15 Secrets on oral hygiene

It is amazing how many people avoid the dentist because they think if they are not in pain then all is well. The fact is, like keeping fit, a healthy smile takes work and maintenance – and the effort will boost your wellbeing as well as your teeth

1. Power away plaque
Like cholesterol we don’t physically see plaque. This sticky film coats the teeth full of bacteria that release toxins, which damage your teeth and gums. Some people produce more plaque than others and it can be useful to ask your dentist to carry out a saliva test, which checks your ‘buffer’ capacity. If you are one of the unlucky ones with low ‘buffering’, steps can be taken to boost it, such as using fluoride rinses and eating more alkaline foods such as cheese. But, for the vast majority shifting plaque is down to plain elbow grease – spending time cleaning your teeth before breakfast, flossing daily and creating a customised maintenance plan with your dental hygienist. For some this could mean seeing a hygienist every three months, for most every six.

2. The ‘F’ word

Floss, floss, floss. You should floss every day to reach the spaces your tooth brush cannot possibly clean – in between your teeth and deep under the gums where the bacteria lurk. Start with about two hand spans of floss and wind most of the floss around each index finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with. Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth. If you are a beginner use dental tape as it does the same job as floss but is easier to use – as are floss sticks.

3. Switch to electric
Invest in an electric toothbrush. I say it’s the difference between using vacuum cleaner and a dustpan and brush because power brushing is faster and more effective than hand. The most powerful brush, recommended by the British Dental Health Foundation, is the Oral B Triumph.

4. Magic minutes
Some electric toothbrushes have timers but you should spend a minimum of two minutes every time you brush your teeth and gums twice daily. The magic two minutes has been found to be the absolute minimum time needed to effectively remove tenacious plaque by the way – so if you fancy brushing a little longer, be my guest.

5. Quit the fags!
People who smoke are more prone to gum disease because the tobacco produces toxins that damage the mouth tissue and also kill all the good cells in your mouth that help your body fight disease. Smokers really need to spend the time making sure they clean their mouth thoroughly. They should also see the hygienist every three months.

6. Sweet breath
Many things can cause bad breath from tooth decay, gum disease to the type of food you eat, as well as dehydration. Not drinking enough water means you do not produce enough saliva. Your hygienist will guide you to the best regime to beat this. Generally tea and coffee drinkers should drink an extra four glasses of water a day to cancel out their dehydrating effects.

7. Detect problems
Did you know going to the dentist could actually save your life? Screening for many cancers (including oral, breast, prostate), diabetes and heart disease will be able to be tested by swabbing saliva in as little as two years. Right now, one of the earliest ways to detect cancer growths is to check the lymph nodes around the head and neck and check for any unusual swellings.

8. Check your bite
I had a patient I had been seeing for years who, chatting after a routine hygiene visit, claimed she had suffered from migraines continually. We found the source of the problem was misaligned teeth so I fixed her bite (she had a combination of braces and veneers), which re-aligned her teeth, and the migraines disappeared. Migraines and headaches can be caused by misalignment and grinding teeth can also cause the muscles around face to go into spasm. If you are getting regular headaches, do ask your dentist to check your bite.

9. Razzle dazzle ‘em
Knock five years off your age straight away and invest in a whitening treatment. There are two ways to zap ageing discoloured teeth: at home or at the dentist. Home whitening is the least expensive because there is little clinical time involved. Your dentist will create custom-made trays to fit snugly over your teeth, protecting the gums. You then wear the trays with a special gel containing peroxide overnight, usually for a week for best results. You will see the colour of your teeth improve to match the whites of your eyes. Alternatively you can have power whitening or laser whitening at the dentist. More time is spent protecting the mouth and gums as the whitening product used is so powerful, it could burn badly. A light is used to activate the whitening gel which releases oxygen bubbles as it works. Teeth – like skin – have pores that get blocked with colour molecules from food. As the gel releases the oxygen, it dislodges the colour and teeth get whiter from the inside out. Prices for both vary from dentist to dentist but start at £250 for at home treatments and £550 for laser treatment.

10. Whitening toothpastes
There are great new advances in toothpastes but there is a limit to what they can do. Realistically they can only get rid of surface stains. Pick carefully as some can be quite abrasive. Go for a toothpaste with whitening benefits designed for sensitive teeth for the best of both worlds, and use daily.

11. Wash with fluoride
Use a fluoride toothpaste daily to attack plaque bacteria – and spit, don’t rinse as that keeps the fluoride on your teeth for longer. If you like a good slosh, use a fluoride mouthwash instead of water. Avoid mouthwashes with alcohol content (they can erode enamel) as the only ingredient necessary for a good clean is fluoride.

12. Chew gum
Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva, which helps prevent cavities forming. Choose one that contains xylitol as this prevents bacteria – it acts like a disinfectant. But only chew until the gum’s flavour has run out, otherwise your jaw will be working overtime.

13. The long straw
Fizzy drinks, even diet ones, dissolve the enamel of teeth, making them open to bacterial attack – so use a straw to help protect your teeth.

14. Take your time
Wait at least 20 minutes after drinking or eating anything sweet or acidic before brushing your teeth – otherwise you can actually brush your enamel away. When you eat sweet foods, bacteria in your mouth produce toxins that soften your enamel, so brushing immediately can cause more damage.

15. Age-proof your routine
As we get older our gums shrink and our teeth shift – so you may need to invest more in your smile. The ideal schedule is hygienist every three months for cleaning, dentist every six and X-rays every 12-18 months, depending on how many fillings you have. Whitening treatments depend on lifestyle and if you grind your teeth you may have to wear a protective shield at night. If this gets bad enough, a full reconstruction may be necessary to rebuild worn enamel with veneers and crowns.

Expert: Dr Uchenna Koye
Uchenna qualified at Guys Dental School London in 1993 and now runs three London practices (www.londonsmiling.co.uk). She is also the new dentist on Channel 4’s 10 Years Younger.