The basics of a good oral hygiene routine.

Good oral hygiene is a little like motherhood and apple pie – we’re all in favour of it. But for some of us, being in favour of it doesn’t actually translate into walking the walk and turning our intentions into practice.

 

We’ve tried to make it simple for you to take care of your teeth and gums in a way that will preserve them in good condition for your entire lifetime. Here are the habits that you need to make sure are not negotiable:

 

• Brush twice daily.

This is the foundation of any good dental care regime. You may wonder why your dentist insists on twice a day – here’s the reason in simple terms. When you go to bed at night, it makes sense to brush your teeth as otherwise all the food residue – and the bacteria it attracts – are working while you sleep to damage your teeth. And likewise, after you’ve had your breakfast and are heading off to work or school, you don't want any nasty ‘baddies’ in your mouth as this is just a welcome invitation for bacteria, and eventually plaque and tartar.

 

• Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride.

We’re sure you appreciate how many brands of toothpaste there are on the market, but make sure you read the packaging to makes sure that the one you choose contains fluoride.

 

• Don’t use a worn toothbrush.

The quality of your toothbrush is very important and it's a sad fact of life that no matter how much you pay for your chosen brand, it will soon show signs of wear and tear, making it less effective at doing its job. You should look to replace your brush around every two to three months – keep an eye on it for signs of disrepair and change it once you’ve spotted anything.

 

• Bacteria love your tongue. 

Of all the ‘habitats’ that bacteria like, a warm and moist environment is their favourite. And obviously, your tongue fits this description to a tee. Make sure, therefore, that you brush your tongue lightly when you're brushing your teeth.

 

• Don't forget the floss or interdental brushes

   

No less frequently than once a day, you need to use floss or interdental brushes to make sure that you to remove any food particles that have got lodged in hard-to-reach places.

 

• See your dentist regularly.

We sincerely hope that your visits to us will be purely of a preventative nature and that no major treatment is needed. By coming to us regularly, we can spot any looming problems in good time, letting us take evasive action. A six-monthly interval between visits is about right.

 

• Give up cigarettes.

Apart from all of the general health benefits that quitting smoking can bring, it will also make s huge difference to your oral health. We know it's tough – but the impact would be huge if you managed to beat the weed.

 

If you can adhere to these basic rules, we promise you that your visits to the dentist should be very quick indeed – and totally of a preventative nature rather than involving actual treatment.

 

It may seem like quite a few rules to obey, but once you turn this into a habit, it becomes second nature to you and you don’t even think about it any more.

 

And as for the financial cost of looking after your mouth, it’s way cheaper than the cost of treatment, when you do the sums.

 

By way of example, root canal treatment cost comes to tens of times the cost of brush, toothpaste and floss. So don’t shell out on root canal cost when you could use that money far better elsewhere.

 
Stay informed.
 

They say that knowledge is power, and we certainly adhere to this motto. So why not check out some of the thousands of great articles on dental health that you’ll find on the web. Here’s a starter article to set you on you rway – it's from the famous Mayo Clinic - http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/in-depth/dental/art-20045536