Preventative Dentistry

The art of oral health Preventative Dentistry

Key principles for preventing tooth decay and poor oral health

Regular visits to the dentist – you should visit between 6 months and 2 years depending upon the advice from your dentists to monitor your dental and oral health

Regular professional dental cleaning – fluoride toothpaste and treatments, sealant application, and scaling that helps to scrape off the hardened plaque, called tartar

Diagnostic services – as advised by your dentist undertake X-ray imaging and oral cancer screening

Treatment services – ensure all restorative work us undertaken including fillings, dental implants, crowns, and bridges to retain your teeth

Healthy eating for healthy teeth

Eating a balanced diet plays an important role in maintaining good dental health. A balanced diet would include all the main food groups – fruits and vegetables, milk products, protein from either meat or lentils etc. As part of the oral health advice we provide we review the eating habits of all of our patients.

Foods that cause tooth decay:

Foods with high concentration of sugar – cakes, ice cream, sweets etc

Acidic drinks with a low pH value – fizzy drinks can damage the tooth enamel

Sticky foods – these do not get washed away from the tooth surface easily by the saliva, hence increase the exposure of teeth to sugar and acids, and result in tooth decay.

Foods that are good for oral health:

Foods high in fibre, such as fresh fruits and vegetables – increase the saliva flow that neutralizes acids, helping to clean the teeth of food particles and sugars during chewing

Rich foods without sugar – milk, yoghurt, meat, fish, rice etc

Fruits and vegetables that contain a high volume of water – lettuce, pears, melons, celery, and cucumbers

Good eating habits

Consume sweets only at the main meals and not between meals - saliva production is increased neutralizing most of the acids during mealtime lessening the hazard of sweets

Avoid sugary or acidic drinks between meals and drink milk or water without any sugary additives instead

Finish your meal with yellow cheese – it helps neutralize the acids in the mouth, especially after the consumption of sweet foods.