September is Dental Health Day, which is meant to remind us how important thorough dental care is for our overall health. Everyday tooth brushing is already part of the routine for most people. New, innovative products are constantly finding their way onto the shelves of the markets. Be it toothbrushes or toothpaste, the range is overwhelming. We clarify which toothbrush has which advantages and disadvantages and which toothpaste takes good care of your teeth.
Did you know that..
– the AOK Saxony-Anhalt subsidizes professional dental cleanings? – dental health has a great influence on general health? – Toothpaste is easy to make yourself?
Daily dental care is hopefully part of everyday life for each of us. If you occasionally forget to take care of your teeth, it's not a big deal at first. But with a permanent lack of dental hygiene, the health risk increases. Damage to teeth and bacteria in the oral cavity can cause many acute and chronic diseases. If dental care is lacking, plaque and plaque will develop. They produce additional acid that attacks the tooth enamel. And this in turn causes diseases such as tooth decay and chronic gingivitis, also called periodontitis. It can even lead to the death of the teeth. Inflammation of the roots of the teeth come. The roots of the teeth are anchored in the jaw, which can then affect the jaw as well. These very conditions affect overall, physical health.
Damaged tooth roots can allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and attack organs and nerves. Periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of heart attack-. associated with the risk of stroke. And problems with the jaw can lead to back pain, headaches, neck problems and ringing in the ears. So there are many reasons to take dental care seriously. We have summarized tips for proper dental care for you in this article. The basic things we need for brushing our teeth, toothbrush and toothpaste, are on the market in many different variations. It is easy to lose the overview. But what to look for when buying?
Which toothbrush is right for me?
The big question consumers often ask themselves is: Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush?
The answer is not so simple. The bottom line is that an electric toothbrush with the many rotations of the brush head does make brushing easier, but it does not make it easier to clean the teeth. But in comparison with the manual toothbrush, it is mainly the technology that counts. When brushing thoroughly, the manual toothbrush is in no way inferior to the electric one. The brush that is actually more effective than the two types mentioned is the sonic toothbrush. This works with sound energy in the high frequency range. As a result, the brush head moves about ten times faster than the purely electric toothbrush and a hundred times faster than the manual toothbrush. However, sonic toothbrushes are also more expensive than other brush options.
A sustainable alternative to the familiar plastic toothbrushes has also found its way into drugstores in recent years: the wooden toothbrush.
Wooden toothbrushes are often made from bamboo, a rapidly renewable resource, and in the best cases are completely biodegradable. They are just as effective as classic plastic toothbrushes. What you should note about the sustainable brushes, however, is that they do not have natural bristles. Natural bristles are hollow, and bacteria can settle in these cavities. More hygienic are bristles made of organic nylon, which is made from castor oil.
What you can always look for when buying toothbrushes, is that you buy medium-hard to soft brushes. In addition, the bristles should be rounded. This ensures that the toothbrush is gentle on the gums and also cleans the narrow spaces between the teeth in the best possible way.
What to consider when buying toothpaste?
As with toothbrushes, the range of toothpaste products is very large. New products with new additives appear on the market almost every day.
One of the main substances that has been added to toothpaste for many years is Fluoride. Fluoride is a natural trace element that is also present in our body. It helps to build and maintain bones and teeth and prevents caries. This is why we find it in so many toothpastes. In the dental cavity it forms a protective layer that covers the teeth, penetrates the caries bacteria and slows down their metabolism. So the bacteria produce less acid.
Fluoride is actually a chemical compound based on the gas fluorine, which is toxic in its pure form. Fluoride poisoning can have many consequences. The teeth and bones, which fluoride otherwise supports, are attacked in case of poisoning and can be damaged in the long run. For this reason, there are also many skeptics who consider fluoride in toothpaste unnecessary and dangerous. However, it has been scientifically proven that fluoride-containing toothpaste does not pose a risk, especially for adults in Germany. Our drinking water and food are contaminated at very low levels. Nevertheless, it is recommended to use only one fluoride-containing product for dental care. Especially if you are already prescribed fluoride tablets by your dentist, you should use a toothpaste without fluoride. For children, the dosage should be kept even lower.
Some products also advertise Zinc as an additive. For adults, zinc in toothpaste is fine. With longer use zinc helps against plaque, tartar and against gingivitis and bad breath. But zinc is also problematic in overdose, as it can weaken the immune and nervous systems and lead to anemia. This is precisely why it is important that children and young people do not use toothpastes with added zinc. They absorb their zinc requirements with food.
Can toothpaste whiten teeth?
Whitening toothpaste was a big trend a few years ago. The idea of simply getting whiter teeth at home is naturally tempting. In the meantime, however, these products are viewed rather critically. The substances and lubricating gel particles contained in the toothpaste, which are supposed to remove discoloration from the teeth, can attack the tooth substance. A new and more sustainable variant to these whitening pastes is the black toothpaste, the Activated charcoal contains. Activated charcoal is supposed to bind dirt and has a scrubbing effect that removes discoloration. Another positive aspect is that activated charcoal cannot be overdosed.
A sustainable alternative to the tube
More and more people today want to live their lives more sustainably and ecologically. Changes in the dental care routine can be a big step here and are surprisingly simple. We have already discussed the wooden toothbrush. However, there are now many sustainable products in the toothpaste sector as well. From dental tabs that are chewed before brushing to toothpaste in a jar that does not contain any chemicals. However, it is not that difficult to make toothpaste yourself. For the simple basic recipe, you only need two things: 4 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 tablespoons of fine baking soda powder. You heat the coconut oil briefly in a water bath. As soon as it starts to become liquid, add the baking soda and mix everything well. Coconut oil has an antibacterial and antifungal effect, baking soda is an abrasive that removes plaque and creates a good pH level in the mouth.