Jennifer’s Product Recommendations

I brush my teeth at least two times per day with a soft bristled manual toothbrush (typically Meijer brand). I am an advocate for electric toothbrushes as well, but I recommend what the patient is most comfortable with as long as their technique is effective in maintaining healthy gums and teeth.

I brush my teeth with Colgate Cavity Protection fluoride toothpaste. It is not fancy and I find it on the bottom shelf at the store. I use this because it is in the low abrasive category and it doesn’t have all the extra ingredients that can sometimes cause our gums to be red and irritated. It’s just the basics and it’s pretty cheap. For sensitivity, I recommend Pronamel toothpaste made by Sensodyne. It has extra minerals in it that strengthen enamel, fight sensitive teeth and exposed root surfaces and is in the low abrasive category as well. For patients wanting a more natural toothpaste, I recommend Risewell, Boca, or Kinder Karex (for kids). These toothpastes have a natural mineral found in our teeth called hydroxyapatite that remineralizes enamel, fights tooth decay, reduces sensitivity and can brighten teeth too.

I floss or use a Waterpik at least one time per day to disrupt the bacteria between my teeth where my toothbrush can’t reach. My favorite floss is Oral B Glide Deep Clean Floss (or store brand equivalent). It is flat and a little wider to get between my teeth. My gum tissue doesn’t fill the spaces like it used to and I have found that the wider floss removes more plaque between my teeth…I even fold it in half to floss my front teeth on the top and bottom where my spaces are a little wider. I like Cocofloss as well, but it is pretty expensive for floss in my opinion. I also use a rechargeable battery-operated Waterpik that I keep in the shower (it’s less messy that way). I like to tell patients that being consistent with daily flossing (even if it seems insignificant now) will benefit them decades down the road preventing tooth decay between the teeth and gum/bone diseases.

I use ACT fluoride rinse as a preventive measure and get in office fluoride varnish treatments after getting my teeth cleaned. This helps to strengthen teeth, protect them from tooth decay, fight sensitivity and protects the margins of fillings/crowns in our mouths.

I whiten my teeth with products from our office. We carry Opalescence Go Strips which is a product that can be taped on our teeth and is one size fits all. We also carry Opalescence Gel which can be distributed into custom fit bleach trays.

Finally, I wear a custom fit bite guard nightly from our office. It acts like a pillow or cushion between my teeth preventing tooth wear caused from clenching/grinding while I sleep and protecting my jaw joints (TMJ).

These are the products I personally use and recommend, but we have many more that we suggest based on our patient’s personal needs!