These last few years - the “pandemic era” - have seen some unusual spikes in trends and DIY (do-it-yourself) hygiene hacks.  At-home dental hygiene hacks are trending, as many people have more time on their hands.

Here are some pretty cool daily dental hygiene hacks that we’ve found that can help keep your pearly whites healthy, clean, and whiter.

Electronic/Sonic Toothbrushes

Both electronic and sonic toothbrushes are a quick and easy way to keep your teeth healthy.  New models have significantly dropped in price - which now makes them accessible and affordable for most of us.

The idea behind using these is to simply increase the toothbrushes rate of spin.  Manually, we can work our good old trusty toothbrushes up to 300 brushes per minute.  An electric toothbrush will provide 2500-7500 brushes per minute.  Sonic toothbrushes provide a whopping 30,000 brushes per minute!

Most new electric and sonic toothbrushes now come with built in timers, preventing over-brushing and damage to our tooth enamel.  They really maximise the 3 minutes we are told to brush after each meal.

Buy a Tongue Scraper

Some of us brush and floss daily, yet still tend to have some kind of residual bad breath or odour after.  A tongue scraper is a simple yet often overlooked hack in healthy DIY dental hygiene.  

Scraping the tongue after normal brushing will remove any food particles and debris on the tongue that often cause bad breath.

Teeth Whitening Strips

There is no reason now to be intimidated or confused by dissolvable teeth whitening strips.  They have been proven to be a reliable way of keeping our teeth whiter and healthier.  Gone are the hard plastic mouldable trays that needed to be filled - as per the 1st generation version of the teeth whitening strips.

Our Bliss teeth whitening strips now simply require applying the dissolvable strips for about 30 minutes over the top and bottom rows of teeth.  After the 30 minute application, simply wipe and rinse away any residual gel that remains. The easiest way to start is with a basic teeth whitening kit. 

Most of these gels contain hydrogen peroxide, the active teeth whitening ingredient, but are only harmful if applied too often and for too long.  Always read instructions before using - but they are an amazing hack for good dental hygiene and a whiter smile.

Apple Cider Vinegar?

Indeed, you read that correctly.  If you can stomach the smell, apple cider vinegar contains antibacterial properties that are ideal for healthy dental hygiene and even teeth whitening.  

Studies have shown that daily swishing with apple cider vinegar helps with tooth decay, bad breath, plaque and bacterial build up, which are all causes of bad breath, tooth decay and discolouration.  

Choose Your Toothpaste Wisely

Almost all toothpaste brands now claim some form of “teeth whitening” now.  The choices are so many that it can become quite overwhelming.  

Here you should do some research.  Make sure that the brand you are considering is reputable.  Look at the ingredients to make sure the active ingredients are ones you are familiar with and understand.  Most safe brands either use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide - both safe active teeth whitening chemicals that are safe when used correctly.

Bliss Oral care have an excellent whitening toothpaste that's gentle on your gums and teeth, while helping to maintain a whiter, brighter smile for longer. 

Always read instructions before use.