Taking Care of Your Mouth

Stefano Masilla

"Mens sana in corpore sano", it is an old Latin proverb for "a healthy mind (resides) in a healthy body" and, my dear patients, healthy teeth are essential for a healthy body. Even if you have beautiful teeth, it's vital to take the right course of action to look after them and prevent problems arising. Just taking a few moments out of your day to look after your mouth will mean you're more likely to keep your bellisimo smile for a lifetime. 

Here are some home care tips to help you keep that bright smile!

Don't go to bed without brushing your teeth

The general recommendation is to brush your teeth twice a day. This is not a secret, but still, many of us forget or choose not to clean our teeth at night. Unfortunately, at night the amount of saliva produced is severely reduced, and so your mouth is much more at risk of suffering from disease because your saliva helps protect teeth. Brushing your teeth, before going to bed, removes bacteria that have accumulated throughout the day and so you are putting your teeth at less risk. 

Brush effectively

The technique is as important as frequency; in fact, doing a poor job is almost as bad as not brushing at all. Take your time, moving the toothbrush in gentle, circular motions to remove plaque and remember all the tailored advice our hygienists give you. Unremoved plaque can become calcified (harden), leading to tartar buildup and gingivitis (early gum disease).

Click on the link to find a short tooth brushing tutorial: 

-Oral-B - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXAivWbnOw

- Phillips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4_MGFd2Sug

- Manual toothbrush - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iIGhqi57es 

Don't neglect your tongue

Plaque can also accumulate on your tongue: leading not only to bad breath but also to other oral health problems. Gently brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth. Better still, use a tongue scrape. You will be surprised what grot gathers on our tongues. 

Consider flossing as critical as brushing

Many who brush regularly neglect to floss. This is another common mistake. Flossing stimulates the gums, reduces plaque, lowers inflammation and removes food debris caught in the area in between the teeth. Flossing once a day is usually sufficient to gain all these benefits.

Don't let flossing difficulties stop you!

Flossing can be challenging, especially for teenagers (but getting out of bed is a challenge for this particular cohort :), or individuals with medical conditions such as arthritis. Rather than give up, ask your hygienist to show you alternative tools that can help you floss. 

Drink ample water

Water (not flavoured) continues to be the best drink for your general health, including oral health. My recommendation is to cut out squash and other soft drinks and drink plain water. This can help wash out some of the sticky and acidic foods in between brushes and so reduce their harmful effects. Drinking plenty of water also improves the quantity and quality of your saliva, which, as you now know, safeguards your teeth. 

Limit sugary, processed and acidic foods

Sugar and highly processed foods get converted into acid by bacteria in your mouth, which can then cause mineral loss and eventually cavities. Additionally, dietary acids from acidic fruits, teas, carbonated beverages etc. can also dissolve tooth tissue. While you don't necessarily have to avoid such foods altogether, try and consume them with moderation. 

An opinion piece on brushing during the Covid-19 Crisis

With the current Covid-19 crisis, we are all being very mindful that we aren't inadvertently helping to spread the disease. Unfortunately, with the lack of testing, we don't know if we are asymptomatic carriers of the Coronavirus, which is present in saliva.

Luckily a lot of toothpastes contain antimicrobial agents. If we do need to go out, just a spend a few minutes cleaning your teeth before you go out. It may just help in mitigating the spread of this dreadful disease. 

Visit your dentist regularly

We look for the earliest signs of disease including a thorough check for cancer so that we can help you without delay. With the current Covid-19 crisis we are not allowed to see patients, but fingers crossed we will be over the worst of it very soon and look forward to seeing you shortly thereafter and resuming our normal level of service.

Take care and stay safe,

Stefano Masilla.