Everyone smiles in the same language

Take time to give your Teeth the attention it deserves

“No matter how busy life gets we all need to take the necessary time to look after one of the body’s most important assets, the teeth,” says Lilian Terblanche, oral hygienist at Fairway Dental.

Lilian advises patients to adopt good oral hygiene habits for themselves and to encourage their children to follow their example.

“It’s really easy to set up a routine dedicated to oral hygiene for yourself and your children. All you need to a designated ten minutes set aside each day that you can split into two sessions during which you make a commitment to take care of your teeth and ensure your children do the same,” she said.

Lilian shares the following oral hygiene tips:

Always use a soft toothbrush and a fluoride based toothpaste.

Remember to angle your brush at a 45 degree angle towards your gum. We do this to prevent the gums from receding and brushing the enamel off your teeth which can cause sensitivity.

Always replace your toothbrush when it is worn. Usually every 3 months will do the trick.

Flossing in the evening helps remove food particles in between your teeth which can lead to cavities. A waxed tape dental floss wrapped around your fingers works well.

Floss at a 45 degree angle from the side of your tooth, with a small sawing action that will give you more control over your floss and less chance of the floss slipping through and cutting your gum. There are other alternatives to flossing like using a water pic or an aqua flosser.

Mouthwashes can also help prevent cavities and bad breath. There are many different products in the market. If you are unsure which one to use contact your dental professional and they will guide you to the one best suited for you.

It’s not always possible to have a toothbrush on hand while you’re out and about during the day. Instead, some sugar free chewing gum can help. Research done by the American Dental Hygiene Association, indicates chewing a piece of gum for 20 minutes can reduce the quantity and the development of plaque, relieve dry mouth and help prevent cavities.

And last but not least, a good sip of water also helps to remove food particles and normalizes the PH balance in the mouth.

“We’ve all heard the saying, you don’t have to brush and floss all your teeth, only the ones you would like to keep!,” says Lilian smiling, adding that at Fairway Dental in Durban North they have a professional team that not only will give you advice to help you keep your amazing smile, but also offer a variety of dental treatments from check-ups to fillings, crowns, scale and polishing, whitening, braces and more.

To book your appointment, contact Fairway Dental at 031 5647768. You can also visit the website on www.fairwaydental.co.za

Take advantage of a special offering during the month of October and pay only R380 for clean and polish. This offer is also open to the practice’s Ortho patients who have difficulty in keeping those hard to reach places clean with normal brushing and flossing.