Top tips for:

• Clean your teeth twice daily. Brush the gum line and each individual tooth last thing at night, so the last thing to touch your teeth is fluoridated toothpaste and brush one other time during the day. After brushing spit DO NOT rinse to maintain the fluoride concentration levels. Fluoride helps to strengthen tooth enamel.

• When choosing a toothpaste try and use one that contains fluoride. It is recommended that children aged 0-6 years use a fluoridated toothpaste with 1000 ppm fluoridated. Children aged 7 years – adults use fluoridated toothpaste with 1350-1500 ppm fluoride.

• Once a day, before brushing your teeth use dental floss/tape or inter-dental brushes to clean in between your teeth. For small spaces between teeth use dental floss or tape and for larger spaces use inter-dental or single-tufted brushes. (If you have orthodontic appliances and bridges use kit suggested by the dental professional).

• Good eating habits promote healthy gums. Foods rich in calcium, folic acid, vitamins and minerals, your teeth and gums will love. Have foods, drinks and chew gum that have no added sugar/sugar free.

• Try and avoid dry mouth, as the salivary glands in the mouth fail to produce enough saliva so there is no way for food debris or bacteria to be washed away from the surface of teeth and this greatly increases the chances of cavities (holes) in the teeth and periodontal (gum) disease. Chewing sugar free gum can help the mouth to produce saliva. *If dry mouth is a regular occurrence please see your GP.

• If you smoke cigarettes, cigars, shisha pipes or chew paan you are at higher risk of getting gum diseases smoking etc causes a decreased flow of saliva in the mouth which contributes towards gum disease. Smoking, shisha pipes and chewing paan can all cause oral cancer. Consult your GP about giving up.

• Overtime alcohol can cause problems for our teeth and gums increasing our chances of tooth decay, erosion’s (tooth wear) and oral cancer. Reduce your alcohol intake.

• Visit your Dentist regularly and have a professional clean. Your Dentist will be able to spot any early signs of gum disease and give you advice on how to improve it.

TIP: Do you have bad breath?

Lick your wrist, let it dry,smell it and if it smells your breath probably does too.

The Dentist 01922 624900