During menstruation, a woman’s body is flooded with hormones. High levels of progesterone can increase the likelihood of swollen or bleeding gums, swollen salivary glands, and even canker sores! These should clear up naturally as your period passes, but require a bit more caution when brushing in the meantime! During your period, make sure you brush and floss gently so as not to aggravate sore gums.
Pregnancy affects a woman’s body in many, sometimes dramatic, ways. Pregnant women are more likely to experience periodontal disease and cavities, as well as bleeding and sore gums from soaring hormone levels. These same hormones can even temporarily loosen the muscles and bones that keep your teeth in place! Oral healthcare is an especially important part of prenatal care, so if you are pregnant or planning to be so, make sure to consult your oral health professional to make sure you’re keeping your teeth strong and healthy throughout your gestation period.
The very medications which keep us from getting pregnant, oral contraceptives, can also have negative effects on your oral and dental health. Because these work by changing your internal hormone levels, women who regularly take oral contraceptives are at a higher risk of sensitivity in the gums, plaque buildup, and even reduced blood supply to your gum tissue! If you are taking oral contraceptives, be sure to brush gently and consult with your dentist for tailored advice for your teeth.
Menopause is a time of huge change in a woman’s body which affects everything, including teeth and gums. During menopause, women are more likely to experience sore teeth and gums, dry mouth, and an alteration is taste sensations. If you are experiencing menopause, make sure to use interdental brushes daily to help to stop plaque from forming, and minimise your sugary food and drink intake to ensure your teeth stay as healthy as possible, for as long as possible! For tips on how to reduce your sugar intake without avoiding all sweets, check out our previous blog!
Hormonal changes around menopause can also include the development of osteoporosis, which is a weakening of the bones. Research suggests that this can also affect jaw and tooth health, and cause them to become more brittle. If you are concerned that you might have osteoporosis, make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible to get advice on how best to manage your bone health.
]]>External Factors
Some of the things which can discolour our teeth are under our control while others aren’t. Many of the things we eat and drink unfortunately have staining effects on our teeth, and these include daily habits such as tea, coffee, tobacco, wine, and even potatoes! Medications, too, can have an effect, such as antihistamines or blood pressure medications - it may not be possible to stop taking these, but they might still cause staining as a side effect! Natural high levels of fluoride in your local water supply can also discolour your teeth. Another external factor which may not occur to us is our daily brushing routine! Brushing and flossing are essential for keeping your teeth clean from the acids and sugars that break down the enamel on the surface of our teeth and for keeping plaque from forming in the spaces between teeth.
Intrinsic Factors
Not everything that causes staining and discolouration comes from outside causes. Some discolouration of the teeth may occur due to genetics, diseases, or even the natural passing of time! If you have naturally thinner or duller enamel due to genetics, there may be different routes for you to take to achieve whiter teeth. To get a better understanding of any intrinsic factors that may be affecting your tooth colour or health, make an appointment with your dental professional for a consultation.
Maintain a Consistent Routine
This simple step can make a huge difference in your overall dental health and aesthetic. Make sure you’re brushing and flossing twice a day using a good quality toothbrush, ensuring that you change your head when the bristles start to splay. Maintaining your quotidian oral hygiene routine can dramatically reduce your chances of staining and discolouration!
Consider Whitening
If you have tried various paths but still haven’t achieved the sparkling whiteness of your dream teeth, you might consider taking the whitening route! Whether you choose to do this at home or in-office, be sure to have an initial consultation to check whether whitening is the right choice for your teeth - if you have underlying problems it may just be a costly waste of time! Always make sure that you run any big decisions regarding your teeth past your dentist to ensure their safety throughout any treatments! If you’re thinking about whitening but not sure if it’s for you, check out our previous blog for more information!]]>Stay Safe, Stay Smart
Whether you choose to have your teeth whitened at home with a kit or in-office by a dental professional, be sure to book yourself a consultation with your dental professional to discuss what’s right for you! The better informed you are, the happier you will be with the results - setting high expectations without a proper understanding of the process can lead to disappointment, so you’re always best off doing your research and finding what will work best for your teeth. Sonisk Smile offers an affordable, professional teeth whitening service established by World’s Top 100 Doctors in Dentistry.
Take Time
Whatever the current shade of your teeth, whitening takes time. Depending on whether you decide to DIY your whitening or have it done professionally, results can take anywhere between two to six weeks to be noticeable - either way, it’s never going to be immediate! And since it’s not possible to go from yellow today to sparkling white tomorrow, take the time you need to do your research and decide which route is best for you! As with almost anything, it’s better done slowly and right than hastily and badly.
Relative Shade
Remember that true perfection doesn’t exist - and that this is true for tooth whitening, too! The very best professional whitening will only ever take you to the whitest that your individual teeth are able to go. Avoid disappointment by consulting with a dental professional to gauge what shade you can realistically achieve.
The Hard Work Comes Later
Whitening your teeth is not a one-off permanent solution, no matter how you go about it. Although the whitening process does a bulk of the work for you, the maintenance after treatment is the most important thing to ensure that you keep your pearlies white - and this is entirely up to you! Make sure you commit to follow all advice on aftercare to the letter to keep your teeth white for as long as possible between treatments.
To Whiten or Not to Whiten
Remember that what you choose now doesn’t have to be set in stone forever - if you have done your research and decided to take the plunge with whitening, go for it! If you’re still unsure or think it might be something to do down the road, you can still take steps to ensure your teeth stay as white as possible for now! Whatever you choose, remember to maintain a consistent routine of brushing with a good quality toothbrush and flossing twice a day!
]]>While there are no specific differences between disposable and electric brushes when it comes to how long you can safely use them for, there is a major difference in how your regular brush replacement affects the environment! Although manual toothbrushes are handy and simple to use, they also make up a great deal of waste, and if they are made of plastic can take many years to break down! To lessen the amount of plastic waste you’re putting out into the world, consider switching to an electric toothbrush, as the heads are made from significantly smaller pieces of plastic. Small steps lead to big changes! You can keep it economical for yourself by buying bundles of spare heads, rather than getting these one at a time as needed - you’ll save yourself some money, and ensure you always have a spare when a change is needed!
Splayed bristles are an obvious sign that your toothbrush or toothbrush head need changing, stat! Dentists advise that you should change your toothbrush head every three months or so, so if you find that your bristles are splaying out after a month or two you may need to reassess the amount of force you are using when brushing your teeth. Remember! Grasp your toothbrush firmly and brush gently at a 45° angle to keep your teeth clean and safe from abrasion.
Despite regular cleaning, bacteria and germs can gather and grow on your toothbrush head, especially if you’re unwell. Fungus and bacteria can get stuck in the bristles of your brush and keep you sick for longer, so if you are in the recovery process after a cold or flu, make sure to switch out your toothbrush head for a new, clean one!
The best way to maintain your toothbrush and avoid bacteria forming on the bristles is by properly rinsing it after every use. A simple rinse under tap water can remove excess toothpaste and saliva, which carry germs, off the bristles of your brush. Keeping your toothbrush upright is also essential as this allows the bristles the opportunity to dry off before the next use! If you are often travelling or on the go, consider investing in a Sonisk Pulse portable toothbrush, as the antimicrobial travel cap will keep it clean and free of bacteria wherever you are!
]]>Feeling Fruity? Find the Balance!
Some fruit and fruit byproducts, such as juice and dried fruits, are especially bad for your teeth and gums and don’t really balance out in terms of benefits. On the other hand, crunchy fruits, such as apples and pears, have high water content that encourage saliva production, which in turn helps to wash out your mouth whilst still satisfying your sweet tooth! Strawberries, too, have balanced benefits! Yes, they’re both sugary and acidic - but strawberries also contain malic acid, which helps to whiten the appearance of your teeth (albeit only temporarily) and are chock-full of Vitamin C, which helps to strengthen your teeth and bones!
Blend it Up
The great thing about homemade smoothies is that you can control the ingredients, and therefore the sugar content! Try creating your own balance by adding ingredients that are known to improve oral health. For instance, if you’re craving a banana smoothie to satiate your sweet tooth, consider adding spinach, which is high in enamel-building calcium and folic acid, which can help stave off gum disease!
Chocolate: The Darker, The Better
For many of us chocolate is one of the snacks that comes under the “irresistible” category - and good news for all, there’s no need to resist! Although milk and white chocolate are full of sugar, dark chocolate has actually been shown to be good for your teeth! Dark chocolate, anything over 70% cocoa solids, is full of polyphenols which fight oral bacteria, and there’s even research suggesting that another compound found in dark chocolate, theobromine, can even be more effective than fluoride in fighting tooth decay!
Mitigate Negative Effects
There are times when, however much we might attempt to steer clear, eating something sugary is unavoidable. On these occasions, don’t panic! Where possible, reduce your sugar intake by adjusting the types of foods from which you get your sugars to make sure you’re doing the best by your teeth and gums. If you snack a lot at home, try to do all your snacking at once and then rinse your mouth out with water to avoid the amount of time that sugars can sit in your mouth. If you find that you snack a lot on the go, consider popping a Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush in your bag (or pocket!) and give your teeth a quick brush 30 minutes after eating to clean your mouth out!
]]>Sometimes accidents are unavoidable, but if you are actually planning to get pregnant, make sure you get your teeth seen by your dentist first! Not only will they be able to give you individually suited advice for your pregnancy, but they will also be able to record your oral health before your body changes to better monitor differences that occur later on during your pregnancy!
If you’re already pregnant, you should still consult your dentist! Keeping your oral health professionals up to date of major changes in your body, new medications, and the effects of prenatal care are essential to a healthy pregnancy. Speak to your obstetrician in advance of visiting your dentist in case there are any factors specific to you to take into consideration. And don’t skip any scheduled appointments! Pregnancy puts you at a higher risk of gingivitis, oral sensitivity, and plaque, so now more than ever it’s important to keep up with your regular appointments.
Some oral health concerns are more likely to occur during pregnancy, and although many of these are temporary, some may also need some care and attention. Take note if you notice that your gums are sore or bleeding, or if your teeth feel loose, and make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible to make sure you’re not ignoring anything major.
Different smells and tastes can affect your experience of morning sickness. If you are struggling with this, consider switching your toothpaste to a bland or flavourless brand, as strong mint flavours and sensations can sometimes provoke nausea, which no one wants! Remember to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after vomiting to clear your mouth of stomach acids, which can weaken the enamel on the surface of your teeth.
As much as ever, keeping up a consistent oral hygiene routine is essential for maintaining your oral health during pregnancy. Make sure you brush and floss twice daily, with a good quality toothbrush that gets into the harder to reach spaces behind and between your teeth to reduce the risk of plaque forming and aggravated oral discomfort.
]]>Whiten Those Pearlies
If you’ve been considering a tooth whitening treatment, now might be the perfect time to take the plunge! Remember, though, that there are restrictions to what you can eat and drink, especially in the few days after a treatment, so if you’re planning on showing off your whitened teeth on Valentine’s it might be a good idea to get your appointment in a week or so prior!
Seize the Opportunity
We often advise people to visit their dentist twice yearly - but if there’s no specific date defined it can be easy to push aside for other things, and forget. Why not use Valentine’s as your date marker for the first of your yearly visits? It’s a great way to ensure that your mouth is as clean and healthy as possible, and whether or not you have a big date to get to, you’ll feel better in your own body! Just remember to have another appointment six months or so later!
(Always) Stay Hydrated
Keeping well hydrated helps your saliva production, which in turn helps your mouth to stay clean and staves off bad breath, not to mention its overall benefits for your whole body - so it’s really an all-round winner! Be sure to have a glass of water alongside your meal to help clear your mouth from acidic food and drink and to keep you fresh throughout the evening! If you’re drinking alcohol, too, sipping on water has the added bonus of staving off a nasty hangover!
Maintain Regular Habits
The easiest and most important way to achieve and maintain a sparkling smile is keeping up with your regular dental hygiene routine. Making sure to brush and floss twice daily maintains your oral health by keeping your mouth clean and warding off problems such as plaque, bad breath, and gum disease - so it’s definitely worth doing regularly!
Keep it Up on the Go
Floss!
If you add one thing to your dental hygiene routine this year, it should be flossing. You might notice that this always comes up on oral health advice - and for good reason! Flossing regularly reduces gingivitis and tooth decay significantly when compared to brushing alone, and that alone should be enough encouragement! Many people find it frustrating due to it being time consuming, so we recommend taking the time this year to make your dental hygiene routine something fun that you’re not impatiently just trying to get through. Try popping on a podcast or your favorite song to distract your thoughts while you’re brushing and flossing, and you’ll find that you’ll be done much sooner than you think!
Brush Your Tongue
It’s easy to forget, but brushing your tongue actually makes a huge difference to your oral hygiene! Bacteria on your tongue causes bad breath and also mutes your taste buds, so brushing your tongue not only cleans your mouth and helps to fight off plaque, but actually makes things taste better, too!
Be Gentle
In a rush to get our brushing routine over and done with, we can sometimes be a bit overzealous with brushing, which then leads to new problems such as enamel erosion! Take care to exert gentle pressure at a 45 degree angle to protect the surface of your teeth and gums from abrasive bristles!
Eat and Drink Right
Maintaining a balanced diet helps your whole body as well as your teeth, so it’s always a good habit to get into! Inject your meals with nutrient and mineral rich foods such as eggs and leafy greens, and steer clear of carbonated beverages for better overall health and stronger, healthier teeth!
Maintain Consistency
Consistency is the most important aspect of a good oral hygiene routine - you can get your brushing and flossing routine to the perfect place, but unless you remember to do it twice a day for two minutes each session, your progress could be negated!
Upgrade Your Tools
Encourage yourself to maintain good habits by rewarding yourself with the best available tools! Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride, and if possible switch from a manual brush to electric or sonic for a deeper clean. We highly recommend trying out our Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush, which is not only a cost-effective option for trying out sonic power, but can also be kept on hand for brushing on the go!
]]>Hydration Station Activated
As a diuretic, alcohol promotes water loss from the body through urine, which also affects your saliva production - that’s why it sometimes gives you a dry mouth feeling. Saliva is needed to keep your mouth clean and clear from plaque-forming bacteria, sugars and acids. When you reduce or stop alcohol intake, your mouth immediately starts producing more of that much-needed saliva, helping your daily oral health!
Secret Sugars
When we think about cutting back on sugar, our mind usually goes straight to the obvious culprits: sweets, cakes, and snacks. However, alcohol - especially beer and wine - is also packed full of sugar, as well as spirit mixes, especially if they're carbonated. So reducing your alcohol intake also massively reduces how much sugar you’re putting into your body, which is not only better for your overall health but also a huge help in protecting your teeth from cavities and tooth decay!
Pearly Whites
Some alcoholic beverages, especially wine, but also beer, can actively discolour your teeth, leaving them with a brown or yellow hue. Taking a break from alcohol helps to minimise discolouration and maintain your sparkling smile!
What if I’m not dry this January?
If you’re partaking in Dry January, it doesn’t mean all is lost! There are some simple steps you can take to protect your teeth from whatever you are drinking:
How and Why is Cheese Good for Your Teeth?
Phosphate and calcium can be found in any dairy-based cheese, and these work together to strengthen your teeth and bones in the long term. Some cheeses are also good for the immediate health of your mouth and help to neutralise your oral pH levels by increasing your saliva production and coating the surface of your teeth in a film of calcium, which helps to strengthen the enamel!
Choose Your Cheese
The best cheeses for your immediate oral health are hard, aged cheeses such as Cheddar, Gouda, Blue, Swiss or Brie - which is already a wonderfully varied selection for a good cheese course! You can also go for lower-fat alternatives like Parmigiano Reggiano, which is both diet and dental friendly. Soft cheeses are calcium rich, and include anything from mozzarella to soft goats cheese - these cheeses won’t activate your saliva as well as hard cheeses, but you will still reap the long-term benefits!
Pairing Problems
A pitfall to watch out for is how you pair your cheese - it’s all well and good to nibble on a cube of cheddar, but if you consume it atop a salty cracker you risk losing out on the neutralising effects of the cheese by filling your mouth with bacteria-forming starch! The same issue goes for a sweet pairing: there's nothing quite like a hard cheese eaten with a smear of quince jam, but the latter is full of sugars and acids that can cause havoc in your mouth! We recommend starting off your cheese course with a starchy base or sweet accompaniment of your choice, but then ending with a simple cube of unadulterated cheese to neutralise any harmful ingredients that might have made their way into your mouth!
The Brushing Dilemma
Now to the question on everyone’s lips - does a cube of hard, aged cheese at the end of a meal mean you can skip your evening brushing routine? The answer is easy: No. Cheese is absolutely not a substitute for your oral health routine - otherwise we’d all be nibbling on Gouda before bed! While cheese does help to maintain your dental strength over the long term and balance your oral pH in the short term, there really is nothing more important than a consistent oral hygiene routine. As with any other food or drink, ideally you should wait 30 minutes after eating cheese and then brush and floss with a good quality toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste!
]]>Will it last?
Consumable gifts can be great as they show that you’ve thought about your recipients’ tastes - but unless they come in a special presentation box or tin, these gifts can be too short-lived, and even create longer term issues! A box of Christmas chocolates might be delicious, but it could also cause cavities and tooth decay in the long run, and that’s not really the best way to show someone you care for them! Be thoughtful with consumable goods: think about things that are healthy, and go for eco-friendly packaging!
Is it useful?
A karaoke machine can be great fun on Christmas day, but might gather dust for the rest of the year after - and with many karaoke apps available directly on our smartphones, is it really necessary to add more clutter? When thinking of the perfect gift remember to consider how much usage the recipient will get out of it - the more useful the better!
Do they already have it?
Buying someone duplicates of possessions they already own is a bit pointless, but upgrading something they love and use often can be the perfect gift! Avid readers might enjoy an e-reader rather than adding more volumes to their collection, for instance. Think about the person for whom you are buying and what they get the most use out of in their home, and then all you need to do is help them to level up!
The ideal gift
The perfect gift to cover all the above is, of course, an electric toothbrush. Will it last? Yes, absolutely - a good quality electric toothbrush lasts for years, and only needs the heads replacing, making it a long-lasting gift. Is it useful? Absolutely! Oral health is imperative for absolutely everyone, making an electric toothbrush not only the perfect gift, but a valuable one for absolutely anyone! Do they already have it? The large majority of people already have toothbrushes, but these are most often the manual kind, which eventually splay out and need replacing. An electric toothbrush is not only an improvement in terms of dental hygiene, but also reduces waste and helps to protect our planet from excessive plastic pollution! Check out our full range of Sonisk Pulse portable toothbrushes, with a wide selection of colours and extra low price point, there’s something there for everyone!
]]>Schedule Your Brushing
Unfortunately, brushing your teeth after ingesting acidic or sugary foods and drinks can actually damage your teeth. Delicious things such as chocolate, champagne, and fruit cakes actually soften the enamel which protects your teeth’s surface, and risk erosion if you brush them in this softened state! So should you knock off the tasty treats? No! Just ensure that you wait half an hour between eating and drinking and brushing your teeth, so that you clean the surface of the enamel without damaging it! Easy as (mince) pie!
Sip, Sip, Sip that Water
Drinking water is important year-round, as hydrating your body has endless benefits, from staving off infections to keeping your organs functioning properly. Water also has the benefit of rinsing your mouth and washing away bacteria-forming acids and sugars - so get sipping!
Prepare to Be Caught Out
Whether you’ve had one glass too many or are simply enjoying being in good company, part and parcel of the holiday season is sometimes staying over with family or friends unexpectedly. Unfortunately, one thing you can’t borrow or share is a toothbrush! Make sure to keep one handy in your bag at all times in case you find yourself staying up or out, so that you can relax and enjoy yourself without worrying about missing an important part of your daily routine! Investing in a good quality travel toothbrush is strongly recommended, so that you don’t leave your brush head open and loose in your belongings. The Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush comes with a handy travel cap with antimicrobial properties to make sure your toothbrush stays hygienic wherever you keep it, and has the added bonus of that deep-clean feeling that only electric toothbrushes can give you!
Get Chomping on Cheese
Good news for cheese lovers out there - cheese is not only “not bad” for your teeth, it’s actually good for them! Cheese has high levels of calcium and phosphate which naturally help to strengthen teeth and bones, as well as being pH balancing, which means that cheese actually neutralises your mouth after ingesting other foods! We’re not sure if cheese boards come last for this reason or if it’s just a happy coincidence, but either way - don’t skip the cheese course!
]]>A simple mistake when using your teeth to grip tape or a bottle cap can result in cracks and chips, and just at the time when you don’t want to be making emergency trips to the dentist! Save yourself the stress and keep your bottle opener and scissors to hand!
Between visiting family and friends and going on outings, it can be easy to forget the essentials. Do yourself a favour and prepare a holiday dental kit with toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, so that if you decide to stay out overnight, at least your teeth and gums will be as clean as if you were at home!
Sparkling wine is both sugary and acidic and temporarily softens the enamel on the surface of your teeth, so keep this safe by waiting half an hour before brushing your teeth!
Turkey meat is chock full of phosphorus, which is a protein that helps to strengthen your teeth and bones, making it the perfect food for your dental health!
Drinking water helps not only to hydrate your entire body, but can be very handy in washing out food particles and acid from on and in between your teeth! Take regular sips from a glass of water to help clean your mouth and keep your body healthy!
Where possible, opt for dark chocolate, which has benefits for your oral health, over sticky sweets like toffee and caramels - your sweet tooth will still be satiated, and your teeth will be safer all round!
Wine isn’t great for your teeth overall due to its acid content, but red wine is more likely to stain the surface of your teeth - so to save yourself a whitening, opt for white over red wine where possible!
A chocolate a day isn’t so bad - unless you’re already eating lots of other sweets and sugary foods, too. Try changing your advent calendar tradition this year - instead of chocolate, why not treat yourself to tea, cologne, or skincare? With a calendar available for almost every interest, there’s no need to stick to the chocolate ones!
If you find that you’re eating regularly throughout the day, you’re best off carrying a small bottle of mouthwash with you to help wash out your mouth and remineralise your teeth between courses!
Cheese is full of calcium and phosphate, which help to strengthen your teeth, as well as having pH neutralising characteristics that help to clean out your mouth after a meal - so make sure to finish your day’s eating with a cube of hard, aged cheese!
Avoid getting caught out when staying over with friends or family by making sure you carry your toothbrush with you wherever you go! Travel with ease with the Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush, complete with antimicrobial travel cap, which you can pop into your bag (or even coat pocket!) to ensure that you don’t accidentally miss a brushing!
The most important thing is to ensure you continue your daily brushing and flossing routine, as there really is nothing more beneficial than consistent dental hygiene for your long term oral health!
Beware of the Risks
Some lifestyle choices put us at higher odds of developing oral cancer, so it’s important to know what these are to avoid them! Things which also cause other health issues in the mouth are linked to oral cancer, such as smoking or tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor oral hygiene, and bad diet. When these are compounded the effects are worse: the highest risk group for oral cancer is people who do not regularly partake in an oral hygiene routine, and also use chewing tobacco.
What are the Symptoms?
Oral cancers are usually found in three places: in the mouth, on the lips, and on the tongue. Cancer can also develop in the throat, connected to the mouth, but in this location it’s known as throat, or Oropharyngeal cancer. The manifestations of oral cancer often look similar to other oral health concerns, and can include symptoms such as sores in the mouth that don’t heal, loose teeth, aching jaws or gums, and problems with chewing and swallowing, amongst others.
When to Investigate Further
Although many symptoms of oral cancer mimic other issues in the mouth, they are not one and the same. Before panicking about ulcers in the side of your mouth, consider what other things might have caused them! An accidental bite to your cheek when chewing or eating scalding food can cause ulcers to your cheeks and tongue, but these do not mean you have oral cancer! A good rule of thumb is to monitor how long symptoms last, and whether or not common remedies are effective. For instance, if you find ulcers in your mouth which persist after treatment with salt water gargling or corticosteroid lozenges for more than two weeks, it may be worth investigating. Whatever your symptoms, the best thing to do is visit your dentist, who will be able to more quickly tell you whether or not you have anything to worry about!
How to Prevent and Protect Yourself from Oral Cancer
The most important thing to do is to maintain a regular oral hygiene routine, including brushing for two minutes twice a day with a good quality toothbrush and flossing. There’s no better alternative than this, and it’s simple and easy to keep up with once you’re in the swing of it! If you find that you are reluctant to brush your teeth, consider encouraging yourself by investing in a sonic powered toothbrush or luxurious toothpaste to make your brushing experience one to look forward to!
Although cancer is scary, keeping yourself healthy and observant is the best way to ensure a long and healthy life for yourself and your teeth!
]]>Carefully Crunching Carrots
Though some foods with hard exteriors, like hard candies, may be dangerous for your teeth, vegetables with tough exteriors are actually very good for your dental health! Juicy and fibrous vegetables like carrots make your teeth work a bit harder to break them down into smaller pieces, which stimulates the gums and helps blood flow! Because they are not hard enough to crack your teeth, the extra exercise in breaking them down is also good for your jaw muscles!
The Celery Secret
As well as being crunchy and helping to promote gum health much like carrots, the highly fibrous composition of celery also makes it really good for cleaning the surface of your teeth! As you chew, the fibres splay and become almost like bristles in your mouth, helping to clean off plaque and food particles from the spaces between your teeth as well as the enamel which protects them!
Don’t Leaf Out the Greens!
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and lettuce are rich in calcium and folic acid which help to strengthen your teeth and bones and are a great way to encourage strong oral health. And although leafy greens often seem to get stuck in your teeth, they’re actually very helpful in cleaning out your mouth - so just give yourself a quick check in the mirror after eating a salad!
Stay Away from Starch
Some vegetables are good for your body overall but not your teeth specifically, and these tend to be those that are high in starch and sugars, which can actually erode the surface of your teeth and promote plaque-forming bacterias in the mouth. After eating starchy or sweet vegetables, like potatoes, onions, or tomatoes, make sure you’re also consuming some veg that promotes oral health to give yourself a better balance!
What About Fruit?
Although overall the sugar content of fruit makes them less healthy for your teeth overall, there are some fruits which are packed full of the minerals and nutrients we need to form strong bones, and that are therefore good for your teeth in moderation! Figs, for instance, are rich in calcium, magnesium, and potassium, all of which help to promote bone health, and can be eaten fresh or dried! Just make sure to rinse your mouth out after eating sugary fruits to stop acid and bacteria from collecting in your mouth.
Because vegetables are a part of a healthy, balanced diet, you should already be consuming them - at least five a day, ideally - which means you are already doing something good for your teeth! If you want to concentrate on your oral health, choose vegetables that have concentrated benefits for your mouth!
]]>The History
Mint leaves have been used in herbal toothpastes as far back as 500 BC in China, making it one of the oldest ingredients of toothpaste still in use today! Humans have experimented with different ingredients for toothpastes throughout history, ranging from abrasive soaps and charcoal to more fragrant herbs and spices, but not all of these have been successful. Mint continued to be a popular ingredient until Colgate started mass-producing the first tubes of toothpaste in the late 1800s, taking it from a common ingredient to a staple one.
The Benefits
Mint flavouring in toothpaste contains large amounts of menthol, which leaves a tingling sensation in the mouth and gives the brusher the feeling of freshness, which for many is an intrinsic part of their oral hygiene routines! But overall, there are no specific health or hygiene benefits to using mint as opposed to other herbs and spices - it’s just about preference! Mint also grows in abundance year round, making it an excellent ingredient to harvest and use in commercial products.
The Alternatives
Other flavouring ingredients have been used in toothpaste for as long as mint, such as cinnamon, fennel, anise, or even citrus. Different flavours create different sensations: where mint is cooling, something like vanilla is warming, and lime is refreshing. The concept of having minty-fresh breath is often comforting for people and gives the impression of having a cleaner or healthier mouth, but the reality is that as long as you are brushing twice a day with a good quality toothbrush and following up with flossing, the flavour of your toothpaste really doesn’t matter at all! Some people find flavouring in their toothpaste distasteful, and for this reason you can even find neutral or flavourless products on the market!
The Takeaway
So, despite having been used for millennia (literally) in oral hygiene care, mint actually has no specific benefits that can’t be gleaned from a good quality toothpaste with any other flavour. This is great news for those that baulk from the intense freshness - why not try something with a warmer taste, like clove? And if you feel that your mouth doesn’t feel clean without that minty freshness, rest easy that you’re doing no harm, and as long as it makes you feel good, continue as you are!
]]>Cause and Effect
Unfortunately, it seems that health education has let men down at some point, as studies show quite staggering differences in the understanding of oral hygiene between men and women. A study in the Journal of Periodontology found that men are half as likely to regularly visit their dentist in contrast with women, and that up to 33% admit to not regularly brushing their teeth as compared to 20% of women. This shows we need to better educate men and boys about their dental health, as well as encouraging them to brush and go for checkups regularly!
Gums and Your Heart
Direct links have been found between cardiovascular, or heart, disease and gum diseases, which means that poor oral hygiene is directly linked to being at a higher risk of serious complications such as stroke or heart attack. Men are generally more likely than women to suffer from cardiovascular issues in their lifetime, which means that they should be especially vigilant when it comes to brushing their teeth!
Physical Risks
Men are generally more highly encouraged to take part in sports, especially contact sports, and activities which put their bodies in harm’s way. It’s important to take teeth into consideration when undertaking such activities and doing whatever possible to protect them, whether that means wearing a mouthguard while practicing martial arts or full-face helmets for extreme contact sports!
Men and Cancer
Men are at a much higher risk than women when it comes to developing oral cancer, which is especially concerning given lower attendance at dentists’ bi-annual checkups. Oral cancer is also affected by lifestyle choices, such as tobacco or alcohol consumption, so these are best limited (or stopped entirely!) to protect your mouth. Given that oral cancer symptoms can often manifest as other oral health issues, it’s important to monitor anything unusual going on in your mouth - if you have been experiencing discomfort or unusual symptoms in your mouth for more than a fortnight, make an appointment to see your dentist!
Keep in Mind
The most important part of your oral hygiene routine is consistency, so make sure you’re brushing and flossing properly twice a day! Consider investing in a sonic powered toothbrush for an even deeper clean and a more engaging brushing experience to encourage yourself to keep up with your routine!
]]>Bad Bite
The most common oral cause for migraines is bad bite, or misaligned teeth, which can cause inflammation to your gums and muscles around the jaw, which then causes tension headaches and migraines. If you are concerned that your bite is misaligned, pay a visit to your dentist! There are many possible solutions, from orthodontic braces and surgery to retainers for nighttime use - once you find out which is the right step for you, you’ll be closer to banishing those headaches once and for all!
Bruxism
Also known as teeth grinding, bruxism is something that people experience for different reasons. Some find that they grind their teeth in their sleep, while others unconsciously grind their teeth due to stress or the use of stimulants, such as coffee. Common symptoms of bruxism include worn down teeth, disordered sleep, jaw pain, and - you got it - headaches! As a result of the different causes of bruxism, there are also a lot of different treatment possibilities to try out. If you know that you grind your teeth due to stress, for instance, it is recommended to give yourself a jaw massage and do a relaxing activity before bed! You can also try out a night guard to protect your teeth from being ground down during your sleep.
Tooth Decay
Something as simple as a cavity can cause headaches if untreated, too, as the nerve endings around your teeth in your gums are connected through the jaw to the rest of your head, which is why sometimes a painful toothache can result in a pounding headache! If you know you have cavities, don’t delay treatment - it may result in more serious problems down the line.
The Takeaway
Feast on Sweets
Although it might sound contrary to logic, eating all your sugar in one sitting is actually the best thing for your teeth! Sugar sticks around in your mouth for a long time after consuming food and contributes to the formation of plaque and bacteria in your mouth, so limiting the time that your mouth is sugary is the best way to avoid having sugar in your mouth all day. Just make sure to regularly sip water to keep the sugar flushed out of your mouth as much as possible!
Wait Before Bed
Make sure to consume your chocolate and sweets with enough time to leave at least half an hour between sugary snacks and brushing your teeth! Sugar temporarily softens the enamel on the surface of your teeth, which means it is more susceptible to damage by brushing. To avoid causing abrasion to your teeth’s protective surface, eat your sugary snacks early and sip on water as you go to keep the sugar levels in your mouth low, and then brush and floss your teeth before bed as normal!
Choose Wisely
Although sugar is not overall not good for you, some sweets and chocolates are worse than others when it comes to your teeth. Sticky sweets such as caramel or taffy are not only full of sugar but also have the kind of consistency that gets stuck between your teeth and can stay there for a long time without melting. Not to mention that harder caramels can actually crack your teeth if you go fin for a bite! You’re better off choosing softer sweets or snacks that melt quickly, like chocolate, as you’ll reduce the amount of time that sugar sits on your teeth.
Steer Clear of Sour
And while we’re at it, it’s worth mentioning that sweets with sour flavouring are worse than regular sugary sweets because that delicious sour taste is made using acidic ingredients which cause havoc in your mouth! Limit your consumption of sour candy to make sure that your mouth isn’t saturated in sugars and acid.
To learn more about how to protect your teeth from sugar without cutting it out, check out our previous blog!
]]>Overcrowding
Overcrowding of teeth in the mouth or crooked teeth is a hereditary trait and can make it harder to maintain good oral health as it is more difficult to reach certain areas in the mouth, which can allow plaque and cavities to form in the hidden spaces between your teeth. Overcrowding can also cause issues with misaligned bite, which can lead to further issues with jaw pain and chewing problems. However, orthodontic braces and retainers can help to realign your teeth and can even fix problems with overcrowding, so you don't have to be a victim to genetics forever!
Gum Disease
A predisposition to periodontal (gum) disease can also be passed down genetically and can cause a myriad of symptoms from toothache to bleeding gums. Luckily, gum disease can be treated and managed as long as it’s caught early! If you are aware of gum disease in your family, make sure you mention this to your dentist as they can take this into account when making an individual treatment plan for you.
Tooth Colour
The colour of your teeth is determined by a mix of genetic traits and your environment. Some people can have thinner enamel, which is genetically passed down and can be more susceptible to yellowing. However, the colour of your teeth can also be affected by certain foods and drinks, whether or not you smoke, and poor oral hygiene. Make sure you’re doing the best by your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly, and visiting your dentist twice yearly. If you are unhappy with the colour of your teeth even after giving them the best cleaning routine, you can look into whitening treatments applied either at home or in-office at your dentist. Nature might determine your tooth colour, but in this case you have options on how to change this to better suit you!
In a nutshell: Yes, some oral health attributes are directly linked to genetics, but that doesn’t mean you have no control over your overall dental health and aesthetics! Don’t be discouraged by traits that have been passed down to you, remember that everyone is different and very few people get through life with no dental health issues. Rather than stressing about things you cannot control, seize control of those you can! Maintain your oral health to the best of your ability by brushing twice daily with a good quality toothbrush and flossing, and make sure to pay regular visits to your dentist!
]]>And when we say everyone, we mean everyone! Every blog, resource, and piece of advice regarding oral hygiene references flossing - so it must be important, right? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. While many of us find flossing uncomfortable or time consuming, it is very much essential for good oral health. Flossing helps to dislodge food particles stuck between our teeth and gums, and anyone who does it regularly can attest to how much stuff comes out of your teeth even after brushing! If you find it hard to find the patience, try putting on your favourite song and flossing to it - your concentration will shift to the music, and your teeth will be flossed before you know it!
The answer here is yes, and also no. Although mouthwash is a good addition to your oral hygiene routine, it is not essential, especially if you’re maintaining the most important parts: brushing and flossing. Dental health experts are split on whether or not they recommend mouthwash, so it’s really up to you! Just remember that if you are going to use mouthwash, you should opt for an alcohol-free formula, as alcohol can dry out your mouth and cause other problems down the line! Click here to learn more about mouthwash!
The most common advice after flossing is twice yearly dentist visits - but why? Some people feel (or hope) that as long as there are no immediate concerns or problems, it’s not that necessary to visit the dentist regularly. However, we are here to tell you that regular visits to your dentist are an invaluable part of your oral health maintenance! Your dentist can spot (and treat!) problems in your mouth as they arise, and create personalised care plans to ensure that you’re doing the best for your teeth!
This one is harder to answer as people have different needs, desires, and price points when it comes to choosing their toothbrush. There are some things, however, which are true for everyone: regular manual toothbrushes are usually the cheapest, but electric toothbrushes give you a better clean. If you’re interested in trying an electric toothbrush but find yourself wincing at the price, try out our Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush, which gives you that deep clean without breaking the bank!
Many people choose to trust name brand products, but when it comes to oral hygiene these can get expensive! Luckily, the majority of big supermarkets have their own in-house toothpastes, and these are usually a lot cheaper than the big names on the market! And because these need to go through the same quality assurances as big brand toothpastes, you don’t need to worry about whether they’ll work as well, too!
Tools that can be used for multiple purposes or occasions are winners when it comes to saving money! For instance, our Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrush is not only a great daily brush for your regular routine, but also runs on AAA batteries and comes with a hygienic travel cap, making for the perfect travel toothbrush! If you can take your regular toothbrush with you wherever you go, that’s one less item to shop for!
Look for shops and pharmacies that have deals going on, and stock up! Buying more now can save you more later. Look out for deals on multiple items, like 2-for-1 on floss, and keep a stockpile of your favourite products and tools for later use!
Though our brains are used to looking out for the lowest numbers, sometimes a higher price point can mean bigger savings! Wherever bundle deals are applicable, consider stocking up for the future, or go in on something together with a friend or partner! Bundles often come with extras, which drive down the price per item. For example, our Sonisk Pulse bundles each come with an extra replacement head pack (or two, depending on the deal!) which can save you from buying more for longer. Check out our bundles to find the best deal for you today!
The most important thing to remember when trying to save money on oral hygiene is to look out for low prices without compromising your dental care routine. There are some extras, such as mouthwash, which can be taken out from a regular routine without impacting your oral health - but others, such as the actual toothbrush and paste, are absolutely essential! Though it might be tempting to forgo a traditional toothbrush and chew on a twig, this kind of money-saving tactic will only lead to you spending more money on expensive dentistry in the future!
]]>What is Bad Breath?
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, has many different causes, from bad oral hygiene to the consumption of certain foods and drinks, such as garlic and milk! Drinks and medications that cause dry mouth can contribute to bad breath by trapping bacteria in the mouth. Sometimes it can be unclear whether bad breath is the problem itself, or a symptom of something else, such as gum disease! If you make all the appropriate lifestyle changes and maintain a consistent oral hygiene routine but are finding that your breath is regularly bad, make sure to see your dentist to find out if there are any underlying issues causing it.
How to Keep Your Breath Fresh
The simplest but most important way to stave off bad breath is to make sure you’re keeping up with your daily dental hygiene routine of brushing twice daily and flossing. If this is not easy to achieve with your lifestyle, try to find solutions rather than allowing yourself to miss a session! For instance, if you find that you stay out or away from home often, invest in a good quality travel toothbrush!
Help your mouth to keep your breath fresh by promoting saliva production and making sure your mouth is being washed out regularly. Simple ways to achieve this are to stay hydrated by sipping on water or chewing on sugar-free gum!
Some foods not only don’t give you bad breath, but actually help you to keep it away! Crunchy and fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots, promote saliva production and even decrease the bacteria on the surface of your teeth!
Some herbs and spices have strong flavours which counteract bad breath and help your mouth to feel fresh, such as peppermint or rosemary. Herb blends have actually been used to keep breath fresh since Ancient Greece! If you’re not a fan of munching on raw rosemary leaves, try brewing them for a few minutes in boiling water and drink the infusion instead.
Ginger is a known palette cleanser (think of the pickled ginger you nibble on between sushi rolls, for example) and has special compounds which actively break down enzymes and fight odour-creating components in the mouth! Much like with herbs, if you can’t stomach eating chunks of raw ginger, an infusion will do the trick!
]]>Stories of the Tooth Fairy help children to feel less fearful of losing milk teeth, and soften the distress of an uncomfortable situation by rewarding courage. But as the years go by and we pass into adulthood, although we (hopefully!) retain our good oral hygiene habits, the rewards tend to fall away. However, with so many adults suffering from dentophobia, otherwise known as fear of the dentist, and so many more potential oral health issues as we age, the rewards for looking after our teeth should get bigger, not smaller! Read on to find ideas for how to self-reward as an adult for strong oral hygiene!
Track Your Progress
Once you have your oral hygiene routine set, try recording your achievements, even if just in quick note form. Did you brush for 2 minutes each time you brushed this week? Gold star! Did you floss and use alcohol-free mouthwash each time you brushed your teeth this month? Cause for celebration! Try and think of your regular oral healthcare maintenance as more than just a boring part of your daily routine and acknowledge yourself for having put in the time and effort for important self-care!
Good and Bad Both
Whether you’ve managed to floss regularly for a month or cracked a tooth whilst chewing on ice, you can choose to view any dental event as a cause for self-reward! If you’ve managed to consistently do something essential but tiresome in your routine, try gifting yourself a piece of dental hygiene kit to encourage yourself to continue! Fancy mouthwash or one of our Sonisk Pulse portable sonic toothbrushes are perfect for this, because they encourage you to continue with your routine while jazzing up your tools - and without breaking the bank. Or, if you suffer from some issue or pain, go to your dentist as usual to remedy the problem - and then treat yourself to a tasty sugar free snack, or an hour off for your favourite activity!
Pay Your Dentist a Pleasant Visit
If you’re trying to encourage yourself to create and maintain a strong oral hygiene routine, consider discussing this with your dentist to find out exactly what your individual oral needs. Remember that whatever treatments you do are only benefiting your oral health, and encourage yourself to take this step via self-rewarding!
From storage solutions to handy wipes, there are many great solutions to keeping yourself and your belongings clean and tidy whilst adventuring in the great outdoors - but how can you maintain a good, hygienic oral health routine? Read on to find out how to keep the environment and your teeth and gums healthy and happy!
Consider Natural Alternatives
People often say “leave no trace,” and the slimy toothpaste we spit into the bushes while camping certainly comes under this category. If you usually use a regular fluoride toothpaste, consider switching to a more eco solution, such as baking soda or activated charcoal, so that you can keep your mouth and environment clean at the same time! Remember to brush gently if you do use toothpaste alternatives as they can be more abrasive than typical toothpastes. And if you’re unconvinced by this and still want to use your regular toothpaste - just know that insects love mint, and will flock to it!
Forgot Your Toothbrush?
Use a twig! The most ancient and simple way to clean the surface of your teeth, simply grab a small twig and chew on it until the ends fray! This one might not be the most flavoursome of options, but it’s a great solution if you find yourself in a pinch!
But Also… Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush!
Though it might be easy to forget when you’re not specifically thinking about your evening routine, a toothbrush is an essential part of your toiletry kit when camping, and small enough that it won’t add extra weight to your baggage. While a regular manual toothbrush does the trick, a portable electric model will give your teeth a more complete clean. Check out our portable Sonisk Pulse sonic toothbrush, which not only runs on AA batteries, avoiding the need to find a socket to charge up, but also comes with a travel cap to keep your bristles dirt-free!
For more tips for maintaining your hygiene whilst camping, check out our previous blog on keeping fresh at festivals - though camping may be a quieter and calmer endeavour, it has all the same environmental factors as kipping in a tent at a festival!
]]>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!
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.
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.
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!
]]>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:
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.
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!
…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!
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!
]]>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!
]]>A major component of beautiful teeth is whiteness, which can be hampered by certain foods and drinks. Avoid nibbling on starchy or sugary snacks and, where possible, replace these with tooth-friendly foods such as carrot sticks or cheese. As for soda, banish it entirely! Fizzy drinks are full of chemicals and sugar that weaken and erode the surface enamel on your teeth and can do harm throughout your body, too! There’s nothing like a good glass of water for healthy hydration.
Speaking of a good glass of water… This is a simple but effective way to ensure that your body is lubricated and all systems are running at full force so that you can naturally fight off bacterias in your mouth, as well as diminishing the risks of dry mouth and gum recession. Healthy gums and teeth are the best baseline for a beautiful smile!
The most important step of all is sticking to a good oral health routine. Brush twice a day for two minutes each time, floss to clear out the hard to reach spaces and gaps between teeth, and use an alcohol-free mouthwash to freshen up between brushes. Simple but effective!
Make sure you’re using the right toothbrush for your teeth! Hard bristles might feel satisfying when you’re giving your teeth a good scrub, but can wear the enamel on the surface of your teeth and contribute to long-term yellowing. Invest in a good quality sonic toothbrush, as these will do a better and more consistent job of cleaning your teeth and require less pressure and exertion. To ensure your teeth stay white and dazzling, use a whitening toothpaste to get rid of staining and enhance the natural shine of your teeth.
Regular visits to your dentist make sure that you’re maintaining healthy teeth and gums, and there’s no harm in enquiring about the best ways to keep your smile white and brilliant while you’re there! A good professional cleaning by a dental technician also gives you a clean and healthy base from which you can try various whitening techniques to keep those pearlies gleaming.
A white, sparkling smile is at the top of many of our wishlists, so follow our above tips to give yourself a better chance at healthier and better looking teeth and gums!
]]>The first known ‘toothbrushes’ were actually frayed twigs, which were chewed on by Egyptians and Babylonians as early as 3500-3000 B.C! It’s generally agreed that the first tools resembling what we would recognise as toothbrushes today first came from China in the 1400s. These Chinese toothbrushes used natural pig hair for bristles and had handles made from bamboo or bone!
The first modern toothbrush was invented in England in the 1870s by a man named William Addis, who returned to the use of pig hair, and not long after added two more rows of bristles to create a more familiar looking bristle head. Less than a century later, in 1938, Nylon (the company) started developing the modern manual toothbrush, which was easily available with softer and more hygienic nylon bristles by the 1950s.
The first contemporary electric toothbrush was invented in Switzerland in 1954 - however this was a corded model which connected to a standard wall outlet, which today would be considered very dangerous! The first rechargeable, cordless model was introduced into the mass market in 1961 and gained wide popularity.
As electric toothbrushes became more popular, various companies started tinkering with the design aspects to give new and improved functionality. Some electric models vibrate, so the bristles move side to side, similarly to when using a manual toothbrush (but at a much higher rate of movement), while others oscillate in a circular motion, which works well when the user moves from tooth to tooth.
And then came the sonic revolution! Sonic toothbrushes could move side to side or in a rotation, like other electric toothbrushes, but were invented to have a much higher rate of movement (which means more and better brushing!) Sonic brushes move so fast that they create an audible hum, and require less effort from the user - all you need to do is slowly sweep the brush head against your teeth, and let the sonic vibrations and bristle movements do the rest!
When it comes to choosing toothbrushes, the options can seem overwhelming, and many people continue to opt for manual toothbrushes rather than investing in an expensive electric model - only to then find out that it wasn’t quite the right fit! If you are interested in switching to an electronic sonic model but are worried about the costs, we recommend trying our Sonisk Pulse Portable Sonic Toothbrush range - at only £9.99 these powerful toothbrushes won’t break the bank, and have the added benefit of a hygienic travel cap, so you can can keep yours on you wherever you are!
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