How do I keep my teeth healthy?

You’ve probably heard how important it is to keep your teeth and gums clean. After all, healthy teeth help you to eat, speak, and smile. Research has also found that the health of your mouth is linked to your overall health. So, how can you be sure you’re cleaning your teeth the right way? And is there anything else you could be doing to maintain healthy teeth for life?

Here I’ll share four ways to take care of your teeth.

2. Clean in between your teeth

Flossing should also be a key part of your daily teeth cleaning routine. It removes food and plaque from the places your toothbrush can’t reach – like between your teeth and below your gumline. It can help to prevent tooth decay and promote healthy gums.

There are lots of tools to help you clean between your teeth, including:

• dental floss
• dental tape
• interdental brushes
• electric water flossers

It’s up to you which one you choose. But if you have advanced gum disease (periodontitis) and large gaps between your teeth and gums, a bigger interdental brush might work better for you. If you’re not sure which to use, ask your dentist for advice.

To clean in between your teeth correctly:

• floss at least once a day before brushing
• clean in between every single tooth, top and bottom, including behind your back teeth, and around any dental crowns, bridges or implants
• if you’re using an interdental brush, hold the handle and gently slide the floss or bristles between your teeth. Gently massage your gums whilst moving the bristles between your teeth. If you have to force it, choose a smaller brush
• if you’re using traditional floss or tape, take about 45cm of floss and hold 5cm of it taut between your thumbs and forefingers. Curve it into a c-shape, and gently rock it up and down between each tooth, scraping along the sides. Remember to keep the floss close to the tooth on each side and make sure it goes between your gum and tooth too

3. Make healthy lifestyle choices

Brushing and flossing aren’t the only things you can do to protect your oral health. The lifestyle choices you make every day also play a big role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Here are some simple habits that can make a difference.

Watch how often you eat sugary and acidic foods.

The sugar found in foods like sweets, pastries and biscuits feed off the bacteria in your mouth and make acids. Over time, these acids can damage your teeth and cause painful holes to form.

Acidic foods such as citrus fruits and fizzy drinks also wear away the outer layer of your teeth (enamel), causing tooth erosion.

So, try to reduce how often you eat sugary and acidic food and drinks. Keep them to mealtimes only and choose tooth-friendly foods like fruit, vegetables, and calcium-rich dairy foods, milk and water when you can.

Drink plenty of water.

Water plays a key role in keeping your mouth clean and fresh by rinsing away food particles and bacteria and neutralising acids. It also helps prevent dry mouth – a condition that can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Some water supplies are also fortified with fluoride, which is a natural mineral that helps to strengthen your tooth enamel and protect against cavities.

Reduce your alcohol intake.

Some alcoholic drinks and mixers are also acidic and high in sugar, which can increase your risk of tooth decay. They can also dry out your mouth, and when your saliva is reduced, bacteria can multiply, damage your gums and make your breath smell bad. Drinking alcohol also increases your risk of mouth cancer, and certain drinks, like red wine, can stain your teeth  too. So if you do drink, it’s a good idea to cut back as much as possible to protect your oral health.

Stop smoking if you need to.

Smoking can stain your teeth, cause bad breath and leave a bad taste in your mouth. But it can also increase your risk of gum disease, tooth loss and mouth cancer. So if you do smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for both your oral and overall health.

4. Visit your dentist and hygienist regularly

It’s important to schedule regular check-ups with your dentist. Don’t wait until there’s a problem with your teeth to book an appointment. Your dentist will:

• check the health of your mouth, neck, jaws, teeth and gums
• find and treat any problems early
• give you personalised toothcare advice

Your dentist can let you know how often they’d like to see you.

It’s also a good idea to see a dental hygienist once or twice a year. They can give your mouth a professional deep clean and polish, remove plaque from hard-to-reach places and help prevent future dental problems.