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Dental

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Care and Advice

Patient information Guide to keeping your mouth healthy

The first step to achieving short and long term good oral health is to ensure that your oral hygiene regime is good and all the steps are being taken.

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Brushing:

  • Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste which contains 1450ppm fluoride. We recommend either a soft- medium manual toothbrush with a small head. Or an electric toothbrush is also a good option (Oral B or Philips Sonicare). Electric toothbrushes are clinically proven to remove more plaque compared to a manual toothbrush so we would highly recommend changing to using one.

  • When you are brushing your teeth, make sure you put your toothbrush half on your tooth and half on your gum at a 45-degree angle. If you are using a manual toothbrush then brush in circular motions and spend a few seconds on each tooth/ gum area before moving onto then next. If you are using an electric toothbrush then you will need to hold the toothbrush head still on each tooth/gum area for 2-3 seconds before moving onto the next tooth. It may be easier to look what you are doing in the mirror to avoid missing any areas.

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Interdental Cleaning:

  • Flossing- You can use either floss or tape. Break off about 45cm of floss and wrap most of the floss around either the middle finger or the index finger of one hand, whichever you prefer, and a small amount onto the middle or index finger of the other hand. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers, with about 2.5cm of floss between them, leaving no slack. Use a gentle "rocking" motion to guide the floss between your teeth and pull back out. Use floss at least once a day, preferably in the evening.

  • Interdental brushes- the brushes can sometimes be a little easier to use compared to floss. They come in a range of sizes to fit between your teeth perfectly. Your dentist or hygienist can help you find the correct size if you are unsure. Use your interdental brush once a day, preferably in the evening and in front of the mirror. Move the brush gently back and forth a few times in each space between your teeth.

  • Airflossers- this is a new device developed to remove plaque from between the teeth. It uses a rapid burst of air and water droplets to disrupt the biofilm from between the teeth. The nozzle is placed in each space between your teeth

Diet Advice

Consuming highly acidic or sugary foods and drinks everyday will lead to tooth enamel wear, dental erosion, sensitivity and decay.

It is best to limit these types of foods and drinks to meal times or as a treat every now and then.

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Tips to try:

  • Try using a straw when drinking fruits juices as this will prevent the juice from coming into direct contact with your teeth.

  • Try rinsing your mouth with water after eating or drinking something acidic or sugary as this will dilute the acids in your mouth.

  • Wait at least 30 minutes after eating or drinking something acidic or sugary before brushing your teeth to give the enamel time to remineralise.

  • Use a toothpaste containing 1450ppm fluoride.

  • Eat cheese after consuming something acidic as this will help raise the PH levels in your

    mouth and will also increase saliva production which will neutralise any acids in your mouth as well.

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Examples of surgery snacks and acidic foods:

  • Sweets

  • Biscuits

  • Alcoholic drinks e.g. lager/red wine

  • Fruit juices

  • Fizzy drinks e.g. cola

  • Vinegar

  • Tomatoes

  • Avocados

  • Sauerkraut

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