Choosing the Right Teeth Products

posted on 14 January 2011 | posted in Health and Beauty

With the influx of products for teeth and dental care, consumers are now confronted with more options and therefore more difficulty in choosing what to use. There was a time when a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste was already enough to take good care of the teeth. Now there are various products that claim they are also indispensable to maintain good oral health.

There are now dental flosses, mouth astringents, breath fresheners, teeth whiteners and even gums and sprays. Are these really essential? In their commercials, all these products have dentists’ approvals and recommendations. It must be true then, because these are words from professionals. Plus, each one of these products have different flavors to choose from which adds to the consumer’s confusion, or maybe entertainment, sometimes. “What product to choose and to buy?” a consumer usually asks. But more importantly, a consumer should ask, “What do I need?”

Now this is a positive development because there are many product innovations. Even the simple toothbrush is continuously improving. A consumer now has to choose between a variety of toothbrushes. There are those with soft, medium and hard bristles. Is the vibrating or rotating toothbrush better? The toothbrush bristles even have different shapes. There are some where the bristles have indicators so you’ll know when to buy a new one. As if one cannot tell if the bristles are not worn out. And now there are toothbrushes that also have cheek and gum cleaners. Even the toothpastes get complicated. Aside from having an assortment of flavors, it also now has different uses. There are toothpastes specially formulated for teeth whitening and some are to aid in teeth sensitivity. There are toothpastes for adults and even for kids. So again, the consumer needs to choose among these. All these also claim they keep the teeth strong and healthy.

But really, what keeps the teeth and gums healthy is an adequate amount of calcium and vitamin C in the body. So aside from brushing teeth regularly, one also has to have a healthy diet to have healthy gums and teeth. Milk, anchovies and seafood are rich sources of calcium while fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C. Aside from buying the above mentioned oral care products, maybe it is better to buy calcium and vitamin C supplements too. You not only take care of the teeth, but also of the whole body.

Sometimes, this influx of commercial products also has a negative effect because it can plunge an individual deeper into consumerism. It will make you purchase products that are really not essential only to feed the profit-greedy capitalists. So in choosing the right products for oral care, it is best to find a dentist and ask for some expert advice. Don’t rely on advertisements that claim their product is recommended by 9 out of 10 dentists. Find a dentist that will professionally evaluate your needs and provide you with sound advice as regards proper oral health care. Good luck!