A beginner’s guide to oral health

As adults, it’s easy to become stuck in our ways, particularly when it comes to our oral health routines. To give your teeth the longevity they deserve, simple tasks like brushing and flossing should be perfected.

At Paramount Dental Sydney, we live and breathe oral health. Here we summarise the top 6 things you should be doing to keep that healthy smile of yours intact:

Brush your teeth twice a day

The simplest task of them all, brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for at least 2 minutes to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy, spending 30 seconds on each quarter of your mouth. Some electric toothbrushes will even alert you every time you hit 30 seconds to ensure you don’t cut the process short.

Floss, floss, floss

You should be thoroughly flossing at least once a day and it doesn’t matter when, just as long as you do it. While it may be annoying at first, after a while it will be second nature to you.

Healthy diet is key

Oral health isn’t just about brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly. A healthy diet can also greatly contribute to healthier teeth and gums and assist with preventing more serious dental issues like tooth decay and gum disease – hot tip: process sugar is not your friend.

Regular dental check-ups

Check-ups are essential to optimal overall oral health and can help identify preventable issues early. For anyone that’s asked themselves “Do I really need to go to the dentist every 6 months?”, the simplest answer is “YES.”

Drink water

Water is the winner when it comes to drinks, especially when comparing it to soft drinks and juices that are packed full of processed sugars or other nasty ingredients. Choose tap water over bottled water so you can benefit from fluoride, which helps protect your teeth against tooth decay.

Quit smoking

This one goes without saying. Quitting smoking improves oral health, reduces the risk of developing gum disease and oral cancer, and improves the person's response to gum treatment. Your regular check-ups can also help with identifying early signs of oral cancer.