Marcia’s Recommendations

Marcia’s Recommendations

I have some go-to products that recommend on a regular basis.  Although I try to provide individualized care and really tailor my treatment and recommendations to each client’s personal situation, I undeniably have some favourite products that I recommend on a really regular basis.  Here is a quick overview of some of my favourite oral hygiene tools.  Oh, and full disclosure, if you purchase the products on Amazon through my website I do receive a percentage of the amount of your purchase.  So if you like my recommendations, please consider re-ordering through my website to help support the Barry’s Bay Dental Hygiene Clinic.

Power toothbrushes

Power toothbrushes have been shown to be more effective at removing plaque than a manual toothbrush. The oscillating rotating action of an Oral-B power brush has been shown to be superior in plaque removal in comparison with a vibrating brush.

Oral-B PRo 500

A great, simple, power brush to start with is the Oral-B Pro 500. This model is a rechargeable model, has an on/off button, a built-in two-minute timer, and won’t break the bank.

Oral-B Pro 5000 or Oral-B Genius 8000

These brushes could be considered the Cadillac of power brushes, the best of the best.  They use an oscillating rotating action which has been proven to remove the most plaque.   They have a built-in two-minute timer with 30-second quadrant switch indicators, a rechargeable battery, multiple options for settings and built-in pressure sensors to prevent you from causing damage to your gum tissue.

Both have a Bluetooth feature which allows you to link your toothbrush to your smartphone to get real-time feedback about your brushing.

Oral-B Replacement Brush Heads

The nice thing about Oral B brushes is that whether you buy the low-end Oral-B Vitality toothbrush or a top of the line Genius power brush the brush heads are interchangeable and can be personalized.

• If you have temperature sensitivity, light tartar buildup, or gum recession an Oral-B sensitive brush head is likely a good idea.
• If you get a lot of food debris or tartar buildup between your teeth, have gingivitis or periodontitis an Oral-B Flossaction brush head would be a good choice for you.
• If you develop a lot of plaque and/or tartar buildup along your gumline, have gingivitis or periodontitis, or are just looking for a good overall brush head to use the Oral-B Crossaction brush head is a good choice.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a topic of conversation a lot in my Clinic.  I find myself moving away from pharmaceutical type toothpaste and products.  It seems like one brand admits they are adding microbeads of plastic, while another is using toxic ingredients such as Triclosan, and then there is the fluoride debate to consider as well.   I have two favourite pastes.

Nelson Naturals Citrus Spice Toothpaste with Thievery Blend 

This is my go-to recommendation for those battling gum disease.  It has natural ingredients to decrease inflammation, it is anti-microbial, neutralizes the mouth, contains remineralizing ingredients, and has NO preservatives and NO fluoride.  I use this paste myself!

Remin Toothpaste

Remin toothpaste is fairly new on the market.  It is a remineralizing toothpaste that does not use fluoride.  The Xylitol in it is sourced from non-GMO corn cobs and it uses nano-hydroxyapatite (the same calcium and phosphorous molecules that makeup enamel) to strengthen the enamel.  This is a wonderful paste for people who are prone to decay, for those with braces as it prevents demineralization while wearing gear that can be next to impossible to keep plaque free, and can even help remineralize areas damaged by injury, dentistry, and help treat sensitivity due to open tubules.

For Dry Mouth

Dry mouth can be a real pain.  With more people experiencing dry mouth due to cancer treatment, medications like antidepressants and blood pressure medications, and cannabis use, the prevalence of dry mouth is increasing.  Dry mouth can be very uncomfortable, can make it hard to eat or swallow and can cause an uncomfortable, burning sensation.  Without saliva the risk of developing cavities skyrockets. Things are improving in the way of saliva stimulants and substitutes!

Mouth Kote Saliva Substitute

Mouth Kote is a mouth spray made of natural ingredients.  It acts like a lubricant to replace the saliva that is not being produced by the salivary glands. It also has ingredients to help remineralize and protect the teeth.  Mouth Kote has been a huge hit with many of my clients as it is not as sticky or goopy as some of the early saliva substitute products were.

Xylitol Saliva Stimulants

Xylitol is a naturally occurring alcohol in plants such as corn, mushrooms, and hardwood trees, etc.  It is unique as it has been used as a sweetener to replace sugar and is safe for diabetics to use.  Xylitol can be purchased as a raw granular material (looks almost exactly like sugar), in candy form, gum, and now in Xylimelts as well.  Xylitol not only stimulates saliva, it remineralizes the teeth and protects against decay.  Be careful though, Xylitol is poisonous to your dog!

My favourite Xylitol products: