Tooth decay is the result of combining the following three factors: Teeth , bacteria & sugar.  Plaque forms naturally over all tooth surfaces.  If not removed regularly, the plaque bacteria produce acids, which eat into the tooth’s protective enamel surface.  Eventually, holes or cavities appear through which the plaque acids attack the softer layer of the tooth (dentine) causing serious decay.  If not attended to by your dentist the tooth can eventually be lost.

Generally yellow to white, tartar forms mostly on the inside of the lower front teeth close to the gums. Unlike plaque, tartar cannot be removed by brushing and only your dentist or hygienist has the proper instruments to remove it. As well as looking unsightly, the rough surface of tartar is a haven where further plaque can build up.

The starting point for tooth decay and gum disease is plaque – a thin, sticky substance that forms naturally on all teeth and if it is not regularly removed it can hide along the gum line. Plaque contains bacteria which react with the sugars and starches in our daily diet to form acids which are harmful to teeth.  Fortunately, you can remove plaque yourself by brushing your teeth regularly.  If plaque isn’t regularly removed it will attach to teeth, and will eventually calcify into a hard substance called tartar.

There are a number of solutions:

• Limit your intake of food and drink that can stain your teeth (coffee, tea, red wine etc.).
• Do not smoke as this can discolour the tooth surface.
• Have your teeth cleaned and polished professionally by a hygienist to remove tartar and surface stains.
• Use a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste like Wisdom Active Whitening Advanced Whitening Purple Toothpaste, with a boosted cleaning formula and light enhancing particles.
• Use a colour corrector, such as Wisdom Active Whitening Colour Corrector Serum which instantly brightens teeth by concealing yellow tones on the tooth surface.

All of Wisdom’s teeth whitening treatments have been specially developed and tested to safely remove stains from teeth for a whiter smile. However, as with all non-peroxide whitening products our teeth whitening products can only remove surface stains to reveal the natural colour of enamel underneath. If no surface stains are present, then they cannot deliver whiter teeth beyond their natural colour.

Whether you prefer the convenience of using a teeth whitening pen, the ease of the strips or the professional feel and extra whitening of the tray or LED light, Wisdom has a product to suit you.

Wisdom Intense White is our premium brand with products offering clinically proven results, delivering whiter teeth in no more than 7 days.  Intense White trays and strips are designed to fit you, enabling a comfortable and fuss free way to whiten teeth.  Our instant whitening pen’s provide a quick and convenient way to see instant whitening results.

Wisdom Active Whitening offers good value teeth whitening products which safely and effectively remove stains to whiten teeth at your convenience over a 7 day period.

Wisdom offer a range of teeth whitening products that remove stains, under the Intense White and Active Whitening brands.  The Intense White products have been specially developed by oral care experts to provide an intensive at home whitening treatment clinically proven to deliver whiter teeth.  Active Whitening is a great value solution to safely and effectively remove stains to whiten teeth.  Both brands are enamel safe and peroxide free.

Tooth whitening is different to stain removal in that it uses either a process of professional bleaching or laser whitening to lighten the dentin underneath the translucent surface enamel.  The lighter dentin will then give the appearance of whiter teeth.

You have 2 options – it can be carried out by a number of dentists or at a cosmetic dentistry specialist’s, or you can carry out a treatment in the comfort of your own home.   Teeth whitening is not available on the NHS.

Using mouthwash is a great addition to   supplement your oral care routine, not replace it!

Only regular brushing with a quality toothbrush will effectively clean your teeth and remove food particles and plaque.  Mouthwash doesn’t have the same cleaning properties as brushing your teeth, and should not be a substitute for brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and interdental cleaning.

Only regular brushing with a quality toothbrush will effectively clean your teeth. However, chewing sugar free gum after meals stimulates the production of extra saliva, which helps limit the build up of plaque (the main cause of tooth and gum problems) and reduces the acid in the mouth.

Hold it upright with the back of the head facing you. If you can see more than a millimetre or two of the filaments then replace it with a new brush.

Contact your water provider or local health authority.

Fluoride works by replacing the calcium on the surface of your teeth, and it takes 10 times more acid to dissolve. This is why fluoride is so important, and used in small quantities there is no solid evidence of adverse effects. Try to prevent children from swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste as in extreme circumstances this can lead to stained teeth.

It is better to not rinse your mouth out after you have brushed your teeth as rinsing reduces the benefits of the fluoride in the toothpaste.

Your gums may bleed and be sore for the first few days if you are not a regular user of an interdental product. If there is an infection you will most likely bleed, as this is the removal of the plaque and bacteria between your teeth. This is normal and it is just short term, and your gums will eventually stop bleeding. Cleaning between your teeth should be done gently, and using a product that is more suitable for the size gaps between your teeth. Like brushing too hard, vigorous cleaning between teeth or forcing into a gap a too large interdental brush can easily injure your gums.

This could be a number of things:
• You are brushing with a too firm a brush – try moving to a medium or soft texture
• You are brushing too hard – reduce the pressure you apply during brushing
• If your gums are red and inflamed and they bleed when brushed, you may have gingivitis.

If you have these symptoms, see your dentist as soon as possible.  However, in the meantime we recommend using one of Wisdom’s Chlorhexidine mouthwashes which have been specially formulated with 0.2% chlorhexidine to help kill the oral bacteria which can cause damage to your teeth and gums, whilst forming a protective shield against plaque bacteria.  These mouthwashes help to prevent gum problems, flight plaque and prevent bad breath.  Please note, we recommend using a chlorhexidine mouthwash for no more than 4 weeks, to limit any staining to the teeth. Staining will disappear when usage stops, and can be removed by twice daily brushing with a toothpaste designed for stain removal or by your dentist or hygienist.

For everyday gum protection we now have the Gum Health range – a mouthwash, toothpaste and toothbrush.  The mouthwash and toothpaste are both formulated with low levels of Chlorhexidine, which help to protect teeth and maintain gum health as a daily routine.

If you have any other queries or concerns, do contact us and ask for advise over on our contact us page.