Dental Care At Home

Here at Together Dental, we strive to provide the best advice to our patients when it comes to dental care at home. We have listed some of the most important factors on how to take care of your teeth at home and how you can keep your overall mouth health in the best condition.

Keep an eye on your diet

Of course, what you eat can have a big impact on your teeth and their condition. Try to reduce the amount of sugary and acidic foods and drinks in your diet. Sugar is converted into acid in the mouth, which can then result in the wearing down of enamel on your teeth.

Acidic fruits, fruit teas and fizzy drinks can also erode tooth enamel so enjoy these things only in moderation.

Remember to brush before bed

Brushing before bed time leaves your mouth clean overnight. When your mouth becomes drier, bacteria begin to multiply. By removing the plaque that has accumulated throughout the day, you can reduce your risk of gum disease and dental decay.

Check your brushing technique

Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day when you get up and before you go to bed. Brush for two minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

At night time, try not to rinse after brushing to leave a reservoir of fluoride which will help to re-mineralize tooth enamel and prevent cavities.

Slow down when brushing

Most people brush their teeth in a hurry. To do a good job of cleaning your teeth it is important not to rush it. Work slowly in soft, gentle, circular motions, taking your time and moving the toothbrush to remove plaque. Any unremoved plaque can eventually harden, leading to tartar build-up and the beginnings of gum disease

Go electric

It doesn’t matter whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush as they are both equally as good. What does matter is as that you brush ALL the surfaces of ALL of your teeth and gently angle the bristles towards the gum line. That being said, electric toothbrushes do take the effort out of brushing, allowing you to focus on your technique.

Fluoride, fluoride, fluoride

Use fluoride toothpaste. Adults should use a toothpaste that contains at least 1,450 parts per million (ppm) fluoride. At night time, try not to rinse after brushing to leave a reservoir of fluoride which will help to re-mineralise tooth enamel and prevent cavities. During the day and after meals, you can also use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash to keep your enamel strong.

Remember to floss

Flossing isn’t just for getting those little bits of food that are stuck in between your teeth. It will also help in reducing plaque in between teeth, the gum line and helping to lower any gum inflammation in your mouth. Flossing once a day is usually enough to make a big difference to gum health.

Stop smoking and moderate alcohol intake

Smoking is not just bad for our general health, but puts us at risk of oral cancer. Around 90% of mouth cancers can be linked to preventable lifestyle factors such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Smoking and drinking together increases the risk of mouth cancer by up to 30 times.

Sensitivity

Tooth sensitivity is usually caused by exposed dentine. Sometimes this may be caused by over-zealous tooth-brushing. Changing to a softer brush and using a sensitive toothpaste (e.g., Sensodyne Rapid Relief) may help. Apply the sensitive toothpaste as a cream in the sensitive area at night and leave it there to act for several hours.

Make looking after your teeth part of your positive personal routine

Habits such as getting up at a regular time, following the same personal hygiene routine, eating and exercising at set times can all help to support a positive mindset.

Get in touch

If you’re looking to book in a private check-up with our Together Dental team, call us today on 0333 032 9339. Alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form here.