5 top tips for teeth and gum health — Mhari Coxon, Dental Hygienist
1. Brush your teeth …well
Brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. When timed, most people only brush for 30 seconds when a dentist recommends two minutes, twice a day. Using a Sonicare toothbrush helps to ensure you brush well and for long enough every time.
2. Clean between the teeth you want to keep
Cleaning in between the teeth is important for tooth, gum and general health. Try to clean in between the teeth once a day every day. Sonicare AirFloss is a powerful alternative to string floss
3. You are what you eat
Eating a healthy balanced diet is important for our health generally. Watch for hidden sugars in food. Honey, dried fruit and syrups are also high in sugar. It is best to keep sweet treats as part of a meal and to drink plain water between meals.
4. Visit your dentist regularly and ask for advice
If no one has ever shown you, next time you visit your dentist, take your toothbrush and ask them to show you how to use it well. It really can make an amazing difference with no extra effort or time.
5. Don’t brush after eating
When we eat, our mouth becomes acidic for around 20 minutes. If we brush in this time, we can cause wear on our tooth surface permanently.
