Exclusive Interview: Robin List shares important oral hygiene tips

A confident smile is something that many people struggle with if they are not satisfied with the appearance of their teeth. Good dental hygiene is something that must be practiced daily to maintain a clean and healthy mouth, as well as keep away oral problems. If anything, it might help you nail that upcoming job interview.

Founder of iWHITE, Mr Robin List, has recently made a visit to Singapore to promote his innovative range of safe and effective teeth whitening products from Belgium. We sat down to have a very enlightening conversation with Mr List about his line of oral care products, as well as to garner a few important tips on oral hygiene and maintaining good dental health.

Marie France Asia: Would you like to tell us a little bit about yourself before we get into the nitty-gritty of this interview?

Robin List: My name is Robin List and I am the founder of Sylphar NV, a company I started a few years ago. I’ve always been in the dental field, mainly focusing on aesthetic dentistry, especially in pharmaceuticals. iWHITE is one of the first brands we launched in Europe and it has been very successful – it is the leader in every European market for premium teeth whitening right now. This is something we are very proud of and we are very happy to be launching it here in Singapore.

MFA: We have heard stories of certain whitening products containing harmful chemicals that may wear away the enamel of teeth. Are the ingredients used in your iWHITE line safe?

R.L.: One of the things you have in general with teeth whitening products is that they are all based on hydrogen peroxide, and that might cause a concern with some people. Hydrogen peroxide is something that has been widely considered as not safe for teeth. It’s bleach, it’s an oxidising agent. When we launched iWHITE, we based it on a formulation that was completely without hydrogen peroxide. It is clinically proven not to cause any side effects. Hydrogen peroxide may whiten your teeth, but it can cause your teeth to become very sensitive. With iWHITE, what you have is a product that, on the one hand, whitens your teeth, and on the other hand actually makes them stronger.

MFA: So it contains ingredients that will ultimately strengthen your teeth?

R.L.: Exactly. It contains a few active ingredients, one of them being a cleaning agent, which helps to break down the stains in your teeth – turning them from double bonds to single bonds, so your teeth actually look lighter. A lot of our products also have a film-forming agent, which is loaded with bioactive crystals. They moment they hit your teeth, they become instantly whiter.

MFA: Will you have to use all the products from the range in order to achieve whiter teeth?

R.L.: There is a misconception about whitening. There’s a reason why you have yellower teeth – it can be genetically inherited, but it also has to do with what you eat, what you drink. It is not realistic to think that whitening your teeth just once will make it stay that way forever. Just like maintaining a diet, you need to make it part of your lifestyle. iWHITE’s range of products will help with that.

MFA: What are some common mistakes surrounding teeth brushing?

R.L.: You dentists tell you: Brush your teeth twice or three times a day, for a minimum of two minutes. An average consumer will brush their teeth for just 30 seconds per day. That is the number one cause of poor oral health. Doing what your dentists recommend is a good way to prevent that. Also, don’t brush your teeth too hard. It can cause gum retraction. The only reason why you will lose a tooth in your life is because you have gum problems. If you have receding gums, you will need to use a softer brush.

MFA: How do less-than-perfect teeth affect self-confidence and self-esteem?

R.L.: The first thing you notice when you meet somebody for the first time is their smile. You can only make a first impression once. When you go for a job interview or go on a date, it helps with your self-confidence when you have good teeth. Having a nice smile is important.

MFA: Are there any foods that we should avoid to prevent stains and help keep teeth white?

R.L.: As with most things in life, being moderate with certain things help. I’m not saying you should stop drinking your cup of tea or cup of coffee – people are just not going to do it. Just don’t drink ten of them a day. It’s best to avoid anything that would make a nasty stain on your shirt or a nasty stain on your teeth.

The iWHITE range of products will be available in Singapore from 1 April 2016 at Guardian and Watsons stores.