15th June 2021 When you think about maintaining a healthy mouth, brushing your teeth should be the top priority.  Twice daily toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste is the cornerstone to a healthy smile, but there is one simply addition that can truly transform how healthy your mouth is – and that is interdental cleaning.  While toothbrushing is the most effective way to keep your teeth clean, it only reaches 60% of the tooth’s surfaces.  Using interdental brushes to clean in between the gaps in your teeth is one of the easiest and most important things you can do to change the health of your smile for the better. That is why, as part of National Smile Month, the Oral Health Foundation has joined with TePe to give you the very best advice about this simple addition to your oral health routine. Why interdental cleaning is so important Dental plaque can

15th June 2021 When we think about how we care for our mouth, it might be easy to think that there is little in common between our oral health and the environment – but that’s not quite true.  In addition to turning off the tap when brushing (which saves us a staggering 12 litres of water each time), there’s an important connection that applies to all of us – and it revolves around our toothbrush. Toothbrushes form a part of our daily routine.  Twice a day, morning and night, for two minutes, they help clean our teeth and keep our mouth fit and healthy.  Despite this, the shelf-life of a toothbrush is a relatively short one.  In theory, we should only use each one 180 times, for a total of six hours over a period of three months. It all means that in the UK, around 256 million toothbrushes are

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

In this guest blog, Jo Bates, founder of Thumbsie® Ltd discusses the potentially detrimental impact of thumb-sucking on children’s oral health. It was through her own struggles with her daughter Isabel, who tried to give up thumb-sucking eight years ago, that Jo found inspiration to launch Thumbsie®, a tool dedicated to helping children to stop thumb and finger sucking in a positive way. Thumbsie is also a proud sponsor of this year’s National Smile Month campaign which is running from 17 May to 17 June. The largest and longest-running campaign to promote good oral health is back – and Thumbsie® are delighted to lend our support. National Smile Month provides a fantastic opportunity to promote the importance of good oral health to people of all ages and backgrounds. As the Oral Health Foundation said last year, in an exclusive article for Thumbsie’s website, National Smile Month allows us to “engage

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

Dentistry is no longer just a case of filling and taking out teeth.  Today, more people than ever before are turning to cosmetic dentistry, or ‘aesthetic dentistry’, as a way of improving their appearance. Cosmetic dental treatments can be used to straighten, lighten, reshape, and repair your teeth.  It might include having veneers, crowns, bridges, tooth-coloured fillings, implants, or tooth whitening. All these treatments are extremely complex and require expert hands and a safe environment. Unfortunately, many people are making the mistake of attempting these treatments at home and following unsafe advice online.  Others are choosing to have dental treatment carried out by people who are not legally allowed to do so. Making the wrong choices when considering cosmetic dentistry can put your health at risk. By always visiting a qualified professional within dental practice for advice and treatment you can keep your smile safe and looking great. Visiting a

The demand for tooth whitening treatment has boomed in recent years, in part, driven by the rise of pearly white smiles seen on our TV screens and on social media.  Our research shows that whiter teeth come top of most people’s smile wish list and may lead to a boost in confidence and self-esteem.  Like all medical procedures, however, tooth whitening is not without danger.     Before embarking on tooth whitening treatment, it is important to do your research.  By knowing more about tooth whitening, you may improve your chance of having safer treatment with better results.   Tooth whitening and the colour of your teeth Tooth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surface. It cannot make a complete colour change, but it may lighten the existing shade. There are many reasons why you might get your

In the UK, there are laws for what strength of tooth whitening product can be used, and who and carry it out. Tooth whitening gel that is too strong, or applied by unqualified people, can be extremely unsafe and cause severe and long-term complications for your mouth. In a summary of the regulations, products containing or releasing up to 6% hydrogen peroxide (the common bleaching agent used in whitening gel) can be used, if: Products of this strength are sold only to qualified dental practitioners. You have been examined by a dentist first, to make sure there are no risks or any other concern about the condition of your mouth. You are over 18 years old. The first application is made by a dental practitioner, or under their direct supervision by a dental hygienist or dental therapist. Buying tooth whitening products Tooth whitening products and kits bought in UK stores

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