Oral Hygiene
Excellent oral hygiene forms the cornerstone of any great preventative dental care routine. We strongly suggest everyone has their teeth professionally cleaned every six months. Some people may benefit from seeing us more frequently, for example, if you have any medical problems that affect your dental health, or any ongoing dental issues that require closer monitoring and maintenance.
During your regular dental cleaning, our experienced hygienist will gently examine your mouth, and while cleaning your teeth will identify any areas that could use a little extra care when you brush and floss at home. It’s an approach that helps us provide you with personalised help and advice and which can ensure you get the most out of your oral care routine at home.
Personalised Advice on Toothbrushing
Can you clearly remember brushing your teeth this morning or is it more of an automatic habit? Most of us use the same tooth brushing techniques we learned as children and don’t pay very much attention while brushing our teeth. Consequently, it’s easy to miss out areas time after time, allowing harmful plaque and calculus to build up.
We can show you the proper techniques to brush your teeth thoroughly every time, making sure you pay attention to cleaning every tooth surface methodically, getting rid of the maximum amount of plaque each time you brush your teeth. Taking a more systematic approach to teeth cleaning can significantly benefit your dental health, and it is important to spend at least two minutes cleaning your teeth each.
We can suggest the best toothbrush and toothpaste for you to use, including manual and electric toothbrushes. If you prefer using a manual brush, we recommend placing a small timer in your bathroom or using the timer on your phone to ensure you brush for the full two minutes. An electric toothbrush will have a built-in timer to follow as you brush.
Improve Your Flossing Technique
We know flossing might seem tricky at first, but it is important to floss daily. Your toothbrush cannot reach between your teeth, leaving food debris to rot and allowing harmful bacteria to thrive. Daily flossing removes these substances, helping you to maintain healthy teeth and gums more easily.
Our hygienist can demonstrate how to floss correctly and will work with you to ensure you find a technique that is easy to use. People who hate flossing or who have limited dexterity may find it easier to use other tools, such as interdental brushes or a water flosser. We can talk to you about all possible options and can help you develop a daily flossing habit. Once you start to floss regularly, it will soon become a routine.
Dietary Advice
If you have a good home oral care routine but have recently had one or two cavities, we may suggest reviewing your diet with you. Sometimes, adjusting a few things, such as how frequently you snack or when you have certain foods can significantly impact your oral health. Some foods that seem healthy can often have hidden sugars. Choosing tooth-friendly foods or adjusting your snacks can reduce the length of time your teeth are exposed to sugar, reducing your risk of cavities.
