*****Competition has now closed and the winners notified*****
As I’m sure you know, there have been some articles in the news lately about how brushing your teeth can directly increase your chances of fertility. Oral care is really important during pregnancy as growing evidence suggests a link between gum disease and premature, low-birth-weight babies. Seeking professional dental advice during pregnancy is really important as your oral health needs do change during this time. If you are registered as an NHS patient and have a current maternity exemption certificate you are entitled to free routine dental treatment until your baby’s first birthday.
Dental health and pregnancy
Last month I had to have the nerve taken out of one of my teeth as I hadn’t been cleaning between my teeth properly and it decayed. Dental treatment when you are pregnant is not fun and although I was able to have a couple of xrays and anaesthetic injections the painkillers they gave me were not strong enough!
Tooth brushing alone cannot remove the plaque from in between the teeth which is where most dental disease starts. Interdental cleaning can be achieved by using a plethora of oral hygiene aids but the easiest and most professionally recommended aid of choice is an interdental brush. Generally the spaces between the teeth at the front of the mouth are smaller than those at the back so you may need to use more that one size brush.
TePe Interdental Brushes are for cleaning interdentally between your teeth, and getting rid of all that hidden debris and plaque. Ranging from its smallest 0.4mm brush through to the 0.8mm brush the mixed pack is ideal for customers who need extra help reaching spaces between teeth or around bridges, implants or for making oral health easier for people with orthodontic appliances (braces).
Giveaway:
I have 5 x packs of TePe Interdental Brush Mixed Pack worth £3.49 to giveaway to readers of the gingerbread house blog.
To enter:
Simple give me your top tip for looking after your teeth!
For an extra entry you can tweet this competition using the tweet button below or copy and paste: @I want to look after my teeth with @gingerbread_mum
Please leave a separate comment for each entry so I can track them.
Terms and conditions:
Winner will be chosen at random using random.org at 10pm on the 31st July 2011. Sorry – UK only.
Use a regular mouthwash twice a day after brushing
Always change your toothbrush every 3 months
drink water and eat plenty fruit
I use a floride free toothpaste. I also use something called ORAMD, which claims to be good for gum disease. Also brush your teeth twice a day.
Tweeted as @clairew137
My tip is always brush in a circular motion not up and down or side to side.
use te pe brushes or interdens beween your teeth,then rinse with mouthwaash
I always dip my toothbrush in a bottle of anti-bacterial mouthwash after use. Keep germs off my toothbrush and makes me feel better than if I’ve just rinsed it.
Floss twice daily. I’ve had to have fillings because I didn’t floss and there was food stuck between my teeth for ages (Gross)!
Buy a good quality toothpaste.
Tweeted @ericahughes
brush after every meal
Floss daily.
we change our brushes every 3 months. i always have dental floss and mouth wash in the bathroom. dental hygiene is so so important.
simontink@aol.com
Brush twice daily!!!
Have tweeted @mj4069
I know it’s boring but floss floss floss!
make sure you always keep dental appointments its easy to put it off but if you dont go you could pay a high price no need to be scared dentists really have changed and if they can cope with me they can cope with anyone!!
Chew gum while your at work
I think the best way to look after your teeth is by brushing, though you need to take care not to eat too many sugary sweets or drinks or even too much healthy fruit (to protect your enamel). I think giving a quick rinse with mouthwash after brushing keeps you feeling fresh all day.
Brusj religiously twice a day and floss. (@pandcands)
Tweeted! (@pandcands)
Chew sugar free gum after eating and floss at least once a week.
Don’t skimp on brushing time, and make sure that everywhere gets a thorough going over
Use a good tooth brush, buying a new one every couple of months, and try to cut out all sugars.
Bite the bullet & visit the dentist before it gets too bad. I finally went to one again after 5 years & luckily there was no irreparable damage but my gums certainly weren’t perfect & needed several descales. I hate going but you do feel better for it afterwards!
Have tweeted the message @Isis1981uk
Use an Interdental Brush, floss, use an electric toothbrush with a good toothpaste and mouthwash twice a day.
My top tip is to not only brush your teeth, but to floss and use mouth wash also!
@emma1111111
For a bonus entry into the competition, I have also tweeted a link to the giveaway
@emma1111111
brush twice a day, chewing gum after meals helps
re tweeted
Just make sure you DO brush – it’s all-to-easy to forget!
Brush methodically – it is very easy to miss areas of your teeth but if you always brush in the same “pattern” you’ll never miss an area.
I have tweeted as @beachrambler.
When eating fruit or raw vegetables always but them up into bite size chunks. Don’t ever bite straight into them!
use a good mouthwash
Cut down on fizzy drinks and staining drinks. I currently consume way too much of both.
brush every day
Brush them twice daily religiously
dont brush too hard – ive been wearing my poor teeth away 🙁 @mummylion
ive tweeted too @mummylion
Don’t forget to change your toothbrush every three months
Brush twice daily and use agood quality mouthwash
@juliebarrett62
I’ve tweeted too
@juliebarrett62
Floss daily
Floss them daily and don’t drink too much coke (unlike me!!!)
@webkinny
I have tweeted @Webkinny
Brush your teeth at least twice a day
@marzutek on twitter
I tweeted @marzutek
Using my electric toothbrush twice a day
Keep a travel toothbrush in your handbag, that way you can clean your teeth when you’re out and about.
After acidic food and drink (such as wine) DON’T immediately clean your teeth. The acid attacks the ‘mortar’ between microscopic bricks of enamel on your teeth.. by brushing you will take the surface off those tiny enamel bricks, effectively wearing away the enamel. Simply rinse with a high flouride mouthwash and give your teeth time to recover before brushing.
Not to have some much food & drink containing acid
FLOSS DAILY
Craving is the issue on pregnancy. Extent to that, you probably conscious on your teeth. Be on what you feel to do, not necessarily after you eat.
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Taylor