Do you sometimes imagine the future, when you’re 80 years old? Wonderfully content after a delightful meal of soup, and softened bread; heading off to get into your pyjamas, and before climbing into bed, taking your teeth out and giving them a good brush, and then laying them on the bedside table before giving your partner a gummy kiss goodnight?
Do you sometimes imagine the future, when you’re 80 years old? Wonderfully content after a delightful meal of soup, and softened bread; heading off to get into your pyjamas, and before climbing into bed, taking your teeth out and giving them a good brush, and then laying them on the bedside table before giving your partner a gummy kiss goodnight?
Nahhhhhhh me either!!!
QUELLE HORREUR!
Phew, let me just catch my breath and calm my rapidly beating heart from that little nightmare. Right. You back with me?
I’m pretty sure NONE of us envisage our older selves with decaying bodies willingly, and we certainly don’t see ourselves aging in a bad/ugly way. Hey! I see myself still being ‘hip’ and with it and you know.. a rockin’ mum! (Shhhh let me have my dreams, we all need them)
So, what’s the point of this little blog today? It’s to let you in on a secret. It’s okay, it’s one you can share with your friends, and it’s not the kind of secret that you have to kill a person after you’ve told them. Althoughhhhhhh.. no, no you really don’t.
The secret I’m letting you in on, is the secret of healthy teeth for life. And you know what; it’s really not too difficult. It’s never too late to start looking after your teeth, although of course the younger you are when you start, the less trouble you may have later in life.
Brushing: we all know it’s important to brush your teeth. Did you know though that brushing twice a day is highly recommended (before and after meals) and ideally (!!!) for two minutes at a time. The easiest way to do this (and, it breaks it up a little for you as well), is to brush each quadrant of your mouth for 30 seconds at a time. So divide your mouth into 4 parts, and then just brush the inside and outside of each quarter for 15 seconds. Easy peasy!!
Brushing technique: Uhuh – it’s all in the way you brush. Long horizontal strokes are what you’ve been doing? Sorry, but that’s a big no-no if you want to keep your teeth from wearing and getting sensitive. Short, soft, circular strokes are the way to go, with your toothbrush angled against the gum line – approximately 45 degrees.
Flossing: yep, you knew that one was coming didn’t you? It really is important. Your toothbrush can’t get in between your teeth (unless of course you have the old ‘picket fence’ type teeth and then, you’ve got nooooo worries!). And if your toothbrush can’t get in there, you can bet your little bippies that nasty foods and germs can, and that’s when plaque begins to form. Flossing aids in removing this early, and hopefully stopping any teeth from getting cavities.
Mouthwash: this is more of a personal preference. They’re not really necessary if you’re brushing and flossing correctly. But if they make you feel fresher and happier, go for it! But rinsing your mouth out after eating is good practise to get into – especially if it’s been something very sweet and sugary and you know you won’t be able to brush them for a while.
Nutrition: a healthy diet means healthy teeth. The more sugary and acidic foods you consume, the more attention you need to focus on your teeth. We all know sugary foods are bad for our bodies and general health, but they’re also bad for our teeth! There is no need to cut them out of your diet altogether (pfffft none of us are perfect), but try and learn to limit them.
Regular dental visits: Uhuh – just as much as an apple a day keeps the doctor away, two dental check-ups a year, can keep bad teeth away. That’s all it takes! Regular check-ups, along with a scale and clean (calculus removal and topical fluoride application) twice a year. We do recommend x-rays every two to three years to check in between your teeth (remember the flossing? Yep – the dentist will know whether you floss or not almost without asking, he’s kind of a magician).
Now, for those of you with young children, there is a way you can start your kids on the healthy teeth for life trail. The governments Child Dental Benefits Scheme has started this year, and to find out if YOUR child will benefit, feel free to give us a call!
Nat Bowser