Oral hygiene problems
Let's start with the basics: make sure you're brushing and flossing properly to help prevent plaque buildup and bad breath.
How to Brush Your Teeth Are you wondering how to brush your teeth properly? Brushing our teeth is something most of us have done for as long…
How to Floss Flossing. It's something you know you should do, but how often do you actually get around to it? We get it; it's…
Bad Breath (Halitosis) If you're dealing with bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis, you're not alone. While occasional bad breath can be caused by certain…
Plaque and Tartar Dental plaque and tartar are related, but they are not the same thing. What's the difference and what causes them? Keep reading…
Oral care products
From toothbrushes to tongue scrapers, choose the right products to make your oral hygiene routine effortless – even enjoyable?
Electric toothbrush guide This is a review of the best electric toothbrush in 2024 for the UK market. We reviewed dozens…
Sonicare Vs. Oral-B Oral-B and Philips Sonicare are the two most popular and longest-running electric toothbrush brands, so it's only natural…
Water Flossers Are you wondering which is the best water flosser in the UK right now? Our guide is here…
Toothpaste Guide Choosing the best toothpaste for you can be a challenge since there are so many brands and variations…
Mouthwash Guide Are you looking for the best mouthwash for gum disease, mouth ulcers, bad breath or dry mouth in…
Tongue Scrapers Are you in the market for a tongue scraper? Want to know the best way to clean your…
Electric toothbrush guide This is a review of the best electric toothbrush in 2024 for the UK market. We reviewed dozens…
Sonicare Vs. Oral-B Oral-B and Philips Sonicare are the two most popular and longest-running electric toothbrush brands, so it's only natural…
Water Flossers Are you wondering which is the best water flosser in the UK right now? Our guide is here…
Toothpaste Guide Choosing the best toothpaste for you can be a challenge since there are so many brands and variations…
Mouthwash Guide Are you looking for the best mouthwash for gum disease, mouth ulcers, bad breath or dry mouth in…
Tongue Scrapers Are you in the market for a tongue scraper? Want to know the best way to clean your…
Toothbrush guides
Electric or manual? Nylon or silicone bristles? Whatever your preferences, there's a toothbrush out there to suit you. Check out some of the latest innovations making toothbrushes more effective than ever.
Best Whitening Toothbrushes Looking for the best whitening toothbrush? The truth is that a toothbrush can only do so much when…
Sensitive Electric Toothbrushes Shopping for the best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth can get confusing quickly. With so many different brands…
Kids' Toothbrushes Confused by the number of baby and kids' toothbrushes on the market in the UK? That's quite understandable….
Silicone Toothbrushes There’s a new trend in the world of oral hygiene in the form of a silicone toothbrush. These…
Best Manual Toothbrushes It's not easy to choose the best manual toothbrush for you and your family. You'll have your own…
Best Whitening Toothbrushes Looking for the best whitening toothbrush? The truth is that a toothbrush can only do so much when…
Sensitive Electric Toothbrushes Shopping for the best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth can get confusing quickly. With so many different brands…
Kids' Toothbrushes Confused by the number of baby and kids' toothbrushes on the market in the UK? That's quite understandable….
Silicone Toothbrushes There’s a new trend in the world of oral hygiene in the form of a silicone toothbrush. These…
Best Manual Toothbrushes It's not easy to choose the best manual toothbrush for you and your family. You'll have your own…
Toothpaste guides
Which toothpaste should you use? It's important to find one that not only tastes good to you, but also meets your oral care needs. Our guides will help you find the best toothpaste for whitening, sensitivity, gum care & more.
Whitening Toothpastes Are you looking for the best whitening toothpaste in the UK to remove stains from your teeth? Or…
Sensitive Toothpastes Trying to find the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth? With so many brands and products in the UK…
High Fluoride Toothpastes If you are at higher risk of tooth decay, you may want to start using high fluoride toothpaste….
Kids' Toothpastes There are so many options for the best baby toothpaste in the UK, where do you even start?…
Whitening Toothpastes Are you looking for the best whitening toothpaste in the UK to remove stains from your teeth? Or…
Sensitive Toothpastes Trying to find the best toothpaste for sensitive teeth? With so many brands and products in the UK…
High Fluoride Toothpastes If you are at higher risk of tooth decay, you may want to start using high fluoride toothpaste….
Kids' Toothpastes There are so many options for the best baby toothpaste in the UK, where do you even start?…
Natural tooth care
Prefer to take a natural approach to your oral hygiene? Check out these eco-friendly dental products or have a go at making your own.
Bamboo Toothbrushes Using a bamboo toothbrush is a simple way to make your oral hygiene routine more environmentally friendly. More and more people are…
Charcoal Toothpastes What is the best charcoal toothpaste in the UK? Whether you are looking for activated charcoal toothpaste to whiten teeth or freshen…
Natural Mouthwashes Looking to switch to the best natural mouthwash possible? With all sorts of options to choose from, it can be an overwhelming…
Charcoal Toothbrushes Thinking about trying out a charcoal toothbrush? Activated charcoal has recently become popular in oral hygiene products as a natural way to…
Natural Toothpaste Recipes Why use a natural toothpaste? Chances are you choose your toothpaste based on the taste, texture or certain special properties like whitening….
Plastic-Free Dental Floss So, you're interested in plastic-free dental floss? Great! It may not seem like much, but every little helps when it comes to…
Visiting a dental hygienist
Even with all these efforts, you'll still need to visit a hygieniest from time to time. Learn about what these dental hygiene procedures involve and how much they cost.
Scale and Polish What is a scale and polish? Simply put, it's a professional teeth cleaning with a dentist or hygienist which removes tartar from…
Deep Teeth Cleaning If you're reading this article, it may be because your dentist has recommended that you get a deep teeth cleaning. This might…
What is oral hygiene?
‘Oral hygiene' is a general term that describes the practice of keeping your mouth clean and free from disease or infections.
At a basic level, this means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. This helps remove harmful plaque that has built up on your teeth. Some people like to use a tongue scraper too, to remove debris from their tongue.
If you're not a fan of flossing with traditional string floss, you could try a water flosser instead. These electric devices shoot a jet of water between your teeth to dislodge food and plaque stuck there. They are less fiddly to use than floss, and also considerably quicker.
And what about brushing your teeth? You may have done this every day for as long as you can remember, but it's helpful to remind yourself of the correct technique from time to time. Rather than brushing from side to side, you should use small circular motions to be most effective and avoid harming your gums.
Your choice of toothpaste and toothbrush can make a big difference to how enjoyable and effective your oral hygiene routine is.
If you often find yourself forgetting to brush, or you're guilty of stopping short of the recommended two minutes, perhaps a smart toothbrush would be a good investment. AI technology can track where you brush, and feed this information back to you via an app. In this way, you can immediately see whether you missed any teeth the first time around.
Visiting a hygienist
Taking care of your teeth and gums doesn't stop at home. Even the best toothbrush in the world can only do so much, and it's a good idea to also visit your dentist or hygienist for regular cleanings and check-ups.
A dental hygienist uses specialist cleaning equipment to dislodge any plaque that has hardened into tartar. Tartar can't be removed by brushing alone, so if you notice a visible white buildup on or between your teeth, it's time to book a hygienist appointment for a scale & polish.
The frequency of your hygienist appointments will depend a little on the condition of your teeth and mouth. Some people only need to visit every 12-18 months, whereas others might need cleanings as often as every three months, if they are at particular risk. You should follow the advice of your dental team on this.
If you take good care of your oral hygiene then you shouldn't have to worry about bad breath. However, this can be a result of other problems such as digestive issues. If you're concerned about bad breath even though you take good care of your mouth, it might be worth getting it checked out by a doctor.
All in all, the more you pay attention to your oral hygiene now, the less likely you are to experience expensive and painful problems with your teeth later in life.
