Daily preventive care will help stop problems before they develop. A simple daily routine can ensure that any treatment is much less painful, inexpensive, and less worrisome than treating conditions that have been allowed to progress.
These include:
- Brushing thoroughly twice a day and flossing daily
- Eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks between meals using dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste
- Rinsing with a fluoride mouth rinse
You should brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. An effective oral hygiene routine keeps your teeth clean, breath fresh and contributes to the prevention of gum disease. Below are some easy to follow tips on brushing effectively.
- Your tooth enamel can be damaged by scrubbing if you use a hard brush, select a soft-bristled toothbrush with a small head so you can access hard to reach places and your back teeth
- Hold your brush at a 45° angle against your gum-line; softly brush from where the tooth and gum meet, to the chewing surface in short strokes. Brushing too vigorously can lead to receding gums, tooth sensitivity, and over time loose teeth
- With a short sweeping action, clean the chewing surfaces of your teeth, tipping the bristles allows you to get into the pits and crevices of your back teeth or molars
- To clean the inside surfaces of your top and bottom front teeth and gums, hold your brush almost vertically. Using a forward and back motion, bring the front part of the brush over the teeth and gums
- To remove bacteria that can cause bad breath, brush your tongue and roof of your mouth. Use a forward-sweeping motion from back to front; it may take a little time to get used to, but it is an important part of total oral cleaning.
Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth, areas where gum disease can begin. It can sometimes feel a little awkward to floss, so the Greensborough Plaza Dental team suggests that you follow the tips below to help you feel more comfortable in maintaining your oral health
- Wind roughly 20cm of floss around the middle fingers of each hand. Hold each end of the floss between your thumbs and index fingers, leaving about 2cm to 3cm of length in between. You should use your thumbs to direct the floss between your upper teeth
- Keeping the 2cm to 3cm length of floss nice and firm between fingers, use index fingers to direct the floss between the lower teeth
- Gently ease the floss between the teeth by using a zigzag motion. It is important to remember not snap the floss between your teeth but using a smooth and flowing motion around each side of the tooth
- Slide the floss up and down against your tooth surface and under the gum. This may feel awkward but it is important to get underneath the tooth to clean those areas
Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and in more severe cases, mouth cancer. Most people know that smoking can cause lung and throat cancer, but many people are still unaware that it is one of the main causes of mouth cancer too.
Patients who smoke are much more likely to make bacterial plaque, this type of plaque can lead to gum disease. The gums are affected because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums cannot heal. Gum disease still remains the most common cause of tooth loss in adults. We will carry out a regular examination to make sure your teeth, gums and whole mouth is healthy.
Everyone knows that sugar promotes cavities. But there are other concerns if you don’t eat well. If your diet is low in certain nutrients, you may be more susceptible to mouth infections and this can contribute to periodontal (gum) disease. Although poor nutrition doesn’t actually cause periodontal disease, many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is more severe in patients whose diet does not include the necessary nutrients.
Choose from the four basic food groups:
- FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
- BREADS AND CEREALS
- MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS
- MEAT, FISH AND EGGS
Avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods, such as cakes, lollies and dried fruits, these cling to your teeth and promote tooth decay. Instead, choose nuts,
raw vegetables, plain yogurt and cheese.
