Brush your teeth twice a day fro healthy teeth & gums.

In Glasgow both tooth decay and gum disease are common amongst adults:

• 79% of adults are affected by bleeding gums, the first clinical sign of gum disease
• 17% of 45-54 year olds experience complete tooth loss
• Up to 63% of this is due to dental caries (cavities) and bleeding gums.

These diseases are largely preventable and are directly related to our diet, toothbrushing habits and regular visits to a dentist.

• Diet: Limiting the amount of times we eat sugary foods and drinks throughout the day will help to protect teeth. Choosing ‘safer’ alternatives for in between meal snacks such as fruit, yoghurt, filled rolls, milk and water will help reduce the build up of plaque on teeth during the day.
• Brushing: Teeth should be brushed twice a day and toothbrushes generally need to be changed every three months. A fluoride toothpaste which contains 1000ppm of fluoride should be used by all the family including young children. ‘Regular’ products and ‘shop own’ brands usually have enough fluoride, whilst children’s toothpastes tend to have too little.’Extra’ and ‘advanced’ products are not suitable for young children but always read the package to check. Keep the amount of toothpaste to the size of a pea or slightly less for young children.
• Dentist: Annual dental visits can identify and treat dental caries and bleeding gums in their early stages. The dentist can help with dental hygiene routines. In Scotland patients are only registered with a dentist for fifteen months. Registration lapses if there has been no dental visit and a person may have to register with a new dentist before receiving treatment.