The consequences of smoking on oral health are well known, but what are the benefits to stopping smoking? Research suggests that informing people about the diseases and costs associated with smoking does little to stop smokers from reaching for their cigarettes. Knowing what good can come from quitting, however, has been shown to be more encouraging.  Read on to learn more and find your reason to quit!

Helps to Fight Off Gum Disease

Research has found that people with active gum disease who quit smoking experienced improvements within a year of quitting that were significant when compared against people who continued smoking - which just goes to show, it’s better late than never!

Fresher Breath!

Quitting smoking reduces the production of bacteria which grows in the mouth and causes gingivitis and bad breath, as well as doing away with the lingering smell of stale smoke in your mouth!

Get Your Pearlies Back to White

Smoking stains your teeth, as the nicotine yellows when in contact with oxygen and brownish tar gets stuck in the spaces between and behind teeth. Although quitting smoking doesn’t reverse these effects, it makes it possible to properly benefit from a good teeth cleaning, after which it’s just about a bit of maintenance!

Brings Back Good Taste!

The chemical makeup of cigarette smoke dulls taste buds over time, decreasing the enjoyment of delicious foods. The good news is that taste buds heal quickly, and people report being able to taste better within the first week of quitting smoking!

Reducing the Risk of Cavities

Plaque and tartar flourish in smokers’ mouths, leading to a higher possibility of developing cavities. Quitting smoking leads to higher (and cleaner!) saliva production, which helps to battle the bacteria which causes tartar and plaque to form on the surface of your teeth.

Next Steps

Once you have made your decision to quit, make sure that you have it properly planned - failed quitting attempts often lead to longer periods of waiting before trying again, so it’s best to know what you’re doing before you actually quit!

1. Pick a Quit Date

Work your way toward this by gradually reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke in a day, and encouraging yourself to remember that from this date, no more smoke will pass your lips.

2. Build a Support Network

Quitting alone is admirable, but incredibly difficult. Set up a support system so that you have someone to turn to in times of craving. This could be a friend of family member that’s quitting at the same time, an app, or even a healthcare professional dedicated to your quitting.

3. Find Your Alternatives

If you find that you like smoking just for having something to hold, consider switching to something healthier - like carrot sticks! You can also keep your hands occupied with something not related to consumption, like knitting.

Learn more about how smoking and oral health are related in our previous blog!

Everyone gets a dry mouth from time to time, but what is it, and why does it happen? Read on to find out more about dry mouth, and tips to avoid and remedy it!

What is Dry Mouth?

Dry mouth, medically known as xerostomia, is a condition that affects the flow of saliva in your mouth, and can be caused by various lifestyle and health factors such as smoking, age, or as a side-effect of some common medicines. Some foods and drinks can also temporarily cause dry mouth, or worsen a pre-existing condition, such as fruit, alcohol, and salty food.

Why is Dry Mouth Bad for You?

Saliva is the most important factor of your oral health! It not only keeps your mouth moist and helps you swallow, it also actively helps to break down food and wash acid and bacteria out of your mouth! Acid and bacteria erode the enamel on the surface of your teeth, and can cause a myriad of issues from bad breath to tooth decay, so it’s absolutely essential to make sure your saliva production is on form!

Top Tips to Get Rid of Dry Mouth: 

1. Get Chewing

The more you chew, the more you promote saliva production in your mouth. Chewing gum is great for encouraging saliva, just make sure it’s sugar-free! As your teeth are more vulnerable when your mouth is dry, it’s important to steer clear of sugar where possible.

2. Win with Water

The simplest, and arguably more important, way to keep moisture in your mouth is to make sure your whole body is hydrated! Sip on water throughout the day, making sure to get your full 6-8 cups. If you crave something with a bit more flavour, try adding slices of cucumber or chunks of fresh ginger to subtly enhance your water! Steer clear of adding fruit or lemon, though, as the natural sugars and acids present create bacteria in your mouth!

3. Take a Deep Breath

…Through your nose! Breathing through your mouth acts like a fan and dries out your mouth and throat - so try to breathe through your nose where you can to lock the moisture in your mouth!

4. Maintain, Maintain, Maintain

A regular oral hygiene routine is essential to keeping your mouth healthy, which in turn helps to make sure it can produce the saliva you need to battle bacteria. Make sure to brush and floss twice a day, and use alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid further drying out your mouth. If you’re consuming sugary or starchy snacks throughout the day, make sure to keep your Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush handy for a quick brush between meals! 

Do make sure to pay your dentist a visit if you’re finding that your mouth feels dry very often - it’s always good to rule out any underlying conditions so that you know that the lifestyle choices you’re making to keep your mouth moist are having a good effect!

Summertime is a time for fun and frolics, with all the long days and warm weather - and after months of hibernating indoors, it’s hardly surprising that our routines can get a bit lost in all the excitement! As it can be challenging to remember everything you need to do while also letting loose, so we have compiled our top tips to keep your oral health routine going smoothly over summer - now that’s one less thing to worry about!

Plan Ahead

Whatever you have planned this summer, make sure to remember to pack the right dental instruments for your time away. Heading to a picnic in the park? Pack your Sonisk Pulse portable toothbrush for a quick brush after eating and drinking so that you can stay out as long as you want without feeling mossy bacteria on the surface of your teeth. Going on holiday? Make sure to take your toothbrush and toothpaste with you! While it might be tempting to wait and pick these up at your destination, it’s better not to force yourself to negotiate unknown places in search of a toothbrush, and after all they are light and easy to pack with the rest of your toiletries!

Stay Hydrated!

Making sure your body is properly hydrated is important year-round, but especially so in the hot summer months when you’re likely to lose more water to sweating. Keeping hydrated is not only good for your entire internal system, but especially so for your mouth, where it promotes saliva production which is essential for washing out acid and bacteria! It’s an easy task, just remember to bring your refillable bottle with you wherever you go and take regular sips to keep your hydration levels up!

Sun Yourself (Safely)

Despite having some harmful aspects, the sun’s rays also contain loads of vitamin D, which helps to boost your immune system and can reduce the risk of problems such as gum disease! Vitamin D is also known to be excellent for bone health, helping the body to absorb calcium and phosphorus and mineralize your teeth! The dangers of sitting out in the sun unprotected are well documented, however, so you should make sure to put on a good SPF sunscreen and not stay out in the sun too long. You should also use an SPF lip balm, as the skin on your lips is thinner and more sensitive!

Stick to Your Routine

Simpler said than done, a regular oral hygiene routine is absolutely essential to maintaining good health for your teeth and gums. Brush and floss twice a day as usual, and don’t let yourself get lazy with it! If you know you’re planning to be out, bring your portable toothbrush with you to give your teeth a quick brush before doing your full two-minute brush and floss once you’re back home.

Follow these tips to keep your mouth happy over summer, and you’ll feel the reward come winter-time, too!