How Oral Care Is Becoming The New Skincare
Oral care is almost as big as skin care these days. People are paying more attention to their oral health than ever before
Over the course of the pandemic, many have started to pay more attention to their skincare routines (read: maskne). But that’s not all. In fact, the skin isn’t the only thing we’re zeroing on during this period. As the workplace continues to evolve, with more of us working digitally, there seems to be an impending spike in oral health needs. Sure, our mask serves as easy camouflage when we’re out, but many are still becoming more self-aware of what their teeth look like.
With social media being at the forefront of our daily communication and our go-to self-actualization tool, our mobile-first society is becoming more conscious of their smile. Hence, they’re willing to invest more to take care of their appearance and oral health. Besides, when you’re maintaining good oral health, you’re also preventing the risk of getting health complications and diseases caused by bad oral hygiene, bad breath, gum diseases, cavities and teeth loss!
And while you might dread the thought of spending 2 minutes brushing your teeth, or you’re thinking of that visit to the dentist that’s been long overdue, oral care doesn’t have to be mundane anymore. Now, with the burgeoning group of trendy, millennial-focused oral care businesses, brands like Zenyum are repositioning oral care as a self-care ritual to help you be the best version of yourself.
With an extensive range of oral care products in the market, it’s easy for us to lose track of what’s the latest product to try and what are some things you should avoid buying. To answer all of our burning questions, here, we’ve reached out to Zenyum to find out more about the dos and don’ts of our oral hygiene routines.
Buying toothpaste at your neighbourhood supermarket may be a total no-brainer, but it’s important for you to know that there are certain ingredients that you should avoid. According to the experts at Zenyum, it’s been said that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) — a common ingredient found in toothpaste to create foaming when a person brushes their teeth — can cause side effects such as mouth ulcers, canker sores, allergic reactions and even break down the enamel on your teeth. Not only that, but SLS is also the chemical that makes drinking orange juice incredibly unpleasant. Some of the other ingredients you should look out for to avoid would be alcohol and parabens.
While we’re on the topic of toothpastes, there are certain ingredients that will do wonders for your smile. Some of these key chemicals that you’ll find in a good and trusty toothpaste formula include:
Fluoride: For people who are not averse to fluoride, it is still a very effective and well-researched enamel strengthening ingredient.
Xylitol: When combined with fluoride in toothpaste, xylitol is said to help reduce tooth decay, inhibit the growth of harmful oral bacteria and the incidence of gum disease.
Hydroxyapatite: Used as a treatment against cavities, this particular ingredient helps in remineralising (rebuild) tooth structure.
Papain: A natural teeth-whitening ingredient.
Betaine: When used in toothpaste, this ingredient helps to relieve dryness in the mouth for a more refreshing finish.
Brushing your teeth is the foundation of a good oral care routine. And while manual toothbrushes are affordable and easy to use, many are now elevating their routine and are investing in electric toothbrushes. But what makes it any different you might ask?
Well, according to the team at Zenyum, it’s been said that “electric toothbrushing promotes correct dental cleaning, saves time and has a soothing massaging effect on the gums.”
According to research, Chief Executive of Oral Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE also mentioned, “Electric toothbrushes…are really effective at removing plaque. This helps keep tooth decay and gum disease at bay. As the science behind the advantages of electric toothbrushes is mounting, the decision whether to invest in one becomes much easier.”
Haven’t heard of toothpaste for your day and night routines? Well, it’s about time you should.
Similar to skincare where one applies sunblock during the day and uses a serum at night to nourish the skin, the team at Zenyum mentioned that “our teeth go through differing routines and exposures from day to night. During the day, as you’re out and about drinking coffee with friends or perhaps eating spicy acidic food, the day toothpaste works as your teeth enamel protector. On the other hand, the night toothpaste has been designed to soothe and relieve sensitivity as you sleep and rejuvenate through the night.”
It’s recommended that you have a brush-time of at least 2 minutes with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. On top of that, once you’ve noticed that your brush bristles start flaring out, it’s a sign to change your toothbrush, which is about every 2 to 3 months.
Text: Shazrina Shamsudin/HerWorld