BS, Dietetics and Nutrition
Are you fed up with visiting your dental surgery and getting told you need to have a filling, or a scale and polish?
Even though it is a foundation of good health, many people do not know or are not aware of how best to look after their teeth and gums, which means that long-term, issues can arise. So, to keep fillings and other restoration work at bay, what can you do to improve and maintain your oral health? Here’s a quick guide!
1. Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year
To maintain your oral health, you need to visit your dental surgery at least twice a year for a check-up. This will allow your dentist to assess the condition of your teeth and gums and perform a minor scale and polish to remove hardened plaque or tartar if needed. This also helps to prevent dental issues from becoming more serious as well. For example, a small cavity can be treated with a fluoride sealant if it is caught early enough and can prevent you needing to have a filling. A resolute dental team, such as those who work out of Direct Dental will also provide you with tips on how to clean your teeth, and will advise you on the best toothbrush and mouthwash to use.
2. Get an Electric Toothbrush
Investing in an electric toothbrush is another tip to ensure that your teeth and gums stay looking their best. Manual brushing is often insufficient in most cases to remove all the plaque, and many people either overbrush or underbrush their teeth using this method. You can invest in an electric toothbrush with a rounded brush head that rotates and will stop rotating if you apply too much pressure, keeping your teeth and gums safe.
3. Invest in a Water Flosser
Another core part of good oral health is flossing, and while there is nothing inherently wrong with using traditional floss, many dental surgeries now recommend that their patients use water flossers. These are quite fun to use but do require a specific technique to prevent you from flooding the bathroom! They can remove plaque and food debris from under the gums and between the teeth without you needing to dig out the floss, and they can also prevent secondary damage caused by inaccurate flossing techniques.
4. Drink More Water
Many people are not aware of the fact that saliva works to remove food debris from your teeth throughout the day. One way you can stimulate saliva production in your mouth is to drink more water and to cut down on beverages such as coffee and tea, which can cause dry mouth. If you are on medication which causes dry mouth, you can invest in saliva producing tablets, to help keep your mouth and teeth clean in between brushing and flossing.
5. Cut Down on Sugar and Carbohydrates
Last but certainly not least, it is important to cut down on sugar and carbohydrates to maintain good oral health. Both sugar and carbohydrates increase the chances of plaque in your mouth, which increases the likelihood of you developing cavities and gum disease. If you do drink sugary beverages, be sure to rinse your mouth out after with water afterward. In the morning if you drink sugary coffee or sugary beverages, wait at least 20 minutes after before you brush your teeth, as sugary coffee, or orange juice (when paired with brushing) can erode your enamel.
