Need to check your symptoms?
Use our symptom checker to help determine what your symptoms are and to ensure you get the help you need.
Check your symptomsThe 4 Best Oral Hygiene Products in 2021
January 12, 2022
COVID-19 impacted the world in multiple ways. Economies slowed, schools closed, and people stayed at home. As we emerge from this stupor, dentists have discovered another effect of the pandemic: worsened oral health.
In our guest post this week, we share helpful tips for the best oral hygiene products to bring your mouth, teeth and gums back to excellent working order.
The FDI World Dental Federation reports that a year after lockdowns began, dentists began seeing a higher incidence of tooth decay and gum disease.
The organisation believes this is because of how our routines changed during the pandemic.
Due to staying at home for so long, many people skipped brushing as often and could not venture out for their dental appointments.
If you feel you’ve been lax on your oral health these past two years, you may want to take steps to get back on track.
Though you should always see your dentist first, you can supplement these appointments by using the best oral hygiene products at home.
Below we run through a few choice items many people around the world used in 2021.
If you’re looking for multi-purpose toothpaste, consider those that whiten your teeth and promote gum health.
Beauty site Pretty Me particularly recommends oral health products that don’t contain fluoride, as an excess can actually discolour your teeth.
As mentioned earlier, gum problems are also common, especially among women.
According to Medicover Hospitals, this is because menstruation and pregnancy cause hormone levels to fluctuate significantly.
This toothpaste from Dr Bronner’s checks all the boxes with a fluoride-free formula that soothes sensitive teeth and gums while freshening your breath, fighting plaque, and whitening your smile.
As we’ve previously discussed in Bad Breath – Why & What To Do, changing your toothbrush regularly — around every 3 to 4 months — can help prevent breath stink.
However, toothbrushes are also made from plastic, and this can lead to more waste.
Fortunately, the Radius Source is a soft-bristled brush made entirely of either plant-based or recycled materials.
The handle is sourced from dollar bills, and the dye-free bristles come from vegetable-based nylon.
The heads are not only replaceable but have a curved bed that’s great for gently massaging your gums.
The handle also has an ergonomic design, so even lefties can use them comfortably.
You really should floss daily, and if you don’t, it’s probably because it can be a chore.
Fortunately, there’s Cocofloss. With over 500 textured fibres, you’ll really feel it pulling plaque out without aggravating your gums.
What’s more interesting is that it comes in a variety of flavours, from dark chocolate to pineapple and even s’mores. (Check out their Christmas-themed flosses above).
It actually makes you want to floss every day. And that’s probably why it was the brand most recommended by dentists in a 2019 NY Mag article titled The Best Dental Floss, According to Dentists.
Your mouthwash should not contain alcohol. It stings, and this influential study published in the British Dental Journal found that it plays a negligible effect on mouthwash.
This is where By Humankind comes in. Its mouthwash comes in tablet form, which you can easily dissolve in a glass of water.
Replacing fluoride is baking soda, which has antiseptic and alkaline properties that cleanse your teeth without harming their enamel.
Meanwhile, tartaric acid derived from grapes naturally balances out your pH levels.
In brief, it cleans just as effectively without being harsh on your mouth.
With so many oral health products to choose from, it can be difficult to discern which are the best.
Hopefully, this guide helps you get the ones you need for a healthier mouth.
More Reading
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are reviewed by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of healthcare conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality healthcare. The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified healthcare practitioner.
To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly
Want to know how your comment data is processed? Learn more
Askawayhealth, 2023 Award Recipient
Our educational content meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance.
Askawayhealth aims to deliver reliable and evidence based women's health, family health and sexual health information in a way that is easily relatable and easy for everyone to access.
Utilize our complimentary symptom checker tool to gain more information about any uncertain symptoms you might have.
Let us know what you think