The Gift of Oral Health

This Holiday Give the Gift of Oral Health

I was surprised as a Dental Hygienist working independently in Brantford Ontario, just how often I am asked about the best kinds of oral aids to give during the holiday season. Apparently, I am not the only one determined to fight the ‘evil gingivitis.’

After several years, I decided to come up with a list of products that can help any person on your nice list.

5 Holiday gifts that give oral health:

1.       Myomucnhee

2.       Water Flosser

3.       Power tooth brush

4.       Soft Piks

5.       Xylitol mints and gums

1.       The Myomuchee is a silicone oral appliance that helps to treat the symptoms of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders like grinding and snoring, by strengthening the muscle of the oral cavity. Available through Myomunchee.com, this innovative product is a game changer for mouth breathers and tongue thrusters as well.

2.       Water Flossers are great at doing a job that many people avoid doing. This nifty gadget uses a stream of water to loosen food and plaque debris from in between teeth. The mechanical action is often easier to adapt, especially for children, orthodontic patients, and the elderly.

3.       Power tooth brushes are amazing at reducing plaque and imflammation along the gum line, but there is a huge range of prices and functions. Personally, I recommend a power toothbrush that is rechargeable, and has a pressure sensor to let you know if you are pushing too hard. Some other great features that can be included include different speed settings, different size heads to suit your comfort or sensory needs, and some even include Bluetooth positioning technology to let you know places you are missing when you brush!

4.       Soft piks are some of my personal favourite oral care accessories. Made by Sunstar GUM, these interdental aids are a great choice for men who struggle to floss due to large hands, those who struggle with the technique of flossing or have dexterity issues, and those with bigger spaces between their teeth or orthodontic brackets. Quick and easy to use, Soft Piks come in 2 varieties: Traditional – a flat straight pik, and Advanced- a curved pik great for accessing back teeth.  By simply passing the pick back and forth between teeth, one is able to quickly and easily disturb bacteria and reduce gingival inflammation.

5.       Xylitol mints and gums. 6-10mg/day of Xylitol is a great recommendation for people who get cavities easily, or have dry mouths, and has shown in research to be an excellent method for helping to reduce cavities in children and seniors. Brands such as Trident, and PUR offer Xyliotol gums and mints in a variety of flavours. A word of caution however, Xylitol is dangerous if ingested by pets, who cannot metabolize natural sweeteners the same way humans do!

Gifting oral health aids is a great way to encourage not only oral health; but by reducing inflammation helps to improve overall health as well! Setting your family up for positive tooth care habits can reduce pain, improve overall health, reduce the risk for diseases like heart disease and Alzheimer’s and help give your family the beautiful smile they deserve!