The key risk factors for students heading off to university regarding their oral health are from excessive alcohol consumption, caffeine dependence and a poor diet.
The team at Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre have therefore come up with some top tips to ensure that you can enjoy university without worrying about your oral health.
- Oral hygiene routine
Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and clean inter-dentally daily. This will help to ensure that you remove any food and plaque trapped between teeth, where brushing alone misses, reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay
- Use a straw
Sounds silly right? Drinking from a straw helps prevent stains because you avoid direct contact with the front of your teeth. It also reduces the time harmful acids are in contact with your teeth reducing the risk of acid erosion.
- Limit your sugar intake
Sugar is one of the biggest factors that contribute to tooth decay. While having sugar in your diet is essential, most people tend to have too much. Try to limit sugar to mealtimes wherever possible and avoid constantly grazing on sweet treats to help reduce the risk of tooth decay.
- Donot constantly sip
Sugar in wine, mixed drinks and fizzy drinks combine with bacteria in your mouth to form acid which then attack the teeth. This ‘attack’ generally has a life span of 20 minutes so every time you take another sip, the cycle restarts. The long-term effect is weakened enamel and susceptibility to tooth decay.
- Visit the dentist
Whether you choose to register with a dentist at university or remain with your dentist at home, it is important that you attend for regular, routine appointments as often as your dentist recommends to maintain your oral health.
Want to ensure that you can hit the ground running when you arrive at University? Why not book in for a routine dental appointment and ensure that your oral health is top notch before you go. Call Maidstone Dental & Implant Centre on 01622 682 029 today to book your appointment.