Items to have in Your Dental Care Kit

Taking care of your teeth starts with you, but it’s tough when you don’t have proper tools. Many dentists will give their patients a “goodie” bag with a mini toothpaste, floss, and toothbrush inside. These items are the makings of a dental care kit that you should have in your home. If you open up your bathroom cupboard, you should be able to find the following items. 

Toothbrush

You should replace your toothbrush every three months to avoid bacteria building up in the bristles. You can replace your toothbrush sooner if you experienced sickness or if the bristles are looking frayed. Even if you get a free toothbrush from your dentist every six months, you should still have extra toothbrushes or toothbrush heads in your dental care kit. Your toothbrush should be soft-bristled as hard bristles can be abrasive on the teeth and less effective at removing plaque. 

Toothpaste

Since most dentists only supply a miniature toothpaste, it’s wise to have extra, larger toothpaste in your dental care kit. When choosing a toothpaste, select one that has the American Dental Association’s seal of acceptance and that includes fluoride in its ingredient list. Fluoride can help prevent cavities. Also, use your personal preference to decide what flavor toothpaste to use. 

Floss/Water Pick

Floss is an important part of your dental care kit. Some people use thread floss while some use floss picks. Both of these products help to remove food and plaque particles from your teeth that a toothbrush might have missed, especially between your teeth. Like toothpaste, floss comes in flavors. Choose a flavor you like to help motivate yourself to floss. 

Mouthwash

Mouthwash can help you achieve better-smelling breath, but it can also help to rinse away bacteria. Mouthwash can provide extra protection from cavities and gum disease, but you should steer away from alcohol-based mouthwashes as they lead to dry mouth. Your dentist may recommend a mouthwash to help reduce plaque buildup or a mouthwash with higher amounts of fluoride to prevent cavities. 

Teeth whitener

Many people use teeth whiteners for cosmetics, but it can still be an item to include in your dental care kit. Many people use teeth whitening strips to get their teeth pearly white, however, these are not as effective as dentist treatments. Dentists use a custom-fit tray and peroxide solution to bleach teeth. To avoid losing any of your teeth whitening materials, you can keep them in your dental kit. 

Retainer

Retainers are easy to lose and costly to replace. It’s important to wear your retainer every night if you have one to prevent your teeth from moving. Keeping your retainer case with the rest of your dental care items will help you remember to wear it and to put it away where it belongs. 

Pain medications

If you get a toothache or you’ve just had a dental procedure done, you might want to have some type of pain medication in your dental care kit. That way you can treat the problem right away and avoid prolonged feelings of pain. 

Having a dental care kit makes it easier for you to keep up with your oral health. You can easily visualize what you have to take care of your teeth with and you know when you are running low or need to replace something. Since taking care of your teeth starts with you, it’s important to have the right tools at your disposal.