All adults can maintain optimum dental health by adopting good oral hygiene practices and eating a healthy diet. Here we discuss our top 4 dental health tips for adults to help you maintain your incredible smile. Dental help for adults is just as necessary as dental help for children.
Common oral health conditions in adults can include tooth decay (dental caries), gum disease, tooth wear, dry mouth and tooth sensitivity. Decay in adults can be common around fillings and between teeth. The following dental health tips for adults will reduce the risk of these conditions.
1. Eat well
Proper nutrition is necessary for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Eating a well-balanced diet gives teeth and gum tissues the important nutrients and minerals needed for them to stay strong and resist infections. In contract, soft, sticky foods tend to remain on the grooves and between teeth and can lead to an increased risk of decay. We recommend you:
- Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods
- If you eat sugary foods and sweets, limit their intake (especially between meals)
- When you do snack, choose nutritious foods such as cheese and dry crackers, vegetables, natural yogurt or fresh fruit
2. Drink well
It’s important to drink plenty of tap water, consistently through the day. You should also avoid acidic and sugary beverages such as soft drinks, sports drinks, cordials, fruit juices and flavoured or carbonated water. You should also swap out flavoured milk for plain milk. If you do consume sugary drinks, these are best to have with meals rather than between.
3. Clean well
Always make sure you use fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day – especially before you go to sleep at night. Also floss once a day, to clean between your teeth.
4. Play well
We advise that you wear a professionally fitted mouthguard when training and playing sport where there is a risk of oral injury. This will help protect your mouth, teeth and jaw.
