There’s a common misconception that as you age, you’ll inevitably lose some of your teeth. The reality is, this doesn’t have to be the case – it’s completely to keep your own teeth for life. Of course, there is effort involved in keeping your teeth and gums healthy and below, we’ve outlined just what’s involved.
Don’t’ smoke
If you’re currently a smoker, the first and most important thing you can do to extend the life of your teeth, is to quit.
Smoking causes all sorts of problems for your oral health, restricting the blood flow to your gums, drying out your mouth so it’s more at risk of cavities, and causing mouth cancer.
What’s more, according to Science Daily, men who smoke are 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers. This number is 2.5 for women. With these statistics in mind, quitting smoking is the first step to take if you wish to prolong the health of your teeth.
Banish the snacks between meals
It can be incredibly tempting to snack between meals, especially when we’re feeling bored, which are usually the times we’re more likely to eat high sugar foods.
Unfortunately, this isn’t going to do your teeth any good in the long run. Each time you eat foods like sugar and carbs, your mouth is exposed to acid attacks, which wears down your tooth enamel and leaves you vulnerable to cavities. If you are going to reach for the chocolate and confectionary, make sure you’re drinking a large glass of water afterwards, to ensure as much of the bacteria as possible is washed away.
It might be tempting to brush your teeth right after eating bad foods, or indeed any food. This could inadvertently cause problems for your teeth…
Don’t brush right after eating
Brushing after you’ve eaten certain foods, such as those that are high in acid, can leave your tooth enamel susceptible. Try to wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing, so that your enamel has a chance to deal with the food you’ve eaten.
Never skip your flossing
We’ve all been there and had bits of food stuck in between our teeth. Some of the worst culprits are chewy foods like steak, chicken, spinach and crackers. If you’re flossing after every meal, you shouldn’t have an issue with food becoming stuck and cause bad breath, decay and gum disease.
Having food stuck in between your teeth is also no good for the way your teeth look. When left to settle, this food can cause discolouration, ruining the aesthetic of white and bright teeth.
Always attend your dentist appointments
Think of your teeth as a whole entity that needs to preventive care in order to stay healthy. Visiting the dentist will make sure you don’t get a nasty surprise in the form of advanced decay or gum disease that strikes out of the blue. Using special equipment, your dentist here in Norwich will be able to spot any concerning signs early, as long as you come in every 6 months – a year.
Failing to visit the dentist when advised to is another step closer to potentially needing serious dental treatment in the future. Tooth loss and the need for treatments like dental implants in Norwich can be completely avoided if you visit both the dentist and the hygienist. Which brings us to…
Don’t forget hygienist appointments!
In the U.K, a third of the population admit that they’re yet to even visit the hygienist for the first time, and it’s likely that the pandemic has only exacerbated this figure. As your hygienist is responsible for removing hard deposits such as tartar and plaque you’re your gum line, hygienist appointments are indispensable in protecting your gums from being at risk of gum disease. When left on the gums for too long, these deposits cause inflammation, bleeding, loose teeth and once gum disease reaches an advanced stage (periodontitis), tooth loss.
If you’re looking for a dentist in Norwich to perform a deep hygienist cleaning, contact our experienced team today. Using some of the most up-to-date technology and equipment we’re able to provide outstanding treatment and post-treatment aftercare, to make sure you don’t develop gum disease again in the future.
Keep sugar to a minimum
Sugar consumption amongst children in the U.K is at worrying levels, as is reflected by the high hospitalisation figures for decay among 5-9-year-olds. The good news is, loss of teeth due to decay as a consequence of consuming too much is completely preventable. If you’ve got kids, try to familiarise yourself with what their RDA of sugar should be, and make sure they’re not exceeding this. Similarly, if you’ve had a couple of fillings in the past that can be attributed to your diet, you should be looking at the nutritional value of the products you buy, to make sure you’re not overdoing the sugar.
Don’t let dental anxiety hold you back
Having supported and treated hundreds of nervous patients in the past, we completely understand that finding the confidence to visit the dentist can be a long journey.
Here at Corner House Dental, we’re completely committed to helping nervous patients find their volition to visit the dentist regularly again. Whilst some patients benefit from having their questions answered and their mind put at ease, others require methods like acupuncture, which has been proven to relax anxious patients relax and release their stresses prior to a procedure.
Finding a dentist near me in Norwich
If you’re living in the Norwich area and looking for a reputable dentist, we’d love to meet you. Corner House Dental are currently taking on new patients, so if you would like to book in for an initial appointment, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.