Oral hygiene problems
Let's start with the basics: make sure you're brushing and flossing properly to help prevent plaque buildup and bad breath.
How to Floss Your Teeth Wondering how to floss your teeth properly? Good! Flossing is an important part of your daily oral hygiene routine, so it's great…
How to Brush Your Teeth Are you wondering how to properly brush your teeth? Brushing our teeth is something most of us have done for as long…
Dental Plaque What is dental plaque? What is tartar? And what's the difference between the two? Dental plaque and tartar are related, but they…
Bad Breath (Halitosis) Bad breath: nobody wants it, nobody wants the people around them to have it, and yet most of us experience it from…
Oral care products
From toothbrushes to tongue scrapers, choose the right products to make your oral hygiene routine effortless – even enjoyable?
Electric Toothbrushes This is a review of the best electric toothbrush for 2024. We reviewed 30 of the top toothbrushes…
Oral-B Vs. Sonicare As the two longest-running and best-selling brands in electric toothbrushes, it's only natural to ask, when it comes…
Water Flossers A good water flosser will help you keep your mouth healthy, clean and pain-free, just like regular floss,…
Toothpaste Guide What is the best toothpaste? We looked into the toothpastes on the market today, and found the top…
Best Mouthwash This is a review of the best mouthwash, whether you have gum disease, tonsil stones, or want fresher…
Tongue Scrapers Are you in the market for a tongue scraper? Want to know the best way to get rid of…
Electric Toothbrushes This is a review of the best electric toothbrush for 2024. We reviewed 30 of the top toothbrushes…
Oral-B Vs. Sonicare As the two longest-running and best-selling brands in electric toothbrushes, it's only natural to ask, when it comes…
Water Flossers A good water flosser will help you keep your mouth healthy, clean and pain-free, just like regular floss,…
Toothpaste Guide What is the best toothpaste? We looked into the toothpastes on the market today, and found the top…
Best Mouthwash This is a review of the best mouthwash, whether you have gum disease, tonsil stones, or want fresher…
Tongue Scrapers Are you in the market for a tongue scraper? Want to know the best way to get rid of…
Toothbrush guides
Electric or manual? Nylon or silicone bristles? Whatever your preferences, there's a toothbrush out there to suit you. Check out some of the latest innovations making toothbrushes more effective than ever.
Whitening Toothbrushes Looking for the best whitening toothbrush? The truth is that a toothbrush can only do so much when…
Electric Toothbrushes This is a review of the best electric toothbrush for 2024. We reviewed 30 of the top toothbrushes…
Kids' Toothbrushes Buying your child’s first toothbrush is a significant parental milestone. As they grow, their toothbrush needs will change,…
Manual Toothbrushes This is a review of the best manual toothbrush for cavities and whitening. We reviewed dozens of the…
Silicone Toothbrushes If you have especially sensitive teeth and gums, you might find that you prefer to use a silicone…
Whitening Toothbrushes Looking for the best whitening toothbrush? The truth is that a toothbrush can only do so much when…
Electric Toothbrushes This is a review of the best electric toothbrush for 2024. We reviewed 30 of the top toothbrushes…
Kids' Toothbrushes Buying your child’s first toothbrush is a significant parental milestone. As they grow, their toothbrush needs will change,…
Manual Toothbrushes This is a review of the best manual toothbrush for cavities and whitening. We reviewed dozens of the…
Silicone Toothbrushes If you have especially sensitive teeth and gums, you might find that you prefer to use a silicone…
Toothpaste guides
Which toothpaste should you use? It's important to find one that not only tastes good to you, but also meets your oral care needs. Our guides will help you find the best toothpaste for whitening, sensitivity, gum care & more.
Whitening Toothpastes What is the best whitening toothpaste of 2024? Some of the best options come from well-known brands like…
Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Many people are looking at alternative toothpaste brands for fluoride-free toothpaste options. Although the issue of fluoridation may…
Sensitivity Toothpastes With so many choices, it's hard to know where to begin your search. Trying to find the best…
Kids' Toothpastes Looking for the best toothpaste for kids and babies in the US? Here we’ll give you the information…
High Fluoride Toothpastes Is high fluoride toothpaste safe? Fluoride is a mineral found in water across the US and is both…
Toothpaste Tablets Toothpaste tablets, also called ‘tooth tabs,' are little tablets that you chew and let mix with your saliva…
Whitening Toothpastes What is the best whitening toothpaste of 2024? Some of the best options come from well-known brands like…
Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Many people are looking at alternative toothpaste brands for fluoride-free toothpaste options. Although the issue of fluoridation may…
Sensitivity Toothpastes With so many choices, it's hard to know where to begin your search. Trying to find the best…
Kids' Toothpastes Looking for the best toothpaste for kids and babies in the US? Here we’ll give you the information…
High Fluoride Toothpastes Is high fluoride toothpaste safe? Fluoride is a mineral found in water across the US and is both…
Toothpaste Tablets Toothpaste tablets, also called ‘tooth tabs,' are little tablets that you chew and let mix with your saliva…
Natural tooth care
Prefer to take a natural approach to your oral hygiene? Check out these eco-friendly dental products or have a go at making your own.
Charcoal Toothpastes What is the best charcoal toothpaste? Whether you are looking for an activated charcoal toothpaste to whiten teeth or freshen breath, there…
Natural Mouthwashes Looking to switch to a more natural mouthwash? With all sorts of options to choose from, it can be an overwhelming task…
Charcoal Toothbrushes Thinking about trying out a charcoal toothbrush? Activated charcoal has recently become popular in oral hygiene products as a natural way to…
Natural Toothpaste Recipes Are you considering natural toothpaste as an alternative to large commercial brands? If so, then you are joining the growing ranks of…
Natural Tooth Care Most people really hate going to the dentist. The sound of the drills sends chills down your spine, and the thought of…
Plastic-Free Dental Floss So, you're interested in plastic-free dental floss? Great! It may not seem like much, but every little bit helps when it comes…
Toothbrush reviews
After a high-tech toothbrush or something more budget-friendly? Check these reviews to discover one that suits you.
Oral-B iO Review The iO brush is Oral-B's latest release and features AI technology to help you improve your brushing technique and in this Oral-B…
Snow LED Toothbrush You probably know about the Snow home teeth whitening system, but did you know that there's also a Snow LED toothbrush? This…
CariPRO Electric Toothbrush The CariPRO Ultrasonic Toothbrush is an electric toothbrush that cleans teeth with 40,000 vibrations per minute. This brush has everything required to…
FOREO Toothbrush Review Our comprehensive FOREO toothbrush review has all of the information you need to decide if this is the right electric toothbrush for…
Bruush Review The Brüush toothbrush cleans teeth with sonic vibrations and has six brushing modes for personalization. You can choose to purchase the toothbrush…
Mode Toothbrush Review There are numerous excellent electric and ultrasonic toothbrushes available today, and still, the Mode electric toothbrush stands out from the crowd. The…
Oclean Toothbrush Review Are you considering getting an Oclean toothbrush, but not sure if it’s the right electric toothbrush for you? Oclean is becoming more…
Visiting a dental hygienist
Even with all these efforts, you'll still need to visit a hygieniest from time to time. Learn about what these dental hygiene procedures involve and how much they cost.
Deep Cleaning If you're reading this article, it may be because your dentist has recommended that you get a deep teeth cleaning. This might…
Teeth Cleaning If you're concerned about oral health, you may have some questions about teeth cleaning. Like, what does a deep teeth cleaning at…
What is oral hygiene?
‘Oral hygiene' is a general term that describes the practice of keeping your mouth clean and free from disease or infections.
At a basic level, this means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. This helps remove harmful plaque that has built up on your teeth. Some people like to use a tongue scraper too, to remove debris from their tongue.
If you're not a fan of flossing with traditional string floss, you could try a water flosser instead. These electric devices shoot a jet of water between your teeth to dislodge food and plaque stuck there. They are less fiddly to use than floss, and also considerably quicker.
And what about brushing your teeth? You may have done this every day for as long as you can remember, but it's helpful to remind yourself of the correct technique from time to time. Rather than brushing from side to side, you should use small circular motions to be most effective and avoid harming your gums.
Your choice of toothpaste and toothbrush can make a big difference to how enjoyable and effective your oral hygiene routine is.
If you often find yourself forgetting to brush, or you're guilty of stopping short of the recommended two minutes, perhaps a smart toothbrush would be a good investment. AI technology can track where you brush, and feed this information back to you via an app. In this way, you can immediately see whether you missed any teeth the first time around.
Visiting a hygienist
Taking care of your teeth and gums doesn't stop at home. Even the best toothbrush in the world can only do so much, and it's a good idea to also visit your dentist or hygienist for regular cleanings and check-ups.
A dental hygienist uses specialist cleaning equipment to dislodge any plaque that has hardened into tartar. Tartar can't be removed by brushing alone, so if you notice a visible white buildup on or between your teeth, it's time to book a hygienist appointment for a teeth cleaning.
The frequency of your hygienist appointments will depend a little on the condition of your teeth and mouth. Some people only need to visit every 12-18 months, whereas others might need cleanings as often as every three months, if they are at particular risk. You should follow the advice of your dental team on this.
If you take good care of your oral hygiene then you shouldn't have to worry about bad breath. However, this can be a result of other problems such as digestive issues. If you're concerned about bad breath even though you take good care of your mouth, it might be worth getting it checked out by a doctor.
All in all, the more you pay attention to your oral hygiene now, the less likely you are to experience expensive and painful problems with your teeth later in life.
