Whatever your age, neglecting your oral hygiene can have a disastrous effect on your teeth—particularly if you allow tooth decay to set in. Tooth decay occurs when acids in your mouth dissolve the outer layers of the enamel on your teeth. The NHS estimates that one in three adults in the UK now suffer from tooth decay, and a survey conducted in 2012 found that one in four five-year-olds was suffering from some degree of the condition.
Alongside poor oral hygiene, sugary and starchy foods pose a great threat to our smiles. The carbohydrates in these foods ferment, which causes bacteria inside the mouth to form acid that eats away at the enamel coating of our teeth. This leads to the formation of tiny pits, where tooth decay attacks. Symptoms of tooth decay include toothache, pain on eating and drinking and visible discolouration of the teeth. If tooth decay is left untreated, the outside of the tooth is destroyed and the nerves on the outside can be left exposed, resulting in painful toothache. Tooth decay can also lead to gum disease, cavities (holes in the teeth) and dental abscesses (collections of pus in the gums or at the ends of the teeth).
Top tips for teeth
Here are some top tips on how to keep your teeth healthy:
- Brush your teeth once in the morning and once in the evening to remove the plaque and bacteria that build up throughout the day. Brush for two minutes each time, moving your toothbrush in small circular motions as you hold it at a 45-degree angle.
- Replace your toothbrush every two to three months to ensure it remains effective in the removal of bacteria and plaque. Dentists recommend electric toothbrushes to keep teeth extra clean.
- Floss before you brush your teeth in order to remove plaque from hidden and hard to reach areas. Pay special attention to problem areas like wisdom teeth.
- Use mouthwash twice a day—preferably at different times to when you brush your teeth, as mouthwash removes the protective film that toothpaste leaves on your teeth after brushing.
- Even if you don’t have any noticeable dental problems, it is still important to see your dentist for regular checkups. Adults over the age of 18 should aim to have their teeth checked at least once a year.
Read about how brushing teeth might prevent heart disease
Teeth-whitening treatments
As we grow older, some of us may notice the buildup of stains on our teeth. An increasing number of people are opting for teeth whitening treatments as a way to hold onto their smiles. Teeth whitening uses bleach to lighten the existing colour of your teeth by several shades.
Despite the growing popularity of ‘do it yourself’ home whitening kits, whitening is a form of dentistry that should only be performed by a regulated dentistry professional. There is plenty that can go wrong with home whitening kits. For example, if the mouth guard provided is not fitted properly, some of the bleaching gel can leak onto your skin and gums, resulting in painful blisters.
Whitening treatment usually involves several trips to the dentist. First of all, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make a mouth guard. Your dentist will then instruct you on the use of bleaching gel at home. It is then your job to apply bleaching gel yourself over the specified period of treatment time, which usually ranges from two to four weeks.
Alternatively, your dentist may recommend laser-whitening treatment. This is also known as power whitening. The dentist paints a bleaching product onto your teeth and shines a light onto them to activate the whitening effect. This treatment takes approximately one hour.
SEE MORE:
Is it Ever Too Late to Straighten Your Teeth?
Neglecting your teeth causes more than just a cosmetic damage
