Teeth Cleaning

To DIY or Not to DIY: Should You Clean Your Own Teeth?

With so many products on the market that claim to help people clean their own teeth like a dental hygienist, it can be tempting to try and save time and money by taking teeth cleaning into your own hands. But should you do it? Before you decide, let’s take a look at some of the risks of attempting to perform your own teeth cleanings with products like ultrasonic plaque removers and metal toothpicks, as well as some healthy oral cleaning habits you can perform at home.

Risks of Using Plaque Removers and Metal Toothpicks
Using these types of products for home teeth cleaning comes with an array of risks. For starters, plaque removers use high frequency vibrations that can cause damage to delicate soft tissues in the mouth if used improperly. Additionally, metal toothpicks can irritate and injure gums if they are not used correctly. Plus, because these products are not regulated by the FDA, so your ultrasonic plaque remover may vibrate at very high levels causing instant damage or very low levels and produce no results, there is simply no guarantee that they will actually work properly or provide any health benefits whatsoever. There’s a reason why Crossings Dental invests in the highest quality tools for our dental hygienists.

Healthy At-Home Oral Cleaning Habits
Although there are risks associated with using products like plaque removers and metal toothpicks for at-home teeth cleanings, there are still plenty of healthy oral cleaning habits that you can—and should—perform on your own at home. Brushing twice daily for two minutes each time with ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste is essential for keeping your teeth healthy. Flossing once a day is also recommended in order to remove food particles from between your teeth that brushing cannot reach. Often flossing at night is beneficial as it removes material from between your teeth and allows your saliva to move between these teeth and keep them clean – Yes saliva actually coats teeth and can eliminate harmful bacteria so you want it to be able to move around while you sleep!  Additionally, drinking plenty of water every day helps wash away tiny food particles left behind after eating and keeps saliva flow up which helps keep bacteria levels down in the mouth. Finally, regular visits to the dentist will help ensure that any problems or cavities are caught early on before they become more serious.

Working together with your dentist and dental hygienist is often the best way to ensure long term oral health without risking any side effects from improper use of tools like unregulated ultrasonic plaque removers or metal toothpicks sold on Amazon. Although it may be tempting to try and save time and money by taking matters into your own hands when it comes to teeth cleaning, it’s important to know the risks involved in doing so before making a decision about how to proceed with maintaining good oral hygiene habits. So remember: when it comes to DIY dentistry—it’s always better safe than sorry!

DIY Your Teeth Cleaning?  Do’s and Don’ts

We get it. You want to take control over your teeth cleaning and reduce the cost of visiting your dentist and dental hygienist. But, we can’t stress enough how important it is to leave the professional teeth cleaning to the professionals. Sure, there are plenty of DIY products out there that claim they can help you get your teeth clean like a dental hygienist would— however inferior products or improper use of these products very well could result in serious side effects.  We would like to explain why “DIY Teeth Cleanings” could be damaging and how to adopt appropriate and healthy oral habits you can do at home instead.

Ultrasonic Plaque Removers, Metal Tooth Picks and More…Oh my!
One of the most popular DIY teeth cleaning methods nowadays is using ultrasonic plaque removers or metal tooth picks in an effort to clean your teeth like a dental hygienist would. While this method may seem appealing, especially if it means saving a trip to the dentist’s office, it can potentially be very dangerous. Ultrasonic plaque removers are known for being too aggressive and causing gum recession by attacking healthy tissue along with bacteria. Metal tooth picks, on the other hand, can cause damage to enamel and even lead to broken fillings or crowns if used improperly. There is a reason a dental hygienist has years of specialized training and use high end specialized equipment to conduct your teeth cleanings – because they are essential!

Healthy Oral Habits You Can Do At Home
Fortunately, there are lots of healthy habits that you can do from the comfort of your own home that will help keep your mouth clean and healthy—without having to risk any nasty side effects! Brush twice daily for two minutes each time with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste. Floss once per day in order to remove buildup from between your teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach. Remember when you floss to work both sides of the tooth attempting to wrap around the corners with long strokes. Consider adding an antibacterial mouthwash into your routine as well; this will help kill harmful bacteria that could lead to decay or gum disease. Finally, visit your dentist every 6 months for regular checkups so they can make sure everything is up-to-par! They can quickly identify small issues and correct them before they become BIG issues that come with expense and pain.

Conclusion:
It goes without saying that leaving professional teeth cleaning up to the professionals is always a best practice when it comes maintaining good oral hygiene over time. Sure, there are plenty of DIY tools out there claiming they can replicate what a dental hygienist does—but why risk any side effects when there are plenty of healthy habits you can do at home? Stick with brushing twice daily (for two minutes), flossing once per day, adding an antibacterial mouthwash into the rotation, and visit us here at Crossings Dental about every 6 months for checkups—and you won’t have anything to worry about! Working together with us and our friendly dental hygienists will deliver long term results without risking any unnecessary side effects or damage done in the process.