Far too few individuals realise the importance of searching for a ‘dentist near me’ until they experience an undesirable symptom that points to a poor dental health condition. Just over half of Australian adults admit to brushing their teeth twice a day, but worryingly31 percent admit to ‘never flossing’ according to figures recently published.
It seems that many are still under the misperception that flossing is an ‘added extra’ and not a fundamental part of a proper at-home oral hygiene maintenance plan. The Australian Dental Association is at pains to point out that relying only on the toothbrush to keep teeth and gums bacteria and plaque-free is not enough.
Flossing will always be an indispensable part of keeping the mouth clean as it targets more of the tooth’s surface area. Many people are mostly aware of the front surfaces of the teeth that can be seen and can be brushed but forget about those surface areas that exist outside the boundaries of standard vision. Experts will state that almost half of these surface areas are found between teeth and that not flossing in between teeth means leaving out large proportions of teeth surfaces from being cleaned. It may be a reason why many patients find that despite their obligatory tooth brushing, they still require dental care to treat cavities and poor gum health.
How not to compromise dental health
In taking better care of oral health, many people may need to unlearn a few bad habits. For many people, they may have adopted these bad habits because they didn’t know any better and that was just how it was done in the ‘old days’. They may have been brushing their teeth since they were little and so, they may pay very little attention to whether they are doing it right.
Fortunately it is never too late to rectify bad patterns of behaviour and it is never too late for oral health, which everyone needs to protect throughout our lives. So take a look at three non-negotiable essentials of keeping the mouth clean.
Brushing teeth
Recommended brushing tips for dental health involve: the brushing technique used, how long one brushes as well as the type of toothbrush used. To ensure teeth are cleaned properly, it is recommended that a gentle, circular stroke is used to brush teeth as opposed to just brushing back and forth and to aim for no less than two minutes to brush the entire mouth. For the majority of people, small toothbrush heads and soft bristles work well to clean teeth and avoid damaging teeth and gums.
Flossing
It is important that with flossing that you get the technique right. A dental professional is best placed with whom to double-check whether the technique used is the right one. There are many other types of flossing tools that can be used in place of floss thread to keep gums bacteria and food free.
Dental check-ups
Not selecting a dental practitioner for long-term dental care does compromise oral health. Seeing a dental professional only when a dental emergency arises means missing out on valuable opportunities for preventive care that would have prevented such situations in the first place (unless the emergency was having a tooth knocked out).Dental hygiene maintenance and preventive dental care work hand-in-hand to protect lifelong oral health and function.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.