Whether you have dainty little toothy pegs or tombstones, it’s important to take oral hygiene seriously. Fiona Adams gets some advice
I have a confession to make: up until the end of 2017 I hadn’t visited a dentist for three years. It wasn’t necessarily fear that kept me away (though I once held the view that I’d rather give birth than have another wisdom tooth extracted), but more a case of never getting round to it. I took my children, of course, but simply forgot about myself.
Needless to say when I eventually made my appointment, there were a number of friends who gleefully expected a grim report. Much to their disappointment, I was pleased – nay, smug – to report that my dentist had pronounced my teeth to be in excellent health with no fillings needed.
Before anyone writes me a horrified letter, let me explain that despite my recent lack of dental visits, I am, however, an assiduous cleaner of my gnashers, treating them to a nightly floss and – if I’m feeling up to it – an interdental brush. After my parents spent hundreds of pounds back in the 80s getting them nice and straight, it’s the least I can do – and, yes, I’ve now vowed to keep up with frequent check-ups.
However, while most us do visit the dentist on a regular basis and stick to a twice-daily cleaning routine, there are frightening statistics to indicate that for some – particularly children – ‘pearly whites’ are nothing more than an advertising dream.
According to the British Dental Association, “tooth decay is the number one reason for child hospital admissions” in the UK with the Local Government Association reporting that there are around 170 tooth extractions per day on under-18s with 42,911 extractions made in 2016-17; this is a rise of more than 20% since 2010. Around 40% of children do not visit the dentist on an annual basis.
Fizzy drinks, sweets and high sugar content in foods are among the chief dental offenders for the young (combined with poor hygiene), but according to the charity behind National Smile Month (May 14–June 14), 33% of adults also have tooth decay. While sugar must take some of the blame, much is down to sheer laziness. The charity claims that one in ten adults regularly forgets to brush their teeth and less than a quarter use dental floss on a regular basis with one in three people never having used it. Another recent US survey (of 2,000 18-34-year-olds) found that a third of those asked only brushed their teeth once a day, leaving them open to a whole mouthful of horrors, from gingivitis, cavities, halitosis and permanent loss of teeth.
If all that doesn’t have you reaching for your toothbrush, then nothing will.
Get your teeth in to...
Most of us know about the food and drink that are bad for our gnashers, but what about foods that are good for them?
Cheese: Aside from calcium and protein that strengthen tooth enamel it has been found that eating cheese raises the PH level in the mouth and helps lower the risk of tooth decay.
Yoghurt Probiotics: Found in yoghurt, these can help your gums as the good bacteria crowd out the bad bacteria that cause fillings, but choose plain varieties that do not contain added sugar.
Leafy greens: Veg such as kale and spinach are high in calcium, which builds enamel, as well as folic acid, which is especially good for pregnant women, who can suffer from gum disease.
Apples, carrots and celery: These are all high in fibre (plus a high water content) and the action of eating them produces saliva, which helps to rinse away bacteria and food particles – a bit like a natural toothbrush. The fibrous texture of apples, for example, stimulates your gums, which can also benefit from the Vitamin A in carrots and celery.
Almonds: Low in sugar but a good source of calcium and protein; almonds also require quite a bit of chewing!
Expert Tips…
Children
- Start cleaning babies’ teeth as soon as they appear (between 6–9months).
- Use a soft brush and fluoride toothpaste
- Never add a sugary product to bottles
- Avoid refined sugar and keep snacks to a minimum
- Get them used to going to the dentist at a young age
Teenagers
- Fizzy drinks should be banned – encourage your teens to avoid them
- Regular check-ups are essential at this (potentially lazy) age
Danger signs
- Unusual features, such as ulcers that won’t heal
- White patches around the mouth or tongue
- Odd lesions or moles around the mouth
Advice: Alison Moore; causewaydental.co.uk
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