Self care tips

Suggest the following tips to help customers look after their oral health:

• Practise good oral hygiene
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid damage to tooth enamel
• Change manual toothbrushes and electric toothbrush heads every three months
• Start brushing children’s teeth as soon as they start coming through and get them into a good routine from a young age
• Consider fluoride supplements or mouth rinses for children at risk of dental decay
• Get regular dental check-ups – usually every six months
• Don’t delay dental treatment as it may make problems worse and harder to treat later on
• Dentures and braces should fit well, be checked regularly and cleaned thoroughly
• Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can help ease dental pain
• Limit snacking, particularly on sugary foods and drinks, between meals
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables
• Chewing sugar-free gum after eating helps to stimulate saliva – one of the body’s natural defences against the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque
• Smoking is damaging to oral health, so giving up is advisable.