It’s time to get your mouth on track
In the age of technology, most people rely on our smart phones or watches to track just about everything. From our daily steps taken (or not taken), calories consumed, calories burned, heart rate and even our nightly sleep patterns.
But what about your teeth? Yes, how is your oral health tracking?
That’s the question being asked this Dental Health Week 5th -11th August 2019. To increase awareness of key things that you need to do to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
You might be thinking, sure it doesn’t really matter if you miss a bit of flossing, skimp on the thoroughness of your brushing, live on a diet of junk food and sugary drinks or avoid the dentist. But, it all matters and it’s actually pretty easy to make dental hygiene a key part of your daily routine. We’ve got a few tips below to get you on track.
Brushing
The frighting fact is, there’s not a whole lot of brushing going on. In fact, only 50% of Australians brush twice a day. You probably don’t even give much thought to how you brush your teeth, and no, the quick, occasional dash along your teeth is not going to cut it. As your dentist will tell you, you need to brush for at least two minutes morning and night, using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your teeth thoroughly along all surfaces, and always brush in small, circular motions.
Flossing
Now, we aren’t talking about the hype dance move. Flossing between your teeth, once a day is important because it removes plaque which goes a long way in helping to prevent gum disease, tooth decay and halitosis ("bad breath"). It's not something that should be rushed either. Take your time, using a gentle side-to-side motion with about 45cm wound around your middle fingers and thumb. It all comes down to technique, if you're not sure, have a chat to your local Maven dentist who can show you all the right flossing moves.
Don’t have a regular dentist? We can help with that!
Say "Hello!" To your dentist
When was the last time you visited the dentist?... Yup - we thought that’d be the case, with one survey revealing that 65% of Australians have not seen a dentist in the last two years. Sure, you’ve caught up on all those binge worthy Netflix shows but is it good for your teeth, and the health of your whole mouth? Not really. You should really be seeing your dentist every 6 to 12 months or as recommended by your local dentist to stay on top of your dental health.
Eat and drink well
Ahh Junk Food, we all say a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips. But not only does it make fitting into those favourite jeans a struggle, it’s not good for our mouth at all. Consuming too much sugar is a major risk factor for oral disease (mainly tooth decay), so are you aware of just how much sugar are you really drinking and eating? We recommend check the sugar content on the nutritional panel first, let’s be honest – you are better off drinking water. Also, try to stick to set meal times to avoid snacking, as constant snacking is when the bacteria and acid attacks! Concentrating on those teeth friendly foods like vegetables and dairy products will go a long way.
