Oct
6
Women are the most likely to break one of the three golden rules for clean and healthy teeth, with nearly six out of ten (59 per cent) regularly skipping brushing their teeth at bedtime, compared to just over a third of men (35 per cent). In contrast, relatively few people skip brushing their teeth in the morning with just one in ten people starting the day without looking after their teeth.
The findings have been revealed by the British Dental Health Foundation as part of its National Smile Month campaign, which has been running since 1977. The survey – which looked at the nation’s brushing habits – also found that over a quarter of the population (28 per cent) have admitted to not brushing their teeth for 24 hours and around one in seven people (15 per cent) have not cleaned their teeth for more than two days.
During National Smile Month, the Foundation seeks to remind everyone of the three golden rules for good oral health: brushing for two minutes twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste; cutting down on how often you eat and drink sugary foods and drinks; and visiting your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said: “Anyone who regularly skips brushing their teeth – morning or night-time – is storing up oral health problems for the future such as tooth decay and gum disease – the biggest cause of tooth loss often resulting in the need for bridges, dentures or implants. Gum disease has also been linked to other medical problems such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes and respiratory disease.
“Good oral health cannot be maintained by brushing once a day as each brushing session has a specific purpose. Brushing first thing in the morning coats the tooth’s enamel with fluoride to strengthen and protect the tooth surface against acid attacks throughout the day.
“Brushing last thing at night removes the deposits which have built up from eating and drinking during the day, as well as removing plaque – the cause of gum disease. The last brush of the day also coats the teeth with fluoride, which is not washed away through eating and drinking, and continues to protect the tooth’s surface further during sleep,” advised Dr Carter.
Source:
British Dental Health Foundation
We all appreciate that sometimes we can end up unable to get ourselves up from the bed after a long days work, but we must remember that brushing your teeth only takes 2 minutes, and will prevent you waking up with bad breath. Brushing your teeth morning and night is important, but also using the correct technique and interproximal brushes is just as importnt is maintaining good oral health. To find out if you are brushing your teeth correctly and effectively, click here for a video tutorial.
And don’t forget to disinfect your toothbrush regularly to keep it clean and effective.
Regular check ups with the dentist is also important to check for signs of decay and gum disease, and to be able to treat it in their early stages. An examination appointment at Smile Cliniq is on offer for just £30 including small digital x-rays if necessary. Why not give us a call and book in for your check up, as a step towards a healthy smile.
Finchley branch: 0208 343 1133
St John’s Wood branch: 0207 328 1200
or why not send us an email to info@smilecliniq.com
