5 Top tips for healthy teeth in 2019

Having healthy teeth not only affects our confidence and sense of self-esteem, it also has an impact on our body’s wider health. If you look after your teeth, you’ll be able to enjoy eating a healthy and varied diet, whilst good oral hygiene can help to protect you from issues such as gum disease, which can lead to more complicated health problems. Read on for our top tips to enjoy healthy teeth in 2019.

1. Commit to regular check ups

Many people struggle to find time to visit the dentist regularly. But no matter how busy life is, can you really afford to miss out on this important health check? If you’ve been avoiding the chair, now is the perfect time to change the habit. It’s important to be aware that a professional dental checkup is about far more than simply checking that all your teeth are present and correct – as well as making sure that your teeth are sound and everything is in order with your oral hygiene, dentists are also trained to look for early signs of gum disease and oral cancer. Early detection of the latter has been proven to significantly increase the likelihood of successful treatment.

If you don’t already have an appointment in your diary, be sure to book one now, and endeavour to keep regular appointments for you and your family as recommended by your dentist.

2. Have a plan in place

If you don’t already have a suitable dental care plan, you could find yourself at the mercy of NHS dentistry. This can mean long waiting times for treatment and a limited range of options. Now is an ideal time to look at dental plans for you and your family. You may well be pleasantly surprised to learn just how little it can cost to take out a suitable level of cover that leaves you with protection against all eventualities.

With an appropriate dental plan, you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that everything is covered and that you’ll have access to the treatment you need, when you need it, rather than relying purely on the treatment available under the NHS.

If you already have a policy, be sure to check that it still meets your needs. If you have any questions about dental cover, don’t be afraid to discuss it with the team.

3. Brush right

To keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible, it is important to brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes – but between work, family and all our other commitments it is easy to just forget or give it a miss because you’re simply too tired or in a rush.

Now is a great time to get into a new oral hygiene regime, no matter how hard it is to find the time. Brushing properly will help to prevent damage to your teeth by removing food particles and plaque, reducing the risk of cavities. Flossing once a day can also help to remove particles of food from harder to access areas between teeth, significantly improving the cleaning effect and making your oral hygiene routine much more effective.

Ensuring you take the time to brush twice a day also promotes awareness of what is happening in your mouth and any changes that take place – allowing you to follow up with your dentist if necessary.

4. Rinse right

Mouthwash is another effective way to help counteract the effects of what you eat and drink and fight off bad breath – but used at the wrong time it can actually undermine the benefits of brushing.

You may not be aware, but using a mouthwash directly after brushing your teeth can wash away a lot of the benefits offered by the fluoride and other active ingredients in the toothpaste – once again leaving your teeth exposed to attack. It is recommended to rinse at a different time to brushing, or wait until at least 30 minutes afterwards. Rinse right, and you’ll be doing your teeth a favour.

5. Watch what you eat

Some foods just aren’t good for your teeth, and the worst culprits might just be the unexpected. We all know that sticky, sugary sweets are bad for the teeth, but did you know that savoury foods and snacks can also be a threat to your oral hygiene? Crisps and other potato snacks, for example, can leave large amount of residue on the teeth which can quickly promote acid build up. Bread can also have the same effect. Mix in a little sugar and you have the perfect storm.

Sports drinks are notorious for their high sugar content which can be dangerous for the teeth, whilst tea and red wine, if excessively consumed, can result in staining.

The key to enjoying your favourite foods and drinks is knowing their effects and how you can minimise them – usually by consuming them in moderation and of course brushing at the right time.

Here at Bridge Dental & Implant Clinic in Derby, we want to help you enjoy the very best in dental health in 2019. To book an appointment now, enquire about becoming a member or to discuss your dental needs, call now on 01332 916351 to speak to a member of our friendly team or click here to contact us online.

Posted by Bridge Dental and Implant Clinic on 21st January 2019, under Dental Check-Ups