December 10, 2019

Your Dentist Know Best!

Patients often forget that their oral health requires a lifetime’s worth of care. Failure to follow the recommendations of a dentist in Edinburgh and patients will almost always find themselves in the dental chair seeking treatment for any number of concerning issues. Dental issues are by and large progressive problems, which is why implementing and maintaining preventive habits is definitely better than having to undergo invasive treatments.




Survey data released by Simply Health collected in a 2019 study indicates that six per cent of adults avoid the dental chair. The reasons listed are diverse and include; affordability (35 per cent), dental phobia (36 per cent) and treatment not considered necessary (11 per cent). Avoiding the dental chair for whatever reason is not responsible, as only a professional eye is best able to reliably detect potential future problems and prescribe an appropriate plan to get the oral health of a patient back on track.

Pre-emptive dental care recommended by dental practitioners
An annual check-up appointment is mandatory as this is the only sure way to know whether one’s teeth and gums are in optimal condition. The following pre-emptive behaviours go a long way to protecting the mouth’s health.

Brush teeth last thing at night
The benefit of brushing teeth just before going to bed is to remove leftover bits of food in the mouth and remove the build-up of bacteria that can accumulate during the day. Once teeth and gums are cleaned, patients should abstain at all costs from eating and drinking until the next morning.




Brush as directed by a dental practitioner
Putting a toothbrush’s bristles to teeth is only the first step. Proper brushing techniques will effectively clean teeth and gums (don’t forget the tongue!). Brushing movements should be gentle (and using a circular motion) so as to not damage enamel or hurt the gums.

Don’t skip the flossing
Many patients consider brushing their teeth is good enough and will skip on the flossing. Flossing has its own benefits which is why it is one of the top golden rules to keep mouths clean. In addition to getting rid of food stuck between teeth, flossing is also relied upon to stimulate the gums and reduce the development of inflammation.

Additional recommendations suggested by the Oral Health Foundation are highlighted below.

Restrict snacking to twice a day at most
Busy work schedules make meeting nutritional needs a challenge, but it is a worthwhile aim for patients to ensure they have good proper meals. It is easy to reach for carb-rich foods and sugary snacks and drinks to compensate for tiredness and hunger. Both types have a detrimental effect on teeth and gums.




Chew sugar-free gum
Chewing gum (sugar-free is best) has a number of benefits for teeth: it keeps the mind off food, stimulates the production of saliva, protects the teeth against acid attacks and promotes the remineralisation of teeth.

Avoid using teeth for non-eating purposes
Dental practitioners often urge patients to refrain from using teeth as a tool to open things like bottle caps or hard nuts. These behaviours put teeth at increased risk of chipping or cracking.

The best thing a patient can do for their teeth is to schedule a dental check-up as soon as possible. Call your dental clinic now.


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