Basic tools for Keeping your Teeth Healthy

Keeping your teeth, gums and mouth healthy doesn’t have to be complicated. In your quest for oral health, keep these three basics in your kit, and you’ll be well on your way!

Toothbrush

While an electric toothbrush will definitely make it easier for you to clean hard-to-reach parts of your teeth, a regular toothbrush will do just fine if you wield it properly. Use it to clean all the surfaces of your teeth, including reaching back to your molars and wisdom teeth. Replace it regularly – a new toothbrush every change of season is easy to remember! Let it dry uncovered after every use – and don’t share it with anyone, to avoid the transfer of microbes from one mouth to another. Brushing your teeth at least once a day, every day, is the most important step in keeping your teeth healthy.

Toothpaste

Toothpaste works on several different fronts to keep your teeth in peak health. Aside from its abrasive properties that remove food and plaque, toothpastes deliver active ingredients to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Commonly, this means fluoride, but also antibacterial agents, as well as remineralisers that aid in the reformation of tooth enamel. Toothpastes also help suppress bad breath, and leave your mouth feeling pleasantly fresh – and there’s nothing wrong with such luxuries!

Dental Floss

It’s true. We can definitely tell if you don’t floss regularly! This has become a running dental joke, but the truth is: if your gums bleed, it means there is an underlying problem. Flossing can help with this! Flossing your teeth means that you’re able to get between the surfaces of your teeth where your brush cannot reach, to remove plaque and food remnants. To use it properly, make sure to guide the floss underneath your gum line to remove the plaque and buildup that accumulates there too. This is the only way to reach those spots yourself, and the only way to ensure you’re doing everything you can to keep your gums healthy.

If you have any questions or concerns about your oral health, contact us on 09 426 5262, or email us on team@dentalsuite. co.nz at any time. We’ll be happy to help!

The Dental Suite | Silverdale