for cavities, or if you’re the one with the bacteria, it could increase theirs!

Bleeding Gums Expose Your Mouth to Viruses

Many people experience bleeding gums when they brush, and sharing blood is even scarier than sharing saliva! This could be a sign of the beginning stages of gum disease, or gingivitis, but it could also be from overly-aggressive brushing. Regardless, blood borne viruses like herpes (oral and genital), hepatitis, and the human papilloma virus (HPV) can be transmitted simply through sharing a toothbrush! HPV can also be transmitted through saliva and has been linked to several different cancers.

What’s more, sharing saliva could also increase your risk for yeast infections! Candida is a natural yeast that’s present in all of our bodies, but too much of this fungi could cause adverse symptoms, including yeast infections. Candida can cling to your toothbrush, making an innocent toothbrush-lending practice not so fun!

Sharing Your Toothbrush Is Like Sharing Gum Disease

It might not seem like it at the time, but sharing your toothbrush is a lot like sharing gum disease. This is because the bacteria that are responsible for causing gum disease can cling to your toothbrush and get transferred into your mouth! Even if the person you’re sharing with has the beginning stages of gum disease, sharing your toothbrush can still put your mouth at risk.

What Can You Do?

If you or your friend forgets your toothbrush, pass on sharing the other person’s until you can get a new one or locate your own at home. There are a few things you can do to get by without brushing in the meantime:

 Use your finger to “brush” your teeth with toothpaste.

 Rinse with mouthwash.

 Eat an apple, drink peppermint tea, or floss—all can help you to have fresher breath!

Although skipping brushing isn’t ideal, it’s safer than sharing a toothbrush with someone! Keep mini brushes in your bag or car for when you forget. Carry a bottle of mouthwash. Just opt to not borrow someone’s toothbrush and never loan them your own. You could increase your risk for cavities, gum disease, and blood borne viruses—not worth it to have fresh breath!

The post Why You Shouldn’t Be Sharing Your Toothbrush appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Keep Teeth Wipes in Stock

Keeping some teeth wipes in stock or with you for on-the-go cleaning can be a great alternative for when you run out of toothpaste. These small wipes are finger gloves that help to clean your teeth and get rid of plaque and food particles with their textured cloth-like feel. Although these are great alternatives to have around, they’re not meant to take the place of a proper brushing—so only use when you need to!

Use Baking Soda

Many conventional toothpastes incorporate baking soda into their formulas. There’s a reason for this! Baking soda is popular to use not just in toothpaste but for other cleaning tasks, too. It’s safe and effective for you to use when you’re missing toothpaste or even a toothbrush. When you run out of toothpaste, everyone usually has some baking soda on hand in the kitchen! Use your toothbrush, a cloth, or your finger and use that baking soda to “brush” your teeth!

Rinse with Mouthwash or Hydrogen Peroxide

If you have regular mouthwash on hand, this is great. Mouthwash can help fight bad bacteria, remove particles in between your teeth, and leave you with fresh breath! However, if you don’t regularly use mouthwash (you should!) or if you happen to be out of that too, you can use hydrogen peroxide to help clean your mouth until you get access to some toothpaste. Don’t use it full strength, and never swallow it. Simply mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and water and swish around in your mouth to help combat bad bacteria and remove food particles.

Chew Gum or Herbs

Sugar-free gum can help to stimulate your saliva production, therefore helping to balance the good and bad bacteria and even help remove food particles and leave you with a fresh mouth. This definitely isn’t a replacement for brushing and should be used only when necessary—however, it can help in those times when you find that you’re out of toothpaste!

If you happen to be camping or even if you have a garden at your home, you can make use of plants to help “clean” your mouth! Herbs like mint, rosemary, and even sage and thyme can help your mouth to feel fresher and get rid of any bad tastes. These won’t actually clean your teeth, so again, be sure to brush when you can!

Being out of toothpaste isn’t an excuse to skip your normal brushing routine. Enlist the help of some of these alternatives, many of which are easy to have on hand in times of need, such as peroxide and baking soda. Keep teeth wipes, sugar-free gum, or mouthwash on hand for when you don’t have any toothpaste!

The post Oops, You’re Out of Toothpaste! Now What? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When choosing toothpaste for a child who is under 3 years old, it is best to get one that does not contain fluoride. Fluoride is important throughout life to keep tooth enamel strong and reduce the risk of cavities, but very young children can’t spit toothpaste out, and fluoride should not be swallowed. This type of toothpaste non-fluoride toothpaste made for young children is sometimes called training toothpaste. At this stage in your child’s life you will be gently brushing their gums or newly emerging teeth with your finger, and then eventually with a soft bristle brush.

The time to switch to fluoride toothpaste is when your child is old enough to brush his or her own teeth and spit the toothpaste out. While most adults use mint-flavored toothpaste, kids often find milder flavors more palatable. Children’s toothpaste comes in a variety of fruit flavors as well as flavors like bubble gum or cotton candy. You can give your child the freedom to choose flavor of the toothpaste; as long as it carries the ADA Seal and contains fluoride you can be sure it’s a good choice.

The ADA Seal is important because it means that the American Dental Association has approved the toothpaste. In order to carry the ADA Seal, a manufacturer must submit ingredients lists and other information about their product, conduct clinical trials and provide evidence that the product is manufactured in properly maintained and supervised facilities. So when you see the ADA Seal, you know the ADA has confirmed that the product is safe, effective, and does what the label claims.

Finding a good toothpaste for your child that he or she likes is usually not too difficult. There are many flavors available, as well as brands of toothpaste and toothbrushes that are associated with popular characters. Making oral hygiene fun is the best way to get kids to brush regularly without complaints. Start them early and make oral health and dentist visits fun and exciting, to keep their teeth and gums healthy and begin a habit of oral hygiene that will last a lifetime.

The post The 411 on Kids’ Toothpaste appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The most common symptom of toothpaste allergy is a rash around the mouth that appears after brushing. The rash may be itchy, and it can spread to the chin, cheeks or even the nose. Toothpaste allergy can also cause canker sores, which are painful sores inside the mouth. Other symptoms of toothpaste allergy include gum inflammation, hives, respiratory issues, itchiness, red eyes and watery eyes. Toothpaste allergy can trigger anaphylaxis, which is an emergency situation that requires immediate medical treatment.

Cheilitis, which is dryness, cracking and irritation of the mouth, is a major symptom of toothpaste allergy. Cheilitis is also a symptom of yeast infection, so correct diagnosis is important if you experience this symptom.

Flavorings in toothpastes are a common allergen, particularly spearmint or peppermint oils. Other ingredients in toothpaste that can cause allergic reactions include propylene glycol, sodium benzoate and cocamidopropyl betaine. Toothpastes that advertise as being “natural” may cause less problems with irritation and sensitivity, but sometimes these toothpastes can have combinations of ingredients that can cause allergic reactions as well.

Some people are allergic to fluoride. Fluoride is good for your teeth because it keeps the enamel strong and reduces cavities, but anyone who is allergic to fluoride may have to opt for toothpaste that does not contain fluoride.

If you have allergic reactions or sensitivity to toothpaste, you may be able to ease symptoms by washing your face after brushing your teeth. You can also try using less toothpaste when you brush. Make sure you get a new toothbrush often, at least once a month, and use toothbrushes with soft bristles.

The post Toothpaste Allergies: Know the Symptoms appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.