Since COVID reared its butt-ugly head, I haven't been back to the dentist for my annual scaling. Something about lying with an open mouth during a contagion that's transmissible via respiratory droplets just doesn't sit right by me. Also, not a fan of dentists. No offence to any dentists reading this. I'm sure you're nice and all but falling short of your expectations of healthy teeth even after I've brushed, flossed and mouthwashed regularly isn't my idea of a fun time. If I want to feel less than zero, I'd visit my parents (ba-da-bump!).
But yes, teeth cleaning is essential. In fact, research recently unearthed that those with poor oral health (like gum disease) end with more severe symptoms if they catch COVID-19. We've talked about Philips' toothbrushes before and this time the brand has come up with its most advanced electric toothbrush yet, this time with a new SenseIQ feature and a all-in-one brush head that take care of delivers the complete package for gum care.
My SenseIQ is tingling
SenseIQ is the new feature in the Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige. This proprietary AI was first introduced in the Philips Hair Dryer and Straightener Prestige and it was to provide a personalised experience. For the Sonicare 9900 Prestige, SenseIQ acts like a teeth butler, if you will (I call mine, 'Jeeves'). This component uses sensors to monitor your brushing pressure, cleaning motions and teeth coverage. Let's say that when you brush with a little too much fervour, the Sonicare 9900 Prestige adjusts the intensity when you push too hard.
Check your Philips Sonicare app for real-time guidance on the state of your brushing. From the pressure to the motion to the frequency of brushing, the app provides progress reports and recommendations on how to brush better. Even when you don’t brush with the app by your side, you can still monitor your progress thanks to the toothbrush's auto-syncing.
Getting ahead with an all-in-one brush head
Tying everything together is the all-in-one brush head. Philips claims that its angled bristles remove up to 20x more plaque and the triangular tips can remove up to 100 percentage more stains in less than two days. The toothbrush's flex compensate for any excess pressure. It beats the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart toothbrush multiple brush heads with the ease of using only one for a cleaner teeth and healthier gums.
For World Oral Health Day, Philips partnered with dental professional, Orchard Scotts Dental's Dr Leroy Kiang, to create an educational infographic about oral health and the most effective brushing technique to maintain said oral health.
And even though World Oral Health Day came and went (20 March, if you're interested), we still have some pressing questions about teeth and what we can do about it. Dr Kiang was kind enough to answer them.
ESQUIRE: Could you explain how oral hygiene can help against the COVID virus or other health issues?
DR LEROY KIANG: Although Singapore is moving towards treating COVID-19 as endemic, it is important for us to be vigilant because the disease can still lead to severe adverse outcomes, hospitalisation, and death.
A study¹ in 2021 found that people with advanced gum disease are much more likely to suffer complications from COVID-19. The research, which examined more than 500 patients, found those with severe gum disease were nearly five times more likely to need assisted ventilation, and even up to nine times more likely to die from the disease.
Problems like gum disease and tooth decay result from buildup of bacteria on tooth surfaces, which, in turn, are caused by poor daily oral hygiene habits. For example, when one does not brush and floss thoroughly enough to remove plaque, bacteria accumulates and produces acids which lead to formation of cavities. Plaque buildup along and under the gumline causes inflammation of the gums, which progress to chronic gum disease. This involves the loss of the bone support around teeth and recession of gums.
If patients do not see a dentist at regular intervals, such problems can go undetected and untreated, eventually progressing to an advanced stage where teeth may be lost. Long-standing oral diseases can also potentially lead to serious consequences for the overall health of the body, including:
- Heart disease: Bacteria from long-standing oral infections can potentially spread from your oral cavity to your bloodstream, in rare instances even causing inflammation of the heart, or endocarditis. The risk is higher in immunocompromised patients or patients with certain pre-existing heart conditions
- Oral cancer: Cancers of the oral cavity can be life-threatening but often go unnoticed as they do not always cause pain. Common oral cancer sites include the border of tongue, floor of mouth and soft palate. Screenings are an important aspect of routine dental check-ups to detect problems in their early stages.
- Pregnancy problems: Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause increased susceptibility to gum inflammation. Poor oral hygiene during this period can exacerbate the problem and increase entry of bacteria into the bloodstream, potentially reaching the foetus. This has been linked to low birth weights, premature birth and infections in newborns.
- Alzheimer’s Disease: Research has shown a probable link between gum disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Common bacteria associated with gum disease have been found in the brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer’s.
- Diabetes: Chronic inflammation in the mouth from periodontal disease can impair the ability of the body to utilise insulin and keep blood sugar levels under control. Diabetic patients with periodontal disease have been found to have increased severity and prevalence of diabetic co-morbidities such as kidney disease.
ESQ: Are electric toothbrushes a better replacement for normal conventional toothbrushing?
DR KIANG: Studies show that manual and electric toothbrushes are equally effective in removing plaque, but manual toothbrushes need to be used in a very specific way to achieve this. Anecdotally speaking, my patients that use electric toothbrushes seem to find it easier to achieve thorough plaque removal. Some also find that they can keep stains from building up easier when using electric toothbrushes
Electric toothbrushes work by using oscillating or vibrating motions and do not need to be used in a scrubbing fashion like with manual toothbrushes. It is important to use the recommended technique to allow for thorough plaque removal without causing trauma to teeth or gums by overbrushing.
Steps to brushing with an electric toothbrush:
- Place the toothbrush on your teeth with bristles angled at 45 degrees towards the gums. This will allow the bristles to clean under the gumline.
- Hold the brush head on each tooth using gentle pressure for about 3 seconds before moving to the next tooth.
- Start from the outer surface of the top back molar and work your way around the arch, one tooth at a time. Do the same for the inner surfaces of each of the upper teeth. Repeat this for the bottom teeth. Finally, brush the biting surfaces of the teeth.
- Aim for at least 30 seconds of brushing in each quarter of your mouth. After brushing, remember to clean in between your teeth using floss or interdental brushes.
ESQ: How has technology shaped or influenced your dentistry practice over the years? What are some of the emerging trends that you are excited about?
DR KIANG: One of the biggest game changers in the dental industry recently is the advent of digital dentistry, which has made dentistry much more efficient and predictable in my clinical practice, and also more comfortable and convenient for my patients. For example, intra-oral scanning technology has allowed us to replace traditional dental moulds and plaster models with accurate 3D digital scans. We can use this for a huge variety of applications, such as planning orthodontic treatments with clear aligners such as Invisalign, or designing a smile makeover to rejuvenate a patient’s smile using porcelain veneers.
We can combine 3D intra-oral scans with Computer Aided Design and Milling (CAD-CAM) technology to produce ceramic dental crowns in about an hour, right here in the clinic, instead of sending traditional moulds to an external laboratory. Our patients can relax in the lounge while the crown is being made, and have the finished ceramic crown fitted on the same day, instead of having to wear a temporary crown for two weeks while waiting for the crown to come back from the lab.
Digital dentistry also allows us to monitor our patients’ dental health over time and identify abnormal changes to teeth and surrounding structures. We can superimpose a patient’s 3D scans from a few years apart to show them how much of their tooth structure has been worn down in that amount of time, or how much their gums have receded, just to name a few examples. Being able to visualise these changes helps patients to take ownership over their own oral health and allows us to make better treatment recommendations for each patient.
ESQ: You recently partnered with Philips on its World Oral Health Day campaign to bring greater awareness to the importance of maintaining good oral healthcare habits. What is your view on consumer technologies like connected apps and how it can help bridge gaps between professional and personal care?
DR KIANG: Seeing a dentist at regular intervals is essential for ensuring problems like tooth decay and gum disease are diagnosed and treated early. However, maintaining good oral healthcare habits between dental visits is equally important as it reduces the risk of such problems coming about in the first place.
Patients may find that using an app can help them to stay motivated to maintain good daily oral hygiene habits. Just as fitness trackers can help individuals track their exercise and stay accountable to their fitness regimen, apps that give patients feedback on their brushing technique, pressure and frequency can allow patients to take greater ownership over their own oral health.
We have five sets of the Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige to give away. Send an e-mail with your name, contact number and the answer to "what are the three long-standing oral diseases that can potentially lead to serious consequences for the overall health of the body if you do not see a dentist at regular intervals" to [email protected]. Be sure to include "Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige Raffle" in the subject header. Entries will be entered into a drawing and winners will be contacted via e-mail. This raffles runs until the end of May 2022.
The Philips Sonicare 9900 Prestige retails for SGD429 and comes in two colourways: Champagne and Midnight Blue. The Sonicare 9900 Prestige is available at the Philips e-store and all Philips-authorised resellers.
- Marouf, N., Cai, W., Said, K.N., Daas, H., Diab, H., Chinta, V.R., Hssain, A.A., Nicolau, B., Sanz, M. and Tamimi, F. (2021), Association between periodontitis and severity of COVID‐19 infection: A case–control study. J Clin Periodontol. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.13435
