Visit any pharmacy or the health and beauty section of a supermarket today, and you are faced with a large, and many say confusing, array of over-the-counter remedies and devices designed to help you tend to your hygiene and health care needs.

There are many high-quality products on the market today. There also are many products of questionable value. As one dental professional puts it, ‘Do they put ginkgo biloba in the new natural toothpastes so patients will remember to brush their teeth?’

Your dentist will be able to advise you on the effectiveness of various products and which are appropriate for you.

Should you use over-the-counter dental instruments? It takes dentists and hygienists years of schooling to properly use these instruments and to diagnose an oral condition. If these kinds of instruments are not designed properly or used incorrectly, you could easily damage your teeth and gums, leading to sensitivity, gingival recession, tooth chipping and other serious problems. Leave it to the professionals!