Hygiene and Prevention

Prevention is definitely better than cure! For healthy teeth, make sure you clean them well, and avoid sugars and acids in your diet. Please bring up any questions with your dentist so we can tailor advice to your needs.

What foods are good for teeth?

Teeth are made up of calcium, and decay is basically the loss of calcium from the tooth, which weakens it so it eventually crumbles and forms a cavity.

Dairy products have lots of natural calcium, Melbourne tap water has fluoride which also strengthens enamel.

What foods are more harmful for teeth?

Calcium is lost when the tooth is in contact with acids – this might be from the diet directly, or from bacteria that produce acids from eating sugars.

Acids can be found in all fizzy drinks (even sugar-free), juices, wines, and citrus fruits. Adding lemon to water makes it acidic – a better alternative would be a slice of cucumber or mint.

Sugars that are sticky are particularly harmful because they linger in the mouth. Caramels, cookies, lollies and chocolates are some examples. A can of soft drink contains around 9 teaspoons of sugar! 

How do I clean my teeth?

Use a soft toothbrush (not medium or hard) with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, brush each tooth gently in circles around the gums. This poster from Dental health Services Victoria is quite helpful.

There are also various other tools that might be suitable for you, make sure you ask your dentist at your next appointment!