Happy Dental Health Week!

Dental Health Week (DHW) is a campaign organised by the Australian Dental Association (ADA) to provide Australians dental health advice and remind them of the importance of their oral health. This year, we’ll be celebrating with the theme, “How much sugar is hiding in your trolley?”

Understanding sugar and its effects on our teeth is extremely important in taking care of our oral health. That’s because cleaning our teeth is only half of what it takes to care for them. The foods that we put into our body pay a role just as important in protecting our teeth.

So, when it comes to sugar consumption, what is the best dental health advice our dentists in Everton Park can give?

Don’t neglect your dental hygiene routine

Cleaning your teeth twice a day should be a habit instilled into you from a young age. Additionally, you should know the tricks to the right technique.

Brush gently in circular motions for a full two minutes. You should aim your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and make sure you reach the front surface of your teeth, the insides and the biting surfaces.

Many people forget this next step, but flossing is essential! Floss reaches the spots that your toothbrush cannot and helps prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Your toothbrush should be replaced every 3-4 months or if you are sick.

Cleaning your teeth twice a day is important, but it doesn’t stop there.

It’s recommended that you visit the dentist every 6 months for a routine check-up and clean. This is a preventative measure to ensure you’re taking good care of your teeth. A professional clean removes the build-up of plaque and tartar that your everyday cleaning routines cannot.

Limit your sugar

Experts recommend that you limit your sugar intake to 6 teaspoons a day. That’s equivalent to 24 grams of sugar.

When shopping for food, be sure to look for products with 10 grams or less of sugar per 100 grams. Using this figure on your food label can help you compare foods and find healthier alternatives.

Understand food labels and hidden sugars

While it’s important to understand how much sugar you should be consuming, it doesn’t mean much if you don’t understand how to read food labels.

Here are some tips:

Look at the ingredients list: The closer to the top of the list the ingredient is, the more sugar present.
Be aware of hidden sugars: Sugars can be hidden under other names, including golden syrup, saccharose, sucrose, agave nectar and high fructose corn syrup.
Read the label even for foods you consider healthy: Foods such as muesli bars can also contain a high amount of hidden sugars. It helps to get into the habit of checking labels for all foods until you have a better understanding of hidden sugars.
No added sugar ≠ Sugar free: Foods can contain both natural and added sugars, so a food with no added sugars may still contain a lot of sugar. Depending on the food or drink, both can have an effect on your teeth.

For more dental health advice, look no further than your trusted dentists in Everton Park. At Everton Park Dental, we pride ourselves on our premium treatment and customer service in a modern, hi-tech environment.

For more, like us on Facebook. To book an appointment, give us a call on (07) 3355 7936 or book online.