Oral health is important, not just for your gums and teeth, but for your overall health. An example of the close connection between oral health and overall health is how your oral health can determine if you will have heart problems. Taking care of your teeth is not just about having a beautiful smile and great confidence, it’s a matter of your health. Many people, realizing the importance of working on their oral health, have experimented with a variety of dental gadgets. The question is, do these dental gadgets work?
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Flossing Devices
Flossing devices shoot mouthwash or water between your teeth. Essentially, they are pretty much like floss, except without any string. Flossing, in the traditional sense, is widely acknowledged by dentists to be a vital component of your daily dental routine, even if many people neglect to floss. Flossing gets at the bits of bacteria and plaque that settle between the teeth and which brushing cannot reach. It’s hard to find any objective measure of whether flossing devices work or are an improvement on traditional flossing, because the research tends to be funded by manufacturers. What objective research there is seems to suggest that traditional flossing is just as good as using flossing devices. The advantage that flossing devices have over traditional flossing is that if you have braces on, or have trouble with your dexterity, flossing devices are easier to use.
Tongue Scrapers
Dentists encourage people to brush their teeth. As much as bacteria and plaque may accumulate around your teeth, they may do so on your tongue, causing bad breath and other dental issues. Tongue scrapers are often touted as being better than regular brushing. However, reviewing the research suggests that tongue scrapers are not particularly useful. Indeed, there is research that suggests that halitosis (or chronic bad breath) cannot be improved with tongue scraping. In fact, some research suggests that bacteria can accumulate on the tongue as fast as it’s removed! It’s important to realise that halitosis is often a symptom of other dental problems, so focusing on the tongue neglects the root cause. Even if you are convinced about the importance of tongue scraping, it can only be a supplement to regular checkups with Drescher & Cohen dentists, brushing and flossing. There is no evidence to suggest that it will have any meaningful effect.
Wearable Toothbrushes
Wearable tooth brushes are worn pretty much like mouthguards. They use a combination of foaming toothpaste, tiny bristles and vibrations to brush your teeth, without you having to use your hands. A few models use blue and red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which the manufacturers claim act to kill bacteria as well as minimize the inflammation of the gums. There is very little research on the utility of wearable toothbrushes and what research there is not favourable. In 2020, one study found that the brands they reviewed were about as good as traditional brushing. There is no research that points to the efficacy of LED lights in improving oral health. Wearable toothbrushes are a complete waste of money. They are not an improvement on traditional toothbrushes or even electric toothbrushes. They are just one more way to get consumers to spend more money.
