We are told from a very young age that we need to brush our teeth at least twice a day. Once in the morning, after we wake up, just before breakfast, and last thing at night before we go to bed. Obviously, if we have been eating anything particularly sweet, it would make sense to give our teeth and gums another scrub. We know what we have to do, and yet as adults, we lead such busy lives that we constantly forget to brush our teeth and gums.
Many people are still not aware of the best methods to keep gum disease at bay and tooth fillings as well. You should tilt your toothbrush at a 45° angle to make sure that you clean the area around your gums as well as the enamel on your teeth. Many Australians are still using the same toothbrush that they bought many years ago, and this needs to change. You should be changing out your toothbrush at least every six months, and your Prahran dentist will tell you this every single time. The following are the top three dental issues that the majority of people experience.
* Dental cavities – This is another word for a hole in your teeth, and the first you know about it is when a particular area of your mouth becomes particularly sensitive, when you eat something cold like an ice cream, or something hot like coffee. It can cause incredible pain and sensitivity, and you need to get yourself to a dentist as soon as possible. If you leave it too long, the tooth might have to be removed altogether.
* An uneven smile – One of the first things people notice about you when they meet you for the first time is your smile. Many of us here in Australia, as children, were often given a soother to stop us from crying. The unfortunate thing about this is that at that time, our teeth were quite pliable, and so the soother pushed them out of alignment. As adults, we now have gaps in our teeth, and it really does ruin an otherwise beautiful smile.
* Lots of plaque build-up – If you have not been brushing your teeth properly for some years now, and you haven’t visited your dentist in quite some time, there is an extremely high likelihood that there is a large amount of plaque building up around your teeth and gums. This will not only cause tooth decay and gum disease, but can also cause other issues with your heart. This is something that can’t be removed by yourself, even though you might floss, so make an appointment as soon as possible and let your dentist clear everything away.
While you’re at the dentist, he or she can obviously keep you up-to-date with your oral health, but they can also spot other things about your general health while looking in your mouth. If you haven’t made an appointment in quite a while, be sure to make one today.