Walk down the oral care aisle at any drugstore and you’ll find hundreds of products all claiming to be the best — and most patients have no idea what’s actually worth buying versus what’s just clever marketing. After years of treating patients in Silver Lake, Dr. Barkhordar has a short, honest list of products he genuinely recommends. At the top is the Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush — the single biggest upgrade most patients can make to their home care routine. Sonic technology produces tens of thousands of brush strokes per minute, removes significantly more plaque than manual brushing, and is gentler on gums and enamel than oscillating-rotating alternatives. For flossing, Oral-B Glide is the go-to — its smooth PTFE construction slides through tight contacts without shredding, which means patients actually use it consistently instead of giving up. For mouthrinse, Dr. Barkhordar recommends two: ACT Anticavity Fluoride Rinseused at night to remineralize enamel and prevent decay, and CloSYS — an alcohol-free antibacterial rinse used in the morning to neutralize the bacteria responsible for gum disease and bad breath without the burning or dryness of conventional antiseptic rinses.
The recommendation that often surprises patients most is nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) toothpaste — used as an additional dedicated brushing session on top of regular brushing, not as a replacement. Hydroxyapatite is the mineral that makes up approximately 97% of tooth enamel, and nano-sized hydroxyapatite particles in toothpaste integrate directly into the enamel surface — remineralizing early decay, reducing sensitivity, and protecting exposed root surfaces in patients with gum recession. Dr. Barkhordar specifically recommends this extra brushing session for cavity-prone patients, patients with tooth sensitivity, patients with areas of gum recession, and patients who prefer to minimize fluoride. Brands like Boka, Risewell, and Apagard are widely available online. The routine is simple: brush and floss as normal morning and night, add CloSYS in the morning and ACT at night, and for high-risk patients add a third brushing session with nHA toothpaste before bed — no rinsing after, so the mineral has time to absorb.
If you’re not sure which of these products are right for your specific situation — or if you’d like personalized recommendations based on your last exam findings — just ask us at your next visit. We take home care seriously because what you do between appointments matters just as much as what we do in the office. We see patients from Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Echo Park, Atwater Village, Glassell Park, and Glendale who want to take better care of their teeth between visits — and we’re happy to walk you through exactly what we’d recommend for your mouth specifically. Call Silverlake Dental Group at (323) 922-6016 or request an appointment online. We’re at 2390 Glendale Blvd in Silver Lake, open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, with free parking in the back.