Hello and welcome to a brand-new issue of Word of Mouth – the Oral Health Foundation’s digital magazine. This edition is dedicated to all things National Smile Month as it celebrates its 42nd birthday. It’s a been a year since we last produced an edition of our Word of Mouth magazine and we apologise for the delay however we hope you really enjoy this packed issue. National Smile Month offers such a great opportunity to spread positivity and vital oral health messages and it’s been great to see the public and dental professionals alike coming together to support it – whether it’s through our Smiley Monster Competition or our Great British Brushathon. If you haven’t yet taken steps towards a healthier mouth then please take this as in invitation to do so. Improving your oral health has so many benefits, not just for your mouth but the rest of your

Brushing teeth has been ranked top of things Brits could not go a day without doing – according to the findings of a new nationwide poll. Two-in-three (68%) UK adults say they could not go a day without brushing their teeth, deeming it more than three times as important than exercise (21%), as a daily task.1 Brushing teeth was also judged to be more essential than eating breakfast (43%) and washing (41%).1 The findings are part of new research by the Oral Health Foundation to coincide with National Smile Month – a charity campaign aiming to reduce dental disease by highlighting the importance of a healthy mouth. Previous research by the charity suggests that as many as 97% of the population brush their teeth at least once per day.2 Dr Nigel Carter, chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation explains the importance of tooth brushing and why is it so

ONE-IN-FOUR (26%) British adults regularly brush their teeth only once a day, according to findings of a new nationwide poll. The data has been collected by the Oral Health Foundation and sheds concerns about the number of people willing to skip twice-daily brushing. The charity is especially worried by the number of people who regularly fail to brush their teeth last thing at night, when the health of the mouth is most likely to deteriorate.  Insights from the research show that one-in-four (25%) do not brush their teeth in the evening before they go to bed. Latest figures show two-in-three (66%) UK adults have visible plaque, almost one-in-three (31%) have signs of tooth decay, and three-in-four (74%) have had teeth extracted. The examination into Britain’s brushing habits is part of National Smile Month, a campaign by the Oral Health Foundation that aims to raise awareness about the importance of a

Like all medical procedures, tooth whitening carries some element of risk.  That’s why it’s important to discover how you can achieve that whiter smile in the safest way possible. If you are thinking about having tooth whitening there are some essential rules to follow, as well as some dangerous pitfalls to avoid.  There are also some actions you can take at home that might mean you no longer feel the need to have treatment. Tooth whitening in professional hands When it comes to tooth whitening, there really isn’t a better source of information than your dental team. Not only are they fully qualified and licensed to perform the treatment, but they will be able to take your dental needs into account.  Dentists can treat you with 6% hydrogen peroxide (the bleaching agent that whitens teeth) – this is nearly 6,000 times stronger than any over-the-counter tooth whitening product.  Because of

Professional tooth whitening is a complex procedure which involves the use of powerful chemicals that can do harm to your teeth and gums if not used properly. It’s for this reason that tooth whitening carried out in the wrong hands is so dangerous. Due to the strong chemicals, when tooth whitening goes wrong it can cause the following issues: Chemical burns to the gums Blisters on the gums Ulceration of the gums, mouth and throat Swollen lips Putting your smile in danger is never worth the risk.  There are two main sources of unsafe tooth whitening; DIY treatments performed at home, and illegal treatments by unqualified people.  It is important that you are aware of these and avoid going down the potential harmful route.     DIY tooth whitening at home Worryingly, it is quite easy to go online and purchase hydrogen peroxide (the active ingredient in professional whitening) in concentrations that

Tooth jewellery is the act of placing individual jewels onto the outer surface of the teeth. There are two main types of tooth jewels: Twinkles A collection of yellow and white gold jewellery with some including gems such as diamonds. Dental gems A range of glass crystals fixed to the tooth. Tooth jewellery is not advised by dental professionals and can cause damage to the teeth. The General Dental Council (the UK’s dental regulator) views the application of tooth jewellery as the practice of dentistry.  This means that anybody carrying out tooth jewellery treatments is acting against the law if they are not registered with the GDC. Unfortunately, illegal application of tooth jewellery is all too common and something which is not safe for your smile. The health risks of tooth jewellery Having a jewel stuck onto the surface of your tooth can cause serious damage. The area of the

Mouth tattoos refer to any tattoo inside the mouth or on the lips. This can be either on the palate (roof of the mouth) or cheek, however, the most popular place is the inside of the bottom lip. Some people also have lip tattoos around the edge of the mouth as a way of having permanent ‘lip liner’.  This would also be classed as a mouth tattoo. Health advice on mouth tattoos Because of the potential harm to your health, mouth tattoos are never recommended. Any tattoo comes with risks, however, mouth tattoos come with added dangers.  Unlike tattoos on the outside of the skin, mouth tattoos are placed on soft tissue.  This makes it extremely difficult to cover, protect and keep clean.    The mouth is constantly exposed to foreign substances – like food and drinks, as well as any anything else you might put in the mouth.  This

Grillz are removable decorative tooth covers. They are often made of gold, silver or jewel-encrusted precious metals that snap over one or more teeth. They have been around in some form for thousands of years as a way of showing social status but made their way into mainstream pop culture in the early 1980s. They’re still worn today by many celebrities such as Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Jay-Z. Grillz are often used as a form of self-expression and identity, and an opportunity to show off something …  but they may not be a healthy choice for your smile. Safety concerns Grillz are not recommended because they could pose to your oral health and hygiene. By wearing Grillz you might increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.  This is because plaque can get trapped between it and the tooth’s surface. When plaque builds up, it can

Lip cancer is a type of mouth cancer, which sounds scary, but the good news is that if caught early, it can be treated successfully.  Therefore, early diagnosis is essential, dentalhealth.org suggests that ‘with early diagnosis, the chances of survival are nine out of ten’. If you haven’t heard much about it, you’re not alone; a worrying statistic is that although 88% of the British public have heard of mouth (including lip) cancer, 75% do not know what the main signs and symptoms are.  But, according to the Oral Health Foundation, it actually kills more people per year than cervical and testicular cancer combined. So, it really is important to know what to look for and how it differs from other types of cancer.   Signs and symptoms include: Visible changes in the skin on the lips. Open sores. A red patch that becomes crusty, itchy, or bleeds. Lumps or wart-like growths.

17 November 2021 More people in the UK will lose their battle with mouth cancer if we do not get into the habit of checking for signs of the disease at home, according to the Oral Health Foundation. New research by the charity and Denplan, part of Simplyhealth, has shown that almost two-in-three (64%) have never checked themselves for signs of cancer in or around the mouth. Carried out as part of November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month, the investigation also found that more than one-in-four (27%) do not know any of the potential early warning signs for the disease. More than 2,700 people in the UK lost their life to mouth cancer last year – a 48% rise compared to a decade ago.  With almost half (45%) of all mouth cancers diagnosed in stage IV, the most advanced phase of the disease, the Oral Health Foundation is appealing for more