National Smile Month is a charity campaign to champion the benefits of having good oral health and promoting the value of a healthy smile. This year it runs between 13th May and 13th June 2024, with the theme being Love your smile!
A key part to loving your smile is to ensure your teeth and mouth are healthy. Regular dental check-ups and hygiene cleans will help with this, alongside a good toothbrushing regimen at home.
Here are four key messages of National Smile Month, as recommended by the Oral Health Foundation.
Brushing for two minutes, twice a day, making sure to include a thorough clean before bedtime with a fluoride toothpaste is key to maintaining good oral health. It is important to supervise young children’s brushing, especially as statistics show that over a fifth of 5-year-olds in England have dental decay (Gov.uk, 2023)!
Daily brushing removes plaque, a sticky biofilm of bacteria that constantly forms on teeth. The bacteria feed on food debris and produce plaque acid, which if not removed by thorough cleaning can breakdown the enamel of teeth, causing cavities. Plaque can also harden into tartar, which should be removed by a dentist, dental hygienist or periodontist.
It is important to use a toothpaste with at least 1450ppm fluoride, which helps protect teeth from cavities. You should spit out the toothpaste after brushing and not rinse with water, as this will wash the protective effects of fluoride away. Fluoride continues to help protect and strengthen the tooth enamel, making it more resistant to tooth decay.
You can also use a fluoride mouthwash in between brushing to help rinse out food debris and stop plaque from building-up on your gums, in between your teeth and on the surface of your teeth. Mouthwash can help to freshen our breath by killing the bacteria associated with bad breath. A fluoride mouthwash can be used daily in addition to brushing your teeth twice a day.
Watch our dental hygienist, Gillian, show how to clean your teeth effectively at home:
Regular professional teeth cleaning prevents the build up of plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line, which if left untreated can lead to gum (periodontal) disease. Initial symptoms of gum disease include bleeding gums or bad breath. With treatment it can be controlled, but if left untreated it can eventually lead to tooth loss.
Working in partnership with your dentist or periodontist, our hygienists play an essential role in the successful prevention and treatment of gum disease. They will closely monitor the health of your mouth, thoroughly deep clean your teeth and offer advice on how to maintain good dental hygiene at home.
Eating sweet treats throughout the day puts teeth under constant attack by acid-producing bacteria, increasing your risk of cavities and tooth decay. We recommend reducing the amount of sugary food and drinks and limiting to meal times only.
Remember to drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and your mouth healthy; drinking water after each meal or snack helps wash away food particles from your teeth and prevents dry mouth and bacterial growth that leads to tooth decay. Fluoridated tap water additionally strengthens teeth enamel and helps prevent cavities.
A diet balanced in vitamins, minerals, fresh fruit and vegetables is good for your overall health as well as helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Take time to cook healthy recipes and ensure you have some rest days from alcohol.
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy is vital for your long-term health. Regular visits to your dentist and hygienist, as often as they recommend, can keep your teeth and gums in excellent condition and help prevent problems developing. This preventive approach to dental care means that any issues can be identified early, enabling prompt treatment.
Clinicians also perform mouth cancer checks at all routine appointments, enabling early detection and treatment.
It may be that you hide your smile as you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth. Whether you want your teeth to be whitened, straightened, reshaped or replaced, the team at Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic offer an extensive range of cosmetic dental treatments to help restore confidence in your smile.
