Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2019. I’m sure many of you will be well underway with your New Year resolutions. Some of you may have given up on them already! One thing we must urge you not to give up on is your oral health. Here are our top tips for keeping your mouth healthy throughout 2019!

 1, Brush your teeth!

You don’t have to brush all your teeth, just the ones you’d like to keep. You need to be brushing them twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste. Brushing before bedtime is the most important time of day.

 2, Do the Floss!

Don’t forget to brush in between your teeth. We recommend using TePe brushes to help you. An extra little tip is to put a spot of toothpaste on to the TePe brush before you get started. That way the hidden parts of your teeth will benefit from the Fluoride in the toothpaste.

 3, Less sugar is more!

If you have a sweet tooth, try and restrict your sugar intake to meal times. That way you’re reducing the amount of acid attacks your teeth are exposed too.

 4, Drink less fizzy drinks.

Fizzy drinks, smoothies and sports drinks contain a LOT of sugar so try and reduce how much you drink. Even better would be to cut them out altogether, not only will your teeth benefit but you might notice your waistline reducing too!

 5, Treat yourself to a new toothbrush!

You need to be replacing your toothbrush every few months. Once the bristles start to spread out then they won’t be cleaning your teeth properly. If you have an electric toothbrush, it’s very simple, just buy a new head.

 6, Visit your Dentist.

Come and see us and the dentist and hygienist will be able to spot any signs of decay or gum disease. The earlier the diagnosis, the easier to treat and less costly it’ll be! Don’t put off your routine examination and your hygiene visit.

 7, Stop smoking.

Smoking is very bad for your teeth and your overall health. The sooner you quit, the better!

 8, Do you grind or clench your teeth?

Many people don’t know the damage they’re doing whilst they’re sleeping. Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel (the protective surface of the tooth). Many people complain about headaches and tension at the side of their heads. If you feel like this is you, then your dentist should be able to help you combat this.

 9, Buy a mouthguard!

If you play any kind of contact sport then dentists will highly recommend you wear a bespoke fitting mouthguard. These not only protect your teeth but also can protect against concussion.

 

Stuart Barnes