When thinking about the perfect gift for any person, it’s important to find the balance between what they want or need, and what you think they want or need! With what feels like endless options it can be easy to get caught up in the glittering consumerism of the season, but you risk wasting money on novelty items which are discarded immediately after the holidays, causing damage not only to your bank account but also to our beloved planet! Read on for our checklist of questions to ask yourself to help in choosing the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones…

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!

With all the activity and excitement around the festive season, taking care of your oral hygiene can sometimes take a back seat - but while the Christmas lights come down in January, your oral health is with you for life! While some things you do to maintain your oral health are year-round endeavours, others need a touch of tweaking for the festive season, as you are even more likely than usual to come in contact with foods and drinks that cause havoc in your mouth! But don’t worry, we’re not here to tell you to abstain - read on to find out our top tips to keeping your mouth healthy throughout the holidays, without giving up the things you love!

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!

As the festive season begins it’s easy to get carried away with all the delicious treats available in abundance, but this also means it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re taking good care of your oral health! Read on for our 12 tips for keeping your mouth clean and healthy this Christmas season…

1. Use Tools, Not Your Teeth

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!

2. Pack a Holiday Dental Kit

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! 

3. Don’t Brush After Bubbly

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!

4. Stuff Yourself with Turkey

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! 

5. Hydration is Key

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!

6. Choose Your Sweets

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!

7. White Wine over Red

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!

8. Adjust Your Advent Calendars

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!

9. Make Use of Mouthwash

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! 

10. Don’t Skip the Cheese Board!

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!

11. Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush!

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!

12. Maintain Your Routine

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!