The Simple Ways To Make Your Dentist's Day!

The winners are:

kh1nz and candyperfumeboy

by BR Kellie

There are few things I fear more than going to the dentist. Dealing with Auckland traffic on a busy day? Easy peasy. Calling out bad behaviour? No worries. Sending food back when something's wrong. I barely blink an eye. But booking in that dentist check-up? Let's just say due to traumatic childhood experiences involving a mouthful of fillings given without anaesthetic of any kind, it strikes terror into my beauty editor heart.

However, due to my fear of the dentist, and the potential of one getting their drill on, I'm particularly careful about my oral health regime, and being so makes my trips to the dentist less teeth gnashingly terrifying, because I know when I sit in that chair I'm doing so having minimised the chance of any issues. So what are the best ways to keep our teeth in tip top condition? Check these out...

Brush twice a day... for two minutes.

If you only do one thing then brushing twice a day for two minutes, being careful to cover every available surface (that's inside, outside and on the chewing areas) of your teeth should be it. This will help keep the bacteria - which helps create plaque, which then can contribute to gum disease and tooth decay - at bay. 

You'll also want to keep your toothbrush in good condition. Changing it every three months or when it's showing signs of wear.

At this point it'd be remiss of me not to point you in the direction of our latest trial. The Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric Toothbrush rated an overall whopping 5/5. This is only the second time in Beauty Review history that a Top Rated product has achieved a 5/5 overall rating. It's seriously that good. So what sets it apart from your usual toothbrush? First of all there's the app that you connect to that gauges and shows you where you're brushing, ensuring you cover every part of your teeth evenly and accurately. Then there's the Smart Pressure Sensor that lets you know if you're brushing too hard (something my dentist tells me I do). And, to take it to the next level, there are seven modes to choose from, including sensitive, gum care, tongue, intense clean and daily clean, to help you ensure you're getting the best clean for your needs. Reviewer comments were absolute raves:

"My teeth have never felt cleaner and I haven’t experienced “fuzzy” feeling teeth since using this brush." - Ashiley

"I am noticing a difference and seeing whiter, shinier teeth already!" - Gem83

"After the first brush it felt like I’d been to the hygienist." - BusyMum

I don't know about you, but with raves like that I know what I'll be putting my Christmas gift money towards! So what else can we be doing to improve our overall oral health?

Don't rinse with water post-brushing.

While it's tempting to give your mouth a good swill with water after brushing, it's best to avoid doing so if you're using a toothpaste that contains fluoride (which is recommended by the Ministry of Health). That's because rinsing will dilute the fluoride that is included in toothpaste as it works to prevent tooth decay, and therefore reduce its ability to do so. What should you do? Simply spit out your excess toothpaste then go about your business.

Mouthwash?

Been buying mouthwash thinking it's the thing to do? Think again. Mouthwash, while leaving your mouth feeling even more minty fresh is a step you can skip after brushing. However, if you do feel the need for a post-lunch swill to help prevent tooth decay, there's nothing wrong with using a mouthwash that includes fluoride. Just remember not to eat or drink anything for half an hour afterwards in order to give the fluoride time to be effective.

Floss.

Kellie confession: I hate flossing. I find it uncomfortable, awkward, I'm not that good at it, but I still do it. A good floss gets into the areas that your toothbrush can't, removing debris and helping to keep the plaque that causes tooth decay and gum disease minimal. The trick is to work it into your routine in a way that doesn't make it a chore. I find flossing while watching a television show or bit of YouTube before bed works best for me, especially as soon after I'll be brushing my teeth before hitting the hay.

Watch what you eat.

For years I was cavity-free as an adult. Any cavities I had happened in my teenage years when I mainlined fizzy, lollies and chocolate like there was no tomorrow. Then I had a particularly stressful period where I ate candy-covered chocolates by the handful all throughout the day. Reader, I got my first adult cavity. While I can't directly blame the sweets, I do believe there's a correlation happening there, which is why when dentists suggest you watch what you eat if you want to avoid tooth decay, I now listen.

The key things to minimise is eating or drinking anything sugary or acidic. And if you do it's recommended that you rinse your mouth with water afterwards. 

Lastly, get regular check-ups.

Suffice to say, regular check-ups are important. Twice a year is the recommendation. However, in between check-ups if you notice any issues, do make an appointment to see your dentist, because a small problem tackled early is better than a big problem tackled late.

As for me... I now have a case of the guilts and will be calling my dentist for a check-up the moment I finish this article... followed by sending an email to my family letting them know that I want Christmas cash for that Oral-B toothbrush! As for you? Well, here's your chance to WIN the Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric Toothbrush!

To win, simply tell us why you need this amazing toothbrush in your life!

T&Cs.

1. To enter, comment below telling us why you want to win the incredible prize pack.
2. Competition closes Sunday 27th November at midnight.
3. Winners will be drawn on November 28th and notified by email.  
4. The winning Beauty Review usernames will be added to the top of this page.  
5. Prizes not claimed within two weeks will be redrawn.  
6. NZ residents only.

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