How A Busy Lifestyle Affects Your Oral Health

Dental Health Week, which takes place in the first full week of August, is the Australian Dental Association’s major annual oral health promotion event. Its aim is to educate Australians about the importance of maintaining good oral health in every aspect of their lives.

This year the theme is Oral Health For Busy Lives!

At Simply Smiles Dental we know life gets complicated and maintaining your oral health isn’t always the first thing on your mind. We also know that having healthy teeth and gums is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Whether your oral health habits are good, bad, or somewhere in between, Simply Smiles Dental is here to help you take charge of your time and your dental health.

Why Should You Care?

Because poor dental hygiene can have catastrophic outcomes:

You can lose your teeth
You can have bad breath
It can lead to diabetes
You’re at risk for dementia
You may get cavities
You can get gum disease
You can damage your immune system
It can cause a brain abscess

Those are the kinds of problems really take up time to deal with and repair. So your investment in oral hygiene now is a down-payment on more, healthier time later.

A Little Time At Home Can Save A Lot Of Time In The Chair

Oral health begins at home. Consider these brushing basics:

Brush your teeth twice a day. When you brush, don’t rush. Take time to do a thorough job.

Use the proper equipment. Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth.

Practice good technique. If you need a refresher on good technique, just ask Simply Smiles Dental!

Keep your equipment clean. Rinse your toothbrush with water after brushing and air dry away from other brushes, and uncovered.

Flossing for oral health. Break off about 18 inches (46 centimetres) of dental floss. Wind most of the floss around the middle finger on one hand, and the rest around the middle finger on the other hand. Don’t snap the floss into your gums, and floss one tooth at a time, being sure to be gentle.

Use a scraper and mouthwash. For an extra level of oral hygiene, tongue scrapers and mouth rinses can take you the extra step.

Nutrition – Good Health with Little Time Commitment

You probably consider nutrition already, and finding and eating healthy foods should take no more time than finding ‘bad’ foods. But the time you will save in health, wellness, and treatment costs will be worth it.

Every time you eat or drink anything sugary, your teeth are under acid attack for up to one hour. This is because the sugar will react with the bacteria in plaque (the sticky coating on your teeth) and produce harmful acids. So it is important to have sugary foods or drinks just at mealtimes, limiting the amount of time your mouth is at risk.

Acidic foods and drinks can be just as harmful. The acid ‘erodes’ or dissolves the enamel, exposing the dentine underneath. This can make your teeth sensitive and unsightly.

A diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fresh fruit and vegetables can help prevent gum disease and more serious issues.

Dental Care Outside the House

One way to optimise dental health, is to take your oral hygiene tools with you.

It might not be practical to dig out your entire toiletry kit while you’re at the office or in a restroom but you can still carry travel-size products in a purse or dental kit. A travel-size toothbrush (with carrying case), toothpaste, floss, and small bottle of mouthwash can easily fit in a small bag, which means you have no excuse to skip oral hygiene on-the-go!

Visit Simply Smiles – Your Long-Term Time-Saver

Regular dental visits are recommended to prevent oral health problems. But more than one-third of adults don’t visit their dentist every year.

At Simply Smiles, we make it simple and convenient. We are open until 6pm on weekdays and until 1pm on Saturdays, so it is easy to book an appointment that works for you.

Simply Smiles Dental offers plenty of on street parking and is very easy to visit. Free parking for 90 minutes in Woolworth’s car park, minimal charge for longer.

We also offer emergency services, and for non-emergency appointments you can request a booking online!

Get a Full, Healthier Smile at Simply Smiles Dental in Toorak

At Simply Smiles Dental, we aim to give you the smile and dental health of your dreams, quickly and efficiently.

Our office is in Toorak Village and serves patients from Toorak, South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor, Southbank, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Malvern, Albert Park, Melbourne CBD, and other metro areas.

We are a Medibank and HCF Members Choice Dentist as well as an HCF Members Choice Dentist.

Our Special Offers

At Simply Smiles Dental, our goal is to make quality dental care affordable. We encourage you to take advantage of our latest offers.

To find out more, visit our special offers page today!