Practicing Great Oral Health Care with Crest 

With us quickly approaching the halfway mark of the new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the promises you made to yourself – also known as “resolutions” as some would call it. Though I vowed to ignore the idea of resolutions, there were promises I made to myself this year about taking better care of myself, body, mind and spirit.

While I’ve been staying active and also really focusing on my mental health, there are a few promises I also made to myself in the beauty department. Of course that includes never going to sleep with makeup on and taking care of my skin so I can age as gracefully as possible, my oral health is also a main focus which will also help me age as graceful as J-Lo. And though we all like to say that we practice great oral health care, I have no doubt in my mind that like me, there are still areas that you can perfect and improve.

Whether its flossing more consistently, choosing the right tools to help get your whites -whiter or even improving your diet and choose the right foods, there are tips and tricks to help you get perfect your oral health care.

To celebrate Oral health Month this April, I have teamed up with Crest and renowned Toronto Dentist and Smile Council Member, Dr. Janet Tamo to get down to business and get all your oral health questions answered along with some tips for nailing down a great oral health care routine!

1. Okay Dr. Tamo. Let’s get down to business. What does it really take to practice great oral health care?

It is actually quite simple and takes only a few minutes to achieve:

• Brush with a soft toothbrush and a toothpaste that includes stannous fluoride like Crest Pro-Health. It enhances the teeth’s natural protective layer to protect against daily dietary acid challenges and is scientifically proven to protect against the initiation and progression of erosion. It’s also the first toothpaste to protect against all areas dentists check: gingivitis, plaque, cavities, tartar, sensitivity, stains and fresh breath
• Stick to a daily routine of brushing at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily.
• Limit sugary and acidic foods and eat a healthy balanced diet. Drink water between meals.
• Switch your manual brush out for an Oral-B 8000 power brush in order to reach areas you may be missing and to reach the dentist recommended two minutes of brushing time.
• Use a straw to protect your enamel from fruity or acidic beverages
• Chew sugar free gum with xylitol to stimulate saliva which will help protect enamel

2. I’ve heard a number of different answers for this, but how often would you say one should visit the dentist? Why?

Each person’s dental requirements are unique, however, we should all visit the dentist a minimum of at least twice a year for a check-up and cleaning. Some people need to go more often (patients with gum disease in progress, diabetes, and those wearing orthodontic appliances). The interval should be prescribed by your dental health professional based on your individual needs. Personally, I have my teeth cleaned every three months!

3. Fads! I’ve seen tumeric, baking soda and charcoal to brush your teeth and get those pearly whites. What really works and why?

There’s no scientific evidence to back up any of these fads. Check with your dentist before trying to whiten your teeth to ensure that you are a good candidate for whitening and that your mouth is in good shape. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Supreme FlexFit are readily available in drugstores and they will whiten your teeth without damaging them.

4. What else can be affected by bad oral health care?

The mouth is the upper end of the digestive tract and is closely connected to the rest of the body.  It is smart to take care of any infections or inflammation in your oral cavity, so that it does not spread to other important parts of the body, such as vital organs like the heart or brain. It can also cause bad breath which may affect all of your social and business interactions!

5. What should one limit in their diet so they can keep their oral health at its best?

Foods that contain sugar and other fermentable carbohydrates (cookies, candies, granola bars!) are dangerous to consume especially in between meals because they lead to acidity in the saliva which is a very big problem. Repeated exposure to acid saliva causes enamel erosion and decay, and once the enamel is lost it cannot be re-grown. 80% of Canadians suffer from enamel erosion.  Even so-called “healthy foods” with an acid pH can cause sensitivity and erosion to develop. Avoid fruit juices, lemon water, coffee/tea with sugar or honey, chewable vitamins and even salad dressing can be very acidic.  Try to pair acidic foods with a protein for balance. If possible, drink lots of water to neutralize your saliva. It is absolutely the best beverage for all ages! Brush your teeth with a stannous fluoride like Crest Pro-Health to help protect against every day dietary acids.

6. What is the biggest misconception about oral health care?

The biggest misconception is that it is optional! As soon as teeth erupt into the mouth, we need to take very good care of them. Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes and flossing daily are a minimum for oral health care.

7. Do you have some favourite products that you suggest I use? Which ones?

• I love the Oral B Genius Power Brush and use it at least twice a day. It does a much better job than a manual brush. The built-in 2 minute timer, the pressure sensor, the position detection technology are excellent best in class features.
• Crest Pro-Health toothpaste helps to protect the teeth from decay, enamel erosion and gum disease due to plaque and tartar buildup
• Oral-B Glide Floss uses a unique technology to slide up to 50% more easily between your teeth and is strong and shred resistant for improved grip
• Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash is a great tasting alcohol-free mouthwash that helps protect from plaque and gingivitis. It freshens your breath without the sting!

It was so great to have Dr. Tamo answer my biggest oral healthcare questions and after my one-on-one with her, I have been focusing on perfecting my oral health care, and I can already see results! Since noticing the results, I knew that I had to share my go-to tips to help you get those healthy pearly whites:

• Diet Is Everything. As Dr. Tamo mentioned, there are certain foods that can negatively affect the state of your teeth. From orange juice to salad dressing, lemon juice, fresh fruits, pickles and even ketchup, these foods and drinks can lead to enamel erosion which can cause dental hypersensitivity and, as the enamel becomes thing, making teeth more susceptible to decay. It can also lead to complex and restorative care, which is often expensive.
• The Right Tools Are Important. Let me tell you, a toothbrush isn’t just a toothbrush. I’ve been using my Oral B Genius Power Brush with Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste for the last few weeks, and I am loving the combination of the two. Not to mention the Oral B Genius Power Brush is an intelligent brushing system that communicates with you so you can brush like your dentist recommends!
• When In Doubt – Whitestrips. Aside from the Oral B Brush and Crest Pro-Health, I am obsessed with Crest whitestrips with Supreme Flex Fit. I have always been a fan of whitestrips but with the flex fit, I can whiten my teeth while doing my makeup in the morning and even enjoying my morning tea! It also really does the trick – I can’t even tell you how many people have commented on my pearly whites!

I hope you learned more about Crest & Oral B from both myself and Dr. Tamo! To celebrate Oral Health Month, I wanted to share the love and giveaway a ORAL-B GENIUS 8000, CREST PRO-HEALTH HD DAILY TWO STEP TOOTHPASTE SYSTEM and CREST PRO-HEALTH ADVANCED EXTRA DEEP CLEAN TOOTHPASTE.

That’s totaling over $300!

Entire through the rafflecopter widget below. The giveaway ends May 12th at 12am and is open to Canadian residents only.

Happy brushing!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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