Dental Health Week With Smiles Nambour

Dental Health Week With Smiles Nambour Dental Health Week, which takes place across the first complete week of August (6 to 12 August, this year), is the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) annual oral health promotion event. This year’s catch-phrase is #watchyourmouth.

The week is designed to remind Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health. In this case, the ADA and Smiles Nambour are promoting four key messages supporting dental health.

This effort is important because not all Australians have perfect dental health. For instance, 40% of Australians never floss or clean in-between their teeth, while 65% of Australians haven’t seen a dentist in the last two years.

What are the four key messages?

The ADA’s four key messages are:

  • Brush teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste
  • Clean in-between teeth once a day (with floss or interdental brushes)
  • Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugar intake
  • Regularly visit the dentist for check-ups and preventive treatment.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these messages.

Brush teeth twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

Smiles Nambour wants the community to know how to properly brush – what brush to use, what technique, and what toothpaste. Here are the ADA suggestions for how to brush:

  • Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day.
  • Use a toothbrush with small bristles, a small head, and a flexible neck.
  • Clean your teeth systematically, holding the toothbrush at the gumline at a 45- degree angle.
  • Brush all the surfaces of your teeth paying special attention to where the tooth meets the gum. This is where plaque builds up.
  • Don’t press too hard as high pressure can harm gums and tooth enamel.

Brushing with a powered toothbrush. If you have limited coordination or dexterity, electric toothbrushes can be an effective option.

The importance of the right toothpaste. Choose toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride strengthens teeth, making them more resistant to attacks from sugar and acid. Fluoride also helps remineralise teeth.

NOTE: It takes two to three minutes to brush your teeth properly, but most people spend 30 seconds or less!

Clean in-between teeth once a day

Here are the ADA suggestions for flossing

  • Make flossing part of your oral hygiene regimen.
  • Floss at least once a day.
  • Ask your dentist to demonstrate the correct flossing technique.
  • Ask your dentist if interdental aids will complement your flossing.
  • Your children should be flossed as soon as they have teeth that touch.

And the technique they recommend:

  • Wind approximately 45 cm of floss around your middle fingers and grip it tightly between your thumbs and index fingers.
  • Keeping the thumb and index close together, gently steer the floss between your teeth, being careful not to damage your gums with extreme movements. Use a side-to-side motion so that the sides of both teeth are cleaned equally.
  • To clean point where a tooth meets the gums, curl the floss around the base of the tooth and slide it carefully under the gum.

If you have difficulty with either brushing or flossing (or prefer a different tool such as an interdental cleaner or oral irrigator), talk to us at Smiles Nambour.

Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugar intake

Oral health and diet are closely linked. The ADA suggests:

  • Limit sugar consumption. Sugar is the single biggest culprit in tooth decay.
  • Fluoridated tap water is best.
  • Read the ingredients panel on food products as many have hidden sugars.
  • Choose teeth friendly foods such as cheese, nuts, and vegetables.
  • Avoid snacking and grazing.

Learn more about sugar and your oral health here:

  1. Break Sugar Cravings and Boost Your Overall Health
  2. The Sugars Hidden in your All-Time Favourite Drinks
  3. Tooth Decay Prevention: Less Sugar Means Healthier Teeth
  4. Recent Findings On Sugar Intake And Tooth Decay

Regularly visit your Smiles Nambour dentist for check-ups and preventive treatment

Regular dental check-ups are a key part of maintaining good oral health. During check-ups dentists can identify hidden problems, including early signs of tooth decay and gum disease. They can even identify jaw disease and detect oral cancers while they are still most curable.

As our commitment to Dental Health week, Smiles Nambour offers the following promotions to help you “watch your mouth”!

  • HCF’s More for Teeth Program – HCF’s More for teeth program helps you maintain great oral health. Available to all HCF members with Extras cover, it includes two fully covered check-ups and cleans each year.
  • Senior Discount – 10% senior discount on all the treatments.
  • Payment Plans and “Take Home Lay By”.
  • MySmilePlan – Interest free dental payment plans for patients.
  • Same Day Emergency – Same day dental emergency appointment.

Dentistry at Smiles Nambour

Smiles Nambour is the perfect choice for dental care in the Nambour area. We provide top-notch dental services of all kinds to patients of every age! Our professional staff is dedicated to providing you with personalised, quality dental care.

Smiles Nambour offers a comprehensive array of general, restorative, and cosmetic dental services for you and your loved ones.

A visit to Smiles Nambour is an investment in your dental health and attractive smile!

Call (07) 5441 4438 or visit us at Shop 4, 2-4 Ann street, Nambour QLD 4560.