Colgate 360 Toothbrush
Most people know that they should change their toothbrush every 3 months, but do people know why?
I always believed that it was to do with the bristles wearing out, I always think of Roald Dahl as he believed that it was the bristles coming out and being swallowed that led to appendicitis problems ... but this probably isn't true!. One of the main reasons for changing your toothbrush is because of the germs and bacteria that is held between the bristles, think about it, you have a cold or sore throat, you clean your teeth and those germs are stored on your toothbrush. Day after day you re-infect yourself when you brush your teeth!
Colgate have brought out a brand new toothbrush. The Colgate 360° Max White ONE toothbrush features polishing
bristles, a cleaning tip and whitening cups which hold toothpaste to help
effectively remove surface stains for a naturally whiter smile.
The UK’s Top Oral Health Myths – Demystified
This Oral Health Month,
Colgate asked a panel of 250 independent dentists which were the most common oral
health myths that they heard from their patients. Working with Dr Simon N
Khoury BDS of Northway Dental Practice, Colgate wants to dispel the myths and
help people have a better understanding of how to improve their oral health.
Top Ten Oral Health Myths
Myth One: When gums bleed it’s a sign that I’m brushing too
hard
On the contrary, bleeding gums are a warning
sign indicating that you need to pay more attention to your gums rather
than avoid brushing them. Bleeding gums are one of the first symptoms of gum
disease and should not be ignored.
Gum disease is inflammation of the gums, caused by bacteria
in plaque (a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth). Contrary to
common misconception, even the smallest amount of bleeding when you brush or
floss your teeth could mean you have gum disease. In fact, gum bleeding is the
most common sign of gum disease, together with other typical warning signs
including gum swelling, inflammation, redness and recession. The good news is
that milder forms of gum disease are reversible if you visit your dentist and follow
a good oral health routine - flossing once a day, brushing twice a day with
fluoride toothpaste and using an anti-bacterial mouthwash, at a different time
to brushing, to help protect your gums. The more serious forms of gum disease
require professional treatment by your dentist and/or dental hygienist.
Myth Two: Brushing too much can wear away the enamel
There is some truth
in this, although only if you’re brushing incorrectly. Brushing too much, too
hard or with a hard-bristle brush can, over time, erode your enamel. It’s also
important to use an effective brushing technique to help ensure you are
cleaning your teeth properly.
To
brush your teeth, use short, gentle strokes, paying extra attention to the
gumline, hard-to-reach back teeth, and areas around fillings, crowns or other
restoration. Concentrate on thoroughly cleaning each section as follows:
- Clean the
outer surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
- Clean the
inner surfaces of your upper teeth, then your lower teeth
- Clean the
chewing surfaces
- Be sure to
brush your tongue, too, as the soft tissues in your mouth also harbour
bacteria
Proper brushing
takes at least two minutes although most people do not come close to brushing
that long. To get a feel for the time involved, try using a stopwatch. Finally,
to protect enamel it’s important
not to brush
directly after eating acidic foods such as citrus fruits and fizzy drinks as
that can also weaken the enamel; consider using fluoride mouthwash after acidic
foods/drinks then wait at least 45 minutes before brushing.
Myth Three: Good
teeth are inherited so there’s not much I can do
While
that is a nice excuse to get away with not taking good care of your teeth it’s
just not true. While the shape, position and, to some small degree, strength of
your teeth may be influenced by your genes, the effectiveness of your personal
oral care routine is the biggest factor by far when it comes to having healthy
teeth and gums.
Brushing
twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing, using mouthrinse at a
different time to brushing and regular dental check-ups will help ensure you
have healthy teeth and gums irrespective of the state of your parents’ teeth.
Diet also has an impact. Eating lots of calcium rich foods such as cheese and
milk and avoiding snacking on sugary foods between meals can help to keep teeth
strong.
Myth Four: For every child you have you lose a tooth
A lot of dentists hear this from their patients who believe
that during pregnancy the baby depletes the mother’s mineral supplies and makes
the mother more susceptible to weakened and damaged teeth. This is a myth and is simply not the case.
If the mother practices good brushing and flossing habits, they are no more
likely to get cavities during pregnancy than at any other time.
Pregnant women are more susceptible to gum disease, however,
and to minimise the effects of pregnancy gingivitis they should practice good
oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day for at least two minutes each time, flossing
every day and using an anti bacterial mouth rinse also may help to control any
gum infection. Ask your dentist to check the health of your gums during
pregnancy. Dental check-ups are free for pregnant women on the NHS. Should you
develop gum disease whilst pregnant it can be treated, and that may involve a
professional cleaning by your hygienist as part of a course of gum treatment.
Myth Five: Rubbing teeth with strawberries whitens
them
It would be nice to think that this is the case. There is
some truth in this due to the fact that strawberries contain a natural fruit
acid called muric acid, which can remove some surface stains, but it’s a very
temporary effect. For longer term solutions, use a daily whitening toothpaste.
If you’re looking to whiten your teeth permanently, then always visit a
professional, however, be warned that whitened teeth can be subject to higher
sensitivity as the enamel becomes temporarily more porous in the process.
Myth Six: Flossing is bad for your teeth because it
makes your gums bleed
If your gums bleed when you floss, this is a warning sign
that shouldn’t be ignored. Bleeding gums are not normal and are one of the
first signs of gum disease. Rather than causing the problem, if your gums bleed
when you floss, it merely alerts us to the existing problem. In fact regular
flossing helps prevent the problem by allowing the removal of plaque and food
particles in the spaces between the teeth and gums in places where a toothbrush
can’t easily reach, helping to prevent gum problems. As plaque build-up can
lead to tooth decay and gum disease, daily flossing is highly recommended.
To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following technique:
To receive maximum benefits from flossing, use the following technique:
·
Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the
floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with
·
Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index
fingers, slide it gently past the tight contact point between the teeth
- Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth,
making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss.
Instead, use gentle deliberate movements to work the floss around your
teeth and gums
- Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to
tooth
- To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion
to bring the floss up and away from the teeth. Releasing one end and
gently pulling the floss through can help to get floss out of tight spaces.
Myth Seven: Brushing directly after an acidic
meal will reduce damage from enamel erosion
On the contrary, it’s best to wait a
while after eating acidic foods because the acid weakens your enamel and if you
brush straight afterwards you may be further weakening the enamel.
It’s best to wait 30 to 60 minutes
after each meal before brushing to allow enough time for acidity to neutralise.
Consider using fluoride mouthwash after acidic foods/drinks then brushing 45
minutes later.
Myth Eight: Rubbing your teeth with salt is better than
toothpaste
No is the simple answer. The Department of Health guidelines
recommend we brush our teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride
is a key ingredient to help strengthen and protect the teeth from decay. While
salt does contain natural antiseptic properties, it is no substitute for using
fluoride.
Myth Nine: Receding gums is all part of getting older, there’s nothing you can do about it
Receding gums are caused by gum disease and occurs when the
gum tissue surrounding the teeth reduces exposing the root of the tooth. It can
also be caused by overbrushing. While it is more common in those over the age
of 40, it may start as early as in the late teens.
Gum recession is not something that happens overnight. In
most cases, receding gums a process that happens gradually from day to day over
the years. That explains the fact that it is common over the age of 40. As the
changes in the condition of the gums from one day to another are minimal, we
get used to the gums' appearance and tend not to notice the changes over longer
periods of time.
It’s best to talk to your dentist about how to prevent gums
from receding. If the cause is overbrushing then using a softer toothbrush and
adapting a more gentle technique will help. Improving oral hygiene habits by
flossing daily, using a mouthrinse, at a different time to brushing, and
brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste will help prevent gum problems.
A professional clean by your hygienist will also help by removing any tartar
build-up which is preventing the proper cleaning of the gums.
Myth Ten: Eating parsley neutralises bad breath
While eating parsley can be effective if
you’ve just eaten a strong smelling food, the most common cause of bad breath
is poor oral hygiene. Bacteria that coat your teeth, tongue and gums can cause
plaque build-up (the soft, sticky deposit that forms on the surface of the
teeth), gum disease and dental decay. These bacteria combine with saliva and
food in the mouth, breaking down food particles and proteins, which
releases an unpleasant-smelling gas.
If you do not brush and floss your teeth
regularly, any food that is trapped between your teeth will be broken down by
the bacteria, causing bad breath. These bacteria can also live in the
rough surface of the tongue. Therefore, as well as brushing your teeth,
cleaning your tongue can help control bad breath. Persistent bad breath or a
bad taste in your mouth can be warning sign of gum disease or tooth decay.
Visit www.facebook.com/ColgateUK to
have your questions answered.
