Dental Health & Hygiene - How to Brush your Teeth

By Jay Williams

Recent studies have shown that up until 1996 the dental health of Australian kids' teeth was improving, but since then tooth decay has been on the rise.

With so many sugary snacks, drinks and even some fruit juices on the market today, it isn't hard to see why dental health is on the decline. So much so that, on average, children as young as six now have at least two decayed or filled baby teeth, while 15-year-olds now have two decayed, missing or filled permanent teeth.

But, it's not just sugary foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth, experts say that acidic foods and drinks – including sugar free products – can damage tooth enamel, erode it and make teeth more at risk of decay.

But how can you reduce the risk decay? Cutting out sugary snacks and drinks is an easy one, as well as practicing proper dental hygiene can dramatically improve your dental health.

Foods that help muscles and bones also help teeth and gums. Breads and cereals are rich in vitamin B while fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C, both of which contribute to healthy gum tissue. Lean meats, fish, and poultry provide magnesium and zinc for teeth and are a "must have" for your daily diet.

General Tips for Healthy Teeth, Gums and Mouth

Clean your teeth well twice a day, after breakfast and last thing before you go to sleep at night. After a meal have a drink of water (this minimises the time your teeth and mouth are exposed to acids).

Use a small toothbrush with soft bristles. Hard and medium bristled toothbrushes can damage teeth and gums.

Use fluoride toothpaste. Spit it out when you have finished cleaning your teeth. Rinsing your mouth will wash out too much of the protective fluoride. 'Spit, don't rinse'.

In a downward motion, gently and thoroughly brush each side of every tooth and the gums. It should take about 3 minutes to do them all.

Avoid cleaning your teeth soon after drinking acid drinks such as orange juice. The acid in drinks softens the enamel, and cleaning can scratch the enamel while it is soft. Rinse your mouth with water, wait for about half an hour, then clean your teeth.

Dental floss cleans between your teeth, get your dentist to show you how to use floss.

 Wash your hands after going to the toilet and before using your toothbrush.

Don’t start smoking. It stains your teeth and can lead to disease in the mouth.

So there you go, simple and easy steps we can all live by. The question is - are you willing to give up tasty chocolate for a pearly white grin?