TOMORROW is World Oral Health Day.
It marks the start of a year-long campaign to raise awareness of oral health and the importance of keeping your mouth clean.
We tested three new oral health products on the market
Almost a third of Brits say a lack of confidence in their smile holds them back from day-to-day tasks.
And last year 27 per cent of us had untreated tooth decay on an average of two teeth.
Jane Atkinson looks at ways to keep a healthy smile . . .
Toothpaste
SOME are cheap, some are pricey, some claim to be good for sensitive teeth and Colgate’s Max White Fresh Pearls claims to whiten teeth in just three days.
It contains millions of active oxygen molecules to detect and lift surface and deep stains for whiter teeth.
Colgate Max White Ultra Freshness Pearls Toothpaste is £8 for a 70ml tube
It is clinically proven and it works.
After drinking too much coffee this did the job.
And tasted great too.
It isn’t the same as going to the dentist for whitening, but a good fix if you have been having too many stain-inducing foods or drinks.
Only one snag – if, like me, you are keeping the heating turned off and your bathroom feels like an igloo then this thick paste is virtually impossible to squeeze out of the tube.
The RRP is £8 for a 70ml tube but on special offer at £6.67 at boots.com.
Electric Brush
I LOVE an Oral-B toothbrush and could never go back to a manual one.
Now they have new iO technology – an oscillating-rotating electric toothbrush.
The Oral-B toothbrush with iO tech was £240 but on offer at boots.com for £95
These movements combined with micro-vibrations are designed for brilliant results with healthier gums within a week and amazing plaque removal along the gumline and in hard to reach areas.
It comes with four brushing modes, smart pressure sensors and is available in different colours.
It looks great with a new sleek looking brush head.
My gums are (according to my dentist) healthier since using this.
I actually prefer the old round head brush which has a bit more pressure.
This version didn’t give me the same clean feeling.
But it’s a winner for healthy gums, but the price is a stumbling block.
Was £240 but on offer at boots.com for £95.
Clean between
DENTAL plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that you have to get rid of or it can cause gum inflammation, cavities and bad breath.
The area in between the teeth is difficult to reach with a toothbrush but you can use floss, interdental brushes or waterjets.
Tepe Interdental Brushes start from £3.15 for a packet of six at tesco.com
The brushes come in different widths to suit the sizes of the gaps and have the benefit of massaging the gums to improve blood circulation to help keep them healthy.
Tepe Interdental Brushes aren’t the cheapest, but are the best quality.
They’re recommended by 94 per cent of dental hygienists and designed to clean 40 per cent more tooth surfaces than tooth brushing alone.
Tepe Interdental Brushes start from £3.15 for a packet of six at tesco.com.