A couple of months ago, the lovely people at Colgate sent me through some information about their Healthy Mouth Challenge and a goody bag full of Colgate products to try out. Now, I have tried out Colgate Total toothpaste in the past but I have to admit to just grabbing the first toothpaste box that comes to hand at the supermarket without really paying attention to details, so I was intrigued to discover the different products in all their splendour. I received a box of Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste, Colgate Total Advanced Freshening toothpaste, a Colgate 360° Surround toothbrush, Colgate Total Interdental Floss and a mini bottle of Colgate Plax mouthwash. But more about those in a moment.
Colgate Total created their Healthy Mouth Challenge (accessible via http://www.healthymouthchallenge.co.uk/ ) as a simple at-home test designed to help you identify any areas of concern, help you feel more knowledgeable when you visit the dentist, and remove some of the fear of an impending visit to the dentist chair. I am lucky to have really good teeth - I only had one tiny weeny filling when I was small and since then (touch wood !), my dentist rolls his eyes at the ceiling and tells me there's nothing he can do, even cleaning them, because they're in perfect nick, every time I go to see him ! Judging by the girls' visit to the dentist a couple of weeks ago, they're the same (although they may need braces to straighten out their teeth at a later date). I remember a couple of girls I had in one of the classes I teach who had totally rotten teeth fit to rival Shane McGowan of The Pogues by their teens, and one of Sophie's 9-year-old school friends had ten teeth removed last year because they were so rotten. I find that totally scary in this day and age !
Recent links in the media between heart health and oral health prove how incredibly important it is to look after our teeth and these interesting facts from Colgate show that we need to be on our guard. For example, did you know that:
· bacteria is continually growing on your teeth even immediately after brushing?
· when you’re pregnant you’re more at risk of gum disease and tooth sensitivity?
· women suffer from more anxiety than men when visiting the dentist (with 12% of UK adults suffering from an extreme fear of the dentist and 36% admitting to mild anxiety)?
· dentists are seeing children with tooth decay at an ever younger age with dental decay being one of the most common childhood diseases (with 40% of children suffering from tooth decay in their baby teeth by the age of five)?
Right, off to the Healthy Mouth Challenge website for my oral MOT ! The short interactive quiz deals with everything from teeth and gums to sensitive teeth, smile confidence, fresh breath and whitening. It provides advice and guidance, helping you to identify early warning signs, target your problem areas and evaluate your oral health.
Coinciding with the launch of its Healthy Mouth Challenge, Colgate reformulated its hero brand, Colgate Total, giving it new advanced cleaning power and even better longer lasting protection against tooth decay and gum problems. Colgate say that the new and improved Colgate Total is the only toothpaste that is clinically proven to provide 12 hour non-stop protection against dental bacteria, the cause of gum problems, tooth decay, tartar, bad breath and staining. The new enhanced formulation makes it Colgate's most advanced toothpaste yet, combining a unique antibacterial agent with a special copolymer to build a protective barrier against bacteria, to offer non-stop protection against the eight most common dental problems. I really like both of the toothpastes, which left my teeth feeling really clean and whose minty taste left my mouth feeling lovely and tingly and fresh. I also love the fact that it has a stand-up lid and that the cap is flip-top, which successfully foils all those who like to annoy me by not putting the lid back on the tube after use !
The dental floss, which I have to admit is a product I don't usually use, is great for getting out little bits of food like meat or apple that sometimes get stuck in your teeth and really help to get your teeth clean in the places that your toothbrush can't easily reach.
Speaking of toothbrushes, the 360° Surround toothbrush, as its name suggests, is designed to deal with all the little nooks and crannies where the bacteria in your mouth like to hang out. As well as a multi-layered brush (with various length bristles) designed to flush out bacteria from your gums and between your teeth, it has a tongue and cheek scraper integrated into the handle for total freshness and oral hygiene.
For the perfect “straight out of the dentist's” sensation, a quick gargle with Colgate Plax mouthwash will finish off any bacteria who managed to survive all the rest and will offer 12 hour protection, as well as giving you lovely fresh breath. It also contains fluoride to help combat tooth decay, reduces plaque and helps strengthen gums.
If your Healthy Mouth Challenge results weren't perfect, you can try again a few weeks later after trying to solve the problems to see how successful you've been. The challenge, as well as the products I tried out, really do seem to be effective allies in improving your oral health.
Star rating : 5/5
RRP : Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste £2.39 for 100ml, Colgate 360° toothbrush £4.06, Colgate Plax mouthwash £3.05 for 500ml, Colgate Total dental floss £2.81
for more information : http://www.healthymouthchallenge.co.uk/
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Colgates range is great, I use it reguarly keep teeth clean and white
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