Prevention

Bacteria in plaque breaks down the food you eat (particularly sugar) and converts it into acids. These acids can dissolve the enamel of your teeth. Saliva contains minerals that neutralise these acids and lubricants that help to remove food debris from your teeth. Tooth decay occurs when your saliva can’t handle the number of acid attacks. So by eating less often, avoiding sugary foods and using fluoride toothpastes and mouthwashes, you can help to protect your teeth.

Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning.

Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. There are a number of types of periodontal disease and they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out.

Probably. Most people suffer from some form of gum disease, and it is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, the disease develops very slowly in most people, and it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.

The first sign is blood on the toothbrush or in the rinsing water when you clean your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant.

• Brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening, for two minutes. Time yourself!
• If you’re using a manual toothbrush, start with outer and inner surfaces. Brush at a 45-degree angle against the gum line using short horizontal strokes, taking care to reach the back teeth. Next, hold the brush flat and brush back and forth along the chewing surfaces. When you reach the inner sides of your front teeth, hold the brush vertically and brush the tip gently up and down.
• If you’re using an electric toothbrush, use circular movements to brush your teeth and don’t scrub too hard along the gum line; you’ll risk irritating your gums if you do.
• Don’t forget your tongue! Brush in a back-to-front sweeping motion to remove food particles and the bacteria that cause bad breath.

• Take around 45cm of floss or dental tape, and wind it round your fingers so that you have a couple of inches taut between your hands.
• Push the taut floss or dental tape as far down as it will go between the teeth and into the area between your teeth and gums.
• Move the floss up and down between each tooth, 8-10 times, to remove food and plaque.

Fluoride mouthwash provides extra ammunition in your oral health arsenal – but it is not a suitable replacement for brushing. To get the best benefits, swish it around your mouth for 30 seconds, then spit it out.

• Crowns and bridges – Carefully clean around the margins of the crowns to protect the area where the crown meets the gum. If you don’t, your gums may recede which will not only look unsightly, it may expose sensitive dentine. This is the part of the tooth that covers the nerve.
• Implants – If you’ve invested in implants, it’s imperative that you folllow a strict daily cleaning regime to prevent peri-implantitis – inflammation of the area around the implant. This not only causes the implant to fail, but also leads to catastrophic bone loss. As well as excellent cleaning at home, you will need to attend regular hygiene appointments for a more in-depth clean with specialist tools.
• Dentures – Dentures must be kept as clean as possible to protect against further tooth loss, gum disease and bacterial or fungal infections. Clean them at least once during the day, after meals if necessary, and extra-thoroughly at night time. Your dentist will give cleaning advice specific to the type of denture you’re using – but, as a general rule, the cleaning process involves brushing, soaking in effervescent denture cleaner, then brushing again as you would with your own teeth.

Bad breath can be caused by a number of factors, but is most commonly the result of poor oral hygiene. Persistent bad breath can be caused by more serious conditions such as periodontitis.

Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth, using a no alcohol mouthwash and cleaning your tongue will all help reduce the instances of bad breath. You should also avoid strongly flavoured foods and reduce smoking and drinking alcohol.

If bad breath is causing you embarrassment, come and see us. Regular visits to the hygienist and the dentist will identify whether there are any deeper problems which are the cause of your bad breath. We will assess your condition and develop a treatment regime to help overcome the problems.

• Mouth Rinses – you have the choice between those containing alchohol, or not, with sweetener or without and flavoured or non-flavoured. Most mouth rinses are designed to last up to eight hours.
• Oral sprays – are convenient for your pocket, handbag, car or whenever you are away from the bathroom and want reassurance of fresh breath.
• Toothpaste – some do not contain sodium lauryl sulphate (a foaming detergent) and are therefore non-foaming. This means your mouth does not fill up with suds, as is the case with most normal toothpastes, and you can continue cleaning your teeth for longer, which is preferred by many dental professionals.

If you aim to eat a balanced diet – i.e. equal parts carbohydrate and fruit and veg, along with smaller portions of protein and dairy – then you’ll already be on the right path to great oral health. Leafy green vegetables, nuts and lots of fibre are also beneficial for your teeth and gums. Sugar and acid (mainly from fizzy drinks and citrus fruits) should be avoided as much as possible. Our hygiene team is qualified to help patients with healthy eating and lifestyle choices, so do book an appointment if you need some advice.

Limiting your intake of sugar and acid is the key to avoiding cavities and gum problems. While it’s easy to cut down on sweets and lemonade, there are lots of foods and drinks out there that you may not realise are bad for your teeth.

Sugar hides in lots of everyday foods – these are the main culprits:

• Baked beans
• Ketchup, soy sauce, barbeque sauce
• Stir-in sauces
• Ready meals
• Pizza
• Tomato soup
• Pre-prepared sandwiches
• Salad dressing
• Smoothies
• Yoghurts
• Cereals & breakfast bars

Always check the label on your packaging. The handy Change4Life Food Scanner app lets you scan packaging with your phone for a quick visual rundown of a product’s sugar content.

Timing is everything. Limit your intake of sugary, acidic foods and drinks to mealtimes – these are the times when your protective saliva production is working on overdrive. Snacking on sweet things, however small in quantity, all day is much worse for your teeth, as you are constantly exposing your teeth to sugar and acid attacks.