Welcome to 543 Dental Centre’s Oral Health Month!
We’ve pulled together our Top 20 Tips for keeping your smile healthy and bright:
- Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste at least TWICE a day for TWO minutes.
- Toothpaste is used differently for different age groups:
Children younger than 3 years old need a smear of toothpaste containing less than 1000 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride.
Children aged 3-6 years old need a pea-sized blob of toothpaste containing over 1000ppm of fluoride.
Adults need to use toothpaste with between 1350-1500ppm of fluoride.
- Floss like a boss! Flossing regularly will prevent plaque from building up in between teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Mouthwash rules! Use a fluoridated mouthwash, just not straight after brushing!
- Nix the snacks. Avoid snacking between meals, as it increases the amount of sugar attacks on your teeth.
- Stop smoking! Smoking can give you bad breath and stain your teeth, but did you know it’s also a factor in gum disease and mouth cancer too?
- Bring in your babies. Introduce your child to the dentist from a young age, to get them used to the dental environment and help prevent any phobias. Why not bring them along to your next check-up?
- Stick out your tongue! Remember to always brush your tongue or use a tongue scraper!
- Don’t drink and sleep. Taking a drink to bed? Water is the most tooth-friendly choice as the sugars in juice can cause tooth decay while you sleep.
- Don’t put juice in your baby’s bottle. If giving juice to a young child, we recommend using a free-flowing cup and only at meal times. This prevents the upper front teeth being in constant contact with sugary drinks.
- Change your toothbrush with the seasons. You should change your toothbrush every three months, as the bristles loosen, are less effective at removing plaque and struggle to reach all parts of your mouth.
- Oral hygiene is important to your overall health. Evidence suggests people with serious gum disease are more prone to heart disease, risk of stroke and diabetes.
- Treat your dentures like teeth. Myth: “I wear dentures so I don’t need to come to the dentist.” Fact: If you wear dentures, we advise you to keep an annual dental appointment to make sure your gums and cheeks are healthy and that your dentures are fitting properly.
- Special needs may require special toothpaste. People with additional needs may be unable to brush their teeth thoroughly. A dentist might recommend using a high fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash.
- Stay hydrated. Dry mouth can lead to problems such as decay or gum disease. Your dentist may wish to see you more regularly if you suffer from dry mouth.
- Get to know your hygienist. Both of our Dental Therapists, Rebecca and Connie are skilled hygienists. Why not book a hygiene appointment at your next dental check-up?
- If you can see it, brush it! Make sure you brush all the surfaces of all your teeth – inside surfaces, outside surfaces and the chewing surfaces.
- Watch your kids! Children need to be helped or supervised brushing their teeth until they’re at least seven years old.
- When should you NOT brush your teeth? Did you know there are times you shouldn’t brush your teeth? Avoid brushing within an hour of eating or drinking anything acidic, as this can damage the tooth enamel. However, you should ALWAYS brush your teeth before you go to bed, as this is when your saliva production is at its lowest.
- Think before you get it pierced! Tongue and lip piercings can rub against your gums and make them recede. Metal piercings can also cause damage to teeth.
Remember, the best way to keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright is with regular dental check-ups and hygienist visits. So call us today for an appointment on 01482 565 488 or book online.
