According to recent statistics, the average American spends over $250 annually on oral care products. With so many options available now, it’s much harder for consumers to decide which ones are best for them. This calls for the help of a trained professional like your general dentist in Sarasota. As you read on, you’ll learn which oral hygiene products are more gimmick than necessity.
The following items are must-haves for maintaining your oral health:
The electric toothbrush offers several perks, including high-speed bristle rotation that cuts down on the time needed to thoroughly brush your teeth. The question still remains, though: “Is it necessary to purchase an electric toothbrush?”
Your dentist says, “No!” A manual toothbrush does an excellent job of cleaning your teeth as long as the proper techniques are used.
One of the more recent dental products to emerge is a tongue scraper, and as its name suggests, it removes debris and bacteria by scraping the tongue. It is placed at the back of the mouth and moved forward to dislodge any food or bacteria trapped between the papillae (the small bumps on the tongue).
The reality, though, is you can accomplish the same end by using your toothbrush to gently clean your tongue after brushing your teeth. Thus, you can save time and money.
It’s common to see people probing their teeth with a toothpick after finishing a meal. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous habit to maintain because it presents the threat of puncturing or irritating your gums. As mentioned earlier, the healthy alternative is to clean your teeth with dental floss.
By taking the information provided by your dentist in Sarasota into consideration, you can be sure to make sound decisions on what oral hygiene products to purchase. Thus, you can have the right tools in place to get the job done.
Dr. Shanaka Weerasooriya (known as Dr. Shanaka) is a graduate of the University of Florida College of Dentistry. With nearly 20 years of experience providing care, he has a wealth of knowledge to share with patients about how they can improve their oral health by using the right dental hygiene tools. To receive a thorough cleaning to boost your oral hygiene routine, you can find Dr. Shanaka at Tarpon Shores Dental. He can be reached for more information through his website.