Dental Health Week, Thornton Dental, and You!

Dr Srihalasya Borra (dentist)
3 years ago

Thornton Dental is proud to partner with the Australian Dental Association (ADA) to support Dental Health Week (6 to 12, August). Dental Health Week is the ADA’s annual, week-long oral health event.

It’s designed to remind Australians of the importance of maintaining good oral health, and this year it has four primary messages:

Brush with fluoride toothpaste
Clean in-between teeth
Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugar intake
Visit your Thornton Dental dentist on a regular schedule

Why is it important to emphasise these activities? Because many Australians are not doing all they can to maximise their dental health:

About half of Australians only brush once-a-day
Nearly 40% never floss or clean-in-between their teeth
65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years
Nearly three-quarters of young people (14-18 years) consume too much sugar

Brush with fluoride toothpaste

The ADA suggestions are the same as you might have heard at Thornton Dental:

Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day.
Soft-bristled toothbrushes with a small head and a flexible neck are most effective in removing plaque and debris from your teeth, without damaging your teeth and gums.
Clean your teeth systematically, holding the toothbrush at the gumline at a 45-degree angle.
Don’t apply to much pressure as it can damage gums and tooth enamel.
As strange as it sounds, brush your tongue. It reduces the bacteria in your mouth and helps your breath stay fresh.
When you have finished brushing, try to spit out the toothpaste but don’t rinse with water. Leaving some toothpaste on your teeth gives your teeth some extra ongoing protection.
Choose a toothpaste containing fluoride and replace your toothbrush every three months, or if the bristles appear worn.

If you find brushing difficult, an electric toothbrush may be a better option since it does most of the work for you, and is easier for people with mobility or coordination issues.

Clean in-between teeth once a day

Flossing is a critical component of good dental habits, so:

Floss daily, at least once
Ask your dentist to demonstrate the correct flossing technique
Ask your dentist if interdental aids will complement your flossing
Your children should floss as soon as they have two teeth that touch

Just as in the case of brushing, technique makes flossing work; bad technique can cause damage, so:

Wind approximately 45 cm of floss around your middle fingers and grip it tightly between your thumbs and index fingers.
Keeping the thumb and index close together, gently (to avoid trauma) guide the floss between the teeth. Use a side-to-side motion to ensure the sides of both teeth are cleaned equally.
To clean the base of the tooth, curl the floss around it and insert gently under the gum.

If flossing with your fingers is difficult, talk to Thornton Dental about floss threaders, oral irrigators, and other at-home tools that can help.

Learn more here

Healthy diet and low sugar intake

Thornton Dental’s recommendations are similar to those of the ADA:

Limit your sugar intake. Sugar is taken up by bacteria, resulting in acids that attack the outer layer of tooth enamel and cause decay.
Fluoridated tap water is best.
Read the ingredients panel on food products as many have hidden sugars.
Choose teeth friendly foods such as cheese, nuts and vegetables.
Avoid snacking and grazing.
Make water your beverage of choice and regularly sip it throughout the day.

It is not just obviously sugary foods that can lead to decay. Foods with hidden sugars like biscuits, cereals, and dried fruit can cause acid attacks on your tooth enamel.

Here are three teeth friendly habits to reduce your risk of tooth decay

Have three meals at regular times each day, instead of snacking and grazing.
Have your sugary treats as part of a meal, not as a snack.  This allows saliva to clean and defend your mouth.
Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in vitamins and minerals.

Learn more about sugar and oral health here

Visit Your Thornton Dental dentist on a regular schedule

Regular visits to Thornton Dental are important to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. During your checkup, we will evaluate the health of your gums, perform a head and neck examination and examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, jaw problems, etc. Your dentist or hygienist will clean your teeth and give you oral hygiene tips they think are appropriate.

Why Choose Thornton Dental?

We focus on patient care
Exceptional infection control
Friendly, approachable and experienced team
Child-friendly and relaxing environment
Patient comfort, safety and satisfaction are our primary goals
Customised care tailored to your specific needs
Integrity, high standards, premium quality materials
Anxiety control and pain management

Thornton Dental serves the community of Thornton, Beresfield, Tarro, Woodberry, East Maitland, Chisholm, Raymond Terrace, Green Hills, Metford, Ashtonfield, Tenambit, Morpeth, Lorn, Bolwarra Heights, and surrounding areas of Maitland.

New Patients Promotions

Pay No Gap : No Gap for dental checkup, clean, fluoride & 2 x-rays (with any health insurance)
No Health Insurance : Only $145 ($95 for kids) for Checkup, Clean & Fluoride

Call us on (02) 4966 2996 or book your appointment online today!