Maintaining oral hygiene is critical to prevent serious dental problems developing that could endanger your teeth and general health. Regular visits to the hygienist are an important supplement to regular dental check-ups.
Yes, of course our dentists are fully qualified in all aspects of oral hygiene, but our hygienists have undergone special training in this area. This means that they focus on ensuring plaque and tartar are removed from the teeth themselves and from below the gum line, where most damage is caused.
Maintain a rigorous cleaning programme at home if you want to minimise hygienist appointments. Our hygienist will give you advice and tips, not only about how to clean your teeth, but also about diet and general lifestyle choices that can help.
Teeth decay as a result of eating and drinking foods that contain sugars or reacts with plaque on your teeth to form acids. Having sugary snacks or drinks between meals is particularly harmful, as the acids have no time to neutralise.
Brush your teeth regularly and, if possible, after eating. If this is not possible, chew sugar-free gum to help stimulate saliva, which neutralises the acid in your mouth and prevents damage. Try not to eat between meals and, of course, come in for routine check-ups and to allow us to detect and monitor any early signs of decay
The early stages of tooth decay have few symptoms. The first sign is often some sensitivity when eating hot or cold foods. As the decay gets closer to the pulp of the tooth, you may begin to suffer from toothache.
For small areas of shallow decay, we will be able to remove it and fill the tooth – usually with a tooth-coloured filling. If the decay is more advanced, we may need to perform root canal treatment.
If you have a question regarding your dental treatment, or if you would like to know more about a particular treatment please get in touch using the form. A member of our team will be happy to help you and suggest the best way forward for your particular case.
