Top Dental Tips

TOP DENTAL TIPS

 

1 There are 3 steps to maintaining health gums & teeth . Good toothbrushing technique ,cleaning daily between the teeth with floss or bottle brushes & rinsing twice daily with a good quality mouthwash such as Listerine or Dentyl ( this is alcohol free). The combination ensures thorough plaque removal and a fresh clean mouth.

 

 

2 Plaque builds up around the necks of the teeth besides the gum line so the teeth and gums need to be brushed to remove this.

Electric brushes are often easier and more effective to use. They clean thoroughly with a good technique which is also gentle so good be a good choice if you suffer sensitive teeth or poor manual dexterity.

 

 

3 Plaque will from on any firn surface in the mouth & this includes the tongue. If you notice a yellow/white coating on the back of the tongue , removing this with a tongue cleaner will instantly freshen both mouth & breath. Tongue cleaners are very effective but using a toothbrush to do the job wont work as the bristles on the brush are not firm enough to remove the debris.

 

 

4 Children do not have the manual dexterity to effectively clean their own teeth until the age of about 7. Always brush your childs teeth again to ensure all plaque and debris have been removed . Use a brush and toothpaste that is relative to your childs age . Childrens toothpaste has lower doses of fluoride in them as children often swallow the paste instead of spitting it out. Young children shouldn't be using the normal "family" paste as it contains a higher fluoride content.

 

 

5 Approx 50% of pregnant women experience some changes in their mouth during pregnancy . Most commonly women will notice their gums bleeding( pregnancy gingivitis). This is brought about by increased hormone levels making the gums more susceptible to inflammation caused by plaque. Maintain good oral hygiene & have regular hygienist appointments throughout pregnancy. Gums will often settle down in the later stages of pregnancy as long as good oral hygiene is maintained.

 

WHEN DO TEETH ERUPT ?

 

By the time your child is 4 mths old there are usually signs of teeth beginning to erupt .

The 4 front teeth are the first to appear and by the age of   2 your child will have all most all of their primary teeth(20 in total).

 

 

TEETHING

 

Signs of teething include dribbling,red cheeks,crying,irritability,loss of appetite & possibly nappy rash.

Teething rings which can be placed in the fridge before giving to your child can provide relief from the discomfort .Both the coolness and the pressure from chewing can help.

Bonjela make a special " teething gel" which can be rubbed on the sore gum. Do not use normal adult bonjela as this can be harmful to small children .

From the age of 3 mths ,liquid medication such as calpol can be given to help relieve pain from teething.

 

 

WHEN SHOULD I CLEAN MY BABYS TEETH ?

 

As soon as the first tooth erupts it must be kept clean. Using a clean piece of guaze over your finger to rub the tooth clean is enough at the moment as gums will be tender & babys diet is still largely liquid .

As more teeth erupt ,invest in a toothbrush & paste that is adapted to the age of your child & clean teeth twice a day using just a smear of paste.

Healthy teeth are important for several reasons including speech,eating,appearance. The pain of toothache is nothing a parent would want their child to suffer so keeping sugar to a minimum is a must.

Although most children are happy and willing to brush their own teeth it is advisable to also brush them again after your child has brushed .Up until approx 7yrs of age a child doesn't have the dexterity to ensure thorough use of their toothbrush.

 

 

HOW DO I CLEAN MY CHILDS TEETH ?

 

There are 3 different tooth surfaces to keep clean .

 

OUTSIDE SURFACES – those closest to the cheeks by brushing with small back & forth circular motion.

 

INNER SURFACES – tilt the brush vertically to clean behind the front teeth top & bottom with a small up & down movement.

 

BITING SURFACES – hold the brush flat and use small back & forth movements.

 

 

WHEN SHOULD I BRING MY CHILD TO THE DENTIST ?

 

There is no harm bringing your child to the practice once their 1 st tooth has erupted . At this stage , just a quick look by the dentist is all that's required.

This will allow your child to get used to the people and the environment from an early age.As your child gets older we can give any relevant advice & answer any questions or concerns you may have.

 

 

 

HEALTHY SNACKS FOR HEALTHY TEETH

 

Once sugar in food comes into contact with the sticky bacterial plaque on teeth acid is produced and this can potentially cause tooth decay.

Frequent sugary snacks will increase a childs risk of developing cavities.

Whilst it is unrealistic to remove all sugar from a childs diet, healthier alternatives are recommended as often as possible rather than the quick fix of biscuits or sweets etc.

 

Healthy alternatives could be :

 

BREADSTICKS

CHEESE

YOGURTS

FRUIT

MILK

WATER

SANDWICHES

VEGETABLES & DIPS

CEREALS – WEETABIX – READY BREK ( NOT SUGAR COATED ONES)