Looking after your teeth and mouth is essential. Your oral health affects not only your mouth, teeth and gums, but parts of your general health too. While we love seeing you at Odontoville Dental Clinics, we don't want you to be in pain, suffering with tooth decay or in need of emergency treatment. Here are our tips for good dental care for you and your family at all stages of your life.
Some general habits that will help your teeth stay healthy include:
1. Brushing: brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. This helps prevent decay, gum disease and bad breath. The best times to brush and after breakfast and before bedtime, for two minutes. Spend 30 seconds on each quadrant of your mouth.
The quality of the brush and bristles are important too. You'll get better results from an electric toothbrush. And remember to change your toothbrush (or the head on your electric brush) every three months. This keeps the bristles fresh and not splayed.
1. Don't rinse! Lots of people rinse their mouth after brushing but this washes away the fluoride. So just spit out the toothpaste and give the fluoride more time to work.
2. Floss daily: If you floss once a day, you will keep on top of the tiny deposits of food that can get stuck between your teeth, causing plaque build-up. Make sure you have the right type of floss or tape for your teeth, or use interdental brushes that come in several sizes.
3. Visit your dentist regularly: we're not saying this because we want your custom! Pay us a visit every six months to keep on top of your dental health. And don't forget hygienist visits too.
4. Eat well: avoid sugary snacks, or at least keep them to straight after mealtimes.
DENTAL CARE TIPS FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (AGES 1-5)
- Teething: babies can start teething at 4 months onwards. Look out for signs including swollen gums, lots of mouthing on hard things and excess saliva. There are many aids available to help ease teething pain, including gum gels and soothing teething devices that can be cooled. Not all babies suffer but be prepared.
- Brushing: as soon as the first teeth appear, introduce your baby to brushing. You'll need a special soft bristled toothbrush and a tiny amount of age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste. If you can make brushing fun, your baby will hopefully be happy to let you brush so you can build a healthy brushing habit.
- Baby bottles: if a baby has lengthy access to sugary drinks in their bottle, like milk or juice, this can lead to tooth decay because the surgary drink is in constant contact with the teeth. Try to wean off bottle drinking as well as sugary drinks. And don't put your baby to bed with a bottle. Building a water habit is the best thing you can do!
- First dentist visit: try and book a dentist appointment for your baby around the age of 1 and they'll soon get used to the experience.
