Dental Health Week in Buderim

Comfort Dental Centre Buderim is happy to announce the upcoming Dental Health Week.

Dental Health Week (6 to 12 August) is the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA) annual oral health promotion event, and this year its slogan is “Watch your Mouth”.

Its aim is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health by promoting four central dental points of focus.

The ADA’s four messages are simple and they are ones that Comfort Dental Centre Buderim also focuses on:

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

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

Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste

At Comfort Dental Centre Buderim we have always been advocates of proper brushing, twice a day. The ADA emphasises five points:

• Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes, twice a day.
• Use a brush with soft bristles, a small head, and a flexible neck.
• Clean your teeth systematically, holding the toothbrush at the gum line at a 45-degree angle.
• Avoid pressing too hard, which can damage gums & tooth enamel.
• Pick a toothpaste containing fluoride and replace your toothbrush four times a year.

The proper brushing technique is:

• Squeeze a pea-sized bit of toothpaste onto a soft-bristled brush.
• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.
• Gently move the brush around in brief (tooth-wide) circular strokes.
• Brush the front surfaces, the inner surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of each tooth.
• When cleaning the inside surface of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.
• Brush for at least two minutes each time, and do it morning and night.

Fluoride toothpaste and tooth decay

If you are at high risk of developing tooth decay, your dentist may recommend you use a higher strength fluoride toothpaste.

General brushing tips from the ADA

Although many think that pressing harder on your teeth leads to a better clean, too much pressure can damage your gums and tooth enamel. If the bristles on your toothbrushes wear out before three months of use, you’re pressing too hard. Come to Comfort Dental Centre Buderim, and we’ll give you a refresher course on how to brush!

Clean in-between teeth

It is also necessary to clean between your teeth, as brushing cannot reach these areas, and food, bacteria, and plaque can build up here. The ADA suggests:

• Make flossing part of your oral hygiene
• 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 floss too, start as soon as your child has two teeth that touch

How to floss

The correct flossing technique involves basic steps:

• Wind approximately 45 cm of floss around your middle fingers and grip it between your thumbs and index fingers.
• Keeping the thumb and index close together, gently guide the floss between the teeth, taking care not to cut or damage your gums with abrupt movement. Use a side-to-side motion to ensure both teeth are cleaned.
• To clean the area where teeth meet gums, curl the floss and insert it gently under the gum.

If this technique is difficult, consider a floss threader or floss pick (both of which hold the floss for you) to do the job.

Eat a healthy balanced diet and limit sugar intake

A healthy diet supports all elements of health, including dental health. The ADA suggests:

• Limit sugar consumption as sugar is the biggest cause of 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 grazing and snacking.

Learn more about sugar and your oral health here

1. How to End Sugar Cravings
2. Top 5 Worst Drinks for Your Smile

To this Comfort Dental Centre Buderim would add, eat a healthy diet full of the vitamins and minerals that support dental health, such a Vitamins D and C.

Visit Comfort Dental Centre Buderim regularly

Regular visits to are important to your dental health. The ADA recommends:

• Visit your Comfort Dental Centre Buderim dentist at least twice a year!
• Dental check-ups are a key part of maintaining good oral health.
• Dentists can discover problems that you might be unaware of, including early signs of tooth decay and gum disease.

Comfort Dental Centre Buderim Cares

Comfort Dental Centre Buderim provides expert care for healthy, beautiful smiles. When you leave our office not only will you be happy with the treatment you received, but also how well you were treated.

We serve patients from Buderim and surrounding areas with top-notch dentistry. Our dental practice in Buderim provides the highest quality of dental care, in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, with a commitment to excellent customer service.