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Say Ahh! Act on Mouth Health
World Oral Health Day – 20 March 2019 Oral ill-health is a global problem; around 90% of the world’s population will experience tooth decay, gum disease or other oral diseases at some point in their lives. In South Africa, where we have limited dental public health services, an estimated 60% of primary school children already have dental decay; the majority will not receive treatment. Fortunately, most oral diseases are preventable and prevention is the key message to this year’s World Oral Health Day on 20 March. The FDI World Dental Federation is calling on everyone to take action to prevent oral disease and protect their overall health with the theme ‘Say Ahh: Act on Mouth Health’. Our Oral Hygiene Advisor, Dirna Grobbelaar, agrees that taking action and following an effective daily oral care routine is vital to maintain a healthy mouth for life. She recommends these three…
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4 steps to beat bad breath
Expert advice for fresh breath According to experts, around half of South Africans suffer from bad breath and this is often due simply to inadequate oral hygiene. We asked three dental professionals to explain the most essential steps to help you beat bad breath for good. Dr Linda Greenwall is a London-based dentist who founded the Dental Wellness Trust. Their South African LiveSmart programme currently teaches good oral care to 15,000 children in poorly-resourced areas of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Greenwall says many South Africans don’t know the basic oral skills: “When they first join us many children don’t own a toothbrush, they may share one with their family. It’s unsurprising so many have dental disease before the age of six. Brushing the teeth correctly twice a day is essential for good oral health, fresh breath and to prevent cavities.” This isn’t only a problem in low-income…
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Fresh breath detox with Dentyl Dual Action
If you’re planning a detox or diet after holiday over-indulging, be warned – bad breath can be more common among people who diet. The bacteria that cause oral malodour thrive in a dry environment. Usually the mouth is kept moist with saliva which is produced when we eat and sleep. Skipping meals dries out the mouth, and creates ideal conditions for the bacteria that cause bad breath. Drinking plenty of water may give some relief. Our Clinical Advisor, Dr Stephné Fenwick, also recommends Dentyl Dual Action: “After brushing and cleaning in-between the teeth, rinse with alcohol-free Dentyl Dual Action – it’s an excellent third and final step to your oral care routine and will provide extra fresh breath confidence.” Clinically proven to help freshen breath for up to 12 hours, Dentyl Dual Action is a distinctive two phase mouthwash. Simply shake to activate, then swish and rinse. Dentyl…
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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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Dry mouth – thirsting for relief from xerostomia?
Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, simply means absent or reduced saliva. If your mouth often feels sticky, or a cool glass of water doesn’t take away your thirst, you may be suffering from this common medical condition, which affects an estimated 20% of people; women and the elderly are more at risk. Dry mouth can be caused by certain diseases, including diabetes and Sjogren’s syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease. However, the most likely culprit is medication – over 400 prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines state dry mouth as a possible side-effect. This includes medication for allergies, asthma, colds, depression, epilepsy, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and urinary incontinence. If you are thirsting for relief, here are 5 simple strategies to help deal with your dry mouth dilemmas: Consult your dentist or doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan. Follow a meticulous daily oral care routine with regular dental check-ups….
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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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