Are Subscription Dental Clubs Worth It?

Everyone loves getting goodies in the mail. That’s the allure of subscription product clubs. You can order monthly deliveries of makeup, razors or clothing items tailored just to your likes and preferences. Dental care isn’t left out of the subscription box craze, with operations selling you monthly deliveries of everything from basic supplies like toothbrushes and toothpaste to dental aligners that claim to be comparable to Invisalign — but are they worth it? The answer depends on what the boxes contain — and whether the claims made by the company can be verified. 

Toothbrush, Toothpaste and Floss Subscription Boxes

Subscription clubs that offer to send you a new toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste and floss every month may very well be worth it. These basic home care dental items need to be replaced often and are frequently forgotten at the bottom of the shopping list — very few people find shopping for a new toothbrush thrilling. Subscription boxes that deliver these items to your home on a regular basis can be worthwhile if you find yourself forgetting these basic, necessary items on your shopping trips or put off replacing your brushes for far too long.

While most people won’t need a new brush every month — in fact, the American Dental Association recommends changing your brush every three months — it’s good to have extras on hand or enough to cover the whole family. And some people may need to replace their brushes sooner than the three-month mark due to bristle fraying or contamination after an illness like strep throat. 

Dental Aligner Subscription Boxes

If you’ve wanted a straighter smile, you may think companies offering a monthly shipment of dental aligners — think products similar to but not made by Invisalign — may be the way to go. But these subscription clubs can spell major danger for your smile. Unlike subscription boxes that offer dental care necessities like brushes and paste, it’s better to avoid clubs offering aligners for a straighter smile. 
Dental aligners made in your dentist’s office are custom-tailored to your mouth. When you stop in for an appointment, your dental team takes X-rays of your mouth to ensure the health of the teeth you’d like to move. After any treatments are made, a mold is taken of your mouth so that aligners can be custom-made for your individual mouth. Generic aligners sent by companies claiming to give you a straighter smile by mail may not fit right, and they’ll leave you without recourse if your teeth end up misspaced, misplaced or damaged. 

Teeth Whitener Subscription Boxes

Teeth whitening is a booming business, with companies wanting a piece of this $3.2 billion industry. But it’s not something you want to do at home — at least, not if you’re looking to actually whiten and brighten your smile.

Over-the-counter teeth-whitening products either don’t work, with very little of the active ingredients needed to give you a more dazzling smile, or contain ingredients that are harsh enough to eat away at or damage the enamel of your teeth. Not only can they harm your teeth, but you may end up with an even yellower smile than before as the naturally yellow dentin of your teeth shows through a thinned enamel. 
Skip the teeth-whitening boxes and book an appointment for a proper treatment for the best results possible with minimal risk — your dentist is the only one qualified to meet your mouth’s unique needs. 

What to Look for in a Box

The general consensus is to skip whitening and straightening subscription club boxes altogether for the health and safety of your teeth. And not all subscription box items are created equal. While it’s fine to look for companies that offer a variety of new brushes or pastes to try, keep an eye on the quality of the products and the veracity of any claims made. Look for boxes that offer fluoridated toothpastes and soft bristle brushes to protect the integrity of your enamel, and stay away from luxury or novelty boxes that offer charcoal pastes, which can erode your enamel with regular use. 
When in doubt, don’t hesitate to contact customer support for a box you’re thinking of subscribing to in order to see what safety standards and practices they meet, and whether their products are up to par with the American Dental Association standards. 

How We Can Help

The office of Drs. Krieger and Hur can help you get the whiter, brighter, straighter smile you long for. Rather than sink untold amounts of money on subscription boxes that are ineffective or cause damage, we can help you get the results you want. When it comes to pastes and brushes, we can guide you on what to look for in a good selection for your mouth’s needs.

The first step is booking an appointment. Whether you want to discuss Invisalign, desire a whiter smile, need a yearly cleaning or want some guidance on selecting good products for you and your family, we need to see your smiling face in our office. We’ve made it easy to book an appointment by calling the office at (201) 560-0606. You can also secure your spot by sending us an email by clicking here. We look forward to seeing you!