5 Top Dentists Say If You’re Only Using Toothpaste, You’re Doing It Wrong

The essentials we should all be using.

Tatiana Bido
Tatiana Bido
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Published: Jul 31, 2020 Updated: Jun 19, 2021

5 Top Dentists Say If You’re Only Using Toothpaste, You’re Doing It Wrong — F.J. Jimenez/ Getty Images

Spending two minutes at the bathroom sink brushing your teeth every morning and night is doing the bare minimum according to top cosmetic dentists. Flossing, rinsing with mouthwash and using products that prevent bad breath and gum disease are not just supplemental add-ons to basic brushing—especially now that our masks are giving us an up close and personal experience with our breath—they’re essential. Now is as good a time as any to invest in a proper oral care routine, and these are the products cosmetic dentists are loving the most.

1 / 5

“My ‘go to’ everyday essential is a very good dental floss (shown here is the Cocofloss 4-Piece Set ($32)) after meals to remove any food particles that might be lodged in between my teeth. The main reason is that it prevents the particle of food that might be pushed into the gum tissue potentially causing a more serious problem. It is so easy to carry the dental floss and make it handy when out to a restaurant.”

—Atlanta cosmetic dentist Ronald Goldstein, DDS

2 / 5

“My favorite mouthwash is Therasol with Xylitol ($16). We call it miracle mouthwash. Great to use daily, non-staining oral antiseptic and keeps gums healthy. Added bonus is that Xylitol use has been shown to reduce caries rates by up 70 percent!”

—Houston cosmetic dentist Guy Lewis, DDS

3 / 5

“We have found great clinical success in the reduction of inflammation, pain and periodontal disease and bad breath with the use of an oral irrigator called HydroFloss ($98). The negative charge placed on water helps to repel the negative charge of the bacterial cell wall and chemicals such as endotoxins that cause oral and systemic diseases.”

—Rockville, MD cosmetic dentist Joe Kravitz, DDS

4 / 5

“My favorite device is an oral sleep appliance. It has helped me realize what a good night sleep really is. So many people don’t get a quality night’s sleep. They think it’s normal to always feel tired and that ingesting a large cup of coffee at 4 p.m. is the answer. A sleep appliance helps get a quality night’s sleep and leads to better health and better well-being. They’re custom designed for each patient. I love appliances like Vivos and Homeoblock.”

—New York cosmetic dentist Irene Grafman, DDS

5 / 5

"Everyone should be using an electric toothbrush. My favorite one is the Sonicare DiamondClean Smart 9500 because it does the best cleaning due to its ultrasonic action, yet it's very gentle. The best on the market!"

—New York cosmetic dentist Pia Lieb, DDS