Know when to go
Once every six months. And see both a dentist and dental hygienist. Johannesburg dentist Dr Winston van Wyk, says regular visits cut costs. “If you visit your dentist every six months, it will prevent costly procedures — and save your teeth. Don’t leave it until there’s a problem, by then it’s usually too late for the simplest and best treatments”.
Buy the best brush
A soft to medium brush is the most effective, but remember, technique is everything. The soft brush is often used after oral surgery, and medium for everyday use. Toothbrushes should last two to three months. When the bristles start to bend, it’s time to get a new one. A manual toothbrush is cheaper and doesn’t need charging whereas an electric brush gets to those hard-to-reach places and tends to prevent us from brushing too hard. It’s up to you which one you use – as long as you use it and use it properly. Beware of over-brushing, which can cause gums to recede and remove tooth surface.
Eat for strength
Dental hygienist, Emma King, suggests choosing foods high in calcium and phosphates like dairy products and dark green leafy vegetables. Get your vitamins B for healthy gum tissue and D to help absorb the calcium. Stay far away from refined carbohydrates, and don’t rely on chewing gum alone to clean your teeth. While chewing gum stimulates your saliva glands, which aid in the natural cleaning process, they’re not the single solution to a clean mouth. And if you’re going to chew gum, make sure it’s sugar-free.
Clean up your act
-Your body produces less saliva at night and saliva is one of the main defenses against oral disease. Dentists recommend you brush at least once in the morning and most importantly once at night for maximum cleanliness.
-Use fluoride toothpaste. Children over 6 months need fluoride while their teeth are developing. Check labels for the fluoride content. The general accepted amount of fluoride is 0.7-1.2ppm.
-Flossing is an extension of the brushing process and can clean up to 35% of the plaque off your teeth. “You should floss before you brush,” says Dr Van Wyk. He explains when you floss you loosen the plaque and brushing afterwards gets rid of all the unwanted plaque left behind. Emma King, dental hygienist says, “Good technique is essential. Flavoured floss is waxed and often encourages flossing as a result of the fresh flavour it leaves in the mouth. But the choice is purely personal.”
-Mouthwash in no way replaces brushing or flossing. When choosing a non-prescription mouthwash it’s best to get an alcohol-free formula that doesn’t dehydrate your saliva glands. Rinse, gargle and spit. Don’t wash out your mouth with water afterwards; it overrides the antibacterial effects.
Comments