Posts tagged “oral hygiene”

The Importance of Flossing for People in London to Ensure Good Health

February 28th, 2012

Flossing removes plaque from between the teeth before it hardens into tartar. Once tartar has hardened it cannot be removed with brushing alone. Plaque is the sticky substance found in the mouth, which consists of oral mucous, natural bacteria and food particles that attach to the teeth and gums. If left to accrue, plaque hardens into tartar that can inflame the gums and cause gingivitis, which is the start of gum disease and can require treatment at dentists providing for patients from London.

Reasons why we should floss

  • To prevent plaque build-up hardening into tartar.
  • To control bacterial growth that may escalate triggering autoimmune response, which degenerates gum tissue, causing tooth and facial tone loss.
  • To prevent gum disease that can develop into periodontal, neurological and cardiac disease, which are all detrimental to overall health and well-being.
  • For a healthy beautiful clean smile, without bad breath.

How to floss

Floss comes in different flavours and textures, such as waxed or unwaxed and as part of oral devices too. There are a number of options to choose from for a flossing experience that best suites your sensitivities. Some use floss holders instead of their fingers. Ask your dental hygienist or dentist how best to floss.

General flossing steps you can follow include:

  • Grip about an 18-inch length of floss between your thumb of one hand and index finger of the other hand (some people use their middle fingers).
  • Start at one side of the lower mouth, either left or right, and gently curve the floss around each tooth, moving the piece of floss along both sides of every tooth, reaching the gumline.
  • Shift the floss along so that you use clean parts of floss to slide up and down until all lower teeth are done from side to side.
  • Then repeat the same procedure for the upper teeth.
  • Now rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash that helps to keep bacterial growth under control and prevent infection.

When to floss

Flossing should form part of our daily oral hygiene habit, along with teeth-brushing and especially after a meal when food is caught between the teeth. Regular visits to the dentist for check-ups are also recommended, so that plaque-causing tartar can be removed through scaling if necessary.

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City of London dentists examine the reasons why a visit to the dentist is so important

December 5th, 2011

For many adults visiting the dentist can be a daunting experience, and it is the case that a lot of these individuals suffer from anxiety or dental phobia. However, going to the dentist is really important and should be done so regularly. To beat the onset of dental anxiety in adulthood it is beneficial to introduce children to their dentist from an early age.

If children are introduced to the dentist from an early age, they will get used to going to the dentist and can form a trusting and friendly relationship. This bond will go a long way to preventing any negative conditions that can come about as a consequence of not caring for your teeth, which means the child should require less treatment in the future.

Most parents don’t take their children to the dentist until they start school, but dentists it is said that parents should do this within the first year of their life. Increasingly, young children are suffering from preventable illnesses, such as tooth decay, and dentists are seeing children as young as two with cavities – so it is important that children attend regular check-ups.

The increasing number of children with oral health conditions is attributed to the modern diet, which increasingly consists of convenience foods and sugary, fatty snacks. Parents struggle to control what their children eat as shops are full of chocolate bars, sweets, cakes, biscuits and crisps – all these foods can increase the amount of bacteria in the mouth, which can lead to plaque build-up. Plaque is a sticky substance that clings to the surfaces of the teeth, which leads to the production of harmful acids that attack the enamel surfaces of the teeth and make them more vulnerable to decay.

In order to prevent harmful oral health conditions, it is important that children learn how to look after their teeth and gums. This involves learning about oral hygiene, as well as healthy eating and the potential dangers related to poor oral health.

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The Role of a Dental Hygienist at Your Private London Dentist

October 28th, 2011

Dental hygienists are experts in oral hygiene and aim to promote good oral health through oral hygiene. A dental hygienist may also be involved in the treatment of oral health diseases.

Why would I need to see a dental hygienist?

Even people who brush their teeth twice a day may need to see a dental hygienist at some point for an extra level of cleanliness. Hygienists provide cleaning treatments which are much more intensive and effective than brushing with a manual brush and can help prevent oral health diseases from developing.

Cleaning treatments, such as a scale and polish, are powerful cleaning treatments that remove plaque and bacteria and can shift tartar and bacteria from areas that are hard to reach with a brush. Your hygienist will be able to see any problem areas and address them, which will help to reduce the risk of developing symptoms associated with dental problems, such as swelling, pain, soreness and bleeding.

Your dentist may refer you to a hygienist if your teeth could benefit from a thorough clean or you are suffering from gingivitis, an early form of gum disease. You can arrange an appointment if you feel in need of a deep clean, with many people enjoying the feeling of a deep clean as it leaves their teeth feeling smooth and looking shiny and healthy.

Dental hygiene tips

Dental hygiene is key for good oral health and a good everyday oral hygiene habit will help to prevent dental problems and enable you to flash a healthy, radiant smile. Your daily oral hygiene routine should incorporate using toothbrush and toothpaste to brush morning and evening, as well as flossing and using mouthwash. Visiting your dentist for regular check-ups is also really important and most dentists advise patients to attend check-ups every six to twelve months.

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Your City of London Dentist is Here To Help You Know The 5 Do’s of Oral Hygiene

October 5th, 2011

When it comes to oral health, we all have our own habits that we’ve picked up from our parents – or come up with our own over time. But, what things should we keep in mind when we go to brush our teeth in the morning and before we go to bed? Should we brush more than twice a day?

This quick summary of dental do’s is here to help you develop good habits and maybe take you away from some unhelpful ones.

Flossing

While not an uncommon thing for people to do, there are still many who don’t regularly floss. Over recent years flossing has become more and more important and most dentists strongly urge their patients to floss every time they brush their teeth.

Twice or Three Times a Day?

While it can be helpful to your oral health to brush every time you eat, brushing too often can actually do more damage than good. Brushing with a heavy hand can damage gums (I’m sure everyone has found bleeding gums while brushing at some point or another) and can also slowly wear away the enamel of the tooth.

Swilling after Brushing

Just about everyone swills their mouths after brushing their teeth; getting rid of any leftover tooth paste just seems the sensible thing to do. But it can actually be beneficial to leave a the small amount of toothpaste in your mouth to protect teeth for longer. This isn’t recommended for all tooth paste brands, however, and those with a very strong fluoride concentration shouldn’t be used in this way.

Brushing Before or After Meals

It might seem sensible to brush after meals to remove any leftover food particles, but quite often it’s a better idea to brush before meals and floss afterwards. Brushing before meals can protect teeth from damage for a short time, making it very useful to do just before a meal.

Fruit is Good for Teeth

Some fruits can be good for teeth. However, certain fruits, specifically citrus fruits, can be very damaging to teeth. Fruits such as oranges and lemons are very acidic and other fruits, such as apples, that have large amounts of natural sugars can be damaging to teeth as well.

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Do’s and don’ts for your children’s teeth this summer according to your London dentist

September 26th, 2011

Summer is a time beloved by kids; long days of sunshine are a great excuse to get them out and active and the holidays are one of the only times that you might be able to get them to eat things such as strawberries and other summer fruits without too much fuss.

But while it can be good for the general health of your children, it can also be a time when their oral health is put at risk.

Large amounts of free time can be great for playing outside with friends, but not every day can be spent doing so and it’s inevitable that they’ll end up hanging round in the house for some parts of the holidays. And with complacency around the house often comes snacking on sugary foods. This and the array of sweet foods that become very popular during the summer months can add more sugar to the system and this has the potential to really damage teeth!

To help avoid any serious damage to your children’s oral health during the summer holidays, here is a list of do’s and don’ts.

  • DO take additional care to ensure they maintain their oral health routine. Brushing at least twice a day is important all year round, especially in the summer, so make sure your kids stick to it.
  • DON’T bring home snacks. While it may seem obvious, if there aren’t sugar snacks in the house then none can be eaten. The occasional snack is okay, but don’t allow your kids or yourself to overindulge.
  • DO find replacement snacks. Oral health is becoming ever a central theme of public attention and as such there are now many snacks being sold with lower sugar content. The best type of snack would be fruit or vegetables with low acidic levels, but as every parent knows, it can be hard getting them to eat these during meals, let alone as a replacement for ice cream.
  • DO get dental check-ups. Before and after the summer holidays it is a good time to book check-ups, allowing any serious damage done to be fixed before it gets any worse.
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Your London dentist takes a look at the debate over chocolate milk

September 9th, 2011

Debate is raging on the future of chocolate milk in schools after some schools in the USA announced that they were removing it from their lunchtime menus. Chocolate milk takes many adults back to their childhood and many schools across the US have been supplying it for many years. However, nutrition experts and dentists have criticised the provision of the creamy substance on the grounds that it contains a large amount of fat and sugar.

Why is chocolate milk bad for kids?

Chocolate milk has been labelled ‘bad’ for kids because it contains a large amount of fat and sugar. Sugar contributes to dental health problems, as well as other health problems, and a diet that is rich in fat increases the risk of childhood obesity, an illness that has almost reached epidemic proportions in some countries. Obesity is linked to a host of health problems, from diabetes and an increased risk of heart disease to high blood pressure, infertility and strokes.

Nutrition experts and dentists are eager for schools to provide healthier options for kids. Even a serving of reduced fat chocolate milk has almost as many calories and as much sugar as a can of Coke. Some schools have already removed chocolate milk and replaced it with natural, organic milk, which is lower in fat and contains less sugar.

Why is obesity on the increase?

A poor diet and a lack of exercise are the main causes of obesity. In recent years, fast food has become more widely available and many people find it hard to resist the lure of a burger bar or a fried chicken stall. People are also working longer hours which means they have less time and energy to devote to preparing meals; for many, when they get home from a long day at work, the last thing they want to do is start cooking and they call a take-away or drop in at a fast food outlet on the way home. Many people are also spending much more time indoors, both during their work hours and their leisure time.

The other side of the story

The stance of dentists and nutrition experts is well-known but there is another side of the story. The change of heart will undoubtedly have a huge effect on the dairy industry and some parents are unhappy because they want their children to have the choice; some experts have also claimed that chocolate milk is preferable to some other drinks because it contains calcium, which is important for building strong bones and teeth.

In opposition to the ban on chocolate milk, the dairy industry has launched a million dollar campaign on YouTube named ‘Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk’. The aim of the campaign is to highlight the health benefits of drinking chocolate milk, such as high calcium content and vitamin D.

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Why is oral health so important during pregnancy?

August 15th, 2011

Oral hygiene is an important issue for everyone but it is particularly important for pregnant women, as they are susceptible to gum disease.

Why is oral health important?

It is important for everyone to keep an eye on their oral health; good oral health is important for self-esteem and good general health and poor oral hygiene has been linked to a host of serious medical conditions. During pregnancy there are a million and one things for expectant mothers to think about and many women may be unaware of the importance of good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups during pregnancy; in recent years, a growing number of studies have suggested that there is a strong link between poor oral health and an increased risk of premature birth, complications during labour and even stillbirth.

How does pregnancy affect oral health?

Pregnancy increases a woman’s susceptibility to conditions such as gum disease and the harmful bacteria associated with gum disease can get into the bloodstream of the unborn baby, increasing the risk of complications; research carried out at Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital found that women with poor oral health were more likely to have a miscarriage than those with good oral health. Pregnant women are more likely to develop oral health conditions as a result of the increased levels of certain hormones in the body.

Preventing oral health conditions

In order to prevent oral health conditions it is important to attend regular check-ups with your dentist; during pregnancy, your dentist may advise you to visit more regularly and dental care is available free of charge on the NHS for pregnant women and women who have given birth within the last twelve months. Oral hygiene is also really important; a good daily oral hygiene routine should include brushing the teeth for at least two minutes twice a day and using dental floss on a daily basis; mouthwash can also be useful to rinse away food debris and plaque.

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How can I maintain better oral health?

May 25th, 2011

Gone are the days when simply brushing your teeth twice a day is enough to sustain adequate oral health.

On top of brushing your teeth twice a day dentists now recommend that you floss your teeth every day and rinse your mouth with an alcohol-free mouthwash such as Corsodyl after brushing.

Have your teeth professionally cleaned to improve your oral health.

The secret to a healthy smile is to avoid sugary foods and drinks in between meals and although I hate to sound like a puritanical spoil sport, cutting down on dark, stain-causing foods such as coffee and red wine will help your smile shine too.

See your dentist

If you are over 40 then I cannot stress how vital it is that you see your dentist for a regular six month check-up because you are more at risk of developing oral cancer than any other age group. Your dentist will be able to spot any significant changes in your mouth and gums long before you will. Pain is often not an early symptom of mouth cancer.

Your dentist will also be able to personalise your oral hygiene routine, taking into consideration any medication you take.

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Oral health is a must no matter how old you are

May 23rd, 2011

As a senior citizen you have every right to receive an impeccable standard of professional dental healthcare. After all, your mouth and teeth are a prized possession. They have served you during years of eating, drinking and celebrating, helped you speak and sculpt the smile and personality everybody knows and loves you for. They deserve your time and attention.

According to a survey carried out by Help the Aged, more than a third of over 75’s fail to have a regular dental check-up, a disconcerting discovery given that the elderly are more at risk of developing mouth cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure as a result of poor oral hygiene.

Although most people now regularly brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste, simply brushing your teeth twice a day is not enough to sustain adequate oral health. Read on to discover how to maintain the dental health care you truly deserve.

Why senior dental health is a problem

Senior dental health is an issue in Great Britain for several reasons. Firstly, more and more elderly people are now retaining their own teeth which can lead to the development of gum diseases that can in turn lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and oral cancer. Secondly, we are more likely to develop dental problems as we get older and oral cancer mainly occurs in people over 40. Thirdly, a lack of mobility means that fewer senior citizens are attending their regular six monthly check-up with their dentist.

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Patients delaying dental treatment due to cost

April 22nd, 2011

Most of us have been affected by the recession to some degree. Some people have lost their jobs, some their businesses and others have been forced to tighten their belts a little more than usual. For many, the credit crunch meant a reduction in their disposable income, which has affected the amount of money they spend on non-essential items, but for others, the crunch has had a more profound impact and a recent survey has revealed that a large proportion of people are sacrificing their health in a bid to save money.

The survey, which was carried out in conjunction with the Department of Health revealed that 1 in 5 participants had delayed going to the dentist because they couldn’t afford to pay for treatment. The recent rises in dental fees have also not helped matters; in England the cost of a routine check-up has increased from £6 in 2005 to £17 in 2011. Patients are particularly angry because dental fees are much higher in England than other parts of the UK; prices in Wales, for example, have just been frozen for the 5th year in a row.

Dental treatment can expensive, especially if you are already struggling to stick to a tight monthly budget but experts have stressed that saving money in the short-term could actually end up costing a lot more in the long-run; missing check-ups will increase the risk of serious oral health problems developing and these are a lot more expensive to treat. Complex treatments, known as band 3 treatments, cost around £200 on the NHS, in comparison to the charge of £17 for a check-up. If you have a private dentist, the cost could be double or even treble this figure. Dentists are keen to promote regular check-ups and urge people not to put off going to the dentist, as this could pose a risk to both their oral and general health.

Dental treatment is free of charge for some people; for example, children and people who receive certain benefits can receive dental care free of charge on the NHS. In order to reduce the risk of serious oral health problems developing, dentists recommend brushing twice a day for at least two minutes at a time, using dental floss and mouthwash regularly and avoiding foods and drinks that are high in sugar.

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