Dental Tablets: What Do You Need to Know

Things to keep in mind

At Bright Horizons Dental, we offer clear, easy-to-access dental cleaning solutions that help our patients stay confident and cavity-free. One of those solutions is dental tablets. Let’s discuss what a dental tablet is, how it differs from other cleaning methods, and how you can determine whether it’s a good fit for your oral hygiene routine.

What is a dental tablet?

Let’s start with the basics. A dental tablet is a small, often effervescent, pill- or tablet-formed product that’s dissolved in the mouth or applied to dental appliances (like retainers, aligners, or dentures) to help clean your teeth and whole mouth. These tablets can be dissolved in water to produce a cleansing solution that when swished around the mouth can reach tight spaces and corners where brushing often fails.

Other types of dental tablets are known as disclosing tablets, which are used to temporarily change the color of plaque to highlight buildup making it easier to see and remove the bacteria. 

At Bright Horizon Dental, we have various approaches in our dental cleaning solutions toolbox, where the use of tablets can be relevant, particularly for appliance care or deep cleaning protocols, depending on the patient’s needs. The type of tablet that we use in each instance depends on the purpose of the application. 

Why consider dental tablets?

Here in Boca Raton, where many of us live very busy lifestyles while also utilizing aligners or retainers to correct misalignment and other dental issues. With not much time to spend doing lengthy oral hygiene routines twice daily, dental tablets allow you to accomplish your oral cleaning goals much more quickly and effectively in a few ways like;

• Enhanced appliance hygiene that can kill 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria.
• Plaque detection and prevention to help you see the spots you’ve missed while brushing and flossing 
• Convenience and routine enhancement through adding a tablet cycle one a day to boost overall cleanliness 

How do dental tablets fit in overall dental cleaning solutions?

At Bright Horizon Dental, when we refer to dental cleaning solutions, it doesn’t just mean brushing and flossing. It’s an end-to-end approach that involves regular professional cleaning, examinations, and, when necessary, the incorporation of dental tablets for a better oral hygiene routine.

Tablets are adjuncts, not substitutes for brushing, flossing or professional cleaning. They are a great feature of a good oral hygiene routine, but they shouldn’t just be used alone. Brushing, flossing, and professional cleanings are foundational parts of maintaining good oral health long term. .

Choose dental tablets carefully and with the help of your provider since all dental tablets are not the same. Some may use ingredients that are specifically for dentures and other appliances but shouldn’t be used for natural teeth. 

Should you try dental tablets?

If you are a Boca Raton resident with a retainer, aligner, or night guard, or feel you would like extra cleaning beyond your daily routine, you may want to consult your dentist to see if employing dental tablets would be helpful. At Bright Horizon Dental, we can review your case to determine whether a tablet protocol makes sense and which brands or types are suitable for your needs.

In short, dental tablets are a smart and accessible addition to your dental cleaning solutions. They will not replace your toothbrush and floss, but they will reach the crevices of appliances and hidden plaque that often go undetected, giving your smile added shine.

Ready to learn more? Book an appointment with Bright Horizon Dental for a check-up to determine if dental tablets are a part of your oral hygiene routine.