Hygiene Tips from a Dentist

It always helps to know beforehand what you need to do to ensure your oral hygiene is up to scratch, especially from a professional within the industry. We’re here to help you keep the best dental hygiene habits at home, so we’ve compiled these top tips from your friendly neighbourhood dentist Lion Dental Centre in Birmingham.

Ensuring the correct brushing techniques

Believe it or not, there is a fine art to cleaning your teeth that can be easily mastered by all. One golden rule is to not brush too hard because brushing your teeth harder doesn’t make them cleaner. This kind of aggressive friction can create irritation to the gums and can cause them to bleed, especially if they are sensitive already, so it’s important to make sure you’re not pressing too hard. It’s advised to start your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and use short back and forth strokes to scrub away at your teeth carefully. Rotating the brush around the backs of your teeth will be able to cover any neglected areas where plaque and tarter build up behind the scenes.

 Flossing and mouthwash

You have probably heard the term ‘don’t forget to floss!’ in television shows or as comedic references but in actual fact, it’s a very important statement to say. Often neglected and when utilised, it could really transform your dental health at home. Flossing your teeth is just as important as brushing as it removes food debris and plaque between your teeth, a place where brushing simply can’t get to. Using antiseptic mouthwash also helps with these efforts, as the rinsing motion could act as an exfoliation tool which knocks any residual debris from tooth crevices.

Cut back on acidic and sugary drinks

Although tasty, acidic and sugary drinks like white wine and fizzy pop could be harming your teeth more than you know. White wine for example contains a lot of acid and if you’re a regular wine drinker, tracking back to your last drink will prove a bit troublesome. Constant sips of white wine increase your teeth’s exposure to the acids, and these sit on your teeth and work to erode your enamel. This is the same with the sugar amounts in carbonated drinks like lemonade and cola, the sugar content in each beverage is extremely high and when left on your teeth, invites bacteria to eat away at the enamel.

Visit your dentist and dental hygienist

We wouldn’t be doing our job as professionals if we didn’t remind you to visit your dentist and dental hygienist a minimum of 2 – 3 times a year. Your dentist can help you identify any problem areas in your teeth, such as cavities and decay, and your dental hygienist can work with you to better your gum health and perform professional cleanings. Both are dental professionals that are there to help you maintain the best oral hygiene, so it’s very important you utilise their services and try to not wait for something to go wrong before visiting.

If you’re now looking to book your next check-up, then feel free to get in touch with Lion Dental Centre in Stourbridge today to book your appointment.