As part of National Smile Month run by the Oral Health Foundation (15th May–15th June 2023) the aim is to promote a good teeth brushing routine twice a day, as well as share information; here we look at your mouth.
The mouth is one of your greatest assets - it is used for speaking, eating, drinking and sometimes breathing. It helps you communicate your thoughts and emotions in relationships, every day life and your career. Your mouth is something to look after and celebrate, so it make sense to keep your mouth (teeth, gums, tongue and lips) healthy and cared for, at all ages.
Look after your teeth and mouth
Babies often start teething at around 6 months old and will continue until all 20 baby teeth come through, usually by the age of 30 months. At around 6 years old, the adult teeth will begin to appear. This will continue until all the adult teeth, except the wisdom teeth, have come through at around 14 years old; wisdom teeth may appear any time between 18 and 25 years of age.
Teeth need to be cleaned from when they first appear to the second adult teeth appearing. Babies and young children will need their teeth cleaned for them, and children supervised up until at least 7 year's old and able to do it well themselves, though always best to check!
It is important to clean teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste. For babies and young children use a toothpaste that contains at least 1000ppm (parts per million) of fluoride. After 3 years old, use a toothpaste that contains 1350ppm to 1500ppm. You should make sure you do not rinse but spit out the toothpaste, and to not swallow any if possible. Adults should ensure they also clean between their teeth using dental floss or interdental brushes.
If you don't look after your teeth and gums properly you could suffer from a number of different conditions:
Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, using dental floss and interdental brushes, reducing sugar in your diet to mealtimes only and seeing your dentist regularly will help prevent these problems or enable a treatment plan to be put in place.
Reduce sugar to mealtimes only
The main cause of tooth decay for all ages is not the amount of sugar or acid in the diet, but how often it is eaten or drunk. It is important to reduce sugary and acidic foods, and also keep them to mealtimes only. Snacks between meals can be cheese, rice cakes, breadsticks, raw vegetables and fresh fruit; try to limit how much dried fruit you eat as it is high in sugar. Be aware of sugars in drinks, including fruit juices. Water is a great option! Generally anything ending in ‘ose' is a sugar, for example: fructose, glucose, lactose or sucrose.
Thorough brushing with a fluoride toothpaste last thing at night, and at least one other time during the day, will help to prevent tooth decay.
See your dentist regularly
Regular check-ups from a young age will ensure a good oral health routine is established, will help prevent tooth decay and will identify any other problems early; the sooner any problems are found, the quicker they can be resolved. Importantly, mouth cancer checks are performed at all routine appointments, so they are important for your general health as well as your oral health.
Our clinicians at Elmsleigh House Dental Clinic are here to help you keep your teeth as healthy as possible for life. We see patients of all ages for general and family dentistry, and are valued for our high-quality and consistent care. We offer a comprehensive range of services in a welcoming environment, and our experienced team of dentists, surgeons, hygienists and technicians is dedicated to ensuring all patients are happy with their teeth and smile.
