The 2024 SELF Healthy Beauty Awards: The Best Oral Care Products for a Healthier Smile
Bonus points, per the experts: It’s important to clean your retainers regularly to prevent bacteria growth (which can cause bad breath).
One tester said: “If you are still trying to make peace with your crusty, musty, decade-old retainer, you need this. It only took a few minutes to clean and came out looking super sparkly and fresh.”
Best Toothpaste: Hello Vitamin C Whitening Toothpaste
Why we love it: Hello’s Vitamin C Whitening toothpaste is formulated to both whiten teeth and keep them healthy. Its peppermint flavor is refreshing and invigorating, and, for especially sluggish morning brushers, the cheery orange tube doesn’t hurt, either.
Bonus points, per the experts: This toothpaste contains fluoride, which can help strengthen teeth, reduce sensitivity, and prevent cavities.
One tester said: “When I first tried this toothpaste, I was a little surprised to see it was orange! Fun. It doesn’t lather quite as much as other toothpastes, but it does just enough to feel like you’re getting clean. And it doesn’t leave a ton of frothy mess. In terms of the whitening element, it hasn’t made my teeth sensitive yet (big plus!).”
Best Floss: Davids Expanding Dental Floss
Why we love it: Neither poppy seeds nor spinach can hide from this unique floss, which expands to better reach and pull out any gunk between your teeth. It also earns points for its packaging: The main plastic container is reusable and you can purchase new floss refill spools when you run out.
Bonus points, per the experts: Traditional string floss, like this one, is the best option for cleaning between your teeth.
One tester said: “The expanding string works like magic and picks up more gunk than other dental floss without feeling too thick or uncomfortable between my teeth. Instead, it feels like typical dental floss when I use it, and afterward my mouth feels incredibly clean. (The results are sort of disgusting, but in the best way.)”
Best Flossing Tool: Flaus Electric Flosser
Why we love it: For a flosser that cleans well and quickly and actually looks nice on your bathroom counter, the Flaus is a great choice. It gets the job done within one minute and doesn’t make a mess in the process. Plus its heads are recyclable.
Bonus points, per the experts: If you have braces, bridges, or other orthodontia, flossers can help clean between your teeth.
One tester said: “This makes flossing 5,000% less miserable—there’s a vibrating head with three speeds that essentially does the flossing for you, and it cuts down a lot on time—specifically in having to, like, wiggle, scrape, curse yourself for dropping the floss and having to recut it and rewind it around your finger, etc. I will rebuy eternally.”
Just so you know: Flossers aren’t considered as effective as manual string floss, but they’re better than nothing.
Best Mouthwash: Listerine Clinical Solutions Gum Health Antiseptic Mouthwash
Why we love it: Listerine called the flavor of this mouthwash Icy Mint, and meant it. Its sensation is beyond refreshing—it’s downright frigid, calming inflamed gums and drastically improving your breath. Even better, that cooling effect lasts long after you rinse.