How to Keep your teeth and mouth healthy?

There is a lot you can do to keep your teeth and mouth healthy – and a healthy mouth means less tooth loss and pain, better smelling breath and a better looking and feeling mouth. 

To keep your mouth healthy you should: 

use fluorides

•  (see below) have a healthy diet maintain good oral hygiene not smoke protect your mouth against trauma Use fluorides Fluoride is a normal part of the human body and is involved in the mineralisation (hardening) of both teeth and bones.

•  Fluoride intake from most foods is low, but about two-thirds of Australians drink fluoridated water, which is well recognised by public health groups and scientific bodies around the world as an important, safe and effective way of decreasing tooth disease. 

• If you live in an area where the water is not fluoridated and there is insufficient natural fluoride (less than 0.3 milligrams per litre), talk to your dentist about taking fluoride supplements.

Have a healthy diet

Diet is linked to tooth problems in three different ways: Diets high in sugar increase the risk of tooth decay, as bacteria in plaques on the teeth take up the sugar in the food we eat to produce acids.

 These acids lead to the loss of tooth enamel and subsequently to holes in the teeth (dental cavities).

 Sugars that are refined, taken frequently or combined with food acids are particularly bad. A person’s individual susceptibility is also important.

  Acidic substances in food and drink can directly cause the loss of tooth enamel. Foods and drinks that cause this include soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit and fruit juices, wine, pickles and chew-able vitamin tablets. 

While severe malnutrition is extremely rare in Australia, it can be associated with damage to the structure of teeth and their supporting tissues.

 Maintain good oral hygiene A regular daily oral hygiene routine, preferably from the time you get your first teeth, is very important in keeping your mouth healthy. 

It reduces not only the plaques on teeth and the bacteria in them that cause acid build-up and the resulting loss of tooth enamel, but also the overall numbers of harmful bacteria and other substances that can cause problems for the gums and teeth. It also increases tooth-surface resistance and the ability of the mouth to repair itself. As an adult, it is recommended that you: brush your teeth at least twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

floss your teeth daily have regular check-ups with a dentist or dental hygienist Don’t smoke As we saw above, smoking is bad for many parts of the body. It also is bad for the mouth, as it increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, tooth loss, gum problems and staining of teeth. We know, however, that stopping smoking usually allows the mouth to return to a relatively healthy state over a fairly short time period. 

So if you do smoke, please see your GP to discuss how they can help you quit. Protect your mouth against trauma Damage to teeth is often complex, expensive and difficult to repair. While oral injuries can occur at any time, certain sports, leisure activities and workplaces can pose particular risks. 

So think about what you do and how you can decrease the risk of mouth injuries, such as using a mouth-guard when playing a contact sport.