Monthly Archives: March 2020

The Importance of Regular Dental Visits

It’s something that you’ve heard over and over but why are regular dental visits so important?

One should religiously visit a dentist at least once a year. Dental appointments shouldn’t just be made when you have a problem that needs to be addressed. Prevention is always better than needing a cure. There are many more reasons why it’s important to maintain regular visits to your local dentist. 

Check for mouth cancer

This is one of the most important things your dentist will do at every check-up. Dentists will do an examination for signs of mouth cancer, as well as head and neck cancer. To do this they will be checking for any lumps on your head or neck. They will also check for any red or white patches in the mouth. Usually, these checks will find nothing unusual, but they could potentially save your life.

Dental hygienists

Dental hygienists and therapists are often overlooked when it comes to our oral health, but they can be extremely valuable for both the services they can offer and the advice they can give. Dental hygienists are mainly concerned with ‘preventive’ dental health and treating gum disease – showing you home remedies and helping you to keep your teeth and gums healthy. This includes professionally cleaning your teeth (usually called a ‘scale and polish’) by removing plaque and tartar, both of which encourage tooth decay and gum disease.

Consultations about tooth whitening

Tooth whitening has grown in popularity over recent years but there are plenty of myths out there that can lead to confusion about what is safe, as well as issues of legality. Your dentist is in the best position to give you advice about your options when it comes to tooth whitening. They are in the best position because not only do they know a lot about teeth whitening but they are also the only place you can legally get your teeth professionally whitened.

Dentists catch things early or prevent them from happening

With just a mirror you can see how your teeth look. Underneath your gums, a lot can be going on without you even realizing it. Dentists not only solve these problems, but they can also prevent them. Potential problems they can spot include the onset of gum disease and dental decay. When it comes to your oral health it is important you are proactive and seeing your dentist regularly so that they can catch any issues early before they become a problem.

Dentists can provide help and advice specific to your needsParagraph

Often when people have a problem they turn to the internet, a place filled with lots of great information, but also misinformation. On the other hand, a dentist has had to train for years to be qualified in the profession and will provide the guidance you can trust. By visiting your dentist regularly you can build a good relationship that will allow them to tailor advice and support specific to your needs over a long period of time.

There isn’t anyone better placed to help you keep on top of your oral health than your dentist, so they should be your first port of call when it comes to concerns about your teeth and mouth.

Loat, Stephen. “The importance of regular dental visits.” Oral Health Foundation, 27 Feb 2019
https://www.dentalhealth.org/blog/the-importance-of-regular-dental-visits

How to Assess Your Risk for Tooth Decay

What is Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay is damage to a tooth’s enamel. This can happen when harmful bacteria in your mouth create acids that attack the tooth’s surface. These bacteria soften the tooth’s enamel and dentin, causing a small holes in the tooth called a cavity. This can cause infection or tooth loss if left untreated.

Early tooth decay has little to no symptoms, but as it progresses, it can cause toothache and sensitivity to sweets, temperature of the food and liquid intake. If the tooth becomes infected an abscess, which is a pocket of puss, can form. This abscess causes discomfort, fever, and facial swelling.

Causes of Tooth Decay

The combination of bacteria and the food and drinks you consume causes tooth decay. A clear sticky substance called plaque is always forming on your teeth. Plaque contains bacteria that feed on the sugars in the food you eat and the beverages you drink.

The bacteria forms an acid that attacks the tooth’s enamel making it lose its minerals. Sipping on a fizzy drink, for example, can repeatedly expose your teeth to acid which causes the enamel to continue mineral loss.

Sugary foods and drinks are best consumed with other meals so that healthy foods can clean your teeth of the acids. Foods that stick to teeth, such as toffee can increase your risk for developing tooth decay.

Risk Factors in Tooth Decay

Anyone with teeth is at risk of tooth decay. Some factors you can control, while others you cannot.

Things you can control include practicing good oral hygiene, using fluoride toothpaste, limiting sugary foods and alcohol and avoiding tobacco products.

Factors you can’t control are respiratory conditions that dry out your mouth like asthma, using medicines that contain sugar, and ofcourse age.

Infants and toddlers are at risk of baby bottle tooth decay which occurs when the child is put to bed with a bottle of milk, juice or formula. The sugar in these drinks feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

Young children’s teeth are still growing, and the minerals in new teeth are not stable making it easier for acids to eat away at the enamel.

Older adults may have receding gums that allow decay-causing bacteria to cause root cavities.

Diagnosis & Prevention of Tooth Decay

Earlier detection of tooth decay may appear as a white spot on the tooth. More advanced tooth decay can emerge as a dark spot or a hole in the tooth.

X-rays are used to detect decay, but your dentist may also check if a sensitive tooth is soft or sticky for tooth decay.

Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing and using mouthwash once a day improves oral health. Regular dental check-ups are vital to keeping your teeth healthy. Hygienists remove all the plaque from your teeth which inhibits tooth decay. They can also spot signs of decay so it can be treated before it can worsen.

Dental sealants are a thin coating that is painted onto the premolars and molars of children. The painless procedure is the best way to protect kid’s teeth from cavities, and they are easier to clean.

Raw vegetables can scrape plaque off teeth. Calcium in dairy products strengthens teeth and can help fight off harmful bacteria. Sugarless chewing gum can remove food particles and induce saliva production to help wash away food debris.

Tooth Decay Treatment

A small amount of erosion on your enamel may be treated using an approach that helps repair that spot. This treatment can include a medicated mouthwash or toothpaste that contains high levels of fluoride and calcium.

A smaller cavity is repaired using a filling, while a large cavity may require an Inlay or Onlay or even a crown to protect its structure and restore its functionality.

To save the tooth with an abscess, a root canal treatment needs to be done. Once the infection is removed, the chamber is sealed, and the tooth is typically restored with a crown.

If the tooth cannot be saved, you will need an extraction. Your dentist will only use this as a last resort and can help you choose a suitable tooth replacement option.

Prevent tooth decay by practicing good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist twice a year for professional teeth cleaning and a dental exam.

Louisa, Susan. “How to assess your risk of tooth decay.” Denthusiast,

http://www.denthusiast.com/2019/03/08/how-to-assess-your-risk-of-tooth-decay/

Five Preventive measures to stop Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are extremely common – to such an extent that most of us will experience them during our lifetime. 

One of the first signs of gum disease are bleeding gums. This should act as a red alert that something needs to change in our oral health routine.

Recent statistics show that far too many of us are willing to overlook bleeding gums. Almost one in five (19%) immediately stop brushing the bleeding area and nearly one in ten (8%) stop brushing altogether. A little more than one in five (21%) decide to book a dental appointment and more than one in four (28%) just discount the problem altogether.

Just because it might seem normal for our gums to bleed, it doesn’t mean we should ignore it. That’s why, as part of National Smile Month, the Oral Health Foundation and GSK have come together to list five ways we can help stop bleeding gums.

1. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste

This is first on the list for a reason. Brushing our teeth twice a day for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste is vital for gum health and also helps protect against other oral diseases.

For best results, keep brushing the last thing at night and at one other time during the day, using an electric toothbrush.

Dr. Soha Dattani, Director Scientific & Professional Affairs at GSK Consumer Healthcare says: “Twice-daily brushing is important because it removes plaque. If the plaque isn’t removed, it continues to build up, potentially leading to tooth decay and gum disease.”

2. Use interdental brushes or floss

Using interdental brushes or floss is another key component of a good oral health routine. This is because a toothbrush cannot get in between our teeth as interdental brushes or floss can. It’s important to get into these areas which a toothbrush cannot reach, otherwise, pockets of plaque may build up, potentially causing problems for our gums and eventually lead to bleeding gums.

Dr. Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation says: “When we first start using interdental brushes or floss it is common for our gums to bleed. If this happens, it is important to persist and keep going. After a week or two, the bleeding should stop.”

In recent years, studies have linked gum health to a reduced risk of heart disease, so the benefits go beyond our gum health.

3. Use a fluoride mouthwash

Fluoride mouthwash is beneficial for oral health as it helps to clear our mouth of debris. It also helps prevent plaque build-up on our gums, in-between our teeth, and the surface of our teeth in between brushing.

On top of all that, it can also help to freshen our breath by killing the bacteria associated with bad breath also known as halitosis. It is important that when considering a mouthwash we choose one containing fluoride to help give our teeth that extra protection throughout the day.

“Gums are the foundation for healthy teeth and caring for them is important. Mouthwashes such as Corsodyl can help treat and prevent gum problems and give our mouth the fresh and healthy feeling it deserves.”

4. Visiting the dentist

If we have something wrong with our car, it is likely we would call a mechanic, right?  The same principle applies to problems in our mouth and a dental care professional.  Dental practice is the best port of call for any oral health issues we are having, including bleeding gums.

If our gums continue to bleed over a prolonged period, it is important that we don’t wait for our routine appointment to come around – pick up the telephone and book a visit.

Dr. Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation adds: “Once we have removed the plaque, the health of our mouth should improve, and our gums should stop bleeding.” 

5. Healthy diet and lifestyle

This is important not just for bleeding gums but for good health in general. A healthy diet plays an important role for our mouth to function properly. Remember that when we are reading the labels ‘no added sugar’ does not necessarily mean that the product is sugar-free. It simply means that no extra sugar has been added, but does not include the presence of naturally-occurring sugars. Lifestyle factors can also affect our mouth health such as smoking and drinking alcohol. Those who smoke are more likely to have gum disease. This is because smoking causes a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream, so the infected gums don’t get the chance to heal.

Dr. Dattani says: “A diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fresh fruit and vegetables can help us to prevent gum disease. Healthy gums help us guard against tooth loss, bad breath, diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. These benefits extend far beyond the mouth and really can help improve our quality of life.”

“It might be easy to overlook bleeding gums and think they are quite harmless,” adds Dr. Carter.

However, the harsh reality is that if we ignore them then we could end up losing teeth. It could also lead to several other diseases and harm our overall well being.

Healthy gums are needed to support healthy teeth. Please don’t ignore bleeding when brushing. By following the steps outlined in this blog we can help give our oral health a boost it needs and halt bleeding gums in their tracks.

Arnold, David “Five ways to stop bleeding gums and the benefits of doing so.” Oral Health Foundation, 31 May 2019,

https://www.dentalhealth.org/blog/five-ways-to-stop-bleeding-gums