Photo courtesy of Sarah Maingot/Trunk Archive
8 Oral-Health Tools for
Sparkling Teeth and Fresh Breath
We don’t doubt you have a well-maintained brushing routine. But if you feel like you could be doing more for your pearly whites, gums, tongue, and all the rest, we have some ideas: a tweak to your toothpaste, a ten-second tongue-scraping habit, and—if you’re ready to go all in—a two-week reset involving sachets of brilliantly minty coconut oil.
THE TOOTHPASTES
First up, this toothpaste, which swaps out fluoride for an ingredient called nano-hydroxyapatite (n-Ha) that’s been the gold standard in Japanese dentistry for decades: It removes plaque, desensitizes, and works to remineralize teeth. On top of that, this toothpaste is free of parabens, SLS, and artificial flavors, and it’s subtly flavored: Take your pick between one with mint, green tea, and cardamom and another with Positano lemons and lavender.
Bite’s toothpaste bits are designed to reduce plastic waste. Each bit is about the size of a breath mint, and they come in a refillable glass jar; when it’s time to give love to your pearly whites, you just bite one between your teeth, wet a toothbrush, and brush as normal. Like BOKA’s toothpastes, these are made with nano-hydroxyapatite instead of fluoride, and they’re free of sulfates, parabens, and artificial flavoring.
THE FLOSS
When your dentist asks if you floss, they can tell when you’re lying. But some people don’t have to: There’s a community of ardent flossers out there, and their loyalties lie with Cocofloss. Cocofloss is made from 500-plus polyester filaments that feel incredible—the floss itself is thicker than we were used to, but somehow it’s easier to slide between teeth. Coated in coconut oil, it smells (faintly) of natural coconut, mint, and other flavors. Once you try it, you’ll never go back.
THE TOOTHBRUSH
Our nonelectric toothbrush of choice is made of bamboo—which requires less water, land, and labor to cultivate than wood—and it has soft natural bristles instead of plastic ones. We like to keep a few of these on hand for travel and for house guests.
THE OIL PULLING KIT
Give it two weeks and you’ll swear by oil pulling, the Ayurvedic oral-health practice of swishing oil in your mouth to get rid of excess ama, or buildup. Included in this oil pulling kit are fourteen sachets of bright, minty coconut oil with essential oils from lemon, chamomile, and myrrh. The kit is designed to be used for fourteen consecutive days for a full-mouth reset. Every day, before you floss and brush, just tear open a packet, pour the oil into your mouth, and swirl it around for five to fifteen minutes before spitting it into the trash. (Coconut oil can clog your sink drain.) After the first fourteen days, swish twice a week to maintain the results.
THE TONGUE CLEANER
This stainless-steel loop is made to scrape buildup off the tongue—an Ayurvedic practice for oral care and fresh breath. It’s built with two little handles for greater control, and it comfortably reaches all the way to the back of the mouth. You can always clean your tongue with your toothbrush, but this delivers a nicer sensation than a toothbrush’s bristles, and it feels like it does a better job, too.
THE WHITENING STRIPS
These whitening strips use plant-derived ingredients to whiten teeth instead of the hydrogen peroxide or other irritating chemicals typically found in mainstream brands. With Lumineux strips, you get natural whitening from the combination of coconut oil, mineral-packed Dead Sea salt, soothing aloe vera, and essential oils from mint, clove, and basil. They’re well-suited for sensitive teeth and safe for mouths with composites, veneers, and crowns.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. To the extent that this article features the advice of physicians or medical practitioners, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily represent the views of goop.
