Our Canterbury dentist’s guide to better oral health with a few simple pieces of advice

Daily life poses a number of challenges to the health of our Teeth and gums, especially given the high sugar content of the modern diet. On the positive side of things, dental care is now better than ever, with modern technology allowing us to detect problems early and restore your teeth sustainably and realistically.

There is always more that our patients can do to help themselves by looking after their teeth better however and we hope the following snippets of advice, even if they seem obvious, will help.

The first four suggestions really are the very basics when it comes to oral health:

See your dentist regularly

Regular check up appointments are essential if you want to have healthy teeth and gums. However well you look after your teeth, there is always the possibility of some damage or decay and it is important that these are detected as soon as possible. By keeping your regular six monthly appointments, you help ensure that any treatment necessary will be minimised.

See your hygienist regularly

As above, having a scale and polish carried out by the hygienist at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic every six months is essential to keep those gums clean and healthy.

Clean your teeth diligently

As a minimum, you should brush your teeth morning and night and not eat or drink anything but water after your night time brushing. Using floss is also important to help prevent gum disease and tooth decay from occurring between the teeth.

Take care with what you eat and drink

What we eat and drink can affect our teeth. High sugar content in food is well known to be a factor in tooth decay and the increase in acidic drinks, such as sports drinks, can badly damage tooth enamel, making them more vulnerable to problems. Watch the amount of sugar that you eat and try to stick largely to water for hydration.

Now for a few tips to help you improve your brushing:

1. Brush for two minutes twice a day using a gently circular motion (electric toothbrushes are ideal for this). Make sure as well, to angle the bristles so that they reach into the gum line and clear any food debris and bacteria from there.
2. Don’t brush too hard. In an attempt to clean their teeth as best as possible, some people literally ‘scrub’ their teeth. Although we know this is done with the best of intentions, it can erode the tooth enamel and you may end up with highly sensitive teeth.
3. Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Although most do, this is not always the case. Fluoride will help to strengthen the tooth enamel, helping to protect your teeth.

Dental flossing tips:

1. If you don’t currently floss, please start. This may be the most simple yet effective thing you can do to improve your mouth health.
2. Don’t struggle along to do this and do ask our Canterbury dental hygienist to show you how to do this so that you do it effectively.
3. If you see blood when you floss, don’t stop, thinking that it is the flossing that is causing it. If you are flossing correctly, the most likely cause for any blood is gum disease and is all the more reason why you should continue to floss between your teeth. If you do this and it persists, please arrange an appointment with the hygienist.
4. Although mouthwash is a great ‘add on’ for improving oral health, it should not replace flossing so please don’t think it will have the same effect; it won’t.

And finally, a few less well known tips that might require small changes in your lifestyle but can make a significant difference.

1. Don’t snack during the day. A lot of people ‘graze’ at regular intervals throughout the day but doing so doesn’t allow time for the enamel to harden between food (it temporarily softens when we eat). This means that it can be more easily damaged. Try to eat at regular mealtimes and keep any snacking to a minimum.
2. Some ‘healthy’ things can be bad for your teeth. A good example of this is the trend of squeezing lemon juice into your water. The intention and taste may be good but lemon juice is quite acidic and doing this every day is almost certainly going to contribute to enamel erosion.
3. Ignore any dental advice that you might come across on social media. There is a good chance that it will be wrong and very possibly harmful for your teeth. If you need any advice, that is what we are here for!
4. If you have any oral piercings, you might want to reconsider. Chips and cracks from the teeth coming into contact with them is not unusual and this is a lifestyle choice that could damage your teeth.
5. Drink plenty of water … dehydration is a problem that often leads to gum disease. Drinking plenty of water, especially before sleep, will help you avoid the dry mouth syndrome often associated with gingivitis and periodontitis.

And finally….

If you smoke, please don’t. Not only is gum disease much more likely if you smoke but also potentially life threatening oral cancer. Even in the best case scenario, your teeth will become badly discoloured and you may need a treatment such as dental veneers to restore the whiteness.

We hope that some of this advice is useful and it is always worth checking that you are looking after your teeth correctly from time to time. If you need any further advice or wish to make an appointment to see the dentist or hygienist at Bradley and Partners Dental & Implant Clinic, you can call us on 01227 463529.

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