Every year, we schedule a visit to the doctor for general check-up, and also to the dentist for our bi-annual prophylaxis. Since my kids were toddlers, we do this as a family in the hopes that when they grow up, they'll learn the importance of maintaining overall health and wellness. Even in their bedtime prayers, we always include asking God to bless us with good health. But when you think about it, oral care is often overlooked and usually not considered part of overall health planning. Minsan once a year lang ang cleaning, or totally nakakalimutan talaga. I know so many people who are like this, which leads me to believe that Filipinos, in general, lack awareness on oral care.
I say, start them young. Form a habit of good oral hygiene, and the first step is learning how to brush your teeth properly.
(from Oral-B Dental Health tips)
- Choose a fluoride toothpaste and use a soft-bristle toothbrush
- Brush at least two minutes, twice a day
- Spend 30 seconds brushing each section of your mouth (upper right, upper left, lower right and lower left
- Start with outer and inner surfaces and make sure you reach your back teeth
- Hold the brush flat and brush chewing surfaces back and forth along
- For the back side of the front teeth, tilt brush vertically and use gentle up-and-down strokes with the tip of brush
- Brush gently along the gum line
- Brush your tongue from back-to-front sweeping motion - removes food particles and helps remove odor-causing bacteria
- Try to gently brush the roof of your mouth for extra fresh and clean feeling
Following these basic steps will help minimize the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which are the major causes of tooth loss.
When the kids were a bit younger, I asked them to choose their own toothbrush (from a limited choice I pre-selected) so they will be motivated to brush their teeth. It worked so far. Around late summer, while at the supermarket, the boy and the girl was curiously comparing the different kinds of toothbrushes displayed. I did not tell them to buy but I was pleasantly surprised that they were reading the features and benefits printed on the packaging!
We already have the Oral-B electronic oscillating toothbrush with replaceable heads. But they said they wanted to try a new toothbrush and choose their own. Ok, fine. Look at their final pick -- the Oral B Pro-Health Cross Action toothbrush. I swear, I did not tell them what to get, nor give my opinion on what to look for. Naturally, I was happy that Oral-B chose to sponsor my blog. We really have been long-time users of the brand.
The kids got 2 packs of two, one for each of the family daw. All four of us are now using them. =)
What we like about Oral B Pro-Health Cross Action toothbrush:
- It's unique 16-degree angle brush and Crisscross® bristles can remove up to 99% of plaque in hard-to-reach areas
- Tongue cleaner helps remove germs from the tongue
- Works gently on enamel and stimulates the gums -- feels like a massage for your mouth
- Helps improve gum health by reducing gingivitis
It is recommended to replace your toothbrush every three months.
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| Our current Oral-B toothbrush: Pink for the girl, blue for the boy, red for me, charcoal for J. |
When I was still working in advertising, one of my clients was in the oral health industry. One of the most important things I learned from them is that it's not about the toothpaste or oral care products we use, but how we brush our teeth properly -- that's the key to having healthy teeth and gums. Expensive toothpaste is useless if you don't know how to brush right, and part of brushing properly is choosing the right toothbrush for you. Believe me, it makes all the difference in cleaning efficiency.
Let's raise kids that value oral health so we can all have healthy smiles. Let's #SmilePilipinas!
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| Photo from Facebook.com/OralBPh |
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