Oral Health: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

Top 5 Oral Health Tips

Our teeth are subject to constant abuse – from chewing and not brushing, to sugary drinks and corrosion, it’s no surprise that people can sometimes find themselves in need of an emergency dentist.

With National Smith Month in full swing, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to share our top preventative tips on how to avoid those emergency situations and keep teeth healthy all year round.

Our Top 5 Oral Health Tips

1. Brush your teeth twice a day

Brushing your teeth when you wake up and just before you go to bed gets rid of any bacteria and plaque build-up. If plaque isn’t removed properly, it can lead to tooth decay, bleeding and receding gums, which can then lead to other medical problems, such as heart disease and stroke.

Oral health and heart disease are linked by the spread of bacteria from your mouth into your bloodstream. When the bacteria reach the heart, they can cause inflammation and conditions like endocarditis.

2. Regular check ups

We recommend that the average person should have a check-up with their dentist every six months or so. By doing this, your dentist can clean in any hard to reach areas and spot potential problems early on.

You will also be able to access bespoke advice on how best to care for your teeth in order to maintain a bright and healthy smile.

3. Have a descale and polish

When you eat, starches and sugars contained within food are released which combines with plaque to produce an acid that is harmful to your teeth. This plaque forms on the surface of and between teeth, which can harden to form calculus – a yellow and brown deposit that makes teeth vulnerable to further plaque attacks.

Having a scale and polish is a painless procedure that removes the calculus from your teeth and removes the yellow and brown staining. It can also help to combat bad breath and bleeding gums – both key elements of oral health.

4. Use interdental brushes

While many people remember to brush their teeth twice a day, a lot don’t include interdental brushes in their teeth cleaning process. Brushing only cleans around two thirds of the mouth, so these handy brushes can help clean away any food debris caught in between teeth and reduce your risk of gum disease.

5. Be careful what you eat and drink

While we realise it’s important to have a little bit of what you fancy, limiting food and drink that is high in sugar will help keep your teeth healthy and lessen the risk of decay.

It’s not just sugar that can wreak havoc with your oral hygiene – diet beverages also contain acids that can erode your teeth and encourage the harbouring of bacteria.

At Southview Dental Care, we always want the best for our patients. If you would like help or advice to keep your smile clean and healthy, then give our team of dentistry experts a call on: 01732 865021 or email: [email protected].

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