There are so many products on the market it can become confusing and choosing between all the products can be difficult. Here are some suggestions for choosing dental care products that will work for most patients.

We recommend sonic toothbrushes that are safe and effective for the majority of the patients. We see excellent results with the sonic toothbrushes: Sonic Complete by Oral B and Sonicare by Philips. Oral irrigators (water spraying devices) will rinse your mouth but you still need to brush and floss in conjunction with the irrigator.

A rubber tip may be used to massage the gums after brushing. There are also tiny brushes (interproximal toothbrushes) that clean between your teeth. If these are used improperly you could injure the gums, so discuss proper use with your doctor.

Fluoride toothpastes (ex: Fluoridex, Prevident 5000) and fluoride rinses (ex: CariFree, ACT, PhosFluor) if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Remember, these rinses are not recommended for children under six years of age. Tartar control toothpastes will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.

Anti-plaque rinses (ex: Listerine), approved by the American Dental Association, contain agents that may help bring early gum disease under control. Use these in conjunction with brushing and flossing.