While not a replacement for daily brushing and flossing, use of mouthrinse (also called mouthwash) may be a helpful addition to the daily oral hygiene routine for some people. Like interdental cleaners, mouthrinse offers the benefit of reaching areas not easily accessed by a toothbrush. The question of whether to […]
Cannabis is a genus of annual flowering plants found in temperate zones around the world, with a long history of use for industrial, recreational and medicinal purposes. The use of cannabis, particularly marijuana smoking, has been associated with poor quality of oral health. Leukoedema is more common among cannabis users […]
Gum disease can sneak up on you if you don’t know what to look for. It starts out in a mild form called gingivitis, which rarely causes pain, so you’ll probably see the signs before you feel anything unusual. You might notice red, swollen gums or bleeding after you brush […]
Water flossing is a way to clean between and around your teeth. A water flosser is a handheld device that sprays streams of water in steady pulses. The water, like traditional floss, removes food from between teeth. Water flossers that have earned the ADA Seal of Acceptance have been tested […]
Dry mouth—also called xerostomia—results from an inadequate flow of saliva. It is not a disease, but a symptom of a medical disorder or a side effect of certain medications, such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers, diuretics and many others. Saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay and maintains […]
If you were to walk into a dentist’s office, you might find a great divide between people who are against the use of fluoride treatments and those who wish to have them. But many of the arguments against fluoride are rooted in a fear of how it was first discovered […]
Visiting a dentist for a professional teeth whitening treatment isn’t always in the cards — sometimes it doesn’t fit within your busy schedule or budget. But there are plenty of at-home alternatives to choose from, including two products from Colgate Optic White that just launched: a LED whitening kit that’s powered by your […]
Charcoal toothpaste, which is often marketed as a natural solution to clean and whiten teeth, may account for a portion of projected sales. With little research supporting claims that charcoal toothpaste can whiten teeth effectively and even less available confirming its safety, some dental professionals are hesitant to recommend it […]
Switching up our daily habits can be challenging. Especially if we’ve been doing something a certain way for years. For instance, there’s advice that you shouldn’t rinse your teeth with water after brushing. And now another new dental hygiene tip that’s circulating across TikTok says you should floss your teeth before you brush […]
When you think about your least favorite chores, flossing your teeth might be right up there with scrubbing the toilet. It’s a bothersome task that could easily be forgotten — but is forgoing flossing bad for your health? According to the American Dental Association (ADA), cleaning between our teeth with […]