Tooth Tips

What is oral health

According to the World Dental Federation, Oral health is multi-faceted and includes the ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow and convey a range of emotions through facial expressions with confidence and without pain, discomfort and disease of the craniofacial complex.

Visit the dentist regularly

Regularly visit your dentist at least twice a year for scaling and check up.

Balance your nutrition

Limit sugary foods and acidic drinks like soft drinks, fruit juices, etc.

Brush at least twice a day

Best time to brush is after your meal and most importantly before going to bed at night.

Brush thoroughly

Take 2-3 minutes to gently brush your teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush.

Floss and use interdental brushes or waterjets

Use a slow and gentle sawing motion.

Avoid using your teeth for anything other than chewing food

If you use them to crack nuts, remove bottle tops or rip open packaging, you risk chipping or even breaking your teeth.

Protect your teeth from injury

Wear a mouthguard or full-face helmet when playing sports.

Try to save a knocked-out tooth

If possible, hold the tooth back in place while you seek immediate dental advice. If this is not possible, wrap the tooth in plastic or place it in milk and seek dental advice immediately.

Dealing with Dry Socket condition

Dry socket happens occasionally after the extraction of a permanent tooth – usually a wisdom tooth – and must be addressed immediately. Most commonly, dry socket occurs on the mandible or lower jaw, causing intense pain. Dry socket is a condition that results when the newly formed blood clot at the extraction site becomes dislodged or dissolves during healing. This exposes the bone and nerve endings and causes intense, throbbing pain. If this occurs, you need to immediately call the dentist or oral surgeon.

Following an extraction, it is very important to follow the instructions given by your doctor.

Instructions after extraction, implant placement or surgery

Avoid smoking

Avoid hot drinks and food on the day of surgery

Eat soft foods until you return for your check up

Follow the protocol prescribed for antibiotics and painkillers

Brush your teeth and rinse very lightly

Rinse your mouth lightly with salt and water or mouthwash as instructed by your dentist

Apply ice on the face on the side of the surgery