A healthy mouth is a thing of beauty, allowing you to smile, eat & speak with confidence. Most of us learn the importance of cleaning our teeth from an early age, but what about the rest of your mouth? Forming good oral health habits now can have significant, life-long benefits.
Preserving the health of your mouth, teeth and gums is important for your overall health and wellbeing. The staff at Empire Bay Dental on the NSW Central Coast are devoted to maintaining your dental health, so please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Top Tips for Optimal Oral Health
1. Brush your teeth
It’s important to brush morning and night with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. We recommend that you wait 1 hour after eating before you brush your teeth.
2. Don’t rinse after brushing
You want to give the fluoride more time to strengthen your teeth
3. Daily interdental cleaning
The fancy term for cleaning between your teeth! If you struggle with string floss, you might consider flossettes or interdental brushes
4. Regular check-ups with your dentist
We recommend visiting the team at Empire Bay Dental twice a year
5. Stay hydrated
Be sure to drink plenty of water. As a bonus, tap water in most parts of Australia contains fluoride, which helps to protect against tooth decay.
6. Don’t forget your tongue
Give your tongue a good scrape every time you brush to eliminate excess oral bacteria
7. Teeth are not a substitute for scissors
Using your teeth as tools could result in cracked or chipped teeth
8. An apple a day
Raw fruits & veggies can scrub plaque and bacteria from the surface of your teeth
9. Avoid snacking between meals
Give your saliva a chance to neutralise acids. Your mouth is happy in a neutral environment. Each time we chew, our saliva drops to a more acidic environment. Frequent snacking causes our oral environment to be more acidic, more often and therefore, more likely to get decay in our teeth.
10. Wash your toothbrush holder
Did you know that toothbrush holders are the third germiest item in the home? Gross! It’s a good idea to throw it in with the dishes once or twice a week.
Why is oral health important?
Poor oral health has been linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and even Alzheimer’s. And while tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, it does not regenerate once it decays. This can lead to expensive dental care to restore your teeth. It’s important to focus on prevention, which is where good oral health comes into play.
Always see your oral health professional if you have:
- mouth pain
- bleeding gums
- swelling of the face
- a damaged or knocked out tooth (or teeth)
- mouth sores that don’t heal after a couple of weeks
We want your teeth and gums to remain strong as you age.
Smile for life!
Contact the team at Empire Bay Dental to discuss your oral health plan.
References:
Dental care and teeth cleaning https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/teeth-cleaning
Basics of Oral Health https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/conditions/index.html
Teeth and Mouth Care https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/teeth-care
NSF International Household Germ Study https://d2evkimvhatqav.cloudfront.net/documents/2011_NSF_Household_Germ_Study_exec-summary.pdf