How to help improve your oral health
Oral health runs deeper than glistening pearly whites and an attractive smile, because untreated and pervasive dental conditions can have far-reaching negative implications for your life.
From deep cleans to providing advice on dietary habits, our experienced team at Walkerston Dental are ready to assist you with improving your dental health. Read below to find out what the steps are that you can take to help in achieving better oral health!
What you eat matters
Have you been struggling with your teeth or gums despite your conscientious efforts at dental hygiene? If you aren’t eating healthily, steadfast brushing and flossing can only do so much in keeping your pearly whites strong and healthy, and free of cavities and diseases.
Staying away from food with high sugar and acidic content isn’t just recommended for your overall health, but also your oral and digestive health, where constant exposure to these types of food are harmful because they erode the enamel of your teeth.
Our dentist in Walkerston can advise you on your dietary habits if you’re not sure which food groups you should incorporate into your eating programme, and which you should avoid. Generally speaking, some fruit, all vegetables, lean meat, and legumes are some of the most beneficial food groups.
Basic dental hygiene is the cornerstone of oral health
The majority of the poor dental cases we see are preventable, generally caused by neglect and bad habits. Yet, prioritising your oral health by brushing and flossing isn’t especially difficult to achieve, and can save you a lot on dentist bills.
Our dentist in Walkerston surmises that while patients know that brushing and flossing is a crucial part of their oral-cleaning regime, they don’t brush their teeth for the prescribed amount of time, nor is the correct technique employed.
For the best possible results, brush your teeth twice a day for approximately two to three minutes, once in the morning and at night before you sleep. We recommend you brush your teeth twenty minutes after you eat something chewy, sticky or sugary during the day.
The technique you employ also matters, as well as the toothbrush and paste you use. Squeeze a pea-sized blob of fluoridated paste onto a medium-bristled brush, and gently brush the surfaces of your teeth using mini circles, and clean the chewing surfaces of them with light gliding motions.
People often mistake flossing as an optional extra that gets your teeth extra clean, but it’s actually essential, because it removes germs in the crevices of your mouth that your toothbrush is too large to reach.
If you aren’t sure if you’re brushing right or haven’t mastered the art of flossing, ask our friendly dentist in Walkerston for a step-by-step demonstration.
Dental check-ups are absolutely vital
We understand that most patients don’t understand why they need to see dentists twice a year, seeing it as an unnecessary expense.
However, these routine check-ups are vital, because we’re able to diagnose issues in their infancy stage when they’re easier and less expensive to treat. Visiting us frequently means fewer dental health issues in the future!
All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.
