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A
healthy mouth is important to us, as we all need it to speak, drink, eat,
smile and kiss!
We
all aim to achieve that healthy, appealing smile but many of us are not
quite sure how to achieve it.
If you look after you teeth and gums, you will be
looking after a very important part of your body that helps you look great
and feel confident.
Here
are a few guidelines that we hope you will find useful in creating that
healthy, confident smile:
We
all need to visit our dentist and hygienist regularly to maintain that
healthy smile. By visiting Berkhamsted Dental Practice regularly, your dentist will be able to spot any problems that you
may have and any that you may be unaware of that can be detected on
radiographs.(x-rays)
Your
hygienist will be able to help you maintain healthy gums
and advise you on ways to improve your cleaning at home.
As
well as checking for tooth decay and gum disease your dentist will check
for other dental problems such as sensitive teeth, discoloured teeth, worn
teeth or fillings and acid erosion of the teeth.
Children’s
teeth are checked for correct development and to see if orthodontic
treatment (braces) might be required.
We also check the mouth for signs of other diseases such as oral
cancer.
Brush Thoroughly
We advise that you should be brushing your teeth
really well at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
Fluoride in the toothpaste will help keep your
teeth strong and protect them from decay.
Change your toothbrush / toothbrush head regularly.
Brushing also helps prevent gum disease.
You may notice that your gums bleed when you brush or
floss. This can be a sign of gum disease.
Your hygienist will be able to advise you on this.
Floss and special “bottle brushes” allow you
to reach the areas between the teeth that can be difficult to reach by
brushing alone. Regular cleaning between the teeth is important in
protecting your teeth and preventing gum disease.
Reducing Sugary Snacks
If we consume sugary and acidic foods and drinks
on a regular basis then we are at risk of harming our teeth. Too much sugar consumption can cause decay and too many acidic
foods and drinks can cause erosion.
It is best to save all sugary food and drink until the end of a meal as it
will do the least harm then.
If
you fancy a snack during the day then you could try some of the
alternatives listed below:
a slice of bread or toast (without jam or honey etc!)
fruit:
apples, grapes etc.
chopped
vegetables: carrots etc.
plain
popcorn, crackers,
unsweetened
yoghurt
drink:
water instead of sweetened drinks.
Remember
even pure fruit juice still contains lots of natural sugar and can cause
decay.
Fruit
juice, squash and fizzy drinks (diet or regular) are also very acidic and
can cause acid erosion of teeth as well as decay, so they are not the best
choice for your teeth.
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