Blog Posts
Shake it up & get fresh this summer
To enjoy all-day fresh breath confidence this summer, simply shake it up with Dentyl Dual Action alcohol-free mouthwash. You could even win a gorgeous Turkish cotton towel. Dentyl Dual Action is a distinctive two phase mouthwash. Shake to activate, then swish and rinse. Because it’s alcohol-free, Dentyl Dual Action doesn’t sting or dry out the mouth. It contains fluoride to support healthy teeth and gums and is clinically proven to help freshen breath for up to 12 hours. Our Clinical Advisor, Dr Stephné Fenwick recommends Dentyl Dual Action: “Good oral health is essential for our overall health and well-being. Using an alcohol-free mouthwash, after brushing and cleaning in-between the teeth, is an excellent third and final step to your oral care routine.” With holidays, festive kisses and summer fun on the horizon, you can trust Dentyl Dual Action to help keep it fresh. For expert advice on how else…
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Floss or Interdental brushes, which is more effective?
By: Diane Rochford RDH, BSc (Hons); Dental Wellness Trust Oral Hygiene Clinical Advisor When it comes to cleaning in-between the teeth, what’s more effective – traditional floss or interdental brushes? We asked London-based Diane Rochford (RDH, BSc Hons), Oral Hygiene Clinical Advisor to the Dental Wellness Trust for her expert opinion: “Every mouth, tooth and space between the teeth is different. Recent studies show that interdental brushes can be more effective than floss, but the key to effective interdental cleaning is doing it daily. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria which adheres to all tooth surfaces. If it’s not removed daily – by brushing and cleaning in between the teeth – the bacteria irritates the gums, causing them to look red and swollen, they may bleed when brushing – these are the signs of early gum disease. At the Dental Wellness Trust we advocate easy, effective…
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Now there’s a size for every smile
Curves are beautiful in any size and Sunstar GUM Soft-Picks Advanced, the only curved dental picks on the market, are now available in small, regular and large options. With a size for every smile, GUM Soft-Picks Advanced are perfect for cleaning narrow or wide interdental spaces. Designed by Sunstar GUM’s oral care experts especially for effective cleaning in-between, GUM Soft-Picks Advanced are ideal for anyone who finds flossing a fuss, but understands a healthy mouth equals a healthy body. Curved to follow the natural shape of the jaw, the innovative shape makes it easy to reach between each tooth – even those at the far back of the mouth. The soft rubber bristles gently dislodge food and plaque, whilst giving the gums a gentle micro-massage. Ideal for cleaning orthodontics, bridges and implants, they are safe to use, even for those with sensitive gums. GUM Soft-Picks Advanced are…
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No more mouth ulcer misery
Anyone who has ever experienced a mouth ulcer knows that just a little sore in the wrong place can be a big pain. Here’s expert advice from Dirna Grobbelaar, our Oral Hygiene Advisor, to you prevent mouth ulcer misery. Mouth ulcers only appear inside the mouth, unlike cold sores or fever blisters, which only appear outside, usually on the lips or around the mouth. You’ll find mouth ulcers on the tongue or lining of the mouth, in singles or multiples. They are usually round and reddish. Causes of Mouth Ulcers: Most people will experience a sore inside the mouth at some point. These are often caused by a minor injury – biting the cheek accidentally, consuming food or drink that’s too hot, poorly-fitting dentures or braces, especially when orthodontics are initially fitted. Aphthous ulcers are the ones that recur and often first appear in childhood or adolescence….
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Winter nose & lip care
Reindeers are not the only creatures with red noses in winter. People with colds, flu and allergies often experience a chapped nose or lips from constant nose-blowing. Here’s practical advice from our oral care advisor, Dirna Grobbelaar, to help you prevent chafing and protect your skin this winter. When you frequently blow your nose, the delicate skin around the nose and lips becomes dry and irritated. Small, almost invisible, cracks are formed and these are exacerbated with every wipe. Over time the skin can become inflamed and chapped or chafed. Start by giving the skin some extra protection immediately, using a barrier cream, moisturiser, petroleum jelly, or a product specifically created to repair the delicate skin such as Letibalm, the only balm specially formulated for the nose, lips and skin in-between. It forms a protective layer on the skin. When you blow, use extra soft tissues or toilet paper….
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Understanding the Mouth and Body Connection
Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health A healthy mouth and a healthy body go hand in hand and this is the key message behind this year’s World Oral Health Day theme ‘Say Ahh: Think Mouth, Think Health’. Oral diseases affect 3.9 billion people around the world and untreated tooth decay touches 44% of people globally – almost half the world’s population. Understanding the mouth and body connection can help prevent you and your family from being added to these staggering numbers. It is said the ‘mouth is a mirror to your body’. A look into the mouth can reveal nutritional deficiencies, diseases and unhealthy habits, like smoking. A healthy mouth allows you to speak, smile, eat and drink with confidence, can boost social interaction and self-esteem. An unhealthy mouth can cause discomfort, disease, lost school or work days and lead to social isolation and low self-confidence. …
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Saving kids’ teeth
The Dental Wellness Trust Up to 80% of children in South Africa have tooth decay before the age of six, which is perhaps not surprising with the combination of extremely high sugar consumption and limited access to dental care. Many people do not have basic oral care tools; it’s not unheard of for a whole family to share one toothbrush. The Dental Wellness Trust Foundation is on a mission to improve oral health around the world. The registered charity is based in London, but making a difference in South Africa, the UK and other countries. Dentist Dr Linda Greenwall, who is originally from South Africa, founded the dynamic non-profit organisation in 2011, to provide innovative oral health education programmes and treatment for children and vulnerable adults. “We believe everyone has the right to access oral healthcare, and enjoy a life of dignity, free from pain,” she says….
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Cleaning the tongue – a dummies guide
For fresh breath and a healthy mouth dental professionals recommend cleaning the tongue every day as part of an effective oral hygiene routine. Here’s how to clean the tongue in 7 simple steps: Ideally, use a tool specially designed for cleaning the tongue like the Sunstar GUM Tongue Cleaner. If you don’t have one, use your toothbrush or a metal teaspoon turned upside down. Clean your tongue each time you brush your teeth (twice a day), especially if you smoke or suffer from post-nasal drip. Gently scrape from as far back as you can without gagging, to the front of the tongue. Breathing out as your clean the back of the tongue helps prevent gagging. Rinse the tool between each swipe. Gargle with water or an alcohol-free mouthwash. Clean the tongue before or after brushing and flossing – whichever you prefer. Cleaning the tongue at night can help prevent ‘morning…
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Treat your tongue to a #FreshBreathFix
Rather than getting in a twist about smelly breath, treat your tongue to a fresh breath fix. For when it comes to bad breath, experts agree that the tongue is often the culprit. “We recommend tongue scraping as part of a regular oral care routine,” says Stella Lamprecht, President of the Oral Hygienists’ Association of South Africa. “The surface of the tongue has tiny grooves where bacteria and plaque can accumulate. Removing the bacteria and debris on the tongue is one of the simplest ways to ensure fresh breath and a healthy mouth. Everyone, from children to older people, should incorporate it into their oral care on a daily basis. Cleaning the tongue at night can help prevent ‘morning’ breath.” “Ideally use a tool specially designed for the job like the Sunstar GUM Tongue Cleaner,” says Dirna Grobbelaar, Ivohealth’s oral hygiene advisor. “Alternatively, use your toothbrush or a…
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