10 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Teeth

10 Tips for Maintaining Healthy Teeth

Because everyone wants a glowing smile, and every dentist wants to be able to dispense advice that sticks, I’ve put the research in and have created the ultimate guide to gorgeous teeth for you, offering best practice advice for dentists and patients alike!

Take a look, and if you like what you see, save it to your favourites. 

Let’s dive right in!  

Twice daily brushing

Dental practices that can get their patients to understand the importance of brushing morning and night will always perform better in the long term and to start from a young age. An educated patient is someone who will be able to take all the steps necessary to protect and maintain their oral health. A clear demonstration of correct brushing habits at various points in the mouth, as well as for the gums, is something that can make a world of difference to patient wellbeing. 

Use a fluoride-based toothpaste

When a dentist or hygienist recommends a toothpaste, you will typically find that the patient is far more receptive than if they’ve seen it in a TV or social ad. Dentists who can recommend and also stock a reputable toothpaste will enlist the trust of the patient. And in terms of the direct benefit to the patient, they have the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are buying the right product. Plus, there is also the convenience of being able to get everything at their next appointment.

Specialist brushes

A dental professional who recommends interdental brushes to their patients will be able to improve patient outcomes as well as offer a tried and trusted product. By teaming up with a reputable supplier with a national reach, the practice can ensure a constant level of stock and an uncompromising level of quality. Exactly what is needed when the practice manager is looking to deliver an expanded range of services for the benefit of their patients. 

Cleaning those hard-to-reach gaps, pockets, and surfaces that arise when neighbouring teeth are too close together really matters. So often, they prove to be breeding groups for bacteria and result in the build-up of plaque that inevitably leads to tooth decay. Being able to offer a specialist clean and then send a patient away with their own set of easy-to-use brushes really can make all the difference here. 

Know the impact of acidic drinks

Just because something tastes good and feels like it sharpens the mind with a burst of energy doesn’t mean that it is a net positive. Acidic drinks get to work at stripping away tooth enamel from the very first drop, all so they can cause a range of issues later on in life. A dentist who is able to convince their patients to cut back will be able to improve their quality of life. 

Floss daily

The most important thing to highlight when it comes to flossing is consistency. Making flossing a daily habit and sending each patient away with a pocket flossing kit is something that is relatively easy to do. People who come to a dental practice with bad teeth, but leave with a solution they can put into action right away, are going to become loyal customers for many years to come. 

Highlight the damage of teeth grinding 

Stress and underlying tension can manifest themselves in a whole host of ways, and one of the most common is teeth grinding. A dental practice that takes a holistic view of things and empathises with the stress that a patient may be under here will find that they can get much better results. The importance of a kind and caring nature is not something that can be understated. 

Offer dentist-approved gum shields and guards 

High-impact sports like boxing and rugby place the teeth at significant risk of injury. Dental practices that can provide assistance, support, and guidance with fitting these types of devices may be able to enjoy a new type of commercial custom. Patients who use these types of services will be able to sleep easy knowing that they have done everything possible to protect their teeth. 

Educate on the impact of sugary snacks

Every patient who goes to the dentist will no doubt have a sweet tooth in some form or another. Some snack daily, others only once in a while, but the damage is still being done. The problem here is that stopping is easier said than done. Offering a patient a resource where they can look at healthier — yet still tasty — alternatives is much more effective than simply telling them to stop. 

Be holistic when it comes to dry mouth 

A holistic approach to dentistry does far more than treat the symptoms. Many types of medicine leave users with dry mouth first thing in the morning. This means that the chemical balance in the mouth has changed during the night as the medicine has been released into the body. Understanding when this is the case provides a much clearer picture of overall oral health. 

Smoking doesn’t just hurt the lungs

Giving up smoking is one of the hardest things anyone can do, so it’s no surprise that millions are still addicted to it. Rather than judge anyone, we simply want to highlight the impact that smoking has on delicate tooth enamel. A dentist who is able to empathise with their patients and guide them towards NHS stop smoking resources will find that each individual is far more receptive. A caring, compassionate approach is what’s called for here, especially when you consider that many smokers will find a trip to the dentist stressful enough as it is. 

We hope that this guide will help dentists and their patients come together to create glowing smiles right across the country. 

All the best!