Straight white teeth are in fashion

When we visited the Clothes Show London we were struck by the popularity of the dental care exhibits.  We have always advocated keeping your teeth clean and having regular dental checkups, but it now appears that good teeth are truly in fashion.

There is a school of thought that clean teeth are not good enough: teeth must be sparkling white.  We were struck by the crowds of women around the display area of a company called White Again.  This is an easy-to-use teeth whitening system which involves putting some gel on a plastic strip and then sticking the plastic strip over your teeth for a short time (minutes, not hours!).  This needs to be done for at least 7 days, but the effect is said to last 2 years.  Tricia tried a sample while we were at the Clothes Show and said the gel had a slight mint flavour, and her teeth did look brighter after use.

The White Again system does use a form of bleach (as do all other systems we have seen) so we strongly advise that you should consult your dentist before embarking on a teeth-whitening programme.  The White Again website has a little more information, but if you are interested we suggest that you contact them to get details of the whitening agent so that you can discuss it with your dentist before deciding to make a purchase.

Sensodyne also had a large display at the Clothes Show London, and were giving away free samples of their Pronamel Daily Toothpaste.  As with all Sensodyne products this is formulated for people with sensitive teeth.  The Pronamel toothpaste is promoted as ‘hardening tooth enamel” and an aid to protect against acid erosion.  According to the Sensodyne website, acid erosion of teeth is becoming more common, and can cause tooth discoloration and decay.

We have noticed a growing number of adults who are prepared to spend time and money on having their teeth straightened.  We saw a display at the Clothes Show of ‘hidden braces’ that are fitted to the back of teeth, rather than the front.  This would seem preferable to us, if we were to consider teeth straightening.  Find out more from the Hidden Braces website.

Please note that none of these treatments are a substitute for a daily routine of brushing and flossing your teeth both morning and evening.

 

Keep your Pretty Smile

Follow these basic dental care guidelines to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

·         Brush your teeth twice a day

·         Clean between your teeth using floss or an interdens brush daily

·         Have regular dental checkups and cleaning

·         Restrict intake of sugary foods and drinks

·         Don’t smoke

Lovely Teeth 

An experienced beauty professional told me that the two most important things to a youthful and lovely face were well-groomed eyebrows and good teeth. 

The well-groomed eyebrows part is comparatively easy with regular plucking of stray hairs and an occasional professional shaping. 

Looking after the teeth requires more commitment, but the return is much higher.  Healthy teeth are important for maintaining good general health, and a lovely smile is more than just cosmetic – it can be transformational. 

The National Health Service recommends brushing teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.  According the NHS guidelines, the best brush for most adults is one with a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short bristles.

 

My best purchase has been an electric toothbrush.  I wasted years thinking that these were an expensive gadget for the idle – and then Wonderful Husband bought one for himself, and told me it was marvellous.  As soon as I tried it, I had to have one.  It makes a difference from the very first brushing: teeth feel smooth and clean. 

My dentist said there was a visible improvement to my teeth, but said that I also needed to spend time cleaning between my teeth.  

National Health Service recommendations include flossing between your teeth to dislodge food and plaque at least once a day.  Their guidance says that the best time to floss is before going to bed, and that it doesn’t matter whether you floss before or after brushing. 

According to the NHS, toothpicks should be avoided as they may cause the gums to bleed and cause infection. 

NHS advises that interdental brushes are better than toothpicks.  I use a brand of interdental brushes made in Sweden, as recommended by my dentist (who studied in Sweden).   

My dental hygienist has commented on the improved cleanliness of my teeth since I have been using the interdental brushes. 

When I saw this device on sale in the Birmingham branch of Boots, I thought it would enable me to take my dental hygiene to a new level.  It cost £40, but the result would be dazzlingly white teeth.  The Water Pik is battery operated.  You fill the reservoir with warm water, insert the nozzle into your mouth, turn it on and direct the jet of water around your teeth.   It is excellent at removing any deposits from between your teeth.  It can be messy to use, both around the bathroom and the face! 

Even with regular use, it is not effective as the little interdental brushes, so I do not advise anyone to rush out and buy one. 

The National Health Service says that mouthwashes containing fluoride can be beneficial, but advices that mouthwashes containing alcohol are not suitable for children.   Their advice is that mouthwash with alcohol can give adults a very dry mouth and dry, cracked lips.

We Use Mouthwash 

We restricted our sample to those labelled alcohol free or low alcohol. When researching mouthwash on the Internet, we were startled to read about the high alcohol content of some products.  

Products tried:

Dentyl pH Smooth Mint Visibly Active Mouthwash Paid  £3.99 for 500ml

Pat writes:  The label says it tastes great.  I beg to differ.  The first mouthful was so foul I considered tipping the remainder down the sink!  Then I read the label more carefully and read, “Shake the bottle before use”.  It actually looks a bit like some types of eye make up remover, or maybe salad dressing, with an oily looking top layer.  So, I shook the bottle to emulsify the contents and tried again.  It still didn’t taste great.  I persevered to the end of the bottle, following the instructions to rinse and then gargle, but not always for the 30 seconds specified for each activity.  I did see little bits of stuff in the sink when I spat out the mouthwash. 

I’d bought two bottles of this, as it was on a Buy One Get One Free offer.  In the interests of giving the product a fair test, I gave the second bottle to Tricia.

To my dismay, when I handed over the bottle, she said she would try it immediately.  Her reaction was quite vocal, and when she returned from the bathroom, she said to me, ‘Slimy!’ I like to think she was referring to the product.

Oral-B Anti-Plaque Alcohol-Free Mouth Rinse Paid £3.19 for 500ml

This mouthwash has a very mild taste and foams pleasantly when swished around in the mouth.  The foaming effect seemed to render it particularly efficacious.  I would probably buy this again, but only if it was on a Special Offer price.

Boots Smile Total Care Mouthwash Coolmint Paid £1.09 for 250ml

This is a ‘low alcohol’ product, rather than alcohol free.

Like the Oral-B, this was pleasant to use, and seemed to be effective.

As it has the same active ingredient, I would choose this as my regular purchase, as it costs less than the Oral-B mouthwash.

It is your decision whether or not to use mouthwash.

In my opinion, the Boots Smile Mouthwash is the best buy, on the basis that as far as I can tell, it is as effective as the other products, is pleasant to use, and is the most economical.  However, you may wish to choose a product that it completely free from alcohol.

Prices checked 27 April 2008.

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Keep Smiling: Denplan

Tricia writes:  

Denplan is a scheme which perhaps could be described as a compromise between private dentistry and the NHS.  I joined several years ago as I had read of a connection between heart and dental health and I wanted to take positive action to improve my dental health.  

When you join Denplan, then each following year, your dentist assesses  your dental health  in order to give a score. This dictates your month payment; as an example, I pay £17.67 each month. The categories scored are pain, chewing, appearance, mouth lining, bite, tooth decay, tooth wear and gum health. The patient is informed of the scores in each category which enables people to focus on the areas which could be improved.  

Immediately, I noticed that my dental checks took longer that on the NHS. I  could ask more questions,  the dentist took the time to give me excellent feedback. My Denplan covers twice yearly dental checks and twice yearly sessions with the dental hygienist, plus treatments such as fillings and extractions. Laboratory costs are not included in the price but insurance for mouth cancer plus  emergency dental treatment abroad is, although there are caps on all the expenditure. Different levels of policy provide variations in cover.  

 My hygienist appointments were a great improvement on my previous dental care as I think I had only ever been referred to one once previously in spite of long term post pregnancy gum problems and a heart valve issue. Advice on teeth cleaning is tailored to you personally with areas needing a little more care highlighted. 

 Considering that even with  the NHS I would  have to contribute to  costs, I consider my monthly payment money well spent,  with the advantage that my payments are evened out through the year. I am unlikely ever to have a sudden large bill for dentistry,  as all I have to pay  for relating to essential treatments are laboratory costs. Cosmetic dentistry is not covered. 

For details: www.denplan.co.uk

Do be clear on the level of cover you are considering as plans vary.