This year for Dental Health Week (August 1st – 7th) the Australian Dental Association is asking Aussies to show their teeth some love!
You might think it doesn’t really matter if you miss a bit of flossing, skimp on the thoroughness of your brushing, or tell your dental professional “thanks, but no thanks, I’ll see you in 2024”. But of course, like anything that’s necessary and good for you, it does matter and it’s definitely worth adding to your list of daily To Do’s.
Our lives are jam packed but its pretty simple to make dental hygiene a key part of your day. Here are five ways to show your teeth some love!
Care for your teeth by brushing twice every day.
A quick dash along your teeth with your toothbrush just doesn’t cut it. We encourage brushing for a full 2 minutes twice daily (morning and at night before bed). Try following the same routine every time you brush to make sure you reach all tooth surfaces effectively. Toothbrushing is a skill that takes time to develop and requires adjustment of technique to remain effective throughout the different stages of our life. If you have trouble using a manual toothbrush, an electric toothbrush can be like a magic wand! Electric toothbrushes can make it easier to do a better job with your brushing. Your Medland Dentist or Hygienist can help you perfect your brushing technique at your Active Maintenance appointments.
Spoil your teeth by flossing to clean in between them every day.
Cleaning in between our teeth can make a big difference to how our mouth functions on a day-to-day basis and in the long run, how our body functions too. Let’s be honest, it’s an annoying chore but the daily disruption of bacteria or ‘biofilm’ in between our teeth plays a huge role in the prevention of oral and systemic disease. Cleaning in between the teeth is recommended for both adults and children. Your Medland Dentist or Hygienist can help you to find a time of day and an option that works best for you (floss, water flosser, interdental brush or floss holder).
Take your teeth on a date to the dentist.
Seeing the same dental professionals at every appointment means that they get to know you AND your teeth. This continuity of care improves their ability to recognise changes and make recommendations specific to you as an individual. We encourage regular visits to make sure that there is a strong focus on prevention of dental issues.
Treat your teeth to tooth friendly foods and drinks.
Food and drinks we consume each day can impact the health of our teeth. In particular, food and drinks high in sugar can increase the risk of developing tooth decay. The World Health Organisation recommends adults limit their daily sugar intake from both foods and drinks to 6 teaspoons (24 grams) of sugar per day. Remembering the rule that 4 grams of sugar equals one teaspoon can help you to quickly asses the sugar content of the food or drink your are consuming. Limiting snacking throughout the day and drinking plenty of tap water are simple ways to care for our teeth.
Show your teeth love by using them for their intended purpose.
Teeth are made to chew and smile. They are not made for opening bottles or packets. Habits like these can increase the risk of breaking or cracking our teeth. Love your teeth by only using them for their intended purpose.
We look forward to sharing our top tips for showing your teeth some love throughout dental health week. The Medland Dental Tooth fairy will again be flying in to visit our local Kindergarten and Daycare centres to help our local community learn to show their teeth some love!
