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 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.
Bristol dentists advise on chewing gum benefits to enhance oral hygiene
Fresh breath is not the only benefit that chewing gum can give you. It is an activity that can really help your oral hygiene. It is one of the simplest ways to achieve increased production of saliva, which helps to protect your teeth from being damaged by build ups of plaque.
Having fresh breath can increase your confidence in social occasions by ensuring that you are not worried about the smell of your breath while talking and smiling. Chewing gum is an easy and convenient way to achieve this by increasing saliva production and combatting the uncomfortable sensation of having a dry mouth.
When you eat sugary and starchy foods, the acids produced in the mouth form into plaque. Plaque breaks down your teeth’s natural defence, enamel, and can lead to cavities and painful tooth decay. Saliva is another of your mouth’s natural defences as it neutralizes these harmful acids. You can produce saliva by chewing gum.
Another chewing gum benefit is that it actually helps to clean your teeth. Of course it is no substitute for brushing and flossing but you might find yourself in a situation without access to your brush and chewing gum will be the next best thing for after dinner at a party, for example. The activity of chewing means that some debris will be moved from the teeth and gums and plaque finds it more difficult to form.
Chewing gum also helps teeth to retain a degree of whiteness by preventing stains from taking hold.
Looking for a cosmetic dentist? Bristol dentists are here to help
Your Bristol dentist can advise you which of the chewing gums on the market are best for enhancing your oral hygiene.
Whether you suffer with dental health problems, you are prone to plaque build-up or you just want to give your teeth and gums a healthy treat, we recommend a visit to our fantastic hygienists.
At Clifton Dental Studio, we pride ourselves on providing the very best preventative and hygiene treatment to combat issues such as tooth discolouration, bad breath and gum disease. The cleaning power of hygiene treatments is a lot stronger than just brushing at home, and in just half an hour you will be astonished by the difference it has made. As well as battling oral hygiene problems, a scale and polish will also give your mouth a deep clean, leaving you with a dazzling smile.
What is a scale and polish?
If you have issues with plaque or tartar build-up on your teeth, or you suffer from halitosis or gum disease, you may be advised to have a scale and polish. During this treatment, bacteria, tartar and plaque are removed, and your teeth are given a thorough clean. We use specially designed dental equipment to scale the teeth, enabling us to easily remove stubborn plaque deposits from the gumline, tooth surfaces and gaps between the teeth. When this has been removed, we will thoroughly clean and polish your teeth, leaving them with a smooth and glossy feel.
How often should I see a hygienist?
At Clifton Dental Studio we recommend regular hygiene sessions for all our patients, so that you can maintain the very highest standards of oral health. But if you have a high risk of oral issues, or existing problems such as gum disease, you may have to visit us rather frequently.
Looking after the health of your teeth is essential to ward off common problems including cavities, dental decay and gum disease. At Clifton Dental of Bristol, we make sure all our patients know the right way to brush and floss teeth as well as give advice in regards to the right dental equipment to use. To stop dental problems occurring in Bath, it is necessary to brush teeth in the morning and in the evening before it is time for bed. If teeth are not thoroughly cleaned every day tarter can start to build up and bacteria can develop. One of the first signs of lack of oral hygiene is bleeding gums. Many patients have come to us complaining that they see blood when they brush their teeth. This is one of the first signs of gum disease and is caused by lack of cleaning. If gums are left like this, over time it can cause more serious issues including tooth loss and infections in the pulp of the tooth. Keeping on top of oral hygiene means that less money and time will need to be spent in the future on tooth restoration treatment, it is hard to put a price on a nice, healthy smile! Contact the team in Bath for more help and information.
Sometimes it can be very easy to take your eye off the ball when it comes to looking after your teeth and gums- you know, a wayward weekend here or there, but if you get too lapse, things can go wrong very quickly. However, if you ensure that you keep a high level of oral hygiene going and utilise the services of your dentist regularly, little trip-ups like this should never pose a problem. Your dentist is there to do the type of cleaning that you can’t and can really get right inside your mouth to tackle any problems that you may have missed. Essentially though, it is the work that you do at home that really counts each day. Diet is important and being conservative with your frivolities will help, but after this, you will need the tools and products to maintain a healthy mouth. First on your list should be getting a good toothbrush followed by a suitable toothpaste for your mouth; once these are in the bag, you can back them up with extras such as dental floss and a mouthwash. Combine all of these things and you should retain great oral hygiene throughout your life. For more detailed information, give Clifton dental a cal in Bristol- they operate in Bath and give advice freely.
There are a lot of people in Bristol that suffer from diabetes, and at any time, that is enough to handle. But people with diabetes are also open to further suffering as the condition can lead to other complications around the body- and in the mouth too. The imbalance of sugar levels in the body weakens the immune system which leaves your mouth open to abuse from periodontal and gum disease, as the mouth is weakened when fighting off bacteria. What’s even more startling is that people with gum or periodontal disease may have their glucose levels damaged in the bloodstream, which will then bring on diabetes. As you can see, this is a pretty nasty merry-go-round to find yourself on. All you can do is ensure that you are on top of your diabetes problem and keep your mouth as healthy as it can be, and vice versa- if you show signs of disease in your mouth, then get it treated straight away. You need to be aware of all conditions relating to diabetes, so you should pop into the Clifton dental studio for a detailed breakdown of it and of gum disease as well.
Your teeth are prized and vulnerable fragments of your body, they worthy of special care and attention, something a lot of people are all too quick to disregard. Looking after your dental hygiene is more than just brushing your teeth two times each day; the lifestyle habits and food preferences you make will also lead to a damaging effect on your oral-health and general well-being. For many of the people in Bath, brushing teeth is no more than a two minute process. A uninterested once over of the top and bottom rows is regarded as satisfactory and even this quick routine may sometimes be neglected due to a lack of time. However, it is important that on understands that brushing your pearly whites is crucial to remove the bacteria that build up in your mouth during the day. It is essential to brush not only your teeth but also your tongue, as it is on this surface that most bacteria cling and replicate, often causing bad breath.
Finally, your dentist will tell you that dental check-ups and following a healthy diet are two staple features of maintaining good oral health. Dental appointments should be kept every six months, as this gives your dentist the best chance of detecting and managing any problems you may be experiencing. A healthy diet involves cutting back on the amount of sugar one consumes. Sugar and starchy foods increase the level of acid that is produced by the bacteria in your mouth. This acid slowly erodes the teeth and leads to tooth decay and cavities.
If you pay a visit to any dentist in Bristol, you can put your mind at rest, knowing that the person who is about to access your mouth, has been trained to a certain level, to carry out general dentistry practises on you to a set of prime directives (we hope!). Essentially, this involves finding out if you have any problems and then solving them, to maintain your oral health. Of course, some problems are not reversible, but your dentist is trained to give it a blooming good go. When you have had check-ups throughout your life, your dentist will have built up an historical profile of you by charting your visits. X-rays would have been taken and records kept of any work done. Along with this, your general dentist will always have a set of guidelines to follow to check the health of your teeth and gums. They will check for any signs of plaque and tartar build up, gum disease or tooth decay and then set about corrective treatments such as cleaning, polishing filling and even removing your teeth They are also there to give advice on any problems you may have, any cosmetic treatments you are considering- everything This is what’s known as general dentistry. Of course, once they have built up this data, they will be in a better position to refer you to someone, if you require specialist treatment, for the best possible results.
Dentists are highly qualified in all aspects of dentistry. This means that they can examine your mouth for any oral health issues and offer diagnosis and treatment. They are trained to look not just at your teeth but also your gums, tongue, soft palate and jaw and can diagnose oral cancer and sleep apnea.
The routine work involved in general dentistry is the six month check up where your dentist will assess your mouth for any signs of disease so they can be diagnosed early and undergo treatment before complications set in. Your Bristol dentist will be looking for build ups of plaque which damage enamel and leave your teeth open to attach from acids which cause cavities to form.
You may visit your dentist at another time if you have a specific problem. Perhaps you had an accident which has damaged your teeth and you need your dentist to decide on how to rectify it. You might have had a long standing problem with crooked teeth or teeth that have become stained. In this case your dentist might decide that you need to have crowns installed to restore a natural look to your mouth.
If you have begun to experience bleeding gums or regular tooth ache you may make an appointment so your dentist can discover what the root of the problem is. Dental practice has changed a lot in the past decade and dentists are now extremely concerned with relaxing their patients and putting them at ease, especially if an invasive procedure is involved.
Contact your Bristol dentist today to discuss any aspects of general dentistry and how it can work for you and your mouth.
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
Looking after the health of your teeth is essential to ward off common problems including cavities, dental decay and gum disease. At Clifton Dental of Bristol, we make sure all our patients know the right way to brush and floss teeth as well as give advice in regards to the right dental equipment to use. To stop dental problems occurring in Bath, it is necessary to brush teeth in the morning and in the evening before it is time for bed. If teeth are not thoroughly cleaned every day tarter can start to build up and bacteria can develop. One of the first signs of lack of oral hygiene is bleeding gums. Many patients have come to us complaining that they see blood when they brush their teeth. This is one of the first signs of gum disease and is caused by lack of cleaning. If gums are left like this, over time it can cause more serious issues including tooth loss and infections in the pulp of the tooth. Keeping on top of oral hygiene means that less money and time will need to be spent in the future on tooth restoration treatment, it is hard to put a price on a nice, healthy smile! Contact the team in Bath for more help and information.
Sometimes it can be very easy to take your eye off the ball when it comes to looking after your teeth and gums- you know, a wayward weekend here or there, but if you get too lapse, things can go wrong very quickly. However, if you ensure that you keep a high level of oral hygiene going and utilise the services of your dentist regularly, little trip-ups like this should never pose a problem. Your dentist is there to do the type of cleaning that you can’t and can really get right inside your mouth to tackle any problems that you may have missed. Essentially though, it is the work that you do at home that really counts each day. Diet is important and being conservative with your frivolities will help, but after this, you will need the tools and products to maintain a healthy mouth. First on your list should be getting a good toothbrush followed by a suitable toothpaste for your mouth; once these are in the bag, you can back them up with extras such as dental floss and a mouthwash. Combine all of these things and you should retain great oral hygiene throughout your life. For more detailed information, give Clifton dental a cal in Bristol- they operate in Bath and give advice freely.
