Anyone who’s been raised to care for their teeth knows about the fundamental tools used for oral hygiene. The big 4 of basic oral care are the toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash. While most Americans have those 4 items in their bathroom, alternative dental products can have a strong positive affect on your teeth, and can be welcome additions to your fundamental oral hygiene tools.
Advantages Of Alternative Oral Care Products
Some may argue that the core tools of oral care are all that you need to keep your teeth lasting a lifetime. However, there are innovative dental products that can fulfill some functions that your basic toothbrush and floss can’t. The advantages offered by newer, more eclectic oral care products include the following:
- Extra convenience
- Added comfort
- Different methods of cleaning
- More in-depth cleaning
- Focusing on different aspects of oral care
- Cleaning with additional features like breath freshening or teeth-whitening
- New ways to approach traditional oral hygiene
Considering Different Oral Care Products
When choosing new oral care products to try, it helps to have a specific goal in mind. With dozens of extra oral care products on the market, it can be time-consuming to sort through them to find the ones that suit your needs. These questions may serve as an excellent starting point when deciding which products are worthy of your time and money:
- Are you interested in adding a teeth-whitening component to your oral care experience?
- Do you find some part of your oral care routine tedious and want to improve it?
- Do you frequently travel and want to find high-quality products which are portable?
- Does flossing irritate your gums, and you want to find an alternative?
- Are there other aspects of oral care which are important to you, like sensitivity?
Alternative Oral Care Products That’re Worth A Try
From highly-portable mouthwash that comes in non-liquid form to small-yet-effective tooth scrapers made of wood, some of the products on this list will make you view oral care in a different way. Whether you prioritize convenience, uniqueness or are simply trying to find a more fun way to care for your teeth, consider adding some of these products to your bathroom cabinet.
GUM Proxabrush
If you’re unfamiliar with a proxabrush, it resembles a protruding rod which is surrounded by bristles, all extended from a handle. As you might suspect from its appearance, the proxabrush excels at accessing the hard to reach areas of the mouth and teeth. This makes it particularly useful for those with braces or bridges, but it’s also excellent as an alternative tool for cleaning the teeth.
Techniques For Using The Proxabrush
Due to the fact that the proxabrush has bristles on all sides, it generates a 360-degree cleaning effect for your teeth. This means that brushing your proxabrush between teeth will clean both sides with comparable effectiveness. The proxabrush can be used in a spinning motion, as a brush or to specifically target a particular area of the mouth.
Supersmile Powdered Mouth Wash
Not all mouthwash comes in plastic bottles. For an extra portable alternative to your standard mouthwash, consider trying a powdered version, like the product available from Supersmile. Each package of powdered mouthwash just requires a small amount of water, then you’re ready to swish it around and freshen up your mouth. Powdered mouth wash is ideal for:
- Those who travel frequently
- Hikers, campers and outdoorsman
- Long plane or road trips
- Quick rinses at work or school
- People who don’t like the flavor of liquid mouthwash
If you’d like an alternative to your typical type of liquid mouthwash, try a pack of the powdered version. It doesn’t get more convenient than a small package of powder that you can take anywhere, and your mouth will thank you.
Stim-U-Dent Wooden Plaque Removers
Arguably the most simple and direct tool for cleaning your teeth on the go, wooden plaque removers do not require water or toothpaste. Resembling a finely cut piece of thin wood, wooden plaque removers offer the following 6 key advantages:
- Convenient Triangular Shape: Ideal for scraping away plaque
- Tapered Point: Allows you to dig between teeth
- Special Wood: The wood grows flexible in moisture and won’t irritate your mouth
- Safe to Use: Non-rigid construction means the wood will break rather than poke you
- Ease of Use: With no preparation required, you can use them anytime
- Gum Stimulation: They stimulate gums, encouraging blood flow
As you can see, wooden plaque removers are more than a cheap alternative to a toothbrush. Whether you use them as an ancillary tool for those times when you’re away from your bathroom, or as an addition to your normal daily oral care routine, consider trying a pack of wooden plaque removers to boost your oral health.
Tooth Powder
If you’re interested in trying an effective alternative to toothpaste, tooth powder is a legitimate option. While sold by a variety of oral care companies, a cheap version of tooth powder can be made by mixing baking soda and peroxide. Even if you opt to purchase it, powders are often less expensive than toothpaste, so you’ll save some money by switching to tooth powder.
The 2 Basic Ingredients In Tooth Powder
For a tooth powder to be effective at cleaning the teeth, it will minimally contain both an abrasive and an antibacterial. The abrasive excels at loosening bacteria and plaque so it can be lifted from the teeth. The other key part in tooth powder is an anti-bacterial agent that will produce a sanitizing effect in the mouth. For those making their tooth powder, baking soda and tea tree extract can be used.
DenTek Instant Pain Relief
Toothaches, canker sores and irritated gums can be debilitating problems for some people. While certain people never experience pain in their mouths, others deal with it on a frequent basis.
Featuring mint flavored disposable applicators, DenTek Instant Pain Relief will be a lifesaver for those who suffer from mouth anomalies. These include not only toothaches, but the following sources of oral pain:
- Irritation from braces
- Soreness associated with dentures
- Irritated gums
- Sores in the mouth
- Gums inflamed from flossing
Whether you’re one of the lucky ones who only has oral pain on rare occasions or if fighting tooth pain is an unfortunate daily battle, the Instant Pain Relief applicators by Den Tek are worthy of anyone’s bathroom cabinet. If you travel and happen to get a canker sore or a toothache, these pain relief applicators can be a godsend, so consider keeping a pack in your carry-on bag.
Contact St. Louis County Dental For Your Oral Care Needs!
While staying updated with your own oral care routine is crucial, it’s also necessary to attend your bi-annual dental appointments. If anything happens before your appointment is scheduled, feel free to call our office for help. With 3 highly-experienced dentists and a passionate, knowledgeable staff, we can fix your dental problems, whatever they may be. Contact us today for details!
Bibliography Of Related Links
- Wooden Plaque Removers: http://www.bleedinggums.com/stim-u-dent/
- Learn more about tooth powder: http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-tooth-powder.htm
- Den Tec Instant Pain Relief: http://www.dentek.com/instant-oral-pain