Woman’s Weekly Living Series – July 2019

photos: getty, alamy

What matters now?

Planning ahead for braces

and to prevent future cavities.

Why? Good dental habits start

early in life – the more you can

do now, the fewer the problems

later on. Steering children clear

of sugary drinks and sweets (and

even dried fruit like raisin snacks)

will help prevent them needing

fillings when they’re older.

‘Braces are usually fitted

around 11-14 years old,’ says

Dr Shivani Patel, lead clinician

at ellevendental.com, ‘but some

children need preliminary

treatment under the age of ten to

enable braces to be fitted later on.’

Expert advice

l Try to deter children from

thumb-sucking and dummies

• a cause of protrusive ‘goofy’
  upper front teeth.
  l Fight the fear. Take children
  to the dentist at least once
  before the age of two to
  build confidence.
  l Teach them good habits.
  ‘Your children should be
  brushing in a circular motion
  with their brush held at a
  45-degree angle to ensure
  they clean their gums as well
  as their teeth,’ says Shivani.

A brightEr

smilE

Here’s what you need to know

about looking after your teeth

• whatever your age

for all the family

What matters now?

Teeth staining and

acidic erosion.

Why? ‘Tea, coffee and red

wine are some of the worst

culprits for teeth staining,

and the effect is

amplified when

you drink them

regularly over

a long period,’

says Dr Sameer

Patel, from the

British Academy of

Cosmetic Dentistry.

Expert advice

l Follow these drinks with

a glass of water, or rinse your

mouth out, says Sameer.

‘This will wash away the

tannins and rehydrate your

mouth. Water

also contains

mineral fluoride,

which makes

teeth more

resilient to acid

erosion and decay.’

l Clean between

your teeth with interdental

brushes at least twice a week.

l Regularly visit (every three

to six months) your dental

hygienist for stain removal.

NHS dental check-ups

include a stain-removal

treatment.

What matters now?

A healthy smile.

Why? There’s anecdotal evidence

that the selfie generation, and those

in their 30s, may feel under pressure

to have exceptionally white teeth,

says Professor Damien Walmsley,

scientific advisor to the British Dental

Association. ‘They may be tempted to

buy cut-price teeth whitening from

beauticians or in shopping arcades,’ he

explains. ‘Please don’t do it! Not only

can these cut-price procedures risk

permanent damage to your teeth,

but they are also against the law.

‘You may go to the gym to perfect your

body, yet make the mistake of drinking

fizzy sports drinks, which will gradually

wear away the surface of your teeth.’

Expert advice

l Cut back on sugar.

l Drink water rather than fizzy

drinks, or at least use a straw to

limit contact with your teeth.

l ‘If you want teeth whitening, it’s

important to remember that only

dental professionals have the right

training to carry this out

ChIldren and^

teenagers

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tooth tIp

Try Dentek Floss Picks

(£5.50 for 90, Boots).

They help clean your

tongue as well as

between teeth.

20s and 30s

In your 40s