Stop the toothache before it begins

Dental care is often underestimated in terms of importance. Every one will experience toothache or dental problems at some stage, however there are many things you can do to prevent dental problems before they start.

•    Brush teeth regularly
Brushing teeth twice daily is vital to maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. Brushing teeth correctly removes plaque build up and acidic bacteria that leads to tooth decay and gum disease. Learn how to brush teeth correctly.


•    Dental flossing
Brushing teeth removes most of the bacteria and plaque from the mouth but it is easy for toothbrushes to miss plaque, food debris and bacteria in-between teeth. Flossing teeth twice weekly removes any stubborn plaque and prevents bacterial build up and gum disease.

•    Tongue cleaning
Not only does bacteria build up on the teeth and gums but bacteria also settles on the tongue and if not removed can lead to infections in the mouth. Dentists recommend using a professional tongue scraper or brushing the tongue with a toothbrush daily.

•    Avoid sugary food and drink
Saliva in the mouth works to neutralize the acid in bacteria caused by eating. Sugary foods are more acidic and bacteria caused by eating or drinking sugary foods takes longer to neutralize. Replacing a sugary diet with a diet rich in fibre will help the body produce more saliva and reduce the amount of tooth enamel destroying bacteria produced.

•    Quit smoking
Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and oral cancer and is damaging to healthy mouth tissue.

•    Visit a dentist regularly
It is recommended that everyone visits a dentist twice a year to ensure no dental problems are left untreated. Six-monthly dental appointments should be combined with a thorough cleaning by a dental hygienist to remove plaque build-up.

•    Control diabetes
The health of your body and the health of your teeth and gums are connected. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of gum disease and dental problems