With more and more safe and effective tooth whitening treatments on the market, a sparkling, white smile is now more accessible than ever! But is it right for you? As with any procedure or treatment, though it may be safe, it’s still important to make sure you know exactly what you’re in for before taking the plunge. Read on to find out what important things there are to consider before applying whitening treatments to your teeth, whether at home or in-office with your dental health professional!

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!

Knowing when to change your toothbrush is important and ensures that you’re giving your teeth and gums the best possible treatment, but how do you know when the time is right? The answer might feel simple, but the guidelines for the amount of time that your toothbrush remains effective can be affected by various factors! Read on to learn which signs to look out for when thinking about changing your toothbrush!

Disposable vs. Electric

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!

Look for the Signs

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.

Following Sickness

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!

Keep it Clean

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!

Despite the wealth of information telling us how bad sugar is for our teeth and gums, once in a while even the most disciplined of us can get tempted. Rather than telling you to abstain from all sugar until the end of time, we believe in moderation and smart choices. But what does “smart choices'' really mean when it comes to sugar consumption? Read on to find out…

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!