Say Goodbye to Cavities With These Oral Hygiene Products

Just like eating healthy and exercising regularly, oral care is a crucial part of your overall health. Cavities, gum disease, and other oral diseases can cause pain and infection, decreasing your quality of life. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five adults has untreated cavities, and nearly half of all adults over 30 have a serious gum disease called periodontitis. But you don’t have to suffer or spend your cash on unplanned dental care if you start with a thorough oral hygiene routine at home. From toothbrushes to dental floss and everything in between, several products can keep your teeth healthy and clean. These are some of our favorites. 

_{Prices are accurate as of March 24, 2025. Subject to change.}

Colgate 360 Whole Mouth Toothbrush

You can’t have a good oral hygiene routine without a toothbrush. Many prefer manual brushes because they’re no-frills and affordable. I’ve been using Colgate’s 360 Whole Mouth Toothbrush for years, as I love its unique and thoughtful design. In addition to cleaning bristles, it has polishing cups that help with plaque and stain removal, plus a textured surface behind the toothbrush head for cleaning the tongue and cheeks. The brush is available in both soft and medium, depending on your preference. I’ve consistently opted for soft bristles and found that it offers a gentle yet effective clean on my sensitive teeth.

Philips Sonicare 4100 Power Toothbrush

If you want to upgrade from a manual, try an electric toothbrush. While they’re more expensive, many find them worth the investment. A sonic toothbrush, in particular, gives your teeth a good cleaning with high-frequency vibrations. One of the best sonic toothbrushes you can get is the Philips Sonicare 4100. Earning the spot of our favorite sonic brush, this Sonicare is more affordable than other electric toothbrushes. With a built-in two-minute timer, two intensity levels, and a smart pressure sensor, you can efficiently remove plaque while being gentle on gums. As a bonus, it also has a long, 14-day battery life, so you can spend more time brushing and less time charging.  

Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste

A trusty toothbrush won’t do you much good without an equally high-quality toothpaste. Fluoride toothpaste is the standard since it strengthens enamel and protects your teeth against cavities. Crest Pro-Health has a smooth yet foamy paste that’s formulated with stannous fluoride. It not only protects against cavities and strengthens enamel but also helps prevent early gum disease, acid erosion, tartar, and plaque. Crest Pro-Health also whitens teeth, freshens breath, and is great for sensitive teeth.  

Cocolab Cocofloss

Flossing is an essential part of good oral hygiene. It removes food and bacteria from in between teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach and it helps prevent cavities and gum disease. One of our favorite options is Cocofloss. Co-founded by a dentist, Cocofloss has a textured design made from over 500 interwoven threads meant to better capture plaque, bacteria, and food particles. With coconut oil and microcrystalline wax, it glides between teeth smoothly and comfortably. The floss also has a refillable dispenser, so you can buy refills, cutting back on plastic and waste. It’s also a great pick for those craving a little flavor in their tooth care routine. In addition to classic mint, there are various fun flavors like coconut and strawberry. 

GUM EEZ-Thru Floss Threaders

Standard floss might be difficult to use if you have braces, dental bridges, or dental implants. The Eez-Thru threaders work like a needle threader. Put a piece of floss in the loop, stick the end of the threader between your teeth and pull it through until only the floss remains. Floss as normal, comfortably tackling plaque, food particles, and bacteria in tough-to-reach spots. The threaders also come in a convenient carry case for flossing on the go. 

COSLUS Water Flosser

In addition to using dental floss, consider adding a water flosser to elevate your oral hygiene routine. When the two are combined, buildup between teeth doesn’t stand a chance. There are many water flossers out there, but I’ve been using this model from Coslus. It’s equipped with fine water pulse technology and multiple modes and pressure settings, plus a large water tank, and multiple flosser heads. The wireless design makes it easy to use and perfect for travel — and I love its long, 30-day battery life. Once I started using this, after years of only standard flossing, I realized how many missed particles it picks up. I can’t recommend it enough. 

Cafhelp 2-Pack Tongue Scraper

Your teeth are getting clean, but don’t forget your tongue. By removing a layer of bacteria and food particulars, a tongue scraper can work wonders, especially if you’re struggling with bad breath. The affordable scrapers from Cafhelp are made of stainless steel and easy to use and clean. This two-pack is complete with a travel case. 

ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash

Just like tongue scraping and water flossing, using mouthwash is a great way to boost tooth care after brushing and using dental floss. The ACT Anticavity Fluoride Mouthwash helps freshen breath, protects against cavities, and strengthens teeth — all without alcohol. It also has a built-in dosage cup. Just give it a quick squeeze and swish to reap the benefits. 

Colgate Wisp Disposable Toothbrushes

If you’re out and about and need a quick clean, consider Colgate Wisps. These single-use mini toothbrushes come with a mint bead that dissolves as you brush. No rinsing required. They’re perfect for keeping in a bag and using in a pinch when you can’t fully brush your teeth. 

Feature image credit: Goodboy Picture Company/ iStock