Oral hygiene aids are tools which can be used to remove bacteria, food particles and plaque from the teeth and mouth in order to help prevent periodontal disease, tooth decay and halitosis (bad breath).  While regular dental examinations are essential to maintaining good oral hygiene, patients cannot rely solely on dental checkups to keep their teeth and gums in good health.  In fact, a thorough homecare routine is absolutely vital to maintaining good oral and dental health, and that is where the use of oral hygiene aids comes in.

There are a variety of different oral hygiene aids available on today's market, each with their own benefits.  Some of the most common oral hygiene aids used for dental homecare include:

Dental Floss

Dental floss is one of the most common tools used to clean between teeth and beneath the gum line.  Available in a wide variety of flavors, dental floss consists of thin, thread-like nylon filaments or polyethylene ribbons and can be either waxed or non-waxed.  While overly vigorous flossing can cause soft tissue damage, proper use of dental floss is highly effective at removing food debris and plaque from the interdental regions.  Ideally, dental floss should be used twice per day.

Interdental Cleaners

Interdental cleaners are tiny brushes that are available in a number of different shapes and sizes.  Designed to be gentle on the gums, interdental cleaners can effectively keep the contours of teeth and the areas between the gums clean.

Mouth Rinses

Mouth rinses include cosmetic rinses and therapeutic rinses.  Cosmetic rinses are available over-the-counter and will temporarily improve bad breath.  Therapeutic rinses may require a prescription and contain active ingredients which help to reduce plaque, cavities and bad breath.  Ideally, mouth rinses should be used after brushing.

Oral Irrigators

Oral irrigators are designed to clean away debris from below the gum line.  By continuously spraying tiny jets of water at the target area, oral irrigators can remove bacteria and food debris to reduce the risk of periodontal disease.  While not a replacement for brushing and flossing, oral irrigators can provide good results when used in conjunction with other oral hygiene tools.

Rubber Tip Stimulators

Rubber tip stimulators are highly effective at removing plaque from around the gum line and stimulating blood flow to the gum tissue.  These tools should be used once per day and rubber tips should be replaced as soon as they begin to show signs of wear.  Stimulators should be stored in a cool, dry area.

Tongue Cleaners

Tongue cleaners may be made from plastic, metal or wood and are designed to help remove bacteria and food particles from the surface of the tongue.  By doing so, tongue cleaners help to reduce bad breath as well as the risk of a variety of systemic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.  Tongue cleaning should ideally be performed prior to brushing so that dislodged bacteria will not be ingested.

Manual Toothbrushes

Teeth should be brushed with a toothbrush after every meal or twice a day at the very minimum.  Soft-bristled toothbrushes are preferable as they cause less damage to gum tissue than those with medium or hard bristles.  It's important to replace manual toothbrushes every three months as bristles become less effective as they become worn.

Electric Toothbrushes

Electric toothbrushes tend to be far more effective than manual toothbrushes and are therefore typically recommended by dental professionals.  These brushes provide a vibrating or rotary motion which dislodges and removes plaque and food debris from the teeth and gums.

If you have questions about oral hygiene aids, please ask Santa Monica Dentist Cameron Torabi.