Ask a Dentist

At the start of this year we sent out a survey to all of our customers and asked whether you had any burning questions for our dental experts. It turns out you did!

Dr. Mounir Atassi, our Head of Dental tackles your top queries below:

Q. "How effective is your toothbrush?"

A. SURI is very effective at removing plaque. A clinical study showed that our toothbrush removes up to 5x more plaque than a manual toothbrush, and it was particularly effective at removing plaque from hard-to-reach areas. For those of you who want to get geeky about it, we’ve produced a report of the study that you can download here. As plaque is the leading cause of tooth decay and gum disease, using our toothbrush is a proven way to ensure your oral hygiene routine is effective.

Q. "Are oscillating (rotating) toothbrushes more effective than sonic (vibrating) toothbrushes?"

A. No. Both round-headed and sonic toothbrushes are very effective at removing plaque and improving oral health. Round-headed brushes vibrate slower and use a rotating motion to lift off plaque. Sonic brush heads – like SURI uses – have a much higher vibration and move side-to-side; this moves toothpaste around your teeth (through fluid dynamics) to remove plaque and debris effortlessly. Ultimately, both technologies are great so it comes down to personal preference and individual oral health needs. But. Using sonic technology has allowed us to offer a dentist-approved clean, while making our heads and bristles from recyclable plant-based materials. So, 1-0 sonic?

Q: "How bad is it really to use the same brush head for more than three months?"

A. Using the same toothbrush head for more than three months is not recommended for optimal oral health. Over time, the bristles can become worn out, frayed and less effective at removing plaque and cleaning teeth – which may increase the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Q: "Is it better to brush before eating or after breakfast?"

A. It is always better to brush your teeth first thing in the morning and last thing before you go to bed. This will help you maintain a routine which is half the battle when it comes to oral hygiene. In addition, brushing your teeth before breakfast can help to remove bacteria that has built overnight from your mouth, jumpstart the production of saliva and provide extra fluoride protection. However, if you prefer to brush after breakfast, it is generally recommended to wait 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth to avoid damaging the tooth enamel.

That’s all for now, if you didn’t get a chance to fill out our survey - head over here.