Don’t give your oral hygiene the brush off
As new research reveals a quarter of us skip cleaning our teeth, dentist DR MARK HUGHES shares his top 10 tips for a healthy mouth
SHOCKING new research has revealed that nearly a quarter of Britons have gone two days without brushing their teeth. Fatigue was the main reason given and in the study, conducted by beauty brand Foreo, 23 per cent of participants said they skipped brushing their teeth due to tiredness.
Men are more likely to neglect their teeth, with 29 per cent admitting to skipping brushing, compared to 17 per cent of women.
NHS guidelines recommend that we brush morning and night for about two minutes each time. Doing so prevents plaque build-up which can lead to cavities. It also stimulates the gums which keeps them healthy and prevents gum disease.
Harley Street dentist and Foreo ambassador Dr Mark Hughes says the findings show a worrying trend.
“It is concerning to see that so many people are neglecting their oral health routine at home, brushing less frequently than UK guidelines would advise.
“Certain bacteria on the teeth use the sugars from your food to produce acids, which in turn eat away at your enamel,” he says.
Here are his top tips for how to improve your oral hygiene:
1 Brush before breakfast, not after. It’s about removal of bacteria not food.
2 Slooshing with coconut oil is a waste of time. Effective brushing and cleaning in between teeth is far more important. 3 Use a toothpaste with fluoride. 4 Do not rinse after using a toothpaste containing fluoride because the fluoride needs time to soak into your enamel to strengthen it.
5 Charcoal toothpastes are a fad. Charcoal is an abrasive and removes enamel. Also, because you have to wash your mouth out thoroughly as the residue is black this prevents all the beneficial fluoride from strengthening your enamel.
6 Cleaning between your teeth as well as brushing is important. Use whatever works for you, floss, sticks or interdental brushes. Brushing alone misses 40 per cent of the tooth surface.
7 Sugars cause tooth decay. Diet control as well as effective cleaning is important to prevent cavities.
8 It’s not the amount of sugar that is bad but the frequency of sugar consumption. Small amounts 10 times a day is far worse than a lot in one hit. So have sugary foods at mealtimes not in between.
9 Gum disease is caused by plaque bacteria and is now linked to heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, premature births and lots of other systemic diseases. Visit your dentist and hygienist at least twice a year for whole body health not just oral health.
10 Beware of “healthy” juices, smoothies and sports drinks. They are packed full of sugar. Consume infrequently and ideally only once a day with a main meal.