With South Africa celebrating National Oral Health Month in September, now is the perfect time to put your dental health at the top of your priority list. Dental cavities and gum disease are two of the world’s most common health problems, which is why it’s so important to focus on healthy dental habits and oral hygiene.
It is estimated that up to 90% of South Africans will experience gum disease at some point in their lives. Caused by plaque on the teeth and under the gum line, gum disease can lead to the loosening of teeth, movement of teeth, bad breath, receding gums and inflammation. It’s even been linked to diabetes and heart disease.
While poor dental hygiene can lead to health problems, it can also put a damper on your smile. If you don’t look after your teeth and gums, it could lead to discolouration, stains and even erosion of the teeth’s enamel, which can affect one’s confidence and make smiling with confidence, difficult.
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Fortunately, modern oral care products make it easy to maintain healthy teeth and gums, increase the brightness of your smile and treat and prevent discolouration. While there is no substitute for regular check-ups at the dentist and professional teeth cleaning at the oral hygienist, it is absolutely essential to practice good oral care habits at home if you want to maintain the health of your teeth and the beauty of your smile.
But where do you start? Check out this comprehensive guide to good oral health and get your brightest smile yet:
Daily maintenance
A healthy oral care routine starts with mastering the basics: brushing twice a day and using a good quality mouthwash.
If you want whiter teeth, then invest in a good whitening toothpaste, like O7 Active Whitening Toothpaste (R129). This powerhouse toothpaste contains active oxygen to effectively kill bacteria, remove plaque, maintain healthy teeth and gums and keep teeth beautifully white. It removes superficial stains but is mild on the enamel and does not contain any aggressive bleaches or abrasives. In between meals, rinse with O7 Active Rinse (R169) mouthwash. This active oxygen mouthwash kills bacteria and helps prevent gum disease, improving your overall oral health by just rinsing for 30 seconds, twice a day.
Flossing is for everyone
Brushing your teeth twice a day is not enough to remove food and plaque – especially in hard-to-reach places like between the teeth and below the gum line. Flossing is the best way to remove food particles and impurities. But before you cringe at the thought of manually flossing with string every night, have you considered water flossing? For an easy flossing experience, try something like the Waterpik WF-02 Cordless Express Water Flosser (R999).
Water flossing for one minute before brushing easily removes bacteria and debris from hard-to-reach areas deep between teeth and below the gum line. Quick and easy to use, Waterpik Water Flossers utilise a unique combination of water pressure and patented pulsations to massage and stimulate gums as well as clean deep between teeth and below the gum line. They are clinically proven to be more effective than traditional dental floss for reducing plaque, gingivitis, and gum disease. Waterpik says its water flossers are proven to remove up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas. The unique combination of water pressure and pulsations is highly effective at improving gum health and is a at times can be even more effective than ordinary string floss.
A new way to straighten teeth
Most people aren’t blessed with perfectly straight teeth, and up until now, there have been very few straightening options. But now you can enjoy a beautiful set of straight teeth within only a few months thanks to Active Aligners’ custom-made clear aligners. Hassle-free and reasonably priced, Active Aligners clear aligners straighten teeth within a few months. They’re almost invisible, easy to insert and remove, and easy to clean – making them the obvious choice for adults who want a straighter smile without the hassle of braces.
The process is simple: visit your dental technician for a 3D scan of your teeth. After your assessment, your dental practitioner will discuss your treatment plan with you. Once you’re happy with your proposed results you’ll be given a series of 3D-printed clear retainers, made from thermoplastic material, to achieve your desired results over a set period of time. Wear your Active Aligners for 22 hours a day, and you’ll be on the road to improved dental health! With a lab based in South Africa, Active Aligners offers South Africans seeking orthodontic treatment with clear aligners a more affordable, locally-made option that they can smile about.
