Jennifer Linder

Stephanie Klenk

DHY 229

17 February 2021

Preventive Therapies Project

When it comes to cleaning the mouth and preventing dental diseases, there are thousands

of products to choose from. This can be extremely confusing and overwhelming for some

patients. As a Dental Hygienist, it is important to have knowledge of different products that

patients can use, especially when they have limitations that can make home oral care difficult.

Three products that I recommend using because of their effectiveness and ease of use are a

power toothbrush, interproximal brushes, and fluoridated mouthwash.

Toothbrushes are used to removed dental plaque to prevent dental caries and gingivitis.

There are manual and power toothbrush options. Power toothbrushes do the work for patients!

When using a power toothbrush, patients no longer have to worry about the motions they make

with their toothbrush. Patients just place the head of the toothbrush on each surface of their tooth

and near the gumline, while the head of the toothbrush makes the motions needed to remove the

dental plaque. This is more effective than using a manual toothbrush and can be extremely

helpful for patients with limited mobility. The handles on power toothbrushes are larger than

manual toothbrushes, which make them easier to hold for those with limited hand function. The

Oral-B power toothbrush has a built-in timer that vibrates every 30 seconds to alert the patient

when to change arches, to help them make sure they are brushing for an adequate amount of

time. It also has a pressure sensor to prevent patients from applying too much pressure while
brushing. There are many different options for power toothbrushes, but the two main brands are

Oral-B and Sonicare.

Toothbrush bristles are not able to reach in the cracks between teeth, so patients need to

use a different device to clean those interproximal spaces. Cleaning between the teeth helps to

remove dental plaque to prevent dental caries and gingivitis. My favorite product to use for this

is interproximal brushes! They have tiny bristles like a toothbrush, but fit in between all of the

teeth. They’re like a tiny toothbrush for the cracks between our teeth! They come in different

sizes to fit in between different gap sizes between the teeth, and come attached to a small pick or

a large handle. The brushes attached to a handle make it easier to hold and manipulate for

patients with limited mobility. Patients can dip the brushes in toothpaste or mouthwash to

increase the effectiveness and get fluoride between the teeth.

Fluoridated mouthwashes are used to kill bacteria in the mouth, rinse loose particles

away, and provide fluoride to the teeth. Mouthwashes are antimicrobial, so they help kill the

bacteria in the mouth that cause dental caries and gingivitis. Fluoride helps to remineralize the

teeth to reverse decay and strengthen the teeth to prevent future caries. The lids of mouthwash

bottles can be difficult to remove for patients who have limited mobility in their hands. I

personally keep my mouthwash in a glass kitchen oil dispenser on my bathroom counter with a

shot glass for each person in my house. The dispenser is both aesthetically pleasing and super

easy to pour the mouthwash out of! The dispenser could also be used for patients with sight

limitations because it pours an even stream. The patient could count to know how much they

should pour into a cup.