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 | health information | health factsheets
Tooth care products
Published by BUPA's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, January 2008.
This factsheet is for people who would like information about tooth care products.
Tooth care products, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss, help keep your teeth clean and prevent conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease. There is a wide range of products available. This factsheet explains some of the different types, what they do and how you should use them.
Toothpaste
The main purpose of toothpaste is to help clean your teeth but also to provide fluoride. In small amounts fluoride can help prevent tooth decay. It's found in many foods and tap water, although depending on where you live there may be more or less fluoride in the water. In some areas, fluoride has been added to drinking water supplies. This has caused some controversy because some people believe that this may be harmful. However, research has shown that there appears to be very little evidence that the levels of fluoride added to drinking water cause harm.
You should be aware that if young children have too much fluoride, it can lead to a condition called fluorosis. Although this isn't harmful, it means that their permanent teeth develop a mottled and stained appearance. Therefore, it's best to use only a very small amount of toothpaste when your children are brushing their teeth and keep a close eye on them to make sure they don't swallow too much. You can find out how much fluoride is in your toothpaste by looking on the box - this will be given as "ppmF", meaning parts per million of fluoride.
There are many different types of toothpaste on offer. Your dentist will be able to give you more information about which are the most suitable ones for you and your family.
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Standard toothpastes (eg Aquafresh) usually contain between 1,000 to 1,500ppmF. They contain mild abrasives such as calcium carbonate, which give the toothpaste its cleaning power. There will also be a detergent in it such as sodium lauryl sulphate and there are flavourings and ingredients such as sorbitol to give the toothpaste a good consistency and make it foam up.
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Children's toothpastes (eg Macleans Milk Teeth) contain less fluoride than standard toothpastes, usually about half the amount. This helps to limit the amount of fluoride that children may swallow when they are brushing their teeth.
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Sensitive toothpastes (eg Sensodyne) block tiny channels that may have opened up on your teeth making them sensitive to hot and cold. As well as the ingredients found in standard toothpastes, these contain active desensitising elements such as strontium chloride, potassium chloride or potassium citrate.
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Whitening toothpastes (eg Colgate Total Plus Whitening) contain added ingredients that may remove superficial stains from the enamel covering your teeth. However, the colour of your teeth is determined by the layer underneath (dentine) and they don't appear to change the colour of this. Whitening toothpastes can be abrasive and so some dentists advise you to use them only with manual toothbrushes and not electric ones. Always follow the instructions on the toothpaste packet.
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Natural toothpastes don't contain fluoride and only usually contain natural ingredients from plants and minerals.
Toothbrushes
There are many different types of toothbrush available, both manual and electric. Ideally, it's a good idea to choose one that:
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has a small head so it's easier to move around inside your mouth
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has bristles made of nylon that are not too hard
There is some evidence to suggest that certain electric toothbrushes may be more effective at removing plaque and preventing gum inflammation. These are the ones that work with a rotation oscillation movement - this means that the toothbrush head spins in opposite directions in quick bursts. Other electric toothbrushes don't seem to be any more effective than manual ones, but the novelty value may appeal to children and make them more likely to brush their teeth.
Most dentists recommend that you should replace your toothbrush every two to three months.
Your dentist and/or dental hygienist will be able to give you advice about how to brush your teeth properly.
Interdental cleaning
There are many interdental cleaning tools such as dental floss and interdental brushes that can help you clean between your teeth and under your gumline. Some of these are described here.
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Dental floss is a thin thread that may be waxed or unwaxed. Some types have a mint flavouring that may make flossing more pleasant.
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Dental tape is like floss but flat and wider. You use it in the same way you use dental floss - some people find it a little easier.
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Wood sticks can also be used to clean between your teeth and massage your gums to stimulate blood flow.
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Interdental brushes are another alternative if you find flossing a problem.
Your dentist may be able to recommend other products to help you keep your gums healthy. Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to show you the correct way to use them as otherwise you may damage your gums.
Dental floss is a thread that you can use to clean between your teeth. The basic technique is:
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take a length of the floss (about 45cm) and wrap it round the middle finger of each hand
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keep about 5cm of floss between your fingers and gently rock it down between your teeth
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pull the floss tight, slide it up and down against your tooth surface and under your gumline
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repeat this action for both sides of all your teeth making sure that you use a clean length of floss for each one
Mouthwash
The best way to get rid of plaque is through brushing and flossing your teeth, but mouthwashes can be helpful as an extra method of cleaning. You may wish to use one to rinse out your mouth after brushing and this can help to get rid of any remaining bacteria or pieces of food.
There are many different mouthwashes available and they do a variety of things.
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Fluoride mouthwashes - if your dentist thinks you need additional fluoride to strengthen your teeth, he or she may suggest you use a fluoride mouthwash. A commonly used
solution is sodium fluoride. The concentration will vary depending on how often you are meant to use the mouthwash.
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Antiseptic mouthwashes - your dentist may recommend an antiseptic mouthwash if you suffer from bad breath (halitosis) or if you have a gum or mouth infection. You may also find them useful in helping your mouth to heal after having a tooth removed or other dental surgery. Many of these products contain a chemical called chlorhexidine, which helps to prevent the growth of bacteria. However, you should not use these mouthwashes for long periods of time as they can stain your teeth.
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Total care mouthwashes - these help to control decay and freshen your breath.
You should be aware that some mouthwashes contain alcohol. Check the list of ingredients if you are concerned about this.
Plaque disclosing tablets
You may find it helpful to use these as they show up areas that you might have missed when brushing your teeth. They contain a dye that stains any plaque that is left on your teeth. They won't remove the plaque but once it's highlighted you can brush your teeth again to get rid of it.
Further information
Sources
- Water related diseases. Fluorosis. World Health Organization.
www.who.int
accessed 17 April 2007
- Fluoride. British Dental Health Foundation.
www.dentalhealth.org.uk
accessed 17 April 2007
- Wray D, Wray A. Understanding your teeth and mouth. 1st ed. Oxon: Family Doctor Series in association with the British Medical Association,2000
- Ingredient analysis: Aquafresh toothpaste. Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford.
www.chem.ox.ac.uk
accessed 17 April 2007
- Caring for my teeth. British Dental Health Foundation.
www.dentalhealth.org.uk
accessed 17 April 2007
- Mitchell DA, Mitchell L. Oxford Handbook of Clinical Dentistry. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
- Public assessment report: Colgate Sensitive Care toothpaste. Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
www.mhra.gov.uk
accessed 2 May 2007
- Sharif N, MacDonald E, Hughes J, Newcombe RG, Addy M. The chemical stain removal properties of 'whitening' toothpaste products: studies in vitro. Br Dent J 2000; 188(11):620-624
- Oral care products. British Dental Health Foundation.
www.dentalhealth.org.uk
accessed 17 April 2007
- Finding the right toothbrush for you. British Dental Association.
www.bdasmile.org
accessed 17 April 2007
- Robinson PG et al. Manual versus powered toothbrushing for oral health. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD002281. pub2
- Which toothbrush? Bandolier.
www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier
accessed 17 April 2007
- Flossing. British Dental Association.
www.bdasmile.org
accessed 17 April 2007
- To rinse or not to rinse. British Dental Association.
www.bdasmile.org
accessed 17 April 2007
Related topics
This information was published by BUPA's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Dr Brian Franks BDS (U. Lond) LDS RCS (Eng) MFGDP (UK) FPFA ACIArb, clinical director - dentistry - BUPA Wellness, and by BUPA doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: January 2008. Expected review date: January 2010.
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