5 New Year resolutions for great teeth and gums

Kick start your oral health this year with our top tips for achieving a beautiful and healthy smile.

1. Brush your teeth twice a day

Simple right! Brushing twice a day with a fluoride containing toothpaste is the single most important thing you can do to protect your teeth and gums. Tooth brushing and flossing physically removes the sticky plaque layer that builds up around your precious teeth and gums, protecting them from the damage it can cause. There is no magic toothpaste or mouthwash that does this job for you (despite what the adverts claim), meaning your are still going to have to brush for 2 minutes to remove it. Plaque is composed of various bacteria, that if left to build up, will release harmful chemicals and acids that cause gum disease and tooth decay. So get it off before it builds up and can cause any damage.

2. Cut down on sugar intake.

Okay, so not rocket science so far, but cutting down on how much and most importantly how often you have sugar will have a huge impact in reducing your risk of tooth decay. If you imagine that every time you have something to eat or drink (especially with sugar) the bacteria in plaque produce acid and it is this acid that causes the holes in teeth we call tooth decay. The graph below shows what happens in your mouth when you eat something and the pH level drops (becomes more acidic). When the level falls below the line on the graphs, called the critical pH, this is when tooth decay starts to happen. It takes around 20 minutes for saliva to neutralise the acid produced in your mouth. The different graphs show that the more frequently you eat or snack the more time the acid level is below the line meaning you are at a much greater risk of tooth decay.

Basically if you are going to eat sweets have them immediately after a meal : )

3. Get a check up

Regular check ups ensure we can keep your teeth and gums healthy and if there are any problems intercept and treat them before they become BIG problems. We can give you great advice and feedback specifically for your dental needs to ensure your are keeping your mouth in top tip condition. Some of the other things we do is screen for gum disease and oral cancer that can be difficult to notice in the early stages.

Another thing, dentistry has changed, gone are the days of the school dentist and dentists being really rough. We are all really friendly and gentle and will do our best to put you at ease and make coming to the dentist as stress free and painless as possible.

4. Visit the Hygienist

l'll let you in on a little secret - even if you "brush like a dentist" in the advert, we still get our teeth cleaned on a regular basis to clean off any harmful plaque or tartar that may have built up. Tartar is plaque that has calcified and hardened on to your teeth meaning that you can't remove it by brushing. That is why it's important to come in regularly to have the tartar removed before it can cause gums disease and other things like bad breath.

5. Get professional advice

If you are interested in improving your smile and fancy some cosmetic work like teeth whitening or dental veneers speak to us about it. We have years of training and experience and will advise you about the full range of treatments available and what is best for you in the LONG TERM. DIY dental treatments like online teeth whitening are not only illegal (see GDC -

https://www.gdc-uk.org/information-standards-guidance/information-on-dental-treatment/tooth-whitening-and-illegal-practice

) but they could do serious harm to your teeth and gums if done incorrectly or not in the right cases.

We hope you enjoyed reading and found a few of these tips helpful. If you would like any more information or to book an appointment message us at

surgery@borlandmorton.co.uk

or via the website. Alternatively, please call the practice on 01698 286726.