Good oral hygiene is a key contributor to your overall health and well-being. It helps towards preventing the development of oral health problems like bad breath, cavities, gum disease, and other issues. Practising good dental hygiene can offer a wide range of advantages, including healthier teeth and gums, fresher breath, and it can reduce the need for restorative dental treatment such as crowns, bridges, fillings and implants.

In some cases it can be difficult to know how to put measures into place which promote good oral health Hammersmith routines. This may be due to a lack of education in how to correctly look after your mouth and teeth, or perhaps more commonly an overwhelming amount of information which can therefore make it difficult to know which voice to listen to. Here at Kings Dental Clinic we would always say that advice from your dental practitioner is good advice to follow!

What measures can be put into place at home?

Brush Your Teeth

Brushing your teeth regularly (at least twice per day) with a toothpaste containing fluoride is a good practice to implement. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to help minimise damage to the teeth and brush for at least two minutes each time. Make sure that you remember to brush the surfaces of all your teeth, including the chewing surfaces, backs, and fronts. Don’t forget to brush your tongue to help remove the bacteria found there.

Floss Daily

Flossing is an integral part of good oral health Hammersmith. It helps to remove those particles of food and plaque from in between your teeth, where your toothbrush can’t reach. We would encourage you to use floss at least once each day, gently moving back and forth between the teeth.

Use Mouthwash

Mouthwash can help kill the types of bacteria which cause bad breath and gum disease. Using an antiseptic mouthwash after brushing and flossing can help to kill germs and freshen your breath.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Eating a healthy diet is also important for establishing and maintaining a good standard of oral health Hammersmith. You can do this by reducing intake of acidic and sugary foods and drinks, which can erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities and increasing your consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.

Why are regular appointments with the dentist important?

Regular visits to both the dental hygienist and your dentist are an essential part of good oral health Hammersmith. Your dentist here at Kings Dental Clinic can then detect and treat any emerging problems quickly, before they worsen, when given regular opportunities to examine your mouth and teeth. Your dental hygienist is an oral health practitioner whose role it is to help prevent and treat oral health problems. The dental hygienist will often perform a deep clean of your teeth (known as scaling and polishing) and can provide you with specific advice for your personal needs when it comes to oral hygiene. For example, they may recommend the use of particular tools for cleaning around braces.

In addition to this, if at a routine hygienist appointment your dental hygienist notices a problem for example a cavity that needs filling, they can advise you about any further appointments which you may need to organise in order to receive the correct level of treatment for the problem.

To book an appointment or ask for more information about oral health and how we can support you in maintaining good hygiene routines, please get in touch.