If your idea of dental care stops at brushing twice a day and the once-every-half-decade dentist visits, then there’s probably a lot you’re missing. Putting off proper home oral care can lead to worse problems down the line. As annoying as it might seem in the short run, properly caring for your teeth and gums will spare you from seriously unpleasant visits to the dentist in the long run. In fact, good dental care can come in the form of using the same tools dentists use in the comfort of your own bathroom.
A good dental kit can include things like scrapers, picks, and even mirrors to help you see what you’re doing. A pick is an especially handy tool for removing pieces of food, and it can be helpful for removing plaque as well. Removing plaque is important — left unattended, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. If that’s not convincing enough, it can also cause bad breath. But perhaps the most convincing reason to invest in a home dental care kit is to keep your dental visits as short as possible.
With that in mind, these are the best dental picks and hygiene kits to keep you smiling.
1. Dental Duty Professional Kit
This kit from Dental Duty includes several pieces of equipment that you might expect to see at a dentist’s office. Included in the kit are a mirror, a scaler, a tartar scraper, and a dental toothpick. The tools are made out of stainless steel and feature ergonomic textured grips for easy handling. Each tool besides the mirror is double-sided, meaning you have more clean implements at your disposal.
Pros: Includes a plastic case that comes in various colors, so you can get different ones for each member of your household. Comes with 4 essential tools.
Cons: Sharp, so users should be careful with these tools.
2. GUM Soft-Picks Original Dental Picks
If you’re looking for something gentler, these dental picks from GUM have soft rubber bristles. The set consists of plastic picks for cleaning between teeth. Each pick has soft rubber bristles at the end, making them safer to use than metal varieties. The picks are single-use, and this value pack comes with 320 pieces.
Pros: Value pack consists of 320 picks. Single-use pick has gentle rubber bristles on the end, making them easier to use than steel picks.
Cons: Picks tend to bend too easily.
3. Waterpik Water Flosser
Want a deep and satisfying clean? Consider the Waterpik flosser, which features a plastic tip that reaches between your teeth and shoots water to thoroughly clean your teeth of food debris. The Waterpik flosser has multiple modes and speed settings, so you can gently clean or clear hard-to-clean areas. The tip rotates as well for a more comfortable angle. The Waterpik’s reservoir holds 22 ounces, meaning you won’t be constantly refilling.
Pros: Powerful and convenient. ADA accepted. Multiple modes.
Cons: Bulky size takes up a lot of space.