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5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Oral Health

5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Oral Health

Despite society becoming more health conscious every year, oral health is still sometimes overlooked. Many people do not think much about oral care and hygiene until serious problems develop. For dentists, this can be frustrating as a significant number of common dental problems are in fact preventable. Here are five ways you can improve your oral health easily.

  1. Drink plenty of water alongside a varied diet

Eating a variety of foods and drinking plenty of water not only benefits your overall well-being but also your dental health. Poor nutrition can have a significant impact on a body’s natural defenses and it has been found that people with lowered immune systems are at a higher risk for some oral health diseases.

Reported to be more effective than using mouthwash, water actually helps flush teeth clean and discourages tooth decay. Drinks such as red wine, coffee and tea can have an adverse effect on teeth, creating a superficial stain as well as potentially causing an internal stain on the tooth enamel as well. Rinsing your teeth with water after consuming these drinks helps stop the liquid sitting on your teeth.

  1. Brush your teeth with the proper equipment

Toothbrushes should be changed regularly, at least every couple of months or sooner if the bristles start to splay and wear out. A worn toothbrush does not clean as adequately as needed to prevent tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis).

It has been claimed that brushing with an electric toothbrush removes more plaque and helps to lessen the risk of gingivitis than a manual toothbrush. The rotating and oscillating head of an electric toothbrush can provide an especially effective way of cleaning teeth for people who find it difficult to clean all teeth surfaces due to a disability or arthritis. Some children are more enthused to brush their teeth regularly and proficiently with an electric toothbrush due to the novelty.

  1. Improve tooth brushing technique

While most people understand the need for daily tooth brushing, the actual technique is often overlooked. Tooth brushing ideally takes place after each meal and uses just a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Angle the bristles of the brush at a 45 degree angle up to the gum line and move the brush back and forth with short strokes, focusing on one or two teeth at a time. Allow the bristles reach into spaces between teeth as well as all the grooves and crevices. Avoiding scrubbing.

Toothbrushes should always be rinsed after use and stored in an upright position to air dry. Covering toothbrushes may lead to a growth in bacteria. Dentists usually recommend brushing teeth with soft-bristled brushes, as it is easier to damage tooth enamel with hard-bristled varieties.

  1. Floss in addition to brushing

Your daily oral health routine should involve flossing if it does not already. Cleaning between your teeth with dental floss or tape removes food particles and plaque that is hard to reach with a toothbrush. Eliminating food debris and plaque around teeth helps to avoid tooth decay and gums becoming infected and sore. The ideal time to floss is after each meal, when plaque is soft and therefore removed easily. If the plaque hardens, it can harden into tartar, something that can only be removed by the dentist.

Be prepared that your gums may be sore the first few times after flossing; this should stop after your oral hygiene has improved. If it doesn’t, seek professional advice.

  1. Visit a dentist regularly

For some people, visiting a dentist is something you only do when tooth pain or discomfort occurs. Dentists have a lot more to offer, especially regarding preventative care. Routine dental exams and cleanings are a vital part of maintaining good oral health in addition to your own at-home oral hygiene routine. Early detection of dental problems can help to avoid invasive treatment later. Dental hygienists not only perform routine cleanings to prevent periodontal (gum) disease but they also screen for important health conditions such as oral cancer. Your dentist can also advise you on proper flossing and brushing techniques to improve your at-home routine.

Taking care of your teeth and gums can significantly improve your overall health. Taking the care to brush teeth properly, floss regularly, drink plenty of water and visit the dentist are relatively easy fixes with potentially big results.  Making these small changes to your lifestyle may prevent serious health issues further down the line.

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10 Questions to Ask Before You Choose a New Dentist

10 Questions to Ask Before You Choose a New Dentist

Whether you’ve recently moved or just want a change, choosing a new dentist can be intimidating. With so many options out there it can be difficult to know where to start. Recommendations from friends and family can help to narrow down the choice, as well as location and convenience of a practice to you. Once you have a shortlist of potential dentists in mind, calling or visiting each practice is the next worthwhile step. Along with your own personal considerations, here are ten questions to ask potential dentists.

  1. How long have you been practicing and where?

Experience is often a great indicator of skill, but do not immediately rule out newly qualified dentists on this basis alone. A dentist who has practiced at the same location for a long time suggests they have a satisfied client base and a good reputation. Learning more about a dentist’s education and credentials can help build a clearer image of the type of care you will receive.

  1. Are you accepting new patients?

Potentially the most important question of all, the dentist must be accepting new clients for you to become a patient. Not all dentists continuously take on new patients, preferring to work with a certain number of people at one time.

  1. Do you accept my dental plan?

A major consideration for a lot of people is whether a practice accepts their dental plan. If your financial means are a concern, it may also be worth asking the dentist at this stage whether there are any payment plans available.

  1. Do you treat children?

If you have a young family, making sure the dentist accepts younger patients is important even if your children do not need dental care at the current time. Many family or pediatric dentists use special techniques and equipment to make visits more fun and less intimidating for children.

  1. What kind of service is available if I have an out-of-hours dental emergency?

The procedure for out-of-hours emergencies vary between dentists. Some practices offer extended clinic hours or on-call services, potentially with an extra charge. A common option for dentists is to make arrangements with a colleague or emergency referral service.

  1. What kind of techniques do you use to help relax patients?

Experiencing anxiety and apprehension before dental procedures is common. There are various types of an aesthesia dentists can use to assist patients in feeling more comfortable during dental treatment in addition to entertainment such as music and television. Some dentists pride themselves on their practice’s calming atmosphere.

  1. Do you have any testimonials I could look at?

Even with all of the reviews available online, it is still worth asking a dentist for testimonials from previous patients. They are likely to have some before and after photo comparisons, which help to create a visual image of the dentist’s skills and expertise. If there are no testimonials available to review, it may be a concern.

  1. Are you qualified in any dental specialties?

Aside from check-ups and other general dentistry tasks, you may require more complex procedures in future. It is helpful to learn the range and expertise of your dentist before this happens. Although most dentists have a wide array of knowledge, be wary if a practitioner claims to be a specialist in all dental areas.

  1. Do you take advantage of new dental technologies?

Advances in technology can significantly improve a patient’s experience and treatment at the dentist. As in other areas of science, dental technology is constantly advancing; some dentists embrace new concepts and equipment more than others.

  1. How do you keep up with new methods and technology in dentistry?

Like many other health professionals, registered dentists are compelled to continue their education throughout their career. Your dentist should be striving to keep up with treatment development, through continuing education courses and conferences.

 

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