Top Tips for Dental Hygiene

It is a little-known fact that good dental hygiene isn’t only just good for your teeth and gums but is also beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing as well. Having bad dental hygiene can ultimately lead to you simply not wanting to smile, kiss a partner or give a big grin in that next photo that’s snapped.

Worse than that, of course, is the fact that bad dental hygiene can lead to a myriad of problems such as horrible breath, gum disease or even oral cancer. Studies found that poor dental hygiene can have really unexpected health consequences, such as increased risks for heart disease, Alzheimers, gum disease and diabetes. Mouth bacteria are constantly forming a sticky layer of plaque on and between teeth which we get rid of daily by brushing and flossing. However, when it is not removed it can harden and form tartar and they longer they sit in your mouth, the more harmful they can become.

Sometimes it’s a lack of caring and a “can’t be bothered” attitude but often it is simply a lack of knowledge. There are only really SIX main things you need to do for go od oral hygiene;

1. Brush your MOUTH properly – not just your teeth, clean your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth too. The most important time of day to brush your teeth is at night so that the fluoride in your toothpaste and mouthwash can work on keeping your teeth and mouth healthy all through the night. You should also brush then one other time at some point in the day.
2. Floss regularly – brushing simply cannot get where floss can! So, using floss or ID brushes each time you brush can really help. Interdental brushes help to prevent gum disease by getting rid of pieces of food and plaque from between your teeth. They have small bristled heads designed to clean between your teeth, and they come in different widths to suit the sizes of the gaps.
3. Make sure you have a tooth-friendly diet. Try and keep snacking to a minimum as this can be where a tooth-friendly diet falls short because so many snacks are either acidic or packed full of sugar!
4. Limit your intake of fizzy drinks and alcohol
5. Visit the dentist regularly – this should be done a minimum of twice a year, but it is different for each individual. So, be sure to take the advice of your dentist and book in regularly.
6. Leave a little fluoride in your mouth overnight to help strengthen your teeth. Use a fluoride toothpaste of 1450ppm to brush your teeth, spit out when finished but DON’T rinse! By rinsing your mouth with water, you are rinsing away the fluoride your mouth needs to repair and stay healthy.

It is literally that simple! Just ten minutes a day could see your dental hygiene improve enormously and really cut down on the risk of any dental or other health problems.

Something else that can of course help, is visiting the dental hygienist who will just help you keep your oral health in check. The rule of thumb, generally speaking, is that you should go at least twice a year. However, it will vary from case to case and for some will need to be more regular, but the minimum recommendation is once every six months which is nothing at all really.

At your appointment with the dental hygienist, they will of course quickly run through your dental/medical history just to keep an eye on any ongoing problems or for early signs of any problems concerning your oral health.

You can let them know of any changes you have noticed with your teeth, gums or within your mouth so they can make a note and let the dentist know if the change is a significant one. Then, of course, they begin the process of giving your teeth a good clean.

There is no one way this is done as each patient is different, but having your teeth cleaned by a hygienist is key to enjoying oral health, which has been shown time and time again to have a positive effect on your overall health.

If there are any areas of concern that the hygienist is not able to treat, such as dental decay or cavities, they will refer you to your dentist so that they are able to provide treatment. If you’re going regularly to see the hygienist, then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem as it will have been spotted early.

When the hygienist is all done you will have a sparkling smile that you won’t be able to stop flashing!

If you’d like to book in for an appointment with one of our amazing hygienists, you can book online or give us a call 01460 77517

If you’d like more information and a comprehensive guide on maintaining your oral health, check out this Toolkit for Prevention.