The things your dentist wished you knew

What does your dentist wish that you knew? Investing in your smile is crucial. The more you take care of it, the less problems you’ll encounter. There is more to looking after teeth than just brushing, flossing and going for regular dental check-ups. Here are a few things your dentist wishes you knew!

Honesty is the best policy

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If you have been having any problems with your mouth or have noticed any changes in your oral health, tell your dentist when they ask! Your dentist is there to help you. When they ask if you’ve been having any problems with your mouth since your last visit – just be honest with them! They won’t be angry at you, they want to help you. Remember that they can’t help you properly if you don’t discuss any concerns. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved. No matter how trivial you think your worry is, it is worth talking about.

Don’t do a ‘post-brush’ rinse

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Many people have the temptation to rinse their mouth out after they have finished brushing. Don’t do this! Toothpastes are formulated to have a long lasting effect therefore improving your oral health. Toothpaste contains small amounts of fluoride which really benefits your oral health. It helps to re-mineralise cavities at the early stages. If you rinse after brushing the benefits from toothpaste are minimised.

Putting babies to bed with a bottle can damage teeth

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Tucking up kids into bed with a bottle may keep them settled but it can really damage their oral health. The milk in the bottle will coat the baby’s teeth and this coating will last in the mouth for hours. The longer the liquid coating is in the mouth, the more likely the child is to develop problems with their teeth. This can include tooth decay. Understandably, having a bottle is a comfort thing for very young children. If you can’t avoid giving them one, try to replace the milk with still water.

Staying away from the dentist will hurt you more

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Not only physically but financially too! We know that going to the dentist is not the most fun thing in the world, but it has to be done. Missing appointments and going without regular check-ups means that any problems that you leave untreated could deteriorate. This will cause further problems. In doing so, you do put yourself at risk of pain and mounting treatment costs.

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