Are you unhappy with how your teeth look and feel? Chances are, you’re not paying enough attention to your dental hygiene. And you’re not alone. Thousands of Brits sport yellow or cavity-riddled teeth, oral issues that are entirely preventable. Our team at Sandown Dental has a few tips and tricks up their sleeves that will help you improve upon your oral health and hygiene.

Regular checkups at the dentist in East Belfast are essential

Those bi-annual appointments at the dentist in East Belfast form an essential part of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. But why are these checkups so necessary? It’s simple; we’re able to identify small issues before they become larger ones that require more extensive treatments. For example, we’re able to diagnose the early signs of gingivitis before the gum condition advances to periodontitis.

Focus on the basics – brushing and flossing

Countless individuals don’t brush their teeth correctly or long enough. The below tips will help you to eliminate harmful bacteria from your mouth effectively.

Apply a pea-sized blob of fluoridated toothpaste to a medium-bristled toothbrush. Brush the surfaces of your teeth using a gentle circular motion and an up-down movement for the chewing surfaces.

While the head of your toothbrush is small, it’s not small enough to reach food caught in the crevices of your teeth, which is why it’s so important to follow up with flossing to reach those hidden particles. If you aren’t sure how to floss, ask our dentist in East Belfast for a demonstration. Flossing incorrectly not only won’t have an impact, but it could be harmful to your gums.

It’s important to teach your children how to brush their teeth so that they don’t experience severe dental problems as adults. However, we know that it can be a challenge to do so with smaller offspring because they might not have the patience to brush their teeth for two-to-three minutes. Turn the activity into a fun game where the winner gets a prize.

Maintain excellent hygiene by eating healthily

Watching what you eat isn’t just important for your overall health, but also your oral and digestive health. It might be time to cut or minimise some things from your diet to save yourself from dental caries and nasty gum conditions in the future.  Try to limit your intake of sugar, acidic food, and don’t go overboard on carbs, however delicious they might be. If you are a fan of the occasional soft drink, make sure to drink the beverage in one sitting, rather than taking the occasional sip for hours. Tooth-friendly food comes in the form of lean meat, such as chicken and fish, fibre-rich fruits, most vegetables, and dairy products. Interestingly, cheese, fruits and vegetables help to keep your teeth clean by producing saliva that washes away food particles. If you like to snack between meals, stick to nutritious treats rather than sweets. Afterwards, chew on a stick of sugarless gum as this will stimulate saliva production. Drink lots of water throughout the day as it contains a fluoride count that reduces teeth decay substantially.