A smile can get you anywhere, I was once told. So having
healthy teeth and gums is of prime
importance when we open our mouths. Yet, so many of us do not brush our teeth for the recommended
two minutes.
You should clean them twice a day using a fluoride
toothpaste. The best time is last thing at night and in the morning before
breakfast.
Dentists also say that you should not clean your teeth for
half an hour after eating, especially if you have had something acidic or sweet
as the acids and sugars from food can weaken the teeth’s enamel. If you clean
your teeth straight after eating you may brush away the enamel. Drinking water
will help to get rid of any acid and debris.
A hygienist once
told me to get into the habit of cleaning between the teeth with interdental
brushes (also good to use after eating) and flossing once a day.
Whether you use a manual or electric is down to personal
preference and also your brushing technique.
But electric tooth brushes can make it easier to get it right as you guide the
brush and the bristles will do the work for you.
Years ago, I was working on a national newspaper and I was
given an Oral-B tooth brush. I found that its round head was the perfect size
for my mouth and made it easy to reach the back teeth. It also has an
oscillating head which, according to the British Dental Foundation, is the most effective at
removing plaque (a sticky film of bacteria that forms on the teeth).
My brushing habits soon got better and I made fewer trips to the hygienist.
Over time, Oral-B has improved its technology and it has recently launched
the Oral-B SmartSeries 6000 with Bluetooth Connectivity and Oral-B APP
(£249.99).
The toothbrush connects to the Oral-B App so you can have
“real-time” guidance as you brush. Using your smartphone as a remote control,
you can create personal brushing programmes. You will also find tips and tricks for brushing and on dental
health.
It also
records your brushing activity so you can show your hygienist what you are up
to (they will know if you have been brushing for two minutes or not) so he or
she can correct you if you are going wrong.
And if you are travelling, do not think you can have a
holiday from cleaning your teeth properly, the interactive electric toothbrush
can store brushing sessions so when you next connect to the app your
information is updated.
There are five modes: Daily Clean, Gum Care, Sensitive,
Whitening, and Deep Clean and comes with a CrossAction toothbrush head, a
3DWhite toothbrush head, a Sensitive toothbrush head and charging station
with brush head storage.
The travel case that comes with the toothbrush is useful,
and wireless SmartGuide which syncs with your brush so you can monitor how long
you have been brushing. It will show you how long you are spending on each
quadrant of your mouth. You can customise this, if you need to pay more
attention to one particular area.
I love the new CrossAction toothbrush head which surrounds
each tooth with
bristles angled precisely to cover it and reach deep between teeth to remove plaque.
This new model seems to have been taken to another level.
The 3D cleaning system oscillates, rotates, and pulsates faster than previous
ones that I have used making my mouth feel exceptionally clean. Another plus is
that the pressure sensor lights up if you brush too hard which I have a
tendency to do.
Is it worth the money? There must be a reason that so many
dentists and hygienists recommend Oral-B. They are seeing patients’ mouths
all the time so they are the ones who know. It is worth using this app if you
do have problems brushing your teeth correctly. If you feel you do not need the
app, you can check out other models in the range. The more powerful the brush,
the better it is at removing the dreaded plaque, which is why I am a fan of
this brush.
My teeth and gums are certainly in a better condition thanks
to Oral-B. A healthy mouth is important because there is a direct correlation
between it and your physical well-being. Gum disease has been linked to increasing
the risk of stroke, diabetes and heart disease. And, according, to recent
research, gum disease may also be linked to Alzheimer’s.
This brush could save you time and money on visits to the
dentist and keep your mouth healthy and that has to be worth the investment.
By Daralyn Danns
