New year, new you? It’s the small changes that make a big difference
A new year is a time of fresh starts and new goals but is often accompanied by an overwhelming barrage of self-care and wellness hints, tips and advice that is hard to wade through. However, there is one change people can make to their health and wellbeing routine that takes seconds to implement but the benefits a surprisingly far-reaching.
A healthy smile is important. A good oral hygiene routine can prolong healthy teeth and gums but it can also have health benefits far beyond the mouth, from protecting the brain to enhancing heart health*. A recent study** suggests an association between gum disease and brain health, highlighting the importance of good oral hygiene.
Here’s where that easy new year wellness change comes in – clean between the teeth. Only about a third of British adults clean between the teeth on a regular basis***. To hit the 40% of the tooth that the toothbrush doesn’t reach, oral hygiene products such as DenTek’s floss picks and interdental brushes can really help.
“A proper oral care routine is an investment that is well worth making”, says Jennifer Hudson, European Marketing Director at DenTek. “Most people know to brush their teeth but too few include interdental and tongue cleaning as part of their daily habits. By adding these often-overlooked steps to your oral hygiene routine, the benefits can potentially reach beyond just the health of your teeth”.
Dental hygienist Emma Nelson from the Dental Referral Centre in Dronfield recommends the “Inside, Outside, Upside, Done”! approach. “Clean between (inside) the teeth first, followed by the outside (brushing your teeth) and the upside (tongue) but not rinsing. DenTek’s range of interdental cleaners are great for making sure every inch of tooth is reached”, she says.
Equally important is ensuring the tongue is properly cleaned. The tongue harbours approximately 50% of the bacteria in the mouth which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease****. The bottom line is that if the tongue is not cleaned, bacteria is having a free ride. Make a habit of using DenTek’s Orabrush Tongue Cleaner and brush the tongue surface after brushing the teeth to help remove bacteria.
Many common dental issues are preventable or at least delayable by cleaning the teeth and mouth effectively. No oral hygiene routine is complete without including interdental and tongue cleaning – small changes that make a big difference!
Available at Boots (subject to availability) https://www.boots.com/dentek
Please visit https://www.dentek-eu.com for more information.