Be consistent - achieving good oral health is to be consistent with looking after your teeth. This means brushing your teeth twice a day and cleaning between the teeth with floss or interdental brushes at least once a day.
Use the correct brush - we recommend an electric tooth brush because it makes cleaning your teeth easy. Look for a brush with a small, soft head to help prevent recession and tooth abrasion. Most electric tooth brushes will have a 2 minute timer to help you brush long enough to sufficiently remove plaque from your teeth and gums.
Change your tooth brush head regularly - for most people this will mean changing the heads every 3 months or so.
Use a fluoride toothpaste - fluoride is the leading defence against tooth decay. It works by strengthening the enamel. Spit out after brushing and do not rinse your mouth so that the fluoride stays on your teeth for longer.
Do not use mouthwash straight after brushing - mouthwash has much less fluoride compared to tooth paste. If you rinse after brushing you can wash away the fluoride on your teeth reducing the efficacy of the toothpaste. We recommend that if you want to use a mouthwash to use it at a different time to brushing.
Don’t forget your tongue - debris and bacteria can build-up on the surface of your tongue and this can lead to bad breath.
Reduce sugary snacks between meals - every time you eat a sugary snack your teeth are under an acid attack for up to 30 minutes. This is because the bacteria in your mouth feeds of the sugar producing acids that damages your enamel. So it is important to keep sugary foods only to meal times, limiting the time time your teeth are at risk.
Reduce drinking fizzy drinks or fruit juices - some fizzy drinks and juices are very acidic and with frequent consumption it will cause erosion of your teeth. We recommend that you wait 30 minutes before you brush your teeth after having an acidic drink.
It is also a good idea to use a straw when you have fizzy or acidic drinks - this helps the drink to go to the back of your mouth and reduces the acid attack on the teeth.
Eat a balanced diet - make sure you eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals to keep your gums healthy.
Drink enough water - keeping your mouth well hydrated helps reduce plaque build-up by promoting the healthy action of your saliva.
Do not smoke - smoking harms the body’s immune system, which makes it difficult for the body to heal tissues, and therefore making you more susceptible to gum disease. Smoking also increases your risk of oral cancer.
Be careful with your teeth - avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing. If you use them to open bottle tops or rip open plastic packets, you run the risk of chipping or even breaking your teeth.
Protect your teeth - wear a mouth guard when playing sport and use your night guard if your dentist provided you with one.
And even if you do all of the above, it is still a good idea to visit the hygienist for a thorough teeth cleaning.
