Posts tagged “Scale and Polish”

Patients in London-How a Dental Hygienist Can Transform the Health of Your Mouth

July 3rd, 2012

Oral hygiene covers more than just brushing and flossing, this is why an annual visit to the hygienist is recommended. However your dental professional may suggest you see the practice hygienist of there are signs of gum disease or your teeth are in need to an extensive clean.

What treatments do hygienists cover?

The dental hygienist will be able to perform treatments such as a scale and polish, tartar removal and apply sealants or varnishes to the teeth. They are also capable of taking dental x-rays as and when needed. In addition to the actual work carried out they can provide advice and guidance on how to prevent dental decay. The treatments should not cause any discomfort but if any is felt they will be able to apply creams or use an aesthetic to numb the area.

Having an annual scale and polish will help control the build up of harmful tartar. During the clean they will use high pressured water to clean into the gums and this can help prevent gum disease from occurring as well as being an effective treatment for the condition.

Food and diet

Some of the things you can do to support the work of a dental hygienist include reducing sugary foods and drinks and chewing sugar free gum for 10 minutes after eating. Also if you smoke they will suggest that you quit as smokers suffer with gum disease and tooth loss more readily than non-smokers.

In addition to this remembering to brush twice a day and floss every night will help reduce the build up of plaque and tartar. You may also find that using an electric toothbrush helps you reach all the teeth as well as being more effective at removing plaque from the teeth’s surfaces.

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How can a Tooth become Infected and How can I Prevent it from Happening in Central London?

May 8th, 2012

Tooth decay and infection are never pleasant. The most common cause of tooth infection is simply as a result of teeth not being cleaned thoroughly. As we eat food, bacteria and eventually plaque can build up, as they feed off the scraps of food left between and on the teeth.

Bacteria then use the sugars and starches in food scraps in order to release acid. This acid wears away the enamel on the surface of teeth, which can lead to holes or cavities. These holes weaken the teeth, and create further opportunities for bacteria to enter the dental chamber.

As bacteria get in, infection can happen very easily. Teeth can then suffer further damage and it may even be necessary to remove the tooth, to prevent pain and further infection spreading. If tooth infection reaches into the soft tissue inside the tooth, called dental pulp, it can spread to the root canal system, and cause a painful abscess.

How to prevent dental infection

To prevent infection, a good oral hygiene routine is necessary for all patients in Central London. Brush regularly, using a fluoride toothpaste, and be sure to floss in between teeth as well, or use an interdental brush, to remove scraps of food and bacteria, which can build up in these areas and cannot be reached using a normal toothbrush.

An antiseptic mouthwash is also useful in fighting bacteria, as it also reaches parts of the mouth that a normal toothbrush cannot and ensures that all of your mouth will be cleaned. It is also worthwhile to have your teeth professionally cleaned by a dental hygienist. The advanced tools used by a professional hygienist will allow for an even more thorough clean than is possible at home, removing plaque from harder-to-reach places, and ‘polishing’ the teeth to give the tooth surface a smoother feel.

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Dental cleaning at City of London dentists: A shining saviour this Christmas?

December 26th, 2011

We all love Christmas and no matter how old you get the 25th of December is still a time of great excitement; whether it’s because of the snow, the colourful decorations or the gift giving, it’s simply a time of year when there’s a little magic in the air.

But after the excitement has died down and New Year has passed, how many of us spare a thought for how much damage we’ve potentially done to our teeth? It’s not something many of us consider and if you do spare a thought for our general health, it’s usually to make a New Year’s resolution to lose some Christmas weight.

What about the damage to our teeth? All the rich and sugary foods that are traditional around Christmas can really harm our oral health. The constant chocolates, sweets and alcohol that many people affiliate with Christmas can leave a lasting impression on our health.

One option to help repair some of the Christmas damage is to have a professional tooth cleaning. Also known as a scale and polish this is an intensive cleaning of the teeth performed at your dental clinic or practice.

While brushing twice a day is essential to maintaining good oral hygiene, there are always certain areas a toothbrush can’t reach or small amounts of plaque that are missed. A dental cleaning can remove the plaque and tartar that brushing at home misses.

The whole process is painless and will involve the use of instruments to remove larger build-ups of plaque before smaller tools are used to reach hard to reach plaque, tartar and bacteria. The final stages will involve polishing, giving the teeth surface a smooth feel. Some dentists will then apply flavoured fluoride, which will give your teeth an extra layer of protection.

The whole process leaves your teeth feeling exceptionally clean and you can leave the dental office with the peace of mind that your teeth are in the best of health.

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Spring clean your smile

April 27th, 2011

The first glimpses of spring have appeared and suddenly our thoughts have turned to spring/summer wardrobes, booking holidays and organising summer events. But many of us will also be thinking about making changes to our appearance. In the summer months, many people make more effort with their appearance, as they usually have more occasions to attend, such as birthday parties, weddings and summer barbeques and want to feel their best. For an increasing number of people, spring is also a great time of year to think about having treatment to make their smile look better.

Research has consistently shown that a nice smile is one of the key features people look for in a future partner and studies have also linked a healthy, attractive smile to a happy personal life and successful career. There are many different things you can do to make your smile look more attractive, from spending a few extra minutes every day cleaning your teeth to spending thousands of pounds on cosmetic dental treatments.

For many people, spending money on dental treatments is a sure-fire way to feel and look better; treatments such as invisible braces, veneers and tooth whitening treatments have become extremely popular in recent years, especially as the Hollywood style smile has become so popular with celebrities, such as Cheryl Cole.

For those who have less money and are maybe slightly more fearful of cosmetic treatments, a simple scale and polish may do the trick; cleaning treatments are much more intensive than manual brushing and produce a unique ‘dentist’s clean’ finish. A professional cleaning treatment will leave your teeth feeling smooth and looking much more radiant, which will be perfect for spring.

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