World Oral Health Day held on 20th March aims to empower people with the knowledge, tools and confidence to attain good oral health. With oral disease affecting nearly 3.5 billion people globally, now more than ever it is important to “be proud of your mouth”.
By adopting the theme of “Be Proud of Your Mouth”, the World Dental Federation is hoping to “motivate people to value and take care of their mouths and understand that by doing so, they can also help protect their general health and well-being.”
Oral diseases lead to pain and discomfort, social isolation, and loss of self-confidence, and they are often linked to other serious health issues. And yet, there is no reason to suffer: most oral health conditions are largely preventable and can be treated in their early stages.
A healthy smile doesn’t only benefit your mouth. It also helps you achieve better physical health and mental wellbeing.
The good news is that a healthy mouth is easy to achieve. The highly experienced and caring team at Warnervale Dental have put together their top tips for a healthier mouth you can be proud of:
1. Always Brush Before Bed
Brushing before bed is crucial to a healthy mouth because our mouths produce less saliva while we sleep and therefore not protecting our teeth as it does while we are awake. This leads to more acid production by bacteria which can result in decay. Brush twice a day for two minutes morning and night as recommended by your dentist or oral health therapist.
2. Not cleaning between the teeth, misses half the tooth
Flossing or interdental brushes and brushing go hand in hand when it comes to importance. This practice helps remove food and plaque stuck between teeth that brushing alone will miss. Which can lead to too much plaque being trapped between the teeth which can result in decay and/or gum disease.
3. Swish, Spit and Don’t Rinse
Brush for 2 minutes, swish the toothpaste around your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit out the remainder. Don’t eat or rinse your mouth for at least 30 minutes.
4. Don’t Forget Your Tongue
Maybe the expression “brushing your teeth” should be traded in for “cleaning your mouth” as there are many important areas to be cleansed apart from your teeth themselves! The tongue is a hotbed for bacteria and needs to be brushed or scraped daily to remove build-up that can lead to plaque and bad breath.
5. Sugar Isn’t Your Friend
We’ve heard it all our lives, but it still remains true: sugar is terrible for teeth. Avoid sugary drinks, lollies, and other high-sugar food, as sugar causes the bacteria in your mouth to release acids and eventually leads to tooth decay and cavities.
6. It’s Never Too Early or Too Late
World Oral Health Day is the perfect time to evaluate your oral health, improve your routine and help others in your household do the same.
For children, it’s never too early to learn about the importance of great oral health and how to achieve it. On the other hand, if you, or someone you know, has got into some bad habits, it’s never too late for you to make a positive change and improve your oral health.
7. Regular dental visits
We recommend regular visits to your dental hygienist or oral health therapist. On average, a visit every six months would ensure that any potential oral disease would be caught early and therefore minimise the need for complex dental treatment. This would save you money and time in the long run!
Our friendly and gentle Oral Health Therapist, Georgia along with the rest of the Warnervale Dental team are here to get you smiling and help you to be proud of your month!
Contact us to book an appointment today!