25 pieces of good advice

Here is some good advice about what you can do to look after your teeth and keep dental costs down

  1. It is a good idea to have regular dental check-ups.
  2. Toothpaste with fluoride is good at preventing the growth of bacteria.
  3. Take great care when you brush your teeth to ensure that all teeth are brushed thoroughly. Do this under a good light, and use glasses if necessary. You should brush your teeth for three minutes.
  4. The fluoride in your toothpaste works better if you keep the foam in the mouth – spit it out, but don’t rinse!
  5. If you like chewing gum, buy tooth hygiene chewing gum with fluoride. This protects the teeth against cavities. You can buy it at the dentist’s.
  6. Clean teeth do not get cavities.
  7. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day – when you get up in the morning and when you go to bed at night.
  8. It is a good idea to brush your teeth before and after every meal.
  9. There is a lot of sugar in most soft drinks. Take special care when you drink soft drinks, coca cola, juice, and use sugar in the coffee and tea. It can give you cavities. Acidic drinks like cola and other soft drinks (even sugar-free drinks) may ‘acid-wash’ the teeth – which may result in sensitivity to cold.
  10. Drink water when you are thirsty.
  11. If your teeth a sensitive to cold, this may be a sign that you need to replace a filling or two.
  12. If your gums become red or sore, or you get a proper gum infection, it can be handled in some cases by rinsing with chlorine hexidine. Keep rinsing a couple of times a day until the discomfort has disappeared.
  13. Keep the spaces between your teeth clean with dental floss, toothpicks, and maybe mini bottle-brushes.
  14. Dental floss may be easier to manage if you tie it in a circle.
  15. Look for blood on dental floss and toothpicks. This might be a sign of gum infection.
  16. If your gum turns red and bleeds a little, or if the gum is seriously infected, you should get treatment from your dental hygienist as soon as possible because gum infection may develop into paradentosis.
  17. Smoking on a daily basis increases the risk of paradentosis.
  18. If your child has blisters, you can relieve the pain with ice.
  19. Many patients have avoided getting blisters by using Longovital or Zendium toothpaste. Otherwise a laser treatment may give relief very quickly.
  20. It is a good idea to do regular X-rays of your teeth and jaws.
  21. Get a ‘condition report’ and a consultation on how to keep your teeth intact and stay chewing all your life.
  22. Implants can be a comfortable alternative to dentures.
  23. Talk to us if you need major treatment, and you could avoid pain in the wallet.
  24. Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking discolour the teeth.
  25. You are always welcome to call PSH TandlægeCenter to get more advice on healthy teeth.