Sporty Snacks a Dentist’s Nightmare in Adelaide

Preventing dental disease is much better than having to treat it later, which is why regular dental check ups are essential. While many of us would prefer to dodge the dentist, it’s important we visit an Adelaide clinic twice a year and keep up with a daily dental routine. However, with the hectic world we live in throwing us curb balls often, sometimes it seems impossible to be strict about your dental regime. One event that made the world stop and thrust many out of their normal routines was the Soccer World Cup. Not only did the Cup disturb the sleeping patterns for some, but it also had a detrimental effect on the oral health of others. While the Cup has been and gone and we all know Brazil humbly retired and the Germans haven’t gotten over their win, funnily enough it could still be affect many people’s teeth.

Across the world, for the British Dental Health Foundation, their concern lies with late-night game watchers, snacking on all things sugary. The Foundation revealed that 90 per cent of the population would have watched the late-night matches live, with the majority thought to be indulging in sweet treats. To assist soccer fans, the British Dental Health Foundation provided a comprehensive winning world cup snack pack guide, for all sporting fans. The guide includes, nuts, crackers and cheese, pretzels, breadsticks and dip, gin and tonic, popcorn, nachos and stuffed pita bread as all safe alternatives to sugar.   Despite the fact that soccer is an international obsession, also remember that it doesn’t all have to end there. Around the corner is the Rugby World Cup to consider, the Ashes test and of course the Olympics, whether you prefer the Winter, Summer or Para-Olympic Games. It seems that at all times of the year, we are at the mercy of professional sporting events to neglect our teeth.

This is why you must make regular check up appointments with your dentist. During your check up appointment, your dentist (or dental hygienist) will evaluate the health of your gums, perform a head and neck examination (to look for anything out of the ordinary), and examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. Don’t be surprised if your dentist also examines your face, bite, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs). Your dentist or dental hygienist will then clean your teeth and stress the importance of you maintaining good oral hygiene at home between visits. Additionally, your dentist may take x-rays every few years, to ensure nothing sinister is going on where he or she cannot see.   

Once your examination and cleaning have been performed, they’ll tell you about the health of your teeth and gums and then make any additional recommendations. It’s important that you see your dentist every six months. Remember, by seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy.  In between visits to your dentist, it is important to adhere to good oral hygiene and follow the recommendations of your dentist, even during peak sporting seasons. This may prove difficult for Adelaide residents, who as proud South Australians face the very important task of supporting their AFL teams. 

If you are concerned about your snacking habits, visit your Local Dentist in Adelaide. Total Dental & Denture Care has professional dentists available at two locations in Adelaide. Call TDDC today on (08) 8296 0988 or visit their website at http://tddc.com.au/.