Your oral hygiene
19 March 2020
In each edition of our newsletter, we ask our clinical professionals to provide some dental advice to aid oral health for our patients. Our valued hygiene therapists, Amy and Jo, have been inundated with work and it means the Smile Boutique’s patients understand the importance of a hygienist more and more.
Both Amy and Jo have given the following advise this month to assist parents or guardians in continuing good oral health and care for children and families:
- Brush 2 x day for 2 minutes, cover all surfaces of the teeth and the gum lines. Ideally using an electric toothbrush with an oscillating rotating head.
- Change your toothbrush or brush head every 2-3 months, sooner if they look worn or if you are ill/ have a cold.
- Brush your teeth before breakfast – brushing after breakfast when your enamel is softer runs the risk of damaging the enamel and wait 30 minutes after eating before brushing your teeth.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste, recommendations area a level of 1450ppm fluoride for adults.
- If your teeth are sensitive to cold, a sensitive toothpaste when brushing or used as a cream can help.
- Clean between teeth at least 1 x day using interdental brushes, or floss where brushes do not fit.
- After you have brushed your teeth, spit don’t rinse (with water or mouthwash) after brushing.
- Mouthwashes can be used, however at a separate time to brushing, try to pick an alcohol free one.
- Keep sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes only and try to have sugar free snacks in between meals such as cheese, plain yoghurt and vegetable sticks.
- Keep fizzy drinks to mealtimes and have them through a straw. Chewing sugar free gum after meals can help neutralise any acids produced. Look out for the smiley face on chewing gum – this means it has been approved by the oral health foundation.
- Visit a dentist and hygienist regularly as recommend.
- Take children to the dentist when their first teeth come through.
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