If eyes are the window to the soul, then the mouth is the window into a person’s overall health. OK, so it’s not quite as catchy a saying, but the majority of dentists agree it’s the case. According to research by the US Department of Health and Human Services, The mouth is often an entry point for infections, which may spread to other parts of the body.”
Despite this, Australia’s oral health is still nowhere near as strong as it should be, with about 25 per cent of adults having untreated decay. Luckily, the oral healthcare industry is making it easier than ever before for people to keep their teeth in tip-top shape.
Toothbrushes
In the morning rush and our eagerness to get to be in the evening, it’s easy to see how the importance of brushing our teeth can be overlooked – but it shouldn’t be. Dr Derek Lewis, dentist and member of the oral health committee of the Australian Dental Association, says the reason for brushing twice a day is two-fold. Firstly, if you brush in the morning and you miss a bit, you’ll most likely pick it up in the evening,” Dr Lewis explains. Secondly, by using a fluoride toothpaste, you’re giving yourself a mild fluoride rinse twice a day, which is shown to be very important in preventing decay.” Arm & Hammer’s Enamel Care toothpaste contains liquid calcium, which helps teeth by binding itself to the tooth surface, filling in tiny cracks and crevices to create strong, smooth surface enamel. But if it’s whitening that you need, you can’t go past Rapid White’s Bright Paste, which offers high-impact stains removal while controlling tartar. For children requiring something gentler, Milk Baby has created great-tasting organic toothpaste for little ones in the form of Milk Toothy Pegs.
The proportion of people that use manual toothbrushes still outweigh those who opt for electric varieties (68 to 32 per cent, respectively*), although Philips Sonicare’s marketing manager Simon Keenan believes this gap is shrinking. There tends to be a growing population of aesthetically focused people that want beautiful smiles, so people are increasingly looking for tools that can help them achieve this.” The brand’s new DiamondClean brush has some very special features that make it unlike any other electronic toothbrush on the market. Not only does it have a USB charging case, making the brush especially travel-friendly, but it’s also just about as pretty as a toothbrush can get. Philips took a lot of time looking into materials that are going to blend with the bathroom environment, which is why they went for the charging glass, which is aesthetically pleasing and functional.”
For those that simply can’t go past a manual brush, those too are becoming more efficient than ever. is easy to use and promises to remove up to five times the bacteria of normal brushing.
So, which is better – manual or electric? Dr Lewis says although electric brushes have been shown to brush marginally better than their manual counterparts, a brush’s effectiveness depends on what works for the individual. If my patient has a a clean mouth then I don’t mind how they get it.”
Flossing
Unsurprisingly, flossing is the Achilles heel of Australians’ oral health routines. According to a recent study by Philips Sonicare, 25 per cent of Australians never floss, while 43 per cent only floss a couple of times a year or not at all.
Dr Lewis says flossing shouldn’t be ignored. Sometimes if there’s a problem between the teeth, the patient may not see it and won’t necessarily feel it, and it progresses until the tooth begins to decay.” Dr Lewis recommends flossing once a day, ideally at night time when people have more time. And night time is a particularly dangerous time for decay to start.” is an easy-to-use dental floss that comes in two variants – Waxed and Tartar Control Coated – to cater to a person’s specific needs.
Interdental tools
Technology today has allowed for the development of extra tools that can assist in cleaning between the teeth. Philips Sonicare recently launched Airfloss, which uses rapid bursts of air and water droplets to thoroughly fill up the interdental space and dislodge plaque and bacteria. The consumer response has been very positive,” says Philips Sonicare marketing manager Simon Keenan. Obviously flossing compliance in Australia is very low, so Airfloss offers consumers an alternative to string floss.”
Theresa Osbourne, associate product manager of Ozdent, Australian distributor of TePe and Dentafix, says interdental tools should by no means be seen as an alternative to flossing. Flossing reaches the pockets just below the gum line and scrapes out the plaque so to speak. This is an area where no other products can reach hence the importance not to advertise interdental brushes as an alternative to floss.” TePe interdental brushes are small brushes that come in carrying sizes to clean between teeth and even braces. As the brand’s recognition has been increasing, consumers are often saying they wished they’d known about the benefits of interdental cleaning sooner,” Osbourne says.
While advice relating to interdental cleaning will vary depending on who you talk to, Dr Sandra Short of Dentartistry says it’s all about finding the right tools for you. Everyone’s mouth is different,” explains Dr Short. So you have to find a product that works for your teeth, which is why it’s probably best to go to a dentist and get the right advice on what to use and how to use it.”
*Blackmarket Research, Empirical Intel of Oral Care Dynamics Among Australian Power Brush Users/Considerers, December 2011