Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

DENTAL RESOLUTIONS

Post Thumbnail

SPECIAL FEATURE

Have you considered improving your dental health for the new year? Here are some tips from dentist Martin Ritchie

 

IMPROVE YOUR DIET

People need to remember that good oral health is important for overall health.

The main oral diseases are decay and gum disease – both of which are largely preventable.

Poor oral hygiene is the main cause of gum disease and, together with poor diet, is the main cause of the development of dental decay.

A diet rich with plenty of fruit, vegetables and fibre can help prevent gum diseases. Gum disease, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss, bad breath, heart disease and problems in pregnancy, including low birth weight.

Eating habits also have potential to impact on oral health. Often, people are snacking throughout the day and they need to remember the frequency and quantity of sugar intake.

Your teeth are under acid attack for up to an hour each time you eat or drink sugary items.

If snacking, snack on savoury foods such as breadsticks, raw vegetables, nuts, cheese and drink plenty of water instead of sugary drinks. Cut down how often you have sugary foods and drinks.

yl-HealthDen2
It is better to snack on savoury foods such as raw vegetables or breadsticks instead of sugary treats

 

After eating, it is also a good idea to chew a sugar-free gum containing xylitol to help minimise tooth decay. Acidic foods and drinks can also be harmful to your teeth. Excessive acid can wear away the enamel and cause tooth sensitivity.

LIMIT SMOKING AND DRINKING
A combination of smoking and alcohol misuse as well as poor diet has been linked to an increased risk of developing mouth cancer.

It’s estimated that heavy drinkers and smokers have 38 times more risk of developing mouth cancer than people who neither drink nor smoke.

According to ScottishDental.org (part of NHS Scotland), over 500 people may be diagnosed with mouth cancer in Scotland this year. Smokers are also more susceptible to having gum disease as well as staining on the teeth.
HELP KIDS ACHIEVE BETTER ORAL CARE

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Make sure your child brushes properly for two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.

Where necessary, guide your child’s hand so they can feel the correct movement. Supervise tooth brushing until your child is seven or eight years old. Try to make it as fun as possible and remember to take your child for regular dental checkups.

ADDRESS ANY UNRESOLVED DENTAL ISSUES

You may have a particular issue, however big or small, that bothers you. It may be a chipped tooth, a gappy smile, an old filling or possible bad breath. Do not ignore it; book an appointment with a dentist to address the problem.
BRUSH TWICE A DAY

Brush every surface of your teeth and gums with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for about two minutes, once last thing at night before you go to bed and once in the morning every day to help keep your teeth and mouth healthy. Tooth brushing stops plaque build-up; not brushing contributes to gum disease and tooth decay.

SEE YOUR DENTIST FOR REGULAR CHECKUPS
Regular check-ups allow your dentist to check for early signs of oral health problems that you may not feel or see. They can then advise on treatment as well as show you how to keep your mouth healthy to prevent problems from arising.

FINALLY… SMILE MORE!

It’s contagious! Your smile is unique to you. Share it with family, friends and everyone around you. Enjoy the new year and make dental health a priority in 2015.

The oral health information is intended for educational purposes only. Always consult your dentist for any questions concerning your oral health.