Clifton Dental Studio 92 Queens Road, Bristol

Call Today On 0117 973 1910
Email [email protected]
Clifton Dental Studio, 92 Queens Road, Bristol, Avon,BS8 1RT

Call Clifton Dental Studio Today On 0117 973 1910

Posts Tagged ‘good oral hygiene’

Brushing, Flossing and Mouthwashing

Oral hygiene is incredibly important. Over the course of the day, as we eat and drink, tiny particles of food will become stuck in our teeth and between the gaps in our teeth. If these particles are not cleaned, they will begin to rot and decay, leading to bad breath, and then to bacteria in the mouth. This can lead to a build-up of plaque, a sticky substance that coats the outside surfaces of teeth, and eventually tartar, which discolours the teeth. The ultimate consequences of bad oral hygiene are gum disease and tooth decay, which are unsightly, painful and can lead to tooth loss, affecting speech function and the ability to eat as normal.

Brushing and mouthwash

Brushing your teeth regularly is essential. Fluoride toothpaste should be used, as fluoride helps to strengthen teeth by binding with the enamel. Brush thoroughly, being sure to cover all tooth surfaces – front, back and the biting/chewing surface – but do not brush too vigorously as this can damage sensitive parts of the mouth. In addition, use an antiseptic mouthwash. As this liquid is swilled round the whole mouth, it works in addition to tooth brushing, to reach parts that a brush cannot. Mouthwash like this helps to remove the bacteria that cause plaque.

Flossing

Flossing also helps to remove debris and bacteria that can ultimately lead to plaque or tooth decay. Flossing is important in addition to brushing, as it cleans the gaps between teeth, where a brush cannot reach, and so food is liable to get stuck here. Use a length of floss held between fingers of each hand, and gently curve it around each tooth, moving it from side to side to clean, down to the gumline. Be sure to cover both sides of each tooth, top and bottom. Brushing, flossing and mouthwash should be used daily, preferably in that order, to ensure your teeth are kept as healthy as possible.

The Best Diet for Healthy Teeth

The food we enjoy feeds all of our body, including our teeth and gums. Our oral and overall health is determined by the type of foods we choose to eat. At Clifton Dental Studio, we often get asked about the best type of diet for healthy teeth. We are all made different, some with health conditions or faster metabolisms than others. Our health status and food tolerances or allergies may impact the kind of foods we eat. Therefore, we suggest some general markers as dietary options for healthy teeth.

Avoid foods high in sugar and acid

Foods with high sugar and acid content, such as fizzy drinks and certain sweets, may cause the saliva in the mouth to become acidic, eroding tooth enamel. As the structure of the tooth erodes, cavities form and the tooth may become weaker and more susceptible to fractures. The sugar and acid may trigger bacterial colonisation in the mouth that leads to tooth infections and possible gum disease. By avoiding high sugary and acidic foods, tooth decay and gum disease is less likely to develop.

Eat balanced and versatile meals

To get all the nutrients, vitamins and minerals our bodies need for healthy function, we need to eat a balanced and versatile diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Processed foods are more likely to contain ingredients that may in the long run be harmful to health. Eating fresh foods keeps all of the body strong, including our teeth and gums. Drinking enough water hydrates the skin, lips and gums. Eat softer foods as needed, like with dentures.

Get enough calcium

Our need calcium for healthy density and strength. Calcium-containing foods, such as dairy products, keep teeth strong and less vulnerable to breaks. For a hygiene appointment with us why not contact us today at Clifton Dental Studio in the city of Bristol.

Why It's Important to See a Hygienist

Clifton Dental Studio offers a comprehensive range of general dental services in addition to preventative treatments, including hygienist services. We are proud to promote healthy, happy smiles and we try to encourage our clients, young and old, to live by the motto ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Our amazing hygienists

We are fortunate to have excellent dental hygienists in our team and they provide a range of highly beneficial treatments for patients of all ages. Seeing a hygienist is incredibly important for patients with existing oral health issues, such as gum disease, but it can also really benefit those who have good oral health. For younger patients in Bristol and beyond, we offer preventative services, such as fluoride varnish and fissure sealant treatment. Fluoride is applied to the teeth to strengthen the enamel and reduce the risk of cavities, while fissure sealant treatment provides a protective barrier to prevent food debris and bacteria getting lodged in the tiny pits on the tooth surface. Both of these treatments are completely painless and they only take a few minutes. For adult patients, we offer intensive, highly effective cleaning treatments, bad breath clinics and treatment for gum disease. We are also on hand to offer advice about oral hygiene at home, giving up smoking and healthy eating. Our hygienists work alongside our dentists to provide the best standards of care for patients with gum disease and we do everything we can to ease symptoms and halt the progress of the condition as quickly as possible.

How often should I see a hygienist?

If you have existing oral health issues, for example gum disease or halitosis, it is advisable to see a hygienist on a regular basis and your dentist will recommend frequent sessions. If you have good oral health, seeing a hygienist can still be advantageous and we generally recommend an annual hygiene session.

Brush Your Tongue for Better Smelling Breath and Better Overall Health

A general oral hygiene routine is said to involve brushing, flossing and using mouthwash, however, to really ensure that your mouth is completely clean you may want to incorporate tongue cleansing into your regime.

Why clean my tongue?

The majority of bacteria in your mouth is found towards the back of the tongue, which means that even when you have brushed and flossed every inch of your teeth bacteria can soon return, making its way from your tongue.

How does a tongue scraper work?

A tongue scraper is a simple device, made up hard plastic, which you run across the surface of the tongue. The scraper then pulls away the debris and harmful dental film that rests across the tongue. Doing this every morning and especially in the evening will help prevent bacteria from the tongue from tainting the rest of your mouth. You can also use special brushes or just a general toothbrush (kept separately from the toothbrush you use on your teeth) to brush away the harmful bacterial film. Tongue scraping is also a great idea if you wish to keep you breath smelling fresh, as the bacteria on your tongue is the main cause of bad breath.

What else should I do to keep my mouth fresh and clean?

Another underrated dental hygiene habit is flossing. Flossing removes the debris and plaque that has settled between the teeth, which brushing alone is unable to reach. If this debris is left to settle it can lead to numerous oral health problems, including tooth decay and gum disease, which can lead to tooth loss. If is therefore important to do more than just brush your teeth, in order to keep a fresh and healthy mouth.

Tongue Cleansing for Patients in Bristol

Most people are aware of the importance of cleaning their teeth, but have you ever spent time cleaning your tongue? Your tongue harbours thousands of bacteria and cleaning it on a regular basis helps to reduce the risk of decay and gum disease, as well as ensuring that your breath is fresh and clean.

Why is it important to clean the tongue?

Bacteria tend to gather around the tongue (especially at the back) and brushing your teeth alone is not sufficient to get rid of the bacteria and plaque in your mouth. Rinsing with mouthwash can be beneficial but you should also spend a couple of minutes cleaning your tongue. We recommend using a flexible plastic device used to scrape bacteria off the tongue. Around 80 percent of cases of bad breath are linked to bacteria on the tongue and these bacteria can spread to other parts of the mouth, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease. Using a tongue cleaner removes bacteria from the tongue, eliminating bad breath, a problem that can be embarrassing, and helps you to enjoy good oral health.

Smoking and Your Tongue

Some smokers find that they develop a thick film over their tongue as a result of smoking. Using a tongue cleaner can remove this film, improving the odour of the breath and helping to reduce the amount of harmful bacteria in the mouth.

Advice about oral hygiene

If you need any advice about oral hygiene we are always on hand to give tips about brushing, flossing and rinsing, provide information about healthy eating and help with giving up smoking. We can also recommend oral hygiene products at Clifton Dental Studio in Bristol.

Understanding Oral Hygiene in Bristol

We are determined for the people of Bristol to have stunning, radiant smiles and strong, healthy teeth and we are on a mission to fight off dental disease. Oral health education is a priority for us and we want all our patients to be aware of the importance of good oral health and the impact of oral hygiene on general wellbeing.

Why is oral hygiene so important?

Good oral hygiene makes the world of difference when it comes to oral health and ensuring that the teeth and gums and healthy and strong. With a rigorous daily oral hygiene routine in place, you will be drastically reducing your risk of decay, gum disease and bad breath, as well as taking steps to boost your overall health. Numerous studies have found a link between poor oral health and elevated risks of general health issues, including strokes and heart disease, so brushing and flossing are extremely important. Good oral hygiene also has a positive impact on your looks and confidence, as brushing and flossing help to reduce the risk of staining and crumbling and will help to ensure your teeth look shiny and clean.

Practising good oral hygiene

The importance of good oral hygiene should never be underestimated, and the good news is that it’s actually really simple to stick to a good regime at home. All we ask is for our patients to dedicate just 5 minutes a day to cleaning their teeth and gums. We recommend brushing for 2 minutes each morning and evening and flossing daily. Brushing helps to break up and wash away food debris and polish the teeth, while flossing targets those hard to reach areas that are missed during brushing, including the tiny gaps between the teeth. If you have any questions about oral hygiene or oral health in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Reversing Gum Disease in Swindon

It’s always been thought that gum disease in Swindon is not reversible and to a point, that’s true- there is no cure that will make your gums magically grow back. But it can be stopped dead in its tracks and new life injected into the gums that have been damaged. In its infancy, gum disease can be prevented by a good oral hygiene agenda and by having any plaque and tartar removed by your dentist through either having deep scaling or by having bacteria removed from within the roots; antibiotics can also check the progress of gum disease. However if the problem is more pronounced, root canals and crowns, surgery in the form of bone grafts or, in the case of tooth loss, dental implants can be used to keep the gums healthy. It’s been said over and over again that prevention is better than cure. As well as attentive oral hygiene and getting in-deep and personal with your gums by using balms and herbal remedies, diet plays an important part in ‘reversing’ gum disease. Acidic foods and sugars are a bacteria’s best friend so being wary of what you eat and being sure to remove it afterwards, should suffice. But a good diet will also help build up your immune system and help naturally in the fight against gum disease. If you’ve got it, it may require a lifestyle change and you being more attentive towards your mouth, but boy, it’s worth it in the end…that’s if you care for your teeth and body.

Good oral hygiene: Ask your Bristol dentist about how to make sure of it

Taking excellent care of your mouth is not exactly rocket science, which is a good thing! By following a few simple guidelines you can ensure that you have a life time of good oral hygiene, allowing your mouth to function as it should. The consequences of not pursuing good oral hygiene habits can be rather inconvenient to say the least. The main aim of taking care of your mouth at home is to remove plaque, a troublesome subject produced when you eat and drink. Plaque is what causes teeth to decay and gums to become diseased. First of all you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day. Use tooth paste which contains fluoride because it helps to strengthen enamel (the hard substance which coats your teeth). You ought to brush for about three minutes at a time but not too aggressively as it can damage the very things which you are trying to look after. Make sure you floss too as plaque can easily be missed by your tooth brush, no matter how adept you are at using it. Plaque finds its way between teeth and can only be removing by pulling floss back and forth. Eat a healthy, balanced diet too as this should minimise the amount of plaque which is produced in your mouth. Avoid such activities as regularly drinking too much alcohol and smoking as they can be bad for the health of your mouth. Your Bristol dentist will be an expert in all areas relating to the hygiene of your mouth so you shouldn’t hesitate in asking him or her if you have any queries about how best to look after your teeth and gums.

Put an end to bad breath with advice and treatment from Bath dentists

Near the top of most peoples’ lists of embarrassing social conditions is definitely the prospect of suffering from bad breath. Emitting unpleasant odours from your mouth can leave you trying to avoid social interactions because of the fear of what other people might think of you. Parties and business meetings become a nightmare when they ought to be enjoyable. Thankfully your Bath dentist can help you if you are suffering from bad breath, or halitosis as it is clinically known. The main cause of bad breath is the presence of certain bacteria in your mouth. These bacteria can be made more prevalent because of certain foods but ought to be easily removed by a good oral hygiene routine at home. You should brush not only every morning and night but after meals too if you are suffering from bad breath. Be sure to floss too as the bacteria can hide between teeth. You might want to brush your tongue as well as the bacteria which cause bad breath can gather on your tongue. Just be careful not to clean your tongue too vigorously as it is a sensitive organ and you don’t want to damage it. Many people use mouth wash to combat halitosis and make their breath smell more fragrant. Unfortunately this is not always the right course of action as it can actually lead to greater instances of bad breath. This is because mouth washes actually make your mouth rather dry which is the condition that bad breath bacteria like as it means they can stick to your teeth with greater ease. Chewing gum can help to make your mouth more moist and actually helps to dislodge the bacteria too.

Good oral hygiene habits: get the best advice from Swindon dentists

Taking good care of your mouth ought to be something that is practiced every day with due care and attention and yet so many of us have busy lives. As such teeth and gums can be an after thought. But it is worth taking care of your mouth so that you can eat, drink, talk and smile in comfort and not have to undergo invasive surgery. Good oral hygiene begins at home with the way you take care of your teeth. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day should be enough to rid your mouth of the plaque which can be so damaging to teeth and gums. While you are doing this you can be vigilant for signs of gum disease and tooth decay so that you can report anything to your dentist if you find it. Having a healthy diet can hugely benefit your mouth. Eating less sugary and starchy foods gives plaque less chance. Consuming too much alcohol and smoking tobacco can compromise the health of your mouth and they are leading causes of oral cancer. Alongside these measures, be sure to get into the habit of visiting your dentist every six months. Allowing a trained dental expert the chance to thoroughly examine your mouth gives you the best chance of avoiding nasty conditions. Most issues with your mouth, such as gum disease, are not actually that serious in themselves but it is vital that they are caught early on so they don’t progress into something worse. Take these tips on board and you should experience a life time of good oral health. Your Swindon dentist can give you more handy hits next time you go and visit the surgery.

Call Today On 0117 973 1910 Email [email protected]

Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

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Contact Clifton Dental Studio Today!

Call Today On 0117 973 1910
Email [email protected]
Clifton Dental Studio, 92 Queens Road,Bristol, Avon,BS8 1RT

Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 3pm

Dr. Neil Gerrard BDS (Bristol), RDT, MSc (Dental Implants),  GDC no 76257. Clifton Dental Studio is a Private Dental Practice. Website last updated: July 2018
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Clifton Dental Studio 92 Queens Road, Bristol