Top Tips For A Healthy Smile

Recent research* has shown that Kiwi women are not looking after their oral health with 35% of them saying they have postponed a visit to the dentist in the past year to save money. The president of the New Zealand Dental Association Mark Goodhew says women are putting their general health at risk by neglecting oral health.

There are many things a dentist can spot during a regular dental check-up such as weakening older fillings, early signs of gum (periodontal) disease, gum recessions, tooth and root surface decay, and many other oral problems that can affect your general health. Dentists can also look for early signs of oral cancer and other diseases that affect your general health. If you don’t visit your dentist regularly these problems may get undetected until later stages. Early detection will help treat the problem at the early stages and stop it from becoming more severe. 

The New Zealand Dental Association recommends a healthy diet, effective home oral care, and regular dental visits for maintaining good and healthy teeth
Follow these simple steps to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
1. Brush twice daily, especially once before bedtime. Make sure that all the surfaces (outer, inner and chewing surface) of teeth and gum are cleaned for effective plaque removal
2. Use fluoride toothpaste and after brushing spit the toothpaste out. Avoid rinsing the paste from your mouth after brushing as this will wash the fluoride away from your teeth
3. Floss or use interdental brushes once daily to clean between your teeth
4. Avoid eating sugary, sticky and acidic foods and drinks in between meals
5. Eat a wide variety of nutritious foods
6. Visit your dentist for regular check-ups. Your dentist can spot and stop any problems with your teeth and gums at the early stages
For more information please visit the New Zealand Dental Association’s website www.healthysmiles.org.nz

The gloomy economic downturn may mean you’ve had to cut a few corners when it comes to your spending but now you can take care of your family’s oral health in-between dental visits with the new range of Oral-B manual toothbrushes. These high quality, manual toothbrushes have been developed from over 50 years of expertise and give you great value for money starting at just $4.99.