Good oral health is essential for your well-being so everyone should practice good dental care
Good oral health is essential to your overall well being. Gum disease can affect many areas of your health. It has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, premature babies (with low birth weight), Alzheimer's and rheumatoid arthritis if left untreated.
If together we can look after your teeth and gums, then you have a better chance of avoiding serious health issues. Book an appointment with our friendly dentists today.
Taradale Family Dental welcomes patients from across Napier and the wider Hawke's Bay region.
Taradale Family Dental provides dental care advice for the whole family
- Dental health is important for your overall health
- Our team can advise you when you come for your appointment
- Top tips for caring your for teeth and your child's teeth
Taradale Family Dental is located in Lee Road, Taradale and welcomes patients from across Napier and Hawke's Bay
How to care for the teeth of all your family members
Caring for children's teeth
Caring for children's teeth begins even when they are babies. Even before first teeth have erupted you can make sure your babies gums are clean by gently wiping them with a cloth.
Once teeth are present they should be cleaned twice a day with a small soft toothbrush and appropriate toothpaste. Usually brushing happens in the morning and before bed. Don't forget to gently brush where the tooth meets the gums as well as all the tooth surfaces.
Encourage your child to spit out the toothpaste but not to rinse their mouth.
As they age...
As your child gets older they can start brushing their own teeth, but children do need help up to around 8 or 9-years-old. Pay particular attention to how they are brushing when they start losing their baby teeth to ensure wobbly teeth are still being carefully brushed and gaps are being cleaned.
For older children or teenagers undergoing orthodontic treatment, particular care should be taken to ensure food is not getting stuck in the braces.
Brushing adult teeth
It is equally important to brush twice a day when you are an adult. Choose a soft bristled toothbrush and appropriate toothpaste. Most people brush after breakfast and before going to bed. Remember to brush all of your tooth's surfaces inside, outside, on the top and along the gum line with gentle strokes.
It is also advisable to floss between your teeth once a day after brushing. If you find flossing difficult you may prefer to use an interdental brush which has a small tip to fit between teeth.
Electric toothbrushes are also recommended as they are more effective at cleaning teeth. However it has also been suggested that you alternate between an electric and a manual toothbrush as the different cleaning actions ensure you get a total mouth clean.
Adult and older people, particularly those on some medications, may suffer from a dry mouth which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Stay hydrated by drinking water regularly and talk to your dentist about whether sprays or gels might help.
Diet and lifestyle for good oral health
Diet and lifestyle can play a role in oral health for both adults and children.
Keeping sugary and acidic drinks like soft drinks and juice, and sugary snacks to a minimum for children will help protect teeth from decay. Milk and water are best for children. But remember if you have a baby don't let them go to sleep sucking on a bottle.
Adults should also aim to limit fizzy drinks, energy drinks, and sugary snacks. If you drink a daily tonic of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, consider drinking through a straw to avoid the acidity coming into contact with your teeth as it can soften the enamel. It's best not to brush teeth straight after drinking acidic drinks, and you should consider using GC Tooth Mousse as it contains calcium phosphate which strengthens enamel. Pick some up from us next time you're passing.
Smoking and drug use can also increase the risk of gum and mouth problems.
Protect teeth with professionally custom-made mouthguards
If you or your child play contact sports, a mouthguard should be worn to protect teeth during collisions.
Recent studies in New Zealand have revealed that over-the-counter mouthguards reduce the chance of injury to your mouth by just 40% compared with to the 90% success rate with high impact custom-made sports mouthguards.
A custom-made mouthguard offers a natural and secure fit, which enables clearer speech and maximises your oxygen intake. A well-fitting mouthguard can also reduce the chance of concussion and prevent injuries to the jaw and neck.
Taradale Family Dental's team works hard to identify issues early on and help you treat them
We will do our utmost to identify oral health problems as quickly as possible and provide a treatment plan, enabling you to take ownership of your dental health, making changes to your lifestyle if needed. This may include dental fillings, root canal treatment or tooth extractions or more extensive crown and bridge work or dental implants.
If your lifestyle or health issues have left you with teeth you are not proud of, we may also be able to help with teeth whitening or other cosmetic procedures to improve your smile.
Our team can advise you on preventative measures you can take and oral health information to assist you with this. If you need denture work to replace missing teeth, we will work together with a local independent dental technician.