Dental Products
By Dona
Our Registered Dental Hygienist
Have
you ever found yourself standing in the dental product aisle confused and wondering
which product to buy? Welcome to the
club! The shelves are full of different
products made from different companies.
As a dental hygienist, it is my job
to make recommendations to my patients.
My recommendations vary depending on the individual’s need. For toothbrushes, I prefer electric. A rotary toothbrush is ideal because it is
designed to brush your teeth one tooth at a time. The brush is placed along the gum line for
about 5-10 seconds. This allows the
bristles to clean the tooth thoroughly.
Flossing is recommended daily, whether string floss or a floss pick is
used. Some people do not like using floss.
In that case, I advise the patient to use other interproximal cleaners,
like a proxabrush or soft pick.
Proxabrushes are good for those who have large spaces between their
teeth. Proxabrushes come in Christmas
tree or cylinder shapes. The sizes come
in wide, moderate and narrow. Proxabrush
is fitting because it removes more plaque between the teeth than floss. If a proxabrush is too wide for the space,
soft picks are excellent. A Stimulator is not a very well- known tool but I
find it to be one of my favorite. Not
only does it stimulate the gums, but it also removes plaque below the gum line
that the toothbrush is unable to reach.
Many ask which toothpaste or
mouthwash is the best one to use. I recommend a toothpaste or mouthwash that
addresses your needs: tartar control,
whitening, sensitivity, anticavity and antigingivitis. Buy a product with an
ADA Seal. It means that the product has
been tested and approved. Tooth
sensitivity is a very common complaint.
Sensodyne is an over-the-counter product available to relieve
sensitivity. ProNamel toothpaste helps
protect teeth against the effects of acid erosion. This paste is good for people who drink or
eat foods that are acidic: wine, fruits, sodas, juices, sports drinks. If sensitivity persists, Fluoridex or MI
Paste is recommended. (These products are only available in dental
offices) Listerine is an alcohol-containing
antibacterial mouthwash. It kills the bacteria
that cause cavities and gingivitis.
However, I do not recommend it for people with dry mouth. Alcohol-containing mouthwash can exacerbate
the dryness. Biotene products are
recommended for those with dry mouth. It
comes in mouthwash, toothpaste and moisturizer to help treat and relieve the
symptoms of dry mouth.
With the suggestions that I have
given, I hope that your visit to the dental product aisle
becomes easy and less confusing.
Dona, R.D.H
Cerritos Southcoast Dental
Mary Compean, D.M.D.
Carlos Compean, D.D.S.
Dona, R.D.H
Cerritos Southcoast Dental
Mary Compean, D.M.D.
Carlos Compean, D.D.S.