When it comes to our teeth it is far better to avoid issues arising in the first place than to have to correct issues after many months or years of damage. From tooth decay to tooth loss and aesthetic problems there is a lot that you can do to ensure that your teeth are as healthy as they can possibly be – focusing on prevention rather than cure will save you a lot of time, heartache, money & discomfort in the long run.
Preventive dentistry
Healthy teeth and gums start at the very beginning of your journey, with positive habits at home and the regular support of dental professionals.
- A healthy diet with a low frequency of sugar intake is essential to ensure the risk of dental decay is minimised. Dietary sugar and/or acid in its various forms cause irreparable damage to your teeth
- Regular check-ups are important for everyone when it comes to ensuring that you have healthy teeth and gums. Your dentist will be able to spot any issues and take action early to stop problems from escalating.
- Check-ups for children – these should start around the age of two and a half. Getting your child used to visiting the dentist is an important part of this process, as it can help to avoid hesitation and fear in this environment further down the line. Regular check-ups will also give the dentist an opportunity to look out for any problems, such as tongue posture, speech issues or thumb sucking.
- A proactive and healthy oral routine at home. Getting into the habit of brushing your teeth in the morning and evening and using floss daily is an important step in establishing basic, positive oral care that will help to prevent problems in the future. Electric toothbrushes have a number of benefits, including ensuring that you get a comprehensive clean and features such as pressure sensors to help you avoid pressing too hard and damaging teeth or gums.
- Avoid abrasive whitening toothpastes. You may want whiter teeth but these can actually end up having the opposite effect, as they strip tiny layers of enamel from your teeth.
- Brushing should include your tongue and the area around the gums. If your gums are bleeding then the issue is most likely to be plaque, which means you need to ensure that you don’t get a further build up. Brushing your tongue will get rid of bacteria which can cause bad breath.
- A regular appointment for a hygiene/cleaning. Hygienist appointments are an opportunity for your teeth to get a thorough clean, for you to learn about how to better clean and maintain your teeth and to alert the hygienist to any problems that might need to be dealt with swiftly.
- Give your child a healthy start at home. You should expect to help your child with their oral routine until at least the age of eight. Always use a toothpaste that is designed for children. When you’re teaching your child how to brush their teeth make sure that they learn to spit out the toothpaste and then not rinse it off afterwards.
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to the health of your own teeth and gums, and those of your children.
