Guest Post By: Amanda McIntyre
Who doesn’t want whiter teeth and better smiles, right?
It’s no secret that cosmetic dentistry is by far the most effective way to achieve your best smile. The problem is, not everyone can afford it.
A lot of people bank on trends and product recommendations in the hopes of making their teeth whiter and their smiles brighter. And while there’s nothing wrong with that, have you ever wondered how effective the products that you use are? How safe are the trends that you follow? Are they really good for your oral health?
Little do you know, the things and products that you swear by and use on a daily basis might be too abrasive for your teeth.
How abrasive is your toothpaste?
Isn’t it ironic that something you use to keep your mouth healthy can potentially harm it?
Most of us don’t put too much thought on the kind of toothpaste that we use. Since they’re all meant to clean the teeth, we merely assume that there’s little-to-no difference between the variety of brands available.
Abrasive chemical compounds are essential in removing plaque and whitening the teeth. However, some kinds of toothpaste may be too harsh.
While abrasiveness is useful to a certain extent, brushing your teeth with highly abrasive toothpaste a couple of times a day can erode the enamel, which is your teeth’s first line of defense against damage and cavities. Thus, picking out a highly abrasive toothpaste to achieve a cleaner and healthier mouth could be counterproductive.
To identify the abrasiveness of the toothpaste brands that you use, check for their RDA (relative dentin abrasivity) value. Anything over 100 RDA is considered highly abrasive. According to dentists, low-abrasion toothpastes (0-70 RDA) are best for sensitive teeth.
When looking into non-abrasive alternatives to the current toothpaste brand you’re using, try going for organic products like Essential Oxygen’s BR Organic Toothpaste. They can deliver the same results without the abrasion.
Hard-bristled toothbrushes – are they good for your mouth?
Well, here’s another shocker.
If you think brushing your teeth with gusto will clean your mouth better – you’re wrong.
There’s a common misconception that toothbrushes with harder bristles offer a more thorough cleaning. The truth is, dentists rarely recommend hard-bristled toothbrushes to their patients as they may only contribute to teeth and gum damage. Regularly using a hard toothbrush can erode the tooth enamel, lacerate the gums, and worsen tooth abrasion at the gum line.
Here’s the deal: there’s basically no reason at all to go for hard-bristled toothbrushes. The popular notion that harder bristles are better at removing plaque than softer ones isn’t enough justification. Besides, you don’t have to give your teeth a vigorous scrub all the time. Your toothpaste most likely has all the abrasion you need for a clean and fresh breath.
Is baking soda too abrasive?
This trusty kitchen staple has been making noises in the teeth-whitening sphere for some time now. In fact, many alternative and DIY toothpastes are using baking soda as their primary ingredients.
The claim that baking soda can help remove plaque and whiten teeth is not unfounded. However, studies have shown that using baking soda alone does nothing to help kill the bacteria in your mouth and may even promote the formation of cavities.
Moreover, the same abrasive qualities that are supposed to make your teeth whiter can also erode tooth enamel. Using baking soda or baking soda-heavy products for teeth whitening isn’t a healthy practice. If you’d like a more holistic approach to oral care, consider using natural and organic toothpastes as alternatives.
