7 Things You Should Know About Over-the-Counter Oral Hygiene Product Active Ingredients

Thinking about purchasing one or more oral hygiene products available over the counter? First of all, good for you for taking proactive measures so your oral health is always in the best shape it can be. The health of your mouth is extremely important to being able to feel good all the time. In order to be sure that your mouth health is always in tip-top shape, it is indeed necessary to do what you can to support your good oral health.

Over-the-counter oral hygiene products

Over-the-counter oral hygiene products include toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, teeth whitening products and teeth cleaning products. There are many variations on these products, as well as a variety of brands selling them. So, how does one choose the best oral hygiene products to address any particular dental issues? There are two options available, with the first being making an appointment with an experienced dentist to get their professional opinion. The second option is to look for the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance, which means they have evaluated the product to be both safe and effective.

Active ingredients

The United States Food and Drug Administration’s definition of an active ingredient is any component that provides pharmacological activity or other direct effect in a diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease or affects the structure or any function of the body. The American Dental Association recommends that dental patients consult with their dentist before choosing an over-the-counter oral hygiene product that includes active ingredients.

Seven things everyone should know

The following are seven things everyone should know before buying over-the-counter oral hygiene products.

1. Active ingredients often found in therapeutic mouthwash include cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine, essential oils, fluoride and peroxide
2. Fluoride is an anti-cavity active ingredient
3. 10 percent carbamide peroxide equals 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, and 22 percent carbamide peroxide is equal to 7.5 percent hydrogen peroxide
4. Common abrasives include alumina, hydrated silica, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate and baking soda
5. Hexetidine taken internally can lead to severe chronic conditions
6. Thymol is dangerous to the environment
7. Eucalyptol is hazardous when taken internally in high doses

In need of more oral hygiene product information?

Taking good care of your oral hygiene should never be underestimated, as this is the best way for you to ensure that your mouth is as healthy as it can possibly be. If you are in need of additional information regarding which of the many oral hygiene products will best suit your particular oral needs, we invite you to call us now so we can help.

Request an appointment in our Honolulu dentist office here: https://www.diamondheaddentalcare.com.