The Dental Health Foundation - Dental Health & Prevention

In most communities there is a wide variety of oral health care products available to consumers for over-the-counter (OTC) sale including;

• Toothpastes


• Toothbrushes


• Mouthrinses


• Interdental cleansers and accessories


• Denture cleansers and fixatives


• Saliva substitutes

Both toothpastes and mouthrinses contain therapeutic agents designed to control various diseases and conditions of the mouth such as dental decay, gum diseases, tartar and tooth sensitivity. Toothbrushes and the different interdental cleansers and accessories are primarily designed for the mechanical removal of plaque. There is still a sizeable market for denture cleansers and fixatives despite the fact that the number of people having teeth extracted has fallen considerably over the last 20 years. For many people, particularly those in the older age bracket, dry mouth is a problem hence, the increasing market for saliva substitutes.