Dental Care
Below is an introduction to dental care and some methods you can use to improve and maintain your dental health. It contains some useful suggestions to help you make a few changes to your routine so you can keep a healthy mouth and in the long term need less dental treatment. I hope you find them useful
Tooth Brushing
The cornerstone of dental care. Brushing twice per day should be done to remove dental plaque thereby reducing the chances of developing dental decay and gum disease.
The Dos and Don’ts of General Toothbrushing
Do’s:
Do brush twice a day for 2 minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.
Do use the correct technique as demonstrated by your dentist.
Do brush gently- small movements not too much pressure.
Do replace your toothbrush if the bristles start to deform.
Do focus your efforts around the gumline.
Do have a systematic approach – make sure you have brushed every surface of every tooth. Always start in one place and finish in one place, that way you know you have covered every tooth.
Don’ts:
Don’t brush your teeth for at least 30 minutes, better still, one hour after having anything sugary or acidic.
Don’t multi-task i.e. brush whilst watching TV etc. You are likely to forget which areas you have brushed and which ones you haven’t, meaning some get a double clean and some miss out.
Don’t rush – it will save you money, time and dental visits in the long run.
Don’t brush fast and hard- you will only end up hurting your gums or causing tooth wear.
If you brush too hard- try holding the brush as you would hold a pen- this makes it more difficult to apply excessive pressure.
Brushing Technique
Modified Bass brushing technique:
Hold the head of the toothbrush horizontally against your teeth with the bristles part-way on the gums
Tilt the brush head to about a 45-degree angle, so the bristles are pointing under the gum line.
Move the toothbrush in very short horizontal strokes so the tips of the bristles stay in one place, but the head of the brush waggles back and forth. Or use tiny circular motions. This allows the bristles to slide gently under the gum. Do this for about 20 strokes. This assures that adequate time will be spent cleaning away as much plaque as possible. Note: this is a very gentle motion. In healthy gums, this should cause no pain. Brushing too vigorously or with large strokes can damage gum tissue.
Roll or flick the brush so that the bristles move out from under the gum toward the biting edge of the tooth. This helps move the plaque out from under the gum line.
Repeat for every tooth, so that all tooth surfaces and gum lines are cleaned.
For the insides of your front teeth, where the horizontal brush position is cumbersome, hold the brush vertically instead. Again, use gentle back and forth brushing action and finish with a roll or flick of the brush toward the biting edge.
To clean the biting or chewing surfaces of the teeth, hold the brush so the bristles are straight down on the flat surface of the molars.
Gently move the brush back and forth or in tiny circles to clean the entire surface. Move to a new tooth or area until all teeth are cleaned.
Rinse with water to clear the mouth of food residue and removed plaque.
You can clear even more bacteria out of your mouth by brushing your tongue. With your toothbrush, brush firmly but gently from back to front. Do not go so far back in your mouth that you gag. Rinse again.
Dental Floss
There are numerous aids for cleaning in-between your teeth; the most important are dental floss, dental tape and the interdental brush. I don’t usually recommend tooth picks and wooden sticks. Floss and interdental brushes such as Tepe brushes are most useful, ask your Dentist which will work best for you. Following the link below you will find a demo for good flossing technique in the Dental Hygiene section.
Diet
We all know that sugar is bad for your teeth and that it can cause tooth decay and dental cavities if you have too much, too often. It’s not so much the amount of sugar you have, more the frequency that causes tooth problems. Consider the following diet advice in reducing your risk of dental decay:
Avoid sugary snacks between meals (most of the time); eating more at meal times will help do this
Avoid sugary drinks between meals (most of the time); drink water instead
Group sugary things with your meals (most of the time); particularly sugary drinks and sugary dessert type treats
Limit refined sugars; that is chocolate, sweets, biscuits, ice cream, pastries etc. (i.e. not everyday, unless with meals)
Substitute sugar in coffee and tea with a non-sugar alternative/ sweetener
Keep sugar clear of night-time- nothing sugary right before bed and definitely nothing sugary during the night (eg juices in babys bottle)
The below video provides some useful guidance on sugary drinks and their impact on child dental health.