The below blog has been written by Howard Thomas - Chairman at Curaprox 

When it comes to day-to-day life, culture plays a pivotal role in the behaviour and practices of communities – and oral health is no exception. Defined as learned behaviours that have been socially acquired and passed down from one generation to another, cultural practices can be affected by a number of factors including religion, race, ethnicity and geographical location.

In some countries, folk remedies and traditional methods are still used to treat and maintain oral health. It is well known, for instance, that some Somali people either use a stick collected from the branches of a tree called Roomay or a stick called Muswaki to clean their teeth instead of a toothbrush. The Chinese are also widely acknowledged for their deep-rooted culture and traditional practices, such as their use of powdered alum, musk and frankincense to treat what they call ‘hot’ gum disease.

Here in the UK, it is personal experience, education and the media that tend to sculpt cultural beliefs, values and practices. Television and print media in particular have played a pivotal role in the state of UK citizens’ oral health, not least because of the way that certain advertisements can reach a wide audience. Crisps, chocolate, sweets and sugary drinks – all of these products are widely publicised on a day-to-day basis. Plus, since culture is learned, shared and transmitted, the media has also contributed to the gradual desensitisation of poor dietary intake and the detrimental affects it can have on general and oral health.

Smoking and drinking are normal lifestyle choices too, and are some of the leading causes of oral health issues in the UK. Like other western, developed countries, some of these problems are as a result of the greater independence and freedom of choice that teenagers and young adults now have, not to mention the ease at which these substances can be accessed. It is also important to note the impact differences in social class can have upon oral health, from level of education to income and socio-economic status.

While it is likely that some cultures such as Somalia and China will hold on to their traditions, there is no denying that there is scope for future change, especially in the UK where society can be quite flexible and open to new things. Simply by changing cultural perspectives on dietary intake, lifestyle choices and encouraging patients to use effective adjuncts in a daily oral care regimen – such as CPS prime interdental brushes and the CS 5460 ultra soft toothbrush from Curaprox – communities could significantly improve behaviour and practices for future generations to come.

For more information please call 01480 862084, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.curaprox.co.uk

The Humble Smile Foundation joins government funded and charitable organisations worldwide to address poor oral health – training and educating on preventative oral hygiene techniques and distributing Humble Brushes.

Just one example is the collaboration with Project TEN – a voluntary organisation, which offers assistance to vulnerable communities predominantly in Israel, Ethiopia, Ghana and Mexico.

The Humble Smile Foundation joined Project TEN volunteers at a government-sponsored site for the blind in Gondar, Ethiopia. Here, accommodation comprises of mud huts, no bathrooms and tough living conditions. Project TEN interacts with the blind Amhari children after school, helping with homework and other activities. Simply the fact that anyone has travelled to such a remote area makes these children smile. They were delighted to meet dentists and receive toothbrushes and toothpaste for the first time. The children were each given a Humble Brush personalised with their own name in braille.

One toothbrush or equivalent oral health adjunct is donated to a person in need when a Humble Brush is sold in the UK – contact the team today to discover how your toothbrush of choice can help the world.

For more information about the Humble Brush visit www.humblebrush.co.uk or to find out more about the Humble Smile Foundation’s work visit www.humblesmile.org

Follow us on Facebook, HumblebrushUK

and Twitter

@HumbleBrush

As dental professionals, our actions are governed by our knowledge and expertise. We can even utilise these skills to improve oral health in the far reaches of the world. Spreading the preventative dentistry message and educating others on the importance of oral hygiene doesn’t have to be confined to our shores or need to involve extreme fundraising techniques such as running marathons or shaving off all our hair!

The simple but stylish Humble Brush is one tool that gives us this power for change. Ergonomic, handcrafted handles made from 100% biodegradable Moso Bamboo are combined with Nylon 6 bristles, rendering these toothbrushes just as durable as their plastic counterparts but infinitely kinder to mankind and the environment. When a Humble Brush is sold, it is matched by another toothbrush or the equivalent donated in oral care to those in need. Patients buy one and then the Humble Smile Foundation, in unison with Humble Brush, gives one.

The story of the Humble Brush is gaining momentum and generating a great deal of positive feedback. Last week Humble Brush launched their Humble Helpers campaign throughout primary schools in Ireland. This keenly received programme aims to educate children on a number of key oral health issues whilst they raise funds for their schools or another cause of their choice. As schoolchildren are actively involved with these programmes, they engage with the humanitarian objectives of the Humble Smile Foundation. In return, these children are instilled with knowledge in the value of their own oral healthcare and the hygiene regimens.

Additionally, the Humble Smile Foundation, in collaboration with volunteer group Project TEN – Be The Change, has been educating vulnerable Ethiopian communities on essential preventative dental care. Ethiopia has an estimated population of 96 million[i] but just one dentist per 1.278 million people[ii]. Many Ethiopians don’t even know what dentists or even toothbrushes are. When they find themselves needing oral care, they generally employ excruciatingly primitive and potentially life-threatening treatment methods rather than face a journey of thousands of miles to find a dental practitioner. It is in locations such as this that preventative dentistry methods are all the more crucial. 

There are so many fascinating angles attached to this otherwise innocuous dental adjunct, endorsed by over ten thousand likes on Facebook. These beautifully presented toothbrushes are also environmentally and panda-friendly. The endangered species has learned that Moso leaves grow too high up the plants, so they choose to eat the more accessible species of bamboo instead.

Global consumer trends company, Nielsen, studies over 100 countries to gain knowledge on what people watch and buy. In their online 2015 study, they found a significant rise in the percentage of respondents aged 15-20 who are willing to pay even more for products and services from companies who are committed to positive social and environmental impact. In 2015 the numbers of these consumers had risen to 72% from 55% in just one year[iii]. We are proud to say that The Humble Brush is a perfect example of a product that serves this growing market – but costs no more than a run-of-the-mill plastic toothbrush.

Purely by setting these toothbrushes on reception counters, patients will engage with its purpose and will be attracted to its contemporary look. The ethos of effecting change and providing oral health aid for those in need is layered throughout everything the Humble Smile Foundation tries to achieve. For example, a proportion of the cost of a traditional toothbrush contributes towards huge corporate marketing machines. There is no such process with the Humble Brush, there isn’t a huge marketing budget – the revenue from sales is used directly towards providing oral care for those in need.

Humble Brushes can be supplied in their ‘naked’ glory or can be personalised on minimum orders of 400. Not only does this constitute a novel talking point at reception desks but it also gives dental businesses the opportunity to distribute their brands on something their patients use every day.

By stocking the Humble Brush in your dental practice, you are not only providing a superior product that can be used on all types of dentition but also giving patients the chance to make an ethical choice.

For more information about the Humble Brush visit www.humblebrush.co.uk or to find out more about the Humble Smile Foundation’s work visit www.humblesmile.org

Follow us on Facebook, HumblebrushUK

and Twitter

@HumbleBrush

To say that Wisdom has a pedigree in toothbrush design is an understatement. The company was founded over 235 years ago by William Addis; the inventor of the modern day toothbrush. Addis’ prototypes consisted of bone and horsehair but improvements in design and oral hygiene knowledge have advanced immeasurably since those early beginnings! 

Our focus today is on preventative care and we are committed to delivering top quality products that help your patients avoid tooth decay and gingival disease. 

The range of innovative oral healthcare products include the clinically proven^, Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes. The tapered design and soft rubber coating enable effective and gentle cleaning, while also massaging and stimulating the gums. 

Disposable and available in three sizes, Dentist Surgery Packs of Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes will be available via dental wholesalers from September for you to try in practice.

Recommended by 100% of dental professionals polled, the Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes are a must-have for all your patients.

For more information visit  HYPERLINK "http://www.wisdomtoothbrushes.com" www.wisdomtoothbrushes.com or 

call 01440 714800

The Humble Smile Foundation, the excellent Humble Brush’s humanitarian partner, is extending its outreach by introducing the Humble Helpers Programme.

The aim of the Humble Helpers Programme is to help educate children on a number of interlinked topics, whilst providing a platform to raise much-needed funds for charitable endeavours all over the world. These funds will come straight from the profits of each Humble Brush sale – and will help make a real difference to those less fortunate!

As the Humble Smile Foundation will donate the same number of dental health adjuncts for every Humble Brush sold by its Humble Helpers, the effects of the programme will be felt far and wide.

Split into four interconnected modules, Charity, Oral Health, Healthy Eating and the Environment, the programme introduces the fundamental principle of the Humble Smile Foundation: how helping others can have a positive impact on the lives of everyone – not just in their own communities, but right across the globe. 

Participating schools will be supplied with all the necessary educational and promotional materials to help their appointed Humble Hero deliver the message to children. With their help, more people will have a reason to smile!

To find out more about the Humble Smile Foundation’s amazing work – and the popular Humble Brush – contact the team today!

Humble Brush is now available in the UK and Ireland. For more information please visit www.humblebrush.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0286 862 8880.

To order please contact the exclusive distributor Quintess Denta www.quintesshumblebrush.co.uk

Follow us on social media:

@HumbleBrush and www.facebook.com/humblebrushuk

Prince William recently addressed the Chinese population, citing that without action, rhinos and elephants could be extinct by the time Princess Charlotte reaches her 25^th birthday. Unfortunately, the giant panda is also among the top ten most endangered species in the world.

Although there is some good news – the Chinese government reports the population of endangered wild pandas has risen over 17% in just over a decade[i], they’re still extremely vulnerable. Greenpeace recently reported that Loggers in China’s southwest are destroying giant panda sanctuaries, chopping down more than 3,200 acres of natural forest in the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries[ii].

The elements of the initial endangerment of pandas are still very real today. Wild pandas have retreated into fragmented and constricted areas of central China, squeezed in by agriculture, mountains and arid lands where bamboo stocks dwindle in the winter months. With the added threat climate change poses to mountain ecosystems, it’s ever more vital to cultivate panda-friendly bamboo forests enabling them to move on if climate adversely affects the growth of bamboo in one particular region¹.

In the quest to protect the world’s wild pandas and make useful products in environmentally friendly materials, Phyllostachys edulis or Moso Bamboo, plays a key role. Known to grow up to 28 metres high at a rate of 1 metre per day[iii], it is the fastest growing, sustainable plant on earth. Its antibacterial qualities negate the need for pesticides during its growth and although it’s as strong as some metals, it’s also 100% biodegradable.

Moso leaves sprout at about 5 metres up and pandas don’t eat them because they can’t reach that high. But their diet is still mainly bamboo, which has little nutritional value, so an average panda requires 26 to 84 pounds per day. If Moso bamboo alone is used in the manufacture of building and consumer products, the further 42 species of bamboo pandas eat can be preserved and partly cultivated by themselves as they roam and disperse seeds naturally[iv].

The Humble Brush is a conservation and environmentally friendly toothbrush that utilises Moso bamboo’s admirable attributes – the handles are modelled out of this 100% biodegradable material. The Humble Brush helps reduce our plastic footprints by offering an alternative that is kind to our land and ecosystems. What’s more, for every Humble Brush sold, equivalent oral care is provided to people in need.

Help our environments, people and endangered species by choosing the Humble Brush toothbrush today.

For more information about the Humble Brush visit www.humblebrush.co.uk or to find out more about the Humble Smile Foundation’s work visit www.humblesmile.org

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

@HumbleBrush

In a poll taken during the BDIA Showcase, 100% of dentists interviewed said they would recommend Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes to their patients.[i]

As a further testament to the quality and effectiveness of the products, over 85% said they would use them themselves.

The Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes feature a super soft rubber design with the flexibility to clean even the smallest interdental spaces with ease. Completely metal-free, patients who have struggled with interdental brushes in the past are likely to find these simple and effective to use.

Ideal for those with orthodontic appliances, dental implants, metal fillings or crowns, and available in three different sizes, the Clean Between Interdental Brushes are suitable for every situation.

From September, Dentist Surgery Packs of Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes will be available via dental wholesalers, consisting of dispenser boxes with 100 cello-wrapped sample packs of each colour of brush. Make sure you get yours and discover for yourself how much they can help your patients!

To discover why so many dentists recommend the Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes, contact the team today.

To find out more, please visit www.wisdomtoothbrushes.com or call 01440 714800

The current refugee crisis in Syria has been brought to global prominence with the heart-breaking image of three year-old Aylan Kurdi, lifeless in the surf after a desperate, failed attempt with his family to flee his birthplace and strive for a better life in Europe.

The Washington Post summed up Aylan’s plight:

“…As refugees from the Islamic State and other turbulent parts of the world besiege Eurostar trains, crowd the French port of Calais, and die on the shores of Libya or in trucks in Austria, it’s clear that Aylan is just one of countless many[i].”

The tragedy of losing this little boy is the stark result of political upheaval, war and suffering in our neighbouring countries. These are ordinary people, like us, who have left behind families, jobs and homes they loved, due to dreadful circumstances way beyond their control. However, in trying to flee their nations, they risk losing their lives. In Syria, the crisis has reached monumental proportions – the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre states that half of the country’s 22 million population is either displaced within its borders or has fled overseas[ii].

European heads of government face the immediate and seemingly insurmountable task of accommodating thousands of desperate people arriving daily on flimsy dinghies at Greek shores. However, because communication lines are broken, it’s easy to forget that there are millions more displaced in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan. Here, communities are torn apart by war, persecution and unimaginable misery and having fled their homes, still remain in their home countries.

The International Rescue Committee depicted the experience of displacement by documenting refugees’ possessions in photos as they arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos. One 17 year-old Afghan boy simply had a change of clothes (shorts, a t-shirt and lightweight trainers), a small amount of Turkish Lira, SIM cards, a comb, bandages and, shamefully, face whitening cream and hair gel. He thought that by whitening his skin and spiking up his hair, the authorities wouldn’t know he’s a refugee and therefore, he wouldn’t be arrested[iii].

Can any of us really appreciate what it is like to be driven from home in a matter of hours, to then have your last remaining valuables stolen at checkpoints before another fifty-mile trek to relative safety? This is a typical experience relayed to Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Archbishop of Westminster) when he met displaced Christians living in makeshift camps in Erbil, Iraq, seeking refuge from ISIS violence. He is at pains to emphasise that it is crucial for these people in order to preserve their dignity by giving them a home, however makeshift and temporary it may be[iv].

Thankfully, this fate is extremely unlikely to beset those of us living in Europe, which is why we are in a position to help. Whilst David Cameron, Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin thrash out the political complexities within war-torn countries, the average person reflects, shelving the minutiae of day-to-day life to consider how their actions can make a difference.

Cardinal Nichols touched upon a very human element intrinsic to each and every one of the millions of displaced and resettling people around the world – the preservation of dignity is not only humane, it’s imperative. So, it follows that all of the items supplied to those in need have enormous value, however big and however small. In stable countries, everyday items including toiletries and oral health adjuncts are just taken for granted. But, what would it be like if we had no means to access those products for ourselves, if we no longer had the freedom to cater for the daily routines to which we’re accustomed?

The Humble Smile Foundation and Humble Brush teams are dedicated to providing eco friendly, sustainable, efficient toothbrushes wherever peoples’ needs are the greatest. There can be no argument that the displaced, in many cases only possessing the clothes on their backs, have needs that reach far beyond the imagination. In support of the work the charity Assyrians Without Borders undertakes, aiming to assess the mental health, understand the trauma and address health conditions for refugees both in Northern Iraq, Syria and Turkey, the Humble Smile Foundation has donated over 100,000 toothbrushes. Of course, oral care is just one example of the unending building blocks involved in establishing some semblance of normality.

The non-profit Humble Smile Foundation gives a toothbrush or equivalent oral care to an underprivileged child for every sale of a Humble Brush, made from biodegradable natural bamboo. It’s well documented that taking care of our teeth and gums assists in our general wellbeing. Whether the recipients of these brushes are living in basic refugee camps or in remote parts of our world with no access to dental assistance, nurturing their teeth is a good place to start with bettering their lives.

Humble Brush is now available in the UK and Ireland. For more information please visit www.humblebrush.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0286 862 8880.

To order please contact the exclusive distributor Quintess Denta www.quintesshumblebrush.co.uk

Follow us on social media:

@HumbleBrush and www.facebook.com/humblebrushuk

The Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes are clinically proven[i]^,[ii] to help your patients safely and gently remove plaque and maintain optimum dental health.

Dental flossing can be an unpopular oral health adjunct for many patients and the Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes offer an effective alternative to both floss and wire interdental brushes.

Constructed with latex-free, rubber filaments, they are wire-free and easy to use between tight spaces in natural teeth, under bridges, around dental implants and with fixed orthodontic appliances.

The soft tips gently stimulate and massage the gingiva, minimising trauma and helping to prevent galvanic effect.

From September, a Dentist Surgery Pack of Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes will be available via dental wholesalers for you to use on patients. Consisting of a dispenser box with 100 cello-wrapped bundles of each colour of brush, these will provide the ideal opportunity to introduce the products to patients, showing how their oral health can be maintained with ease.

Whatever the dentition, Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes provide a solution. Find out more today.

To find out more, please visit www.wisdomtoothbrushes.com or

call 01440 714800

There are an infinite number of ways to improve our world from peace in the Middle East through to saving endangered species. In every case, mankind can effect changes by working in unison, communicating, cooperating and taking small, positive steps forward.  Poverty and suffering needs the attention of those fortunate enough to have more, helping those with less. Similarly, with knowledge on pollution and waste, we must consider the impact of what we discard on the environment.

A 2010 study at the University of Georgia considered 192 countries bordering the Atlanta, Pacific, Indian oceans, Mediterranean and Black Seas, and found that 275 million tonnes of plastic waste had been generated in one year. An estimated 8 million tonnes of it was dumped at sea – amounting to five shopping bags full of plastic on every foot of the coastline [i].  The same study estimated this would double by 2025, to ten plastic bags for every foot of coastline.

The largest ocean rubbish site in the world is in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre – a   floating mass twice the size of Texas where plastics outnumber sea life six to one[ii].  The result of such abuse to our seas is that 44% of all seabirds, 22% of cetaceans, all species of sea turtle and a growing list of fish species have plastic in or around their bodies ⁱⁱ. The seemingly innocuous household plastic toothbrush also plays a role, routinely found in the stomachs of dead seabirds and turtles worldwide[iii].

The truth is that every plastic product entering the sea will wreak havoc either directly to wildlife by ingestion or entanglement or when broken down into tiny fragments by UV rays constituting what is known as ‘plastic soup’, causing:

• Damage to critical ecosystems such as coral reefs and smothering of sediments.
• Chemical ingestion of marine organisms through ingestion of small plastic particles.
• Potential changes in biodiversity due the transport of invasive species on plastic fragments[iv].

Making a stand, Humble Brush has just been launched in the UK – an everyday toothbrush making a big difference. The handle is ergonomically fashioned out of panda-friendly bamboo – the fastest growing plant on earth with natural antiseptic properties. Complementing any contemporary bathroom, the biodegradable handle is non-slip, functional and stylish. The durable bristles available in a range of bright colours are nylon, free from bisphenol A (BPA) toxins, degrade over time, soft and gentle on gums. Every brush is packed in a transparent, biodegradable wrapper made from plants and the box is also 100% produced from recycled materials. In addition, for every brush sold, the equivalent amount of one toothbrush is donated to the Humble Smile Foundation to pass on to people in need of oral care.

By caring about your toothbrush, show you care about the world. For your free sample (one brush per practice) contact Humble Brush today.

Humble Brush is now available in the UK and Ireland. For more information please visit www.humblebrush.co.uk, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0286 862 8880. To order please contact our exclusive distributor Quintess Denta at www.quintesshumblebrush.co.uk

You can also follow us on social media:

@HumbleBrush and www.facebook.com/humblebrushuk

A focus on prevention means you’ll be rewarded with satisfied patients who require less invasive treatment. It encourages trust and loyalty too, and will mean you can establish a reputation for providing an all-round, comprehensive service, rather than for just ‘fixing’ teeth.

A long-term preventative strategy starts with taking time to get to know your patients and their background and listening to what they are saying. Do you know which of your patients are at greater risk of coronary heart disease, stroke or diabetes due to factors such as family history or lifestyle? Are they aware that periodontal disease can increase the risk of these conditions (as supported by a huge body of research)? Or that their implant treatment could be compromised by smoking due to the increased risk of peri-implantitis[i]?

Open channels of communication and an approachable attitude are fundamental for every member of the dental team. From the minute a patient steps inside your surgery the atmosphere should be friendly and supportive.

One of the major challenges will be patient compliance so it’s important to recommend high quality adjunctive products in order that effective oral hygiene routines can be maintained at home.

Leading products such as the proven Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes have soft, rubber filaments, which make them easy and comfortable to use for all patients including those with implants, fillings or crowns, or orthodontic appliances. They are particularly beneficial for patients who have found wire interdental brushes difficult or painful to use in the past, as the design allows for a gentle yet thorough clean. With a tapered stem they are available in three sizes to allow access to varying sizes of gaps between the teeth. Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes are clinically proven to remove plaque from interdental spaces, thereby reducing the risk of gingival disease[ii]^,[iii] for enhanced oral health. In a recent poll, they were also recommended by 100% of dental professionals[iv].

From September Wisdom will be offering, via dental wholesalers, a Dentist Surgery Pack of Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes for you to use on patients. These will consist of a dispenser box with 100 cello-wrapped sample packs of each colour of brush, with a solution suitable for every patient you see.

As a practitioner your job is to help your patients achieve and maintain a high standard of oral health all-year round. Invest time in every person who comes into your surgery and talk to them about how important their contribution is in maintaining healthy teeth and gingiva. It’s about working together, adapting a routine as circumstances demand and supporting each other by making simple changes. Small changes to patients’ home-care oral routine such as the addition of the Wisdom Clean Between Interdental Brushes, can make a huge difference to their dental health and general well being for years to come.

For further information please visit www.wisdom-toothbrushes.com or call 01440 714800