Oral hygiene is something you should be affording attention, just as you do the other aspects of your health. With the revelation that plaque in the mouth can go on to cause wider health problems, it’s never been more important to give your gum health serious consideration.
Get yourself to the hygienist
For most people, attending hygienist appointments is as routine as brushing twice a day, but unfortunately there’s still a significant amount of the population who don’t attend at all – over a third to be precise.
Post-lockdown, it’s especially important to get yourself to the hygienist as the pandemic saw 15% of Brits admit to only brushing once a day. Cutting your daily brushing by 50% each day significantly increases your chances of developing plaque, even if you’ve only eaten a modest amount of sugar. When plaque doesn’t get removed routinely (we recommend coming in every 6 months for hygienist appointments here in Norwich) it can cause inflammation of the gums and go on to cause gingivitis, the first stage of gum disease.
Book yourself in for a hygienist appointment if it’s been a little while since your last visit, and reap the benefits of having fresher breath, a healthier and plaque-free mouth, and surface stain-free teeth.
Floss like a pro
More than a third of people in Britain admit to not flossing their teeth, which is a worrying statistic considering bits of food stuck in between your teeth can contribute to gum disease and tooth decay.
Flossing should be as integral to your oral hygiene routine as brushing, and knowing how to do it properly is vital. Flossing incorrectly can quickly irritate you gums and won’t be as effective as it could be at removing food and bacteria.
Quit smoking
Smoking is an incredibly huge threat to your gum and tooth welfare. The hundreds of chemicals in cigarettes cut off the blood supply to the gums, so it’s not always possible to spot the onset of gum disease, which could eliminate the possibility for early intervention.
Smoking has been undisputedly proven to cause tooth loss in adults and significantly increases your risk of mouth cancer, particularly if you also regularly consume alcohol.
Shake up your diet
The phrase ‘you are what you eat’ applies to the mouth just as it does to the rest of your body. Feed your body bad foods and you’re going to do your oral health a disservice. When it comes to your mouth, most of us know that it’s sugars that are bad news, but you should also watch out for acidic foods too. Unfortunately a lot of high acid foods tend to be those that are also very good for us, including citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles and orange juice to name just a few.
We recommend consuming these in moderation, and following them up with a swig of water, to make sure the acid doesn’t linger to cause tooth erosion. If your teeth have suffered some enamel erosion, whilst they’re not able to repair themselves, we can perform a treatment called composite bonding to improve the appearance of tooth enamel that has eroded. Read more about tooth bonding in Norwich here.
Use proper brushing technique
Brushing frequently enough is one thing, but brushing correctly and with the right technique is another matter entirely.
The main pointers to bear in mind when you brush your teeth are:
- Use a soft-bristled brush that won’t cause gum recession.
- Brush at a 45 degree angle, starting at your gum line.
- Make sure you’re covering all surfaces.
- Gently brush your gums and tongue.
- Never brush for less than 2 minutes each time.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste.
Make water your best friend
Water is the fuel of life. It keeps our bodies going 24 hours a day. But did you know about the role it plays in keeping your mouth healthy? The mouth needs lubrication in order to wash away stray food particles and bacteria. Water plays a huge part in this, especially after food, drink and medication that dries out the mouth.
Keep a bottle of water with you close by every time you eat and drink and especially when drinking teeth-staining food and drink.
Hygienist services in Norwich
We’ve been performing oral hygiene procedures and delivering care to the people of Norwich for many years now here at Corner House Dental.
We can support you with your at-home efforts to maintain good oral health as you move through life. Should we find you’re suffering from gingivitis or periodontal disease (advanced gum disease) we can offer non-surgical periodontal therapy. This is a deep cleaning of your gums and sometimes requires local anaesthetic. Using tools known as scalers and ultrasonic cleaners, we can remove plaque and tartar that’s sitting below the gum line and compromising the health of your gums.
This treatment is indispensable in preventing more serious development, which can include the removal of teeth that have become loose as a consequence of gum disease. It’s always our aim to save your natural teeth whenever we can.
Contact us if you’re looking for a dentist in Norwich to perform your oral hygiene treatment.
Contact us to book an appointment if you’re experiencing any worrisome symptoms between appointments, and make sure you never miss a routine appointment with us here at Corner House Dental.