Meet the Founders Of Spotlight Oral Care

Created in 2016 with a mission to offer the best {oral health care} essentials while helping to educate people about taking care of their teeth, {Spotlight Oral Care} is the product of two sister dentists’ - Dr Lisa and Dr Vanessa Creaven - mission to meet both the health – and the beauty – demands of their patients and customers.

Combining the latest advances in oral care research with the highest quality ingredients, the clinically proven collection is free from a long list of additives – you won’t find any gluten, triclosan, sodium lauryl sulphate or parabens – and the range boasts the first ever fully recyclable {toothpaste} tubes, meaning it’s great for your teeth and the planet (the formulas are ocean-safe and vegan too!).

To celebrate the brand's launch at Cult Beauty, we *virtually* sat down with the sisters to talk all things oral care hygiene, what your routine should really look like and the best products for your ranging concerns...

{Cult Beauty} We’re so excited to launch Spotlight, and to celebrate the launch we’d love to get your expert advice on how to look after our teeth the best way we can. But first, can you describe the brand in three words?

{LC & VC} Innovative, educational and empowering.

{CB} What sets Spotlight Oral Care apart from the industry?

{LC & VC} As dentists we've personally formulated all of our products. We have a unique insight into the needs and wants of patients. Our products combine the latest advances in oral care research with the highest quality of ingredients while always keeping the end customer in mind.

{CB} First things first, how should adults be brushing their teeth?

{LC & VC} Adults should be brushing their teeth twice a day for 2-3 minutes at a time. You don’t need to brush your teeth after each meal but some people prefer to. If you are, be careful not to over brush or brush too roughly as this can lead to receding gums. Try to be systematic, start at the top right working your way around to the left side and brush along the gum line.

{CB} How long should you spend brushing/hovering on each tooth?

{LC & VC} 2-3 minutes for the whole mouth - spread the time evenly across all your teeth but again, you must be conscious of over brushing.

{CB} When investing in an electric toothbrush what should we be looking for?

{LC & VC} Electric {toothbrushes} are great for giving your teeth a thorough clean - Our Spotlight {Sonic Toothbrush} has three different settings - Sensitive, Clean and White. Each has a different level of speed to ensure that you are comfortable while brushing your teeth. The high-frequency and brush movements ensure that both your toothpaste and oxygen is reaching those little spaces between your teeth that can be hard to get to. This technique ensures your teeth are receiving the best clean possible and the sonic brush does all the work for you.

{CB} And how often should we be changing our brush heads?

{LC & VC} We advise every 3 months.

{CB} Is it true that you shouldn’t use mouthwash after brushing? If so, when in your daily routine should you be using it?

{LC & VC} This is true! Using {mouthwash} straight after brushing will rinse away the concentrated fluoride in the toothpaste left on your teeth. Using mouthwash twice a day after eating e.g after lunch & after dinner is perfect.

{CB} What’s the importance of using floss?

{LC & VC} Flossing is something that should be done as part of your daily oral care routine. {Flossing} will dislodge food and plaque between teeth. Flossing reduces gum inflammation, helps prevent decay, helps reduce bad breath even promotes good heart health and overall health by reducing inflammation.

{CB} When it comes to flossing there’s many variations. Can you talk us through the types and which type is best for different routines.

{LC & VC} Traditional string floss is convenient, practical and perfect for every day use but a lot of our patients struggle to use traditional floss especially on the back teeth. Electric water flossers like the Spotlight Oral Care {Water Flosser} offers a more gentle and easier to use alternative to traditional floss and helps to reduce inflammation and bleeding gums. The Water Flosser is also ideal for those with braces, implants, dental bridges and crowns and ensures they’re kept clean.

{CB} I recently invested in a tongue scraper – how exactly should I be using it and when?

{LC & VC} Once daily is enough and is amazing for helping reduce bad breath - after brushing your teeth. It’s incorporated into our Water Flosser so it can be easily and conveniently built into your daily routine.

{CB} Can you tell us a little more about toothpaste... what ingredients should we be looking out for/avoiding?

{LC & VC} The most important thing to understand is that oral health is individual. Your toothpaste is one of your hardest working products in your bathroom but it's so important you are using the toothpaste that meets your individual needs. As a dentist, I'm not a fan of natural toothpastes, what I typically see is an increase in {decay} and {gum disease} if my patients start using natural products. The lining of your mouth is 50 times more absorbent that your skin so using cleanly formulated products is very important in my opinion. So I would look for clinically-proven, active ingredients in a clean formulation. Avoid anything that feels like it has a grit or is abrasive in nature.

{CB} Everyone is trying to be more eco-friendly; how can we do this in our routine without sacrificing the quality of the products we use?

{LC & VC} Well a big one here is packaging - unfortunately most toothpaste tubes are made from laminated products which cant be recycled and so end up in land fill. All of our toothpaste tubes are made from sugarcane, which is carbon negative in its production and is really easy to recycle. When you are finished using your toothpaste, you can cut off the nozzle, clean out the inside and recycle it with your household plastics.

{CB} We all know we should be visiting our dentist for a check-up every 6 months but what signs should we look out for in-between visits?

{LC & VC} Definitely if you experience any pain, any chipping of any teeth and if your gums start bleeding more than normal, I would contact your dentist. The good news is that 90% of oral health is determined by your everyday routines so by using the correct oral care products and having a healthy lifestyle, most oral health problems are preventable.

{CB} What’s the best way to treat stained teeth?

{LC & VC} To first treat stained teeth, using a 14 day course of the Spotlight Oral Care {Whitening System} (strips and whitening paste) is a great place to start. To prevent further staining, incorporating specialised whitening products such as the {Whitening Toothpaste} and {Whitening Mouthwash} into your routine will help keep stains at bay. Our {Teeth Whitening Pen} is great for on the go and to use straight after eating/drinking food such as coffee that’s known to stain.

{CB} If your patient has bleeding gums, what routine would you prescribe for them?

{LC & VC} The focus of the routine will be to use products that are formulated specifically to aid gum health e.g. such as our toothpaste for gum health. We’d also recommend the Sonic Toothbrush - used on the sensitive setting to clean the teeth well while being mindful of the gums and the extra sensitivity. Finally, the Water Flosser is key here - It improves gum health by reducing bacteria below the gum-line while also offering a more gentle alternative to traditional floss and helps to reduce inflammation and bleeding gums.

{CB} What’s the best way to look after wisdom teeth as they push through?

{LC & VC} Continue your oral care routine unless you notice any need for changes e.g gum sensitivity. For example, you may always use the whitening toothpaste and while this is perfectly ok you may want to mix and match toothpastes and incorporate the {Toothpaste for Gum Health} into your routine by using this at nighttime. A mouthwash can also be great here to alleviate pain while continuing to look after your teeth.

{CB} Can you tell us what causes bad breath?

{LC & VC} The main cause of bad breath is poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss your teeth regularly, any food that is trapped between your teeth will be broken down by the bacteria, causing bad breath. Implementing a good oral care routine, and sticking to it, should eliminate bad breath.

{CB} Are there any myths that still need to be debunked?

{LC & VC} People with sensitive teeth can’t use whitening strips!

{CB} Is it true pregnancy can leave you more at risk to cavities? If so, how would you change your routine during pregnancy?

{LC & VC} Yes, this is can be true for some women. Keeping up a consistent routine during pregnancy is really important, making sure to brush your teeth twice a day etc. Switching to targeted decay products such as our {Dental Floss for Decay} can help here and introducing a lunch time mouthwash would be amazing to reduce the risk of tooth decay

{CB} If you could give your patients one piece of advice, what would it be?

{LC & VC} Find and implement an oral care routine that works for you and your specific needs and commit to it. Get on top of any issues and then commit to looking after your oral health. Prevention is better than cure!

{CB} What dental items would we find in your on-the-go toiletry bag?

{LC & VC} For on the go - the Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening Pen never leaves my side! I always carry a dental floss in my handbag too!

{CB} Time for a quick-fire round... {CB} Floss or interdental brushes?

{LC & VC} Floss!

{CB} Electric toothbrush or manual?

{LC & VC} Electric, the sonic toothbrush is a staple!

SHOP SPOTLIGHT ORALCARE >>