It’s National Smile Month’s 40th birthday. But what can you be doing to improve your oral health and reduce your risk of gum disease?
Over the last 40 years, the National Smile Month campaign has been run by the Oral Health Foundation. It aims to raise awareness of oral health and encourage people to take care of their teeth and take steps towards better dental health.
National Smile Month runs until the 16th of June 2016, so what better time to take care of your teeth? Over the years, thousands of dental practices have been doing their bit to educate the public on good oral health practices. Fresh Dental Smile Clinic is no different! All it takes is a few simple steps which can help prevent gum disease, reduce your risk of oral decay and give you a complete smile makeover.
Why It’s Important to Look After Your Teeth
Believe it or not, but our smile plays a vital role in helping us form good first impressions with new people. Even a warm smile at a complete stranger can help brighten their day, and a healthy smile can benefit our career and relationships. But our teeth are also important to help us chew and digest food and have an effect on the way we speak. Poor oral health can also lead to an increased risk of heart attacks as bacteria from the mouth can get into the bloodstream. Therefore, it’s crucial to take care of your teeth or the consequences could be far from ideal. But what can you do? The three key messages of National Smile Month are:
1. Visit Your Dentist
With everything going on in our day to day lives, it’s easy for a visit to the dentist to take a backseat priority. However, visiting your dentist on a regular basis massively decreases your chance of developing an oral disease, and can prevent you from facing more serious problems, which could not only be costly but may require more complex intervention. A simple check-up lasts only a few minutes and your dentist will give you valuable advice on healthy eating and oral hygiene. Not only that, during a check up your dentist will routinely screen for early signs of oral cancer.
2. Brush Your Teeth Regularly
We’ve all heard we should brush our teeth during the day and at night. And although we’d all like to say we do, in reality, not everyone does. Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste will strengthen the enamel on your teeth. One of the key messages of the National Smile Month campaign is the importance of brushing your teeth correctly.
By using gentle circular movements and replacing your brush head every three to four months, you’ll ensure your teeth are in tip-top shape for that perfect smile. It’s recommended that people brush their teeth for at least two minutes each time. Consider setting a timer or listening to your favourite song while you brush. You’ll make the experience enjoyable and improve your oral health – a win-win!
3. Watch Your Sugar Intake
Did you know that sugar consumption is one of the major causes of dental decay in the UK – not only in children but adults too? Too much sugar weakens your enamel because of the bacteria that feeds on sugars and causes them to release acids. Strong acid on your teeth increases your risk of cavities, so if you eat constantly throughout the day, your teeth are under constant attack. Reducing your sugar intake and regularly flossing will significantly reduce this risk.
National Smile Month is all about reducing your risk of dental disease and by following these simple steps you can significantly improve the health of your teeth. Sometimes though, it’s not that easy and you may need extra support.
If you’re looking for a complete smile makeover, York’s Fresh Dental Smile Clinic can help you transform your teeth using a range of treatment options including cosmetic orthodontics. With expert advice on your dental health and lifestyle, why not book in for your free consultation today?
