Regular dental hygiene proves an effective way of keeping yourself and your family worlds away from tooth decay and gum diseases. At Healthy Smiles Dental group our patients are enrolled in a 3-6 monthly maintenance program where we see them every 3-8 months for an examination, clean and scale, floss, fluoride treatment and if necessary x-rays. This way we ensure our patients have minimal plaque levels and do not accumulate excessive tartar, which is difficult to remove with everyday brushing and flossing.

Brushing

This is the single most important thing that you can do for your teeth and gums. Brush twice daily in downward strokes for upper teeth and upward strokes for lower teeth. Children can use circular motion.

Everybody should brush twice a day once in the morning after breakfast and in the night before going to bed.

Flossing

As brushing removes plaque from the surfaces of teeth flossing helps to maintain hygiene and remove plaque from in between the contact points of teeth. If you find flossing difficult why not visit us and we shall teach you easy ways to make it fun with newer techniques like flossetes

Mouthwash

There are over 20 different mouthwashes available in the supermarket today and choosing the right one can sometimes be a bit of a hassle. A good way to choose a mouthwash is use an everyday brand that has a antiplaque agent in it along with some fluoride. Always remember that mouth rinses are only an adjunct to brushing and flossing and by themselves cannot fulfill oral hygiene needs.
If you are concerned about a particular problem like bad breath or multiple black spots or decay it is recommended you consult us before trying any cosmetic mouthwashes.

Diet and Dental Health

Diet is intimately related to dental health. Here are some general guidelines about food and dental hygiene.

• Avoid excessive sweets, sticky foods, and between meal snacks (after which you don't brush your teeth).
• Go for teeth-friendly snacks like fresh fruits, vegetables, cheese, and crackers.
• Minimize sweet drinks during and after meals.
• Do not let your baby sleep with a baby bottle with milk or sweet liquid in it (plain water is ok). Teach your child to drink from a cup as soon as he/she is able to do so.