Online Dental Gadgets: In the last few years there has been a surge of new products that have flooded the market. Many of us have seen influencers promoting products on social media.

Online Dental Gadgets

Dental gadgets are the latest trend in this style of marketing and the sales are off the charts. Before you succumb to this clever marketing, have a scroll below, to see what the research suggests about these products.

Sonic U-Shaped Toothbrush

These U-Shaped Toothbrushes sure are cute, but are they as effective as a manual toothbrush or a rotary electric toothbrush?

These work by biting gently into the toothpaste-filled guards and switching on the electric switch. The nodules or bristles within the tray are meant to vibrate the plaque and food remnants off teeth, but research shows us they don’t remove much at all.

A large amount of toothpaste needs to be loaded into the upper and lower parts of the guard at the same time. Most people find that their saliva builds up quickly in the guards when brushing, becoming uncomfortable quickly, so there is the need to spit often.

This dental gadgets probably is of some benefit, but to far less people than the manufacturers suggest. For children that refuse to brush with a manual or regular electric toothbrush, the U-shaped toothbrush is probably better than using nothing. Probably not by a lot though. This may be a good transition or bargaining tool to get children to transition to a regular toothbrush.

Factory Made Whitening trays with lights

This is a pre-made set of whitening trays that are attached to a light. There are tubes of whitening gel with this kit. The gel is squirted into the trays that you bite onto.

The gel that is supplied with this style of whitening kit is ineffective at shade improvement as it doesn’t contain enough bleaching agent. The only place to purchase a whitening kit that is effective is from a dentist, as this is a controlled medication. These dental gadgets usually contain ingredients that dehydrate the enamel, giving a “chalky” white appearance.

Many people are fooled by this until the teeth are rehydrated within 48 hours of finishing the whitening process when the enamel returns to its previous colour.  The light is a gimmick and only contributes to the dehydration of the enamel, it doesn’t whiten it as social media suggests.

If you are interested in whitening your teeth, we suggest using one of the proven methods. Find the link HERE to our blog about Tooth whitening.

Purple “Toning” toothpaste, also known as Blue Covarine Toothpaste

The claim with this product is that it works by depositing Blue Covarine which neutralises yellow tones on all surfaces, including veneers, crowns and even dentures.

There is no research that proves that any toning purple toothpastes work to change the colour of teeth. In fact, the way that this product works is by optical illusion and alters the perception of tooth whiteness.

According to the hairdresser that developed one of these products, the purple toning toothpaste can be used as a replacement for regular toothpaste, however it doesn’t contain fluoride so won’t provide any protection against decay. Also, these products contain a high percentage of silica particles, which are abrasive, and these contribute to tooth abrasion and sensitivity.

We suggest avoiding “Toning Toothpaste”. Instead, ensure you are using a Fluoride toothpaste to reduce risk of decay. The big brands of toothpaste such as Colgate, Oral B, Macleans and Sensodyne all contain fluoride.

After brushing we suggest that you spit out the excess paste, but NOT rinse it with water. This allows the remnants of the fluoride in the toothpaste to have prolonged exposure to the teeth and reduce the risk of cavities.

Apple Cider Vinegar Detox, and the Lemon Detox Diet

Over the last 70 years, holistic practitioners, health food shops and influencers have spruiked these products as an easy way of improving overall health.

Usually, these products are recommended to be consumed as a drink several times every day, often with no other foods or drinks for up to a week., Amongst the many claims are that these products assist to reduce change metabolism and induce weight loss, reduce blood sugar, and prevent insulin resistance.  None of these claims have been proven in any scientific capacity.

Supposedly, these products reduce sweet cravings however this is likely to be related to the consumption of honey at the same time as these products, which is how they are recommended to be used. Consuming honey at frequent intervals also increases the frequency and severity of decay, as honey is a simple sugar- the ideal fuel for dental decay.

The frequent consumption of these drinks results in widespread dental enamel erosion due to the extreme acidity of these products. Once dental enamel is eroded, it doesn’t grow back.

With prolonged exposure to acids, the bacterial balance of the mouth will change vastly. The percentage of good bacteria will drop and there will be an increase in the numbers of bad bacteria in the mouth. The bacteria that cause gum problems and decay thrive in an acidic environment.

We strongly advise avoiding these products, as they lead to an increased risk of dental disease as well as erosion of tooth structure.