World Oral Health Day

This Wednesday 20th March is World Oral Health Day. Looking after your mouth, teeth, and gums is important for ensuring you keep away bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay so you have strong teeth and a bright smile. So how do we ensure we are doing everything we need to, for great oral hygiene? We are all aware that we should be brushing our teeth twice a day and this is definitely step one to a healthy mouth, but it is also important that you are using the correct products when brushing your teeth. Dental floss should be used once a day in order to remove hard-to-reach debris from in-between teeth and gums, it is also recommended by dentists that you use a toothpaste containing fluoride to brush with. There is also the option of using mouthwash or rinsing with a fluoride mouth rinse if your dentist advises it.

The food and drink you consume directly affect the state of your mouth and can cause issues such as bad breath and tooth decay. You should look to stick to a healthy lifestyle as a good diet is a solid foundation for great oral health. It is also vital that you limit your intake of things such as sugar and alcohol; alcohol can erode the outer surface of the teeth leading to loss of enamel, and heavy drinking has also been linked to an increased risk of developing mouth cancer. If you are wanting a white smile then perhaps look to avoid food and drink which will stain the teeth, such as drinking large amounts of tea, coffee, and wine.
You can read more on what the NHS has to say about lifestyle and the effect on your teeth HERE. 

Choosing the right brush for you is also very important when it comes to looking after your mouth, as you need to ensure you are using a brush with a small enough head to be able to get to those hard-to-reach spots in which debris builds up, for example around Molars. At Weldricks we have a range of brushes available including standard plastic toothbrushes with various bristle strengths, an electric toothbrush, children's toothbrushes (which would work just as well for adults when trying to reach difficult areas), for the more eco-conscious among us we have toothbrushes made from bio-plastic and bamboo, we even have a water and toothpaste free Finger Toothbrush! finding the right toothbrush for you can make keeping your mouth healthy a breeze. In addition, there are a range of products available to you which can help you go the extra mile with your dental care. We have waxed and unwaxed floss, floss that expands to remove dirt from hard-to-reach places, and floss on sticks. We also have a wide range of mouthwashes, interdental brushes, and even disclosing tablets to help you really pinpoint that problem plaque. 

Once you have chosen the right items to keep your mouth clean then ensuring you have proper cleaning technique is next. When brushing you should try to brush your teeth twice a day for around 2 minutes each time. Ensure when you brush that you are reaching all the teeth including front, back, and along the gumline. At the end of the 2 minutes of brushing you should also gently brush your tongue to remove bacteria and give you fresh breath. For more information on proper brushing technique check out this article by Colgate HERE. 

Whether you have always had "perfect" teeth, wear a brace, need dentures, or have fillings, bridges, and crowns, you should be visiting your dentist regularly to keep on top of your dental hygiene. The dentist will be able to spot problems which you may have not even known were there, as well as recommend what you should be doing when it comes to your dental hygiene routine. while there are rules that we all must follow to ensure we have great oral health, by speaking to a dentist you will be able to get the information you need to tailor your cleaning routine to your own needs. We are all different when it comes to the state of our teeth, so speak to your dentist and ask them what products and techniques would best suit you.