When somebody mentions dental hygiene, the first thing that comes to most peoples minds is cleaning their teeth. Obviously, this is a routine that features as a big part of our lives when we are growing up and stays with us as we become adults. However, this is the limit to most peoples knowledge of dental hygiene, they assume brushing your teeth twice a day is enough to avoid any nasty diseases or complications. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Dentists in the City of Leeds have been trying to educate the city on what constitutes good dental hygiene. They include the avoidance of some lifestyle habits, such as smoking and drinking coffee or red wine, as a way in which to prevent unnecessary treatment  in the future due to conditions such as gum disease.

They also stress the importance of maintaining regular appointments with your local dentist. The recommended frequency of check-ups is twice a year, or every six months. This allows for your dentist to keep an eye on any problems you may be having, or any treatment you might be needing (scaling and polishing for example). It is important to remember that bacteria and plaque are not visible to the naked eye, we cannot see the damage they are causing. Your dentist however, is professionally trained to recognise the symptoms of such problems and can offer you the best care and equipment to treat them with.

Finally, in order to maintain good oral health, it is important to avoid foods than can be harmful to your teeth. Sugary foods turn to acids in your mouth and these acids are the cause of cavities and the reason we need fillings. In order to prevent cavities, avoiding chocolate and sweets is essential. If you have a sweet tooth, you can replace these foods with sweet fruits such as raisins as these contain natural sugars that will not cause damage to your teeth.