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Dental hygienist at work

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Dental Hygiene is the Cornerstone of our Preventative Programme.

Happy family with excellent teeth

We firmly believe in the principle that prevention is better than cure. Our team provide the best advice to prevent problems developing in the first place.

 

Our hygiene service is the cornerstone of our family preventive programme as gum disease causes bad breath, bleeding, pain and in the long term – tooth loss. This is why good oral hygiene is the most effective way to help maintain a healthy mouth.

 

A healthy mouth not only minimises long term problems.  It is an important contributor to your overall sense of well-being and self confidence.  A fact not always well understood.

 

Regular dental examinations help with early diagnosis of common problems and will, ultimately, minimise the amount of treatment you may require.  These examinations, and advice, are the core work of our family general practice.

A healthy mouth

The features of a healthy mouth are:

  • clean teeth, free of plaque or food residues

  • healthy gums, where the gums fit tightly against the teeth

  • no pain or bleeding when brushing or flossing

  • the absence of bad breath

Schematic of healthy teeth and teeth with periodontitis

Daily care

Our hygienists will advise you on how best to look after your teeth at home between your regular check-ups.  We recommend checkups at six-monthly intevals so that your teeth can be kept in top condition and any problems can be spotted early.  That advice will include:

 

  • brush regularly and twice a day; ideally before breakfast and before going to bed; establish a routine of daily care

 

  • brushing should include the gums and the junction of tooth and gum.  It is the junction of the tooth and gum where many problems start.  Don't forget to brush your tongue!

 

  • brush for 2 minutes per jaw so that each section (top and bottom, inner and outer) gets 1 minute.  We find that many patients don't do this!

 

  • ideally use an electric toothbrush with a small round head.  The small round head is best at reaching all parts of your mouth including the difficult-to-reach back teeth.  Let the toothbrush do the work and don't 'scrub'.

 

  • if possible avoid brushing immediately after eating; this allows the saliva to neutralise the acidity of many foods and drinks. Your teeth are exposed to these acids and the enamel is softened. But, the action of calcium and other mineral salts in the saliva help to counteract the softening.  If possible wait for an hour after eating before brushing.

 

  • change your toothbrush when the bristles lose their shape; typically each 3 months

 

  • use a fluoride toothpaste, and if recommended by your hygienist a fluoride mouth wash.  Spit out the toothpaste and avoid excessive rinsing; this allows the fluoride to act on the teeth for longer.

 

  • children under 12 should drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if the tap water is not fluoridated

 

  • floss daily, ideally before going to bed and before brushing and use small brushes to clean between teeth.  This is important to remove any trapped food residue and the bacteria that cause decay, cavities and plaque

 

Our hygienists will demonstrate the best techniques for brushing and flossing and can provide further information to support you and your family.  

Life style

A healthy life-style will greatly assist in maintaining oral health.

For example:

  • avoid smoking and try to stop if you are a smoker

  • avoid unnecessary sugar, particularly fizzy drinks and sports drinks which typically have excessively high sugar content, and high sugar snacks and ready meals - check the label!

  • eat regular meals and try to keep snacks in-between to a minimum

Girl with a perfect smile

If you would like to make an appointment with our hygienist or Guy Robertson for a checkup please call

020 7580 2551   Click to call from a mobile

"After a recommendation from a friend, I visited Guy with my 12 year old daughter who had previously been very nervous of the dentist. Guy immediately put her at ease and had a lovely manner about him. He explained everything very clearly before the treatment, but also took the time during the treatment to explain what he was doing and what she might feel. My daughter had to have a tooth extracted and needs to return twice more for the same procedure. Amazingly she is not worried or concerned about this! I would highly recommend Guy, he's approach and dental care is superior and his approach with children is excellent."

Jane Pitt

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