Articles

For some patients the idea of dental treatment can be a daunting experience. For this reason we have developed the Dental Articles section of our website. Regularly updated with the latest treatment information, our dental articles explore the things you need to know about Cosmetic and General Dentistry procedures as well as preventive care. We hope that by reading through our dental articles you will be better informed to make decisions about your dental health now and in the future.

How to Brush and Floss

The most important part of dental care is down to you. Brushing your teeth twice daily insures for healthier teeth and gums. And if you dread the dentist’s chair then the best treatment is prevention.
Plaque is a major cause of cavities. It is a transparent layer of bacteria that coast the teeth. Brushing your teeth will remove the plaque build up. You can also floss once a day to insure that all plaque is removed, even where the brush cannot reach. Brushing stimulates the gums too, which keep the gums healthy and prevent gum disease.

Always make sure that your toothpaste contains fluoride. This is the most common ingredient in toothpaste and it prevents cavities.

Tartar is plaque but in a hardened form. One in ten people find that tartar accumulates on their teeth. Using anti-tartar toothpastes can target this problem as well as spending a little extra time brushing in front of the saliva glades.

If you have sensitive teeth, talk to your dentist about the best way to overcome this problem, It may be as simple as changing your toothpaste to a special, sensitive toothpaste.

Top tips on brushing:

• Use a good quality rechargeable electric tooth brush. Hold the brush at 90% to the gum line. Use circular motion and medium pressure. If using a hand brush use as small circles as possible.
• Stick to a system when brushing so that you do not miss any teeth. Spend 3-4 minutes brushing 2 times per day.
• Concentrate on what you can feel. If you cannot feel the bristles getting between the teeth and into the gum line you are probably missing the most important area to clean.
• Floss or use interdental brushes once or twice a day.
• A good technique for flossing is to: take a long piece of floss [about shoulders width]. Hold between thumb and forefinger. Wind floss around both forefingers just above the nail until you are left with a short length of floss of 1 inch [sometimes needs adjusting to get the length right]. Now you can floss around the whole mouth with only 2 fingers on your mouth [it's rather hard to get your whole fist in]. Slide the floss up and down the tooth on each side of each gap. With practice it becomes easy.

Tooth Decay

Soon after brushing, a thin sticky layer forms over the surface of your teeth which contains bacteria, this is referred to as plaque. When you eat anything containing sugar, the bacteria in plaque uses it as energy and produces acid which can soften and dissolve the enamel which cover your teeth. This is how a cavity is formed. Because the enamel doesn’t contain any nerves, you won’t realize that it is happening. Only when a cavity is in the advanced stages will you feel pain. This pain will occur when you eat or drink anything particularly hot, cold, sugary or acidic. Saliva helps to wash away and neutralize this acid. It also contains the minerals that replace loss from enamel.

Should I get my teeth whitened?

There are lots of advantages in getting your teeth whitened. When you smile, people take notice, and a brilliant white smile can give you new found confidence that people will instantly notice. It gives your appearance an instantaneous lift. Whiter teeth are associated with a healthier, happier lifestyle. Also a whiter smile tends to minimise the appearance of facial wrinkles, and helps to give way to a more youthful appearance.

There are some short- term side affects which will fade and disappear, or can be avoided all together.

Some people are overly sensitive to the whitening gel used. If you find that you experience tingling or slight pain, then it is recommended that you use less whitening gel in the tray as this will reduce the contact between the gel and the gums. If used properly, there will be little or no pain, and this pain will disappear when the tray and gel is removed.

What do you look for in a Cosmetic Dentist?

When it comes to choosing a Cosmetic Dentist, you are literally placing your aesthetic future in someone else’s hands. For this reason it is imperative to ensure you have a Dentist who is qualified, experienced, and best able to meet your specific needs.

When looking for the right Cosmetic Dentist, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

• Is the practice modern and up-to-date, clean and orderly?
• Does the practice offer state-of-the-art technology, to enhance your dental experience and comfort?
• Would the dentist perform the same treatment for you as they would do for themselves or their family?
• Is the dental team enthusiastic and passionate about their work?
• Do all team members see that dentist for their own treatment?
• Are other clients satisfied with their care and treatment?
• Is information provided about fees and payment plans before treatment is scheduled?

Other important elements to consider, when selecting a Cosmetic Dentist include;

• Their training and education.
• Their Cosmetic Dentistry experience
• Before and After Photos
• Communication Skills

You can also ask for a tour of the dental practice or speak with some of their existing patients, to ensure you make the right decision.

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