better health
As many of us struggle to get an appointment with an NHS dentist, here’s how to keep your teeth in top health…
Access to NHS dentistry has been a hot topic recently, with reports that some areas of the UK have become “dental deserts” and think tank Nuffield Trust commenting that “NHS dentistry in England is at its most perilous point in its 75-year history”.
Recent data has shown that four-in-five dental practices in England are not registering adult NHS patients, while 71 per cent are not taking on new patients under the age of 18. When one new NHS practice in Bristol opened its doors, it was so overwhelmed with people desperate to register that police were called to control the crowds.
“Good oral health is essential for good general health,” says Jason Wong, Chief Dental Officer, England (interim). “Dental and oral health teams have been working hard to recover NHS services from the impact of the pandemic and meet rising demand. However, we know that for some people it continues to be difficult to access NHS dental care.”
This difficulty to access care means that many of us are only seeing a dentist when an issue becomes urgent, but prevention could be better than a cure.
Here, celebrity dentist Dr Richard Marques (Drrichardlondon.com), shares the steps and habits we can all adopt to help protect our oral health.
Home in on hygiene
Looking after our teeth and gums begins with an excellent oral hygiene regime. “For the best regime at home, it’s generally recommended to stick to this order – mouthwash, f loss, brush,” says Dr Richard. “It is recommended to allow the toothpaste to soak into the teeth to allow protection and remineralisation of enamel from the f luoride and other active ingredients.”
Dr Richard adds that timing is important, too. “Waiting 30 minutes after food is generally recommended to allow the enamel recovery before you brush the teeth,” he warns. “Enamel is temporarily weakened after eating by the acidic or alkaline pH of food, so if you brush straight afterwards you can scrub the enamel.”
To keep your breath fresh, Dr Richard suggests treating your tongue, too. “Brushing the tongue or using a tongue scraper is recommended,” he says.
Adopt healthy habits
As well as perfecting your at-home oral care regime, adopting some good lifestyle habits can help maintain your teeth and gums, too. “There are definitely changes that can be made to help keep our teeth in top condition,” says Dr Richard. “It’s important we all try to make a conscious effort to look after our teeth and implementing steps such as avoiding certain foods can be extremely impactful. For example, completely avoiding or consuming only a limited amount of toffees, sugary biscuits, fizzy drinks, cakes and even crisps, which can get stuck in the g
