Oral Hygiene Fact Sheets
We have put together a couple of fact sheets on oral hygiene for both adults and children below which we think may be useful.
Fact sheet – Adults
Content:
a) Toothbrushing
b) Looking after gums
c) Diet control
d) Oral cancer and how to reduce the risk
e) Smoking cessation
f) Looking after dental implants
g) Looking after dentures
- Toothbrushing
• Brush teeth at least twice a day with toothpaste containing 1350-1500 parts per million fluoride. Brush last thing at night, so that the fluoride continues to protect teeth while sleeping, and on at least one other time in the day
• A dentist may prescribe toothpaste with a higher fluoride level 2500-5000 parts per million fluoride for those who are at risk of tooth decay
• Brush all surfaces of each tooth carefully and the gum line
• Spit out after brushing but do not rinse away the toothpaste as this reduces the effectiveness of the fluoride – spit don’t rinse
• Choose a toothbrush with a small head and medium-textured bristles, use a manual or electric toothbrush
• If support to brush teeth is needed, toothbrush adaptations are available
• Replace a toothbrush regularly, every one to three months or when the bristles are worn
• In addition to daily tooth brushing, it is important to clean between the teeth using interdental brushes. Some people may not have large enough spaces in between their teeth to use interdental brushes so flossing can be a useful alternative
- Looking after gums
• Smoking increases the risk of gum disease and affects the response to treatment. It can increase the chance of losing teeth.
• Diabetes and poor sugar control increases the risk of gum disease, and makes treatment less effective
• Some medication can affect gum health and can cause dry mouth or enlarged gums
- Diet control
• Reduce the amount and frequency of the consumption of food and drink that contain sugar
• Keep sugar containing food and drinks to mealtimes only
• Reduce the amount of sugar-sweetened drinks consumed, such as fizzy and soft drinks, tea, coffee and squash
• Avoid sugary foods and drinks just before bedtime as saliva flow in the mouth slows down when asleep and can cause the risk of tooth decay
- Oral cancer and how to reduce risk
• Any persistent ulcer, swelling, lump, white or red patch that have not healed within 2-3 weeks
• Any lumps/nodes in the neck or unexplained changes in speech or swallowing
Should raise suspicion of oral cancer and must be seen by a dentist or doctor to rule out cancer – prognosis is good with early detection
• The main risk factors for oral cancer are tobacco and alcohol
• The combined effect of drinking alcohol and using tobacco multiplies the risk of developing oral cancer
• Do not smoke, or use smokeless tobacco i.e. paan, chewing tobacco and gutkha
• The Chief Medical Officer for England has recommended no more than 14 units of alcohol per week, to keep health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level
• Smoking is a leading cause of cancer. Studies show that people are four times more likely to quit with NHS/agency support
f) Looking after dental implants
• Implants should be looked after just like natural teeth
• The soft tissue (gum) and bone around dental implants are at the same risk of inflammation and gum disease as those around natural teeth
• Clean between and around implants carefully using cleaning aids – as advised by the dental team
• Attend the dentist regularly, as advised to check the health of the gum and bone around the implants
g) Looking after dentures
• Dentures should be rinsed after every meal and cleaned at least twice a day
• Dentures must be removed at night before bed, cleaned with a soft brush, liquid soap and water to remove any debris and stored in water in a named denture pot overnight
• Clean the inside of the mouth: gently brush the tongue, roof of the mouth and the inside of the cheeks to clean the mouth and remove any plaque or food debris
• All people irrespective of whether they have any natural teeth or not should visit a dentist for a routine dental check-up at least once per year
Fact Sheet – Infants, children and young people
Content:
a) Toothbrushing
b) Diet control and healthy eating
c) Fluoride application
a) Toothbrushing
• Start brushing as soon as the first tooth appears – usually at about 6 months of age
• Brush teeth at least twice a day with a family fluoride toothpaste last thing at night and at least one other occasion
• Brushing at bedtime is important as it makes sure that the fluoride continues to protect the teeth while the child is asleep
For maximin protection of tooth decay children should use a toothpaste containing 1350-1500 ppm fluoride:
Children aged 0-3 use a smear amount of toothpaste
Children aged 3 + use a small pea sized amount of toothpaste
Children 10+ with active decay prescribe toothpaste containing 2800 ppm fluoride
Children 16+ with active decay prescribe toothpaste containing either 2800 or 5000 ppm
fluoride
• Parents/carers should brush or help the child brush their teeth until they are at least seven years old to make sure the teeth are cleaned properly – to supervise the amount of toothpaste and to prevent liking and/or eating of toothpaste
• Encourage children to spit out the toothpaste and not rinse with water after brushing as this will wash away the fluoride and reduce how well it works – spit don’t rinse
• In addition to a toothbrushing routine, children aged 12+ should clean between the teeth using interdental brushes and/or dental floss – with advice from a dental care professional
• Children who have an orthodontic appliance should be advised to clean their teeth and appliance carefully – with extra advice from a dental care professional
b) Diet control and healthy eating
• Sugar is the main cause of tooth decay – each time we eat sugary food and drink, the bacteria in dental plaque produces acid that attacks teeth. If we eat and drink sugary foods frequently throughout the day we have more ‘acid attacks’, which can lead to tooth decay
• Reduce the amount and frequency of the consumption of food and drink that contain sugar
• Keep sugar containing food and drink including dried fruits to mealtimes only
• Squashes sweetened with sugar, fizzy drinks, soft drinks and fruit juices are not good for a child’s teeth or general diet
• Limit the amount of fruit juice and/or smoothies consumed to a maximum of 150 mls (one portion) in total per day and drink at mealtimes to reduce the risk of tooth decay
• Always ask for and/or prescribe sugar free medicines
• Encourage the consumption of five pieces of fruit and/or vegetables per day
• For babies – breast milk is the only food or drink babies need for around the first six months of life. Formula milk is the only suitable alternative to breast milk
• From the age of 6 months, bottle fed babies should be introduced to drinking from a free-flow cup. Bottle feeding should be discouraged from 12 months old
• Only breast milk, formula milk or cooled boiled water should be given in a bottle or a free-flow cup
• Only milk or water should be drunk between meals and avoid adding sugar to food and drink
c) Fluoride application
• Fluoride varnish is a high strength fluoride gel that can be applied by a dental care professional every three month and is recommended for those who are at greater risk of dental decay
• Fluoride varnish is not suitable for people who suffer from asthma or allergic to any of the contents
• Children aged 0-6 giving concern (e.g. those likely to develop caries and those with special needs) apply fluoride varnish to teeth two or more times a year (2.2% NaF-)
• Children aged 3-6 apply fluoride varnish to teeth two times a year (2.2% NaF-)
• Children aged 7+ giving concern (e.g. those with current obvious active caries, those with ortho appliances, dry mouth, other predisposing factors, those with special needs) apply fluoride varnish to teeth two or more times a year (2.2% NaF-)
• Children aged 7+ apply fluoride varnish to teeth two times a year (2.2% NaF-)
• Children aged 8+ with active decay can be prescribed a fluoride rinse
The Government have also put together a guide on looking after oral hygeine during covid-19 below.
LISTEN – PROTECT – SAVE YOUR SMILE during Covid-19