DENTAL DILEMMAS – Dr Karim Rachidi from Synergy Dental Clinics helps with advice on dental problems

Q. I’m always busy and don’t get the chance to visit the dentist. Any tips on how else I can look after my teeth?

A. It can often seem quite hard to keep on top of your teeth when you lead a busy lifestyle.

Although visiting your dentist should take priority when it comes to looking after your teeth, there are a couple of simple, alternative ways you can implement.

Our teeth are constantly at risk of being attacked by acid whenever we eat or drink anything, especially if it contains sugar. Over time, this causes tooth decay, which can lead to cavities being formed.

Aside from brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes, chewing sugar-free gum throughout the day is a great way of ensuring your teeth are protected from any risks of decaying. That’s because it helps your mouth to produce saliva – which acts as a natural defence for your mouth against acid build-up.

Another solution is using mouthwash. A lot of the times, people think mouthwash should be used immediately after brushing their teeth. That can have the reverse effect as the mouthwash can rinse away the fluoride from the toothpaste off the surface of your teeth. Instead, it’s better to use mouthwash after you’ve had a meal and to not eat or drink anything for up to 30 minutes afterwards.

I always stress to my patients how important it is to visit your dentist for a check-up at least once a year. A simple check-up can take roughly 15-45 minutes and can give you peace of mind that your teeth are healthy.

For more information about dental problems contact Synergy Dental

Clinic Blackburn, email blackburn@synergydental.org.uk or go to www.synergydental.org.uk/dentist-in-blackburn