Dental Health Advice from your London Dentist

A busy lifestyle might mean that you sometimes neglect to brush your teeth at night, but we’re here to assure you it’s absolutely necessary! To help you maintain the best dental health, your London dentist (that’s us) has put together some dental hygiene top tips to make sure you’re maximising your teeth cleaning and at-home habits. Are you following these vital bits of advice?

Dentist tip 1: How to correctly brush your teeth

Yes, you read correctly, there is a correct way to brush your teeth and there is also definitely a wrong way, too. A common myth is that if you brush your teeth harder, you’ll forcibly remove more plaque. This could actually make your teeth very sensitive, not to mention irritating the gums and causing bleeding. Instead, brush your teeth in small circular motions and a lot gentler than you may have been led to believe. Start with your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth and brush the front of your teeth. Then, rotate the brush and brush the backs of your teeth, as these are hidden surfaces that plaque will very eagerly begin to build up on.

Dentist tip 2: Are you brushing for long enough?

Just like there is a correct technique for brushing your teeth, there is also a correct time to do so for. If you’re done and out of the bathroom in 30 seconds, you’re cutting short your vital dental hygiene time. Brush your teeth twice a day, morning and night, for at least 2 minutes. You can partition this up into 30 seconds for front lower teeth, 30 seconds for back for the lower teeth, and repeat both for the upper teeth. An easy way to track this time is to listen to a song or podcast and simply change your brushing technique when each benchmark is hit on your phone screen. Or, simply activating a stopwatch on your mobile device would suffice too. Also, you should replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months, or sooner if the bristles are beginning to fray outwards before this time (if this is happening before 3-4 months, you’re probably brushing too hard).

Dentist tip 3: Don’t neglect flossing and mouthwash

Flossing and mouthwash are important steps to your dental hygiene routine! Your dentist will be able to spot which of their patients are and aren’t using these two steps in their at-home care. Flossing once a day helps to fight the onset of gum disease, which is incredibly common but frustratingly preventable. Flossing just once a day could save you gum irritation that may, in the long run, lead to the instability of your natural teeth. Using an antibacterial mouthwash will also perform a liquid exfoliation on your teeth, freshen your breath, and help to reduce the bacteria levels in your mouth that cause cavities and plaque. Your dentist and dental hygienist will thank you for following these steps.

Dentist tip 4: Actually visit the dentist!

Visiting the dentist is vital to your continued dental health, as regular appointments allow us to spot any warning signs in their early development and prevent them from worsening, always maintaining the best dental health we can for you. If you’re seeking a friendly yet high-quality dentist in London, contact a member of our team at Crescent Lodge Dental Practice today at 020 7622 5333.

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