This week is the annual Dental Health Week (DHW).
The annual oral health campaign is run by the Australian Dental Association’s (ADA). “The campaign focuses on the importance of taking steps to care for your teeth and gums to help you keep your teeth and smile for life. “ Source: Teeth.org.au)
This year, the focus is to ‘get sugar savvy’. With the tag line ‘how much sugar is hiding in your trolley?’; it aims to make people conscious of what’s in the food they’re consuming. The ADA is encouraging people to limit their sugar intake to the recommended amount of sugar daily.
The ADA aims to deliver 4 key messages for the 2022 campaign:
- Brush teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean between your teeth daily using floss or interdental brushes.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet and limit added sugar intake.
- Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and preventive care
Did you know:
- 75% adults rarely or never floss or clean between their teeth
- 1 in 5 adults brush only once per day
- 39% of parents report their children drink 2 – 5 soft drinks per week
- 2 in 3 adults usually visit the dentist for a problem rather than a regular check-up
- 47% of adults (18+ years) consume too much sugar
(Source: Australian Dental Association (ADA) (2021))
You may be asking yourself, how do I maintain good oral health? I brush twice a day and floss regularly. Do I need to do more? The answer is yes.
Tips for Maintaining Good Oral Health
- Visit you dentist regularly
- Brushing twice daily
- Floss daily between the teeth to remove dental plaque
- Drink fluoridated water and brush with fluoride toothpaste
- Maintain control over medical and health issues
- Chew sugar-free gum after eating
- Healthy eating and limit the amount of sugar in your diet
- Use your teeth for their intended purpose
- If you have a dry mouth, drink plenty of water and chew sugarless gum