It’s National Smile Month 2014, which is one of the most important events in dentistry. But for the dentist’s of Leicester it’s particularly important.

Children in Leicester have the worst rate of decay in England. The national average for 5 year old’s is 28%, but in Leicester the rate of decay in 5 year old’s is a staggering 53.2%.

Here at Smile Essential dental practice, dentist’s are working with the Leicester City Council and are holding a toothbrush amnesty through to the end of National Smile Month (29th June). The scheme is open to everyone aged 6 and under in Leicester not just our patients. All you need to do is bring in your children’s old toothbrushes and swap them for new ones.

We will also be spreading the 3 core message’s of National Smile Month–

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks
• Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend

If you’re one of the people who tends not to enjoy a trip to dentist, then these 7 tips should help you to avoid any unnecessary dental appointments.

Tip 1– Never, I repeat Never go to bed without brushing your teeth. During the night your mouth doesn’t produce as much saliva, making it more susceptible to tooth decay.

Tip 2– Always use a fluoride toothpaste. Check the label on your toothpaste to make sure that it contains fluoride. Fluoride will help to strengthen and protect your teeth from dental decay.

Tip 3– Invest in a decent toothbrush. Manual toothbrushes are fine but if you want to keep your teeth tip top then an electric toothbrush is far superior. And remember to change it frequently, at least every 3 months.

Tip 4– Clean inbetween your teeth! Most dental decay starts inbetween your teeth because harmful plaque isn’t being removed from this area. The surfaces inbetween your teeth account for a 3rd of brushing surfaces and not cleaning them is the equivalent to not brushing 2 days a week! So floss or use interdental brushes to clean these areas of your teeth daily.

Tip 5– Sugar. We all love a bit of the sweet stuff, but if you have a sweet tooth beware! We wouldn’t expect you to give up the occasional treat but many people aren’t aware it’s the frequency of sugary drinks and foods that do the damage. So cut out any unnecessary sugar that you consume frequently such as juice and sugar in hot drinks. Xylitol is a great sugar alternative which can actually help to strengthen your teeth.

Tip 6– Visit the dentist. If you want to limit your time at the dentist then making sure that you go for regular dental health checks means that problems are often spotted early and preventative advice can be given. Doing this means you won’t need as much dental treatment.

Tip 7– Follow the standard oral hygiene advice given. Floss once a day, brush 2 times daily, use a mouthwash and visit your dentist for a dental health check to catch any problems early on.