Teeth and Gum Care Tips

 

Brush your teeth regularly. Brush at least twice a day and preferably after every meal and snack.

 

Use a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Fluoride can help kill bacteria, as well as make your teeth stronger.

 

Floss at least once a day. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between teeth and under the gumline, areas your toothbrush can not reach.

 

Visit your dental hygienist regularly for check-ups and cleanings - typically twice a year. This is the key to a healthy mouth.

 

Eat a variety of foods to maintain overall health. Eat fewer foods containing sugars and starches between meals.

 

 

 

Diet and dental health

 

 

You know that what you eat can make a difference in the way you feel and perform. That is why you should try to choose foods that will help your body stay strong and healthy. But did you know that your choice of foods and your eating patterns also may affect your dental health?

 

HOW DOES DIET AFFECT DENTAL HEALTH?

If your diet is low in certain nutrients, it may be harder for the tissues of your mouth to resist infection. This may be a contributing factor to periodontal (gum) disease, the main cause of tooth loss in adults. Although poor nutrition does not actually cause periodontal disease, many researchers believe that the disease progresses faster and is more severe in patients whose diet does not supply the necessary nutrients.

To make sure that you are getting enough nutrients for good general and oral health, you should choose foods from the four basic food groups: fruits and vegetables, breads and cereals, milk and dairy products, and meat, fish and eggs. When you do snack, avoid soft, sweet, sticky foods, such as cakes, candy and dried fruits, that cling to your teeth and promote tooth decay.

 

Instead, choose dentally healthy foods such as nuts, raw vegetables, plain yoghurt, cheese, popcorn and sugarless gum or candy. To have a diet that promotes dental health, you must develop sensible eating habits.

 

 

 

Links

 

Following are useful links of oral health and dental care:

 

CDHA (Canada Dental Hygienists Association) Oral Care Centre

 

College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta

 

P&G Professional Oral Health, Patient Resources

 

Dental Professional.ca, Dentin Sensitivity

 

Velscope, Oral Cancer Detection

 

Online Oral Health Management tool

 

Health Canada, Oral Health - Healthy Living

 

Dentistry Online