Win A Box of Listerine Gems of Gorgeousness

 One of the things I love about my job is all the learning that goes on. When it comes to questions I’m lucky enough to be able to have access to expert answers and then pass them on to you. (That’s why I’m always encouraging you to ask!)
So when Listerine launched their 21 day Jumpstart To A Healthier Mouth challenge and it landed at GoG HQ I added it to my regime. Woooooh. Definitely fresher. It gives you that really clean feeling. Listerine say brushing alone misses 75% of your mouth. Wowser. Scary.
I had some questions. A couple of years ago when I was getting a tooth implant (yes, very exy!) my specialist told me tooth decay and gum disease can lead to things like heart disease. Really? I also wanted some info on alcohol in mouthwash. I’m sure you’ve heard the stories too? The ones about it contributing to oral cancer?Jonathan Leichter
Listerine put me onto Dr. Jonathan Leichter, Associate Professor in the Department of Oral Sciences at the University of Otago (that’s him to the left) who answered these queries :-)
Q. Lack of good oral hygiene can lead to much more than tooth decay and gum disease – is it also linked to some diseases?A. A lack of good oral hygiene is the primary cause of gum disease. There is a great deal of high quality research in scientific literature that shows a strong link between gum disease, heart disease and diabetes.
It has been proposed that the chronic inflammation from gum disease may trigger a body wide response that can contribute to heart disease and diabetes.
In addition, the scientific literature has shown a link between gum disease and complications during pregnancy, including pre-mature births.
Q. We’ve all heard the stories – is alcohol in mouthwash in dangerous? Do the benefits outweigh the concerns?A. The myth that alcohol in mouthwash is dangerous and is a risk for oral cancer has been soundly refuted in the scientific literature.
A 2012 review of scholarly articles showed that there was no association between the use of alcohol containing mouthwashes and oral cancer.
While alcohol may increase the efficacy of some of the active agents in mouthwashes, alcohol-free mouthwashes are available to those who prefer this formulation. Alcohol-free mouthwashes with essential oils, such as LISTERINE® Zero™ Mouthwash, have been shown to be highly effective in helping to reduce plaque and in helping you to have healthy teeth, gums and a healthy smile.
Q. As in most things in life, has knowledge increased about the importance of oral hygiene?People everywhere are becoming more aware of the importance of oral hygiene, not only for keeping a healthy smile, but also as part of their overall health. There is now a realisation and expectation that we can keep our teeth for a lifetime.
We have come a long way from the days of our grandparents, who expected to have dentures by the time they reached middle age.
Thank you Dr Leichter!
The Basics
Listerine 21 day challenge
Listerine tell us that to maintain a healthier mouth, a 3-step routine of brushing, flossing and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash twice daily is recommended to help kill bad breath germs and reduce plaque which can lead to oral diseases.
It is believed that it takes just 21 days to form a new habit and with this in mind, the 21 Day Challenge aims to encourage you to form a healthy habit and jumpstart to a healthier mouth in just 3 weeks.
I’m so in! Are you?Want to try Listerine?Enter below to win one of three BOXES containing six bottles and get your smile on.