Follow these tips for a healthy smile!
Benefits:
Reduces need for dental treatment
Helps build confidence
Improves tastebuds
Helps control bad breath
Soothes a dry mouth
Helps prevent progress of other health conditions (e.g. cardiac disease, diabetes, dementia, aspiration pneumonia).
Good Habits
- Change your toothbrush every three months (help the environment by choosing a biodegradable one!)
- Brush twice a day
- Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste
- Use interdental brushes or floss daily
- Watch in the mirror while you are brushing (this is ‘you’ time – no interruptions!) i
- If you are a parent, brush with your children… they will copy and get used to brushing for two minutes
Diet
- Limit sugar intake to your three main meals
- Reduce carbohydrates as they turn to sugar as you eat
- Do not snack
- When you do have something sugary, eat it all at once!
- Make meals from scratch – you can regulate the sugar and fat intake
- Drink water throughout the day
Dental Techniques
- Brush for 2 minutes: 30 seconds on the outside, inside, top and bottom, totalling 2 minutes. Then brush the tops of your teeth
- Use a smudge of toothpaste or toothpaste tablets (no plastic waste!)
- Brush for at least two minutes (listen to your favourite tune whilst brushing)
- Check your children’s teeth. Stand behind them, let them lean on your arm, tilt their head back and off you go!
- Get the technique right – ask Flying Smiles to show you!
For more information on Oral Health, consult these Professional links:
About Dental Hygienists:
Regulations:
Oral Health:
Public information about Gum Disease:
Regulations:
Health Education – film on Dementia: