Taking proper care of your teeth is quite possibly one of the most important things you can do for your health. After all, it’s not just about having pretty pearly whites (though that’s nice, too, of course). Practicing good oral hygiene can prevent disease and decay, not to mention save you from having to spend money on potential expensive dental treatments.
But what products do you actually need for a good oral hygiene routine, and which brands are making the best of each kind? To get to the bottom of this, we spoke to dentists to learn about what they personally recommend to their patients, as well as what they use themselves. From toothbrushes to floss and everything in between, keep reading to find out the dentist-recommended tools and devices that can elevate your smile with proper, regular use.
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Dr. Bronwyn Hagan of New York-based practice Fitzsimons & Hagan Dentistry, recommends an electric toothbrush over a manual one, and named the Oral-B iO Series 9 electric toothbrush as a favorite.
“My favorite feature of the iO toothbrushes is their ability to tell you whether you are brushing too hard, too soft, or just right,” she says. “I was shocked by how hard I myself was brushing when I first started using it, and now I love seeing it light up green for ‘just right.'” She adds that the Series 9 in particular lets you see on an app if you are covering all the surfaces of your teeth.
The holy grail toothbrush comes seven different cleaning modes, three extra brush head and a travel case.
Even though Hagan prefers that her patients use an electric toothbrush, she still has a suggestion for those who want a manual toothbrush. “Cocofloss has a wonderful, soft toothbrush,” she says. “The bristles feel great on your gums.”
The Cocobrush has thousands of micro-bristles that are designed to be 75% finer than a standard toothbrush, and an angled brush head to reach under the gumline. It comes in three colors or an assorted four-pack.
Dr. Joke Alesh, a dentist based in Rhode Island, previously told HuffPost she buys these seriously affordable Colgate toothbrushes in bulk for the convenience of changing her toothbrush every month. They’re a great option especially if you don’t see yourself remembering to change the brush head on an electric toothbrush as often as you should.
“When it comes to tooth brushing, the most important thing to me is the bristles,” Alesh said. “Flattened, worn bristles do not effectively displace plaque. I know I wouldn’t change expensive or complicated brush heads as often.”
“Look for a toothpaste that has an active ingredient like fluoride or nano hydroxyapatite, otherwise you might as well just brush with good old water,” Hagan says. “I personally use toothpaste that contains fluoride, for its anti-cavity properties.”
She recommends this Crest cavity protection toothpaste which contains fluoride. It has the ADA (American Dental Association) seal of acceptance, and with regular brushing, can help prevent cavities before they become an issue.
For folks who want a fluoride-free option, Hagan’s pick is this Davids nano hydroxyapatite toothpaste for sensitive teeth. It’s naturally sourced, vegan, whitening and comes in two flavors: peppermint or orange vanilla.
You’ve probably heard this from your own dentist before, but you can’t skip on floss — and yes, that means string floss. “Water flossing is great, but it does not replace traditional floss or floss picks,” Hagan says. “That mechanical debridement of your teeth and gums is important.”
One of her favorites is this kid-friendly string floss from Cocofloss, which is great for kids and adults. “I love a good grippy floss,” she says. “It is a little thicker, so it’s great at pulling out all that gunk, but the best part is all the flavors! My team and I love the strawberry, pineapple, and watermelon flavors the most.”
“I recommend water flossers to certain patients, like those who have many implants or a lot of bone loss,” says Hagan, who adds that she doesn’t use water flossers herself very often because “I’m a busy mom and don’t have time to add yet another item into my morning and nightly routines.”
Still, there are options out there for those who want to add this step to their routine. “If my patient is really resistant to flossing and wants to try a water flosser, Waterpik has a really neat product that is a combination toothbrush and water flosser,” Hagan says.
She’s talking about the Waterpik Sonic Fusion 2.0, which has three cleaning modes, two toothbrush speeds, a two-minute brushing timer and 10 pressure settings for the water flosser component. You can use it to brush, floss or do both at once by just pressing a button, making this a great option if you’re in a similar boat as Hagan and may not always have the time to devote to this extra step.
If brushing alone isn’t giving you the white smile you want, Hagan named the Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects Plus teeth whitening strip kit — a HuffPost reader favorite — as one of the “great at home options for whitening.” She mentioned it’s especially good for folks who have never whitened their teeth before. The kit comes with 24 treatments that you can apply daily for 45 minutes to an hour before peeling them off. The brand claims they can remove over 25 years of stubborn stains, leaving you with a brighter, whiter smile.
Hagan also recommends these Lumineux whitening strips for people with sensitive teeth. They’re non-toxic and peroxide-free, instead using natural ingredients like coconut oil and Dead Sea salt. The box comes with seven treatments that work in much the same way as the Crest strips: Apply them for 30 minutes once a day for four days, and then once a week after that or as directed by your dentist.
Don’t forget to clip the $4 off coupon when you add this to your cart. You can also add the “LUMINEUX10” coupon code at checkout for an extra 10% off.
Dr. Inna Chern, a dentist at New York General Dentistry in Manhattan, recommended this CariFree fluoride mouthwash in previous HuffPost Shopping coverage. “My practice uses the CariFree mouthwashes as they balance pH, help dry mouth and aid in balancing bacterial load/aiding in gingivitis prevention,” she said. The rinseimproves tooth sensitivity, is alcohol-free and contains xylitol to help with tooth remineralization and reduce plaque buildup. Get it in three flavor options.