Dr. Hamilton shares his thoughts on oral health for 2021.
Well let's face it, when it comes to the month of December we all start to think about what we will do differently in the new year to come. Some of us write down affirmations, lists, things to conquer. A lot of the time it’s looking at improving quality of food intake, increasing exercise, taking up a new hobby or figuring out the best balance of work and home life. As we are kicking off 2021, I wanted to take the time to add something to those lists - Oral Health.
We’ve discussed in earlier editions of our blog the importance of oral health, so if you are looking for some more in-depth information check out the blog article here.
Taking care of your food intake is critical in maintaining oral health overall. So here are some quick tips for 2021 for nutrition.
Photo by Melissa Askew on Unsplash
Our bodies need nutritious foods to help form and maintain healthy bones and teeth. Some of the nutrients we need from food includes calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, Omega 3, and fluoride.
It is important that we eat a balanced diet, examples of healthy foods that are also good for your teeth may include:
Raw vegetables or salads
Hard boiled eggs
Nuts and seeds
Plain milk, yogurt, and cheese
Try to reduce consumption of the following as they can cause acid erosion:
Lemon water and lemonade
Carbonated beverages
Soft drinks
Orange juice
Tea and Coffee
So what do we recommend your dental routine should be for 2021?
Brush your teeth at least twice a day: once in the morning, and once right before going to bed.
Be sure to use only a soft or extra soft toothbrush (electric or manual are both fine, brushing technique is the important thing). Hard or even medium bristled toothbrushes can wear away your gums and cause gingival recession.
Flossing should be done at least once a day, to remove food debris and plaque away from the areas that your toothbrush cannot reach.
Using some form of mouth rinse once or twice a day (example: Listerine, Colgate, Oral B, etc) can also increase the uptake of fluoride in your teeth making them stronger, and help to reduce the harmful bacteria in your mouth.
Now that you have some tips on food and your daily dental routine, all that we have left to cover is how many times you should be going to the dentist.
We recommend the following for the average patient (if you are experiencing any severe pain or discomfort please call your dentist).
Cleanings should be done every 6 months if no active gum disease is present. If you do have active gum disease, your hygienist will help set the appropriate cleaning interval that will best maintain your oral health.
Checkups should be done every 6 months, and routine x-rays taken at least once per year. Specific problems or emergencies may require additional examinations and radiographs.
If you’d like more information or to chat with someone at our clinic about our services please don’t hesitate to give us a call!