Tell 'em Why You're Gummy Mummy - The ORAL-B Love Your Gums Challenge

This week the tooth fairy has been gainfully employed in our house. Caitlin has lost one of her front milk teeth  - (cue much whistling of the old song "All I want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth"  - oh do keep up vintage song fans) and so it's an ideal time to reinforce all the messages we've been drilling into our kids about the importance of proper tooth and gum care, in preparation for the arrival of the second set of teeth.

Oral-B Pro-Expert Toothpaste offering premium gum protection

Now you see it ....

Now I don't know about you, but my dental education contained nary a mention about my gums, other than the fact that they should be included when you brush. I certainly was unaware of the fact that problem gums are the biggest cause of tooth loss, nor that most people will have trouble with their gums at some point in their lives. And then there's pregnancy - not only do mums-to-be have to contend with a plethora of health niggles (I'm not sure morning sickness qualifies as just a niggle), but they may also have swollen, bleeding gums.

Now you don't ...

As part of the BritMums #ORALBLoveYourGums Challenge, we've been trying a new toothpaste from the Oral-B Pro-Expert Range which offers premium gum protection. In addition to reducing plaque and fighting tartar, this toothpaste helps to slow bacterial growth to protect against gum problems. Oral-B say that their Pro-Expert Premium Gum Protection toothpaste is "clinically proven to help prevent and reduce gum problems in just four weeks"

I have tried other toothpastes for gum health before but have found the taste of them quite unpleasant. There are no such issues with this toothpaste which both The Husband and I found cleaned well without being too abrasive or astringent.

I'm teaching my kids that good dental hygiene is as important as great skin or hair care, not only in terms of having teeth worthy of Princess Aurora or Buzz Lightyear (not sure Buzz actually has any teeth, anyway.....) but in terms of keeping an eye on health. (The kids have their own age-appropriate toothpastes). Now we know that it is important to clean the tongue which is an excellent barometer of our internal well-being and even that poor dental hygiene has been implicated  heart-related problems

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with tooth and gum disease are almost twice as likely to have coronary artery disease. And another study found that the presence of common problems in the mouth, including gum disease, cavities and missing teeth, were as good at predicting heart disease as cholesterol levels. Both these studies have to be proved definitively but there is compelling evidence sufficient to make the findings of these studies noteworthy.

And I have a secret weapon - I am missing a back molar, not through poor dental hygiene but through tooth clenching and grinding - don't work in the field of Law - that's my tip.  The kids like to inspect, with mild horror, the cavernous gap at the back of my mouth, as I tell them that this is what happens when you don't brush properly.  Cue much renewed vigour in the brushing stakes as their little faces register a modicum of anxiety. Stephen King eat your heart out.

This post is an entry for BritMums #ORALBLoveYourGums Challenge sponsored by Oral B, promoting healthy gums - something especially important for pregnant women.  Get tips and advice on www.oralb-loveyourgums.com.