PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
January 11th 2014
At this time of year I like to use this column to take the opportunity to look at the basics of good dental care. Most people know generally what they should be doing but it’s easy to slip into bad habits. Therefore this is a friendly reminder to encourage you and your family to get on track with a healthy dental care regime for 2014! It’s not tough, it’s not expensive and it doesn’t take much time!
Brushing teeth
This is the single most important thing you can do to care for your teeth. You should brush at least twice a day, when you get up in the morning and the last thing before going to bed at night. Use a toothbrush with a small head as this makes it easier to get into hard-to-reach places in the mouth. In general I recommend a fluoride toothpaste as fluoride strengthens tooth enamel, can reverse early decay and help reduce sensitivity.
Gently brush the outside, inside and chewing surface of each tooth. 2 minutes is enough time to thoroughly brush an adult’s teeth. (Now that really isn’t much is it?!) Also, keep an eye on the ‘health’ of your tooth brush. If the bristles are splaying out and flattening it’s time to invest in a new one.
In the case of younger children, it is often better that the adult does at least some of the brushing. I do not want to discourage children from brushing their own teeth but from experience with my own children I know that if I leave them to brush unassisted they generally just eat the toothpaste and then chew the toothbrush for a few seconds before announcing that they’ve finished!
Flossing and mouthwash
It is recommended that adults floss once a day; after you have brushed your teeth in the evening is a good time. Some people like to use a mouth wash although this is not completely necessary for people with good oral hygiene. I recommend a peroxide mouthwash as the foaming action/ bubbles can be effective in lifting any remaining food particles from the teeth. I strongly recommend a mouth wash that is alcohol-free.
Diet
Trying to avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar and eating a diet that contains plenty of fresh vegetables and the full complement of vitamins and minerals will help keep the teeth and gums healthy and strong.
Regular visits to the dentist
Six monthly check-ups with the dentist will ensure that any problems are detected early and corrective action can be taken. You can have cavities or gum disease without necessarily having pain; bad breath, bleeding gums, a white or light brown mark on the teeth can all be signs of potential problems or you may have no obvious symptoms at all. Early detection and correction of dental problems will mean less chance of dental pain, less chance of requiring emergency or complex treatment and less chance of losing teeth.
Professional cleaning will also ensure that teeth are given a thorough, deep cleaning and any calculus- which regular brushing at home cannot remove- is scaled away.
These simple, back-to-basic steps will go a long way to keeping your teeth strong and healthy.
