Posts tagged “Hygiene”

Dental care with hygienist near Alton dentist

January 26th, 2012

At Time Dental we always take the preventative approach to your dental health to ensure you have a healthy mouth.  That’s why we place a huge emphasis on Hygienist appointments.

Continuing care with you dental hygienist means that you will have the most up to date skills and techniques for your home care.  This means that your breath will be continuously fresh and gum disease is kept away.  Mandy our new hygienist at Time Dental is highly qualified for your dental hygiene care.  She has a particularly gentle approach and will ensure your maximum comfort for your visits.

Not only will you be given the best advice for your home care, Mandy will carefully remove all the plaque bacteria and tartar build up that happens on a regular basis and advise you the best approach for your specifec needs.  She will provide a tailor made Dental hygiene programme specifically for you to make sure your mouth stays healthy.

Did you know that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease?  If you have gum disease you’re at a higher risk for heart disease!  That’s where your dental hygiene and fresh breath appointments can really help.  Prevention is better than cure which is why regular sessions with your hygienist are so important.  They can catch the early signs of gum disease and help you get back on track for a healthy mouth.  If you also suffer from diabetes you’re also a high risk group for gum disease.  Some of the warning signs can be bad breath, bleeding gums, sensitivity and loose teeth.  You can even have gum disease when none of these warning signs are there!

White composite Fillings in Fleet

July 13th, 2011

A client came  to Time Dental having not been to a dentist in seven years!  It wasn’t because he had a fear of dentists, it was simply because he had no pain so he thought everything was ok and he wanted to improve his smile because it had discoloured.  He smoked about 20 cigarettes a day and brushed his teeth only once a day which would have contributed to the discolouration.

On assessing his mouth and taking close-up photos to show him what was acutally going on in his mouth, we discovered that he had multiple areas of tooth decay, gum disease as well as the discolouration.  Many people feel that if they have no pain then their mouth is okay and they don’t need to see a dentist.  Your body does not work that way.  You may still have underlying problems even if you have no symptoms. That’s why it’s so important to visit your dentist regularly so that the can give the best advice.

After showing him his photos he was very keen on getting his mouth healthy as soon as possible.  This would involve removing the active decay and placing white composite fillings.  This would make his mouth healthy so that he would have no future pain from them as well as look great.  Much of his discolouration was due to decay happening at the gum line of his upper front teeth.

Visiting the hygienist would also dramatically improve his gum health, although smoking is still going to have a negative impact on his dental health.  There is a link between smoking and gum disease as well as oral cancer, so smoking 20 a day is certainly not going to help.  Quiting smoking will not only improve his dental health and freshen his breath but it will also improve his general health.

He is certainly motivated now and thats a really postive result after not having been in such a long time.

Call us to see how we can help 01252 723 008

Hygiene services for Fleet, Hampshire

February 15th, 2011

You visit the dentist every 6 months for an examination like you’re supposed to, as that is all you need to do to look after your teeth, right?  Wrong!  Gum health is so important, and is often underestimated by people.  Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a disorder that damages the gums.  Gums protect the roots of the tooth.  Gum disease contributes to a receding gum line that can cause the weakening of teeth and eventually tooth loss.  Many people aren’t aware that they have it, but the signs and symptoms can be quite easy to detect.  Gum disease is diagnosed by bleeding, swollen and tender gums, loose teeth, receding gums and changes to the way permanent teeth or dentures fit together when biting.

Did you know…….

  • Periodontal disease is the number-one cause of tooth loss.
  • 30% of people may be genetically susceptible to gum disease
  • Emerging reports have linked gum disease to other medical conditions such as heart disease
  • Gum disease affects all races and ethnicities equally.
  • Millions of people have gum disease; they just don’t know it yet.
  • The mass of tissue in the oral cavity is equivalent to the skin on your arm that extends from the wrist to the elbow, that’s a lot of tissue that needs to be kept healthy!

Routine appointments with the hygienist are so important at maintaining a healthy mouth, and at Time Dental we are very lucky to have a resident expert who provides are hygiene services.  Patricia has had rave reviews from all our clients, and as a result her appointment book fills up fast!  In her sessions, as well as giving your mouth a full clean, scale and polish, Patricia will also guide you through correct brushing techniques specifically for you so you can continue to care for your mouth properly at home.

So call 01252 723008 and book in today for an initial consultation and start the journey towards a healthier mouth.

Historic Headwear?

September 15th, 2010

Did you know that the first crowns known to be used, actually date way back to somewhere between 166 – 201 AD?  In my eyes, that gives us a period of around 1800 years for our dental specialists to have worked their magic on the development of these kings of covering!

Of course I’m talking about the dental crown who’s purpose – despite being the royalty of our mouths – is to strengthen those of your teeth that may have been damaged by decay or are fractured and as a result weakening.  Although there are many different types of crown, the two most popular, for their aesthetics and durability, are the all-ceramic and the metal-ceramic versions.  In my experience, the all-ceramic is the way to go.

Although both types can be matched to the colour of your existing set of gnashers, the metal-ceramic versions to tend to leave a simple black line at the base of the tooth… so lets save that kind for the teeth towards the back of your mouth!

One of the greatest advancements for these regal porcelain pieces though is their durability.  You can expect to have crowns last between 5 and 15 years… however, and do listen carefully; these gems, when looked after right, have been know to last a lot, lot longer.  So as ever, we are back to the key behind healthy teeth and gum’s.  IF you look after them, they WILL look after you!

I won’t stop until I have you all brushing   ;-)

TD.  x

Brief Pleasures Bestow Pain

August 31st, 2010

We know all too well the effects of smoking on our lungs, respiratory system and other vital organs.  We also often take the health and hygiene of our teeth and gum’s for granted… that is at least until something goes wrong.  In recent years, as we wise up to the trails and tribulations life throws at us, preventative treatments are becoming commonplace throughout the medical industry.  Yet, as far as teeth are concerned; we brush twice a day as recommended and for the most part, that is where it ends.

In all fairness, this is a good place to start.  However, when gum disease (Gingivitis) takes a hold, you’ll wish you had prevented it in the first place.  Periodontal Disease is the more developed (yet less talked about) version of Gingivitis.  The bacteria from Gingivitis spreads from the gum to the root of the tooth, it looks to set up camp, and if not treated quickly, the toxins from the bacteria will actually eat away at the gum surrounding the tooth making the tooth loose.

Going back to prevention, studies have proven that smoking has a direct relation to Periodontal disease.  In fact, experts have concluded that a person who smokes is 300% more likely to develop the disease than someone who doesn’t!  It gets worse still… the state-of-the-art treatments for Periodontal disease are much less effective on a smoker than a non-smoker.

The reason being, smoking actually prevents the gum’s from defending themselves from the bacteria, while also robbing the body of vital minerals and vitamins which help the immune system.  We know quitting is tough going – and I’m sure there are studies on that too – but with a dose of will-power and a dash of support from friends, this maybe one of the best reason yet to do so…

TD  x

The Good Cracks

August 25th, 2010

Ever wondered how your teeth are so incredibly strong?

I recently stumbled upon this interesting article.  It tells a story of our teeth are constructed so well, top researchers are now discovering how the same micro-construction concept can be used in aviation!  I find this truly amazing and have since been doing my own research…

It seems our teeth are incredible components – certainly mine have been subject to the odd crunch on a few cherry-pips and the like in their time(!) and somehow they withstand a life-times worth of chewing and grinding, biting and munching!  It got me thinking though, if these micro-cracks are true to the success of teeth, could they also be their downfall?  – Apparently, only if they are not given their daily dose of tender loving care…

When these cracks are subject to a barrage of the same aforementioned fizzy/sugary drinks and other refined sugar madness, bacteria can attack your teeth directly and things can take a turn for the worst!  I guess this is just another testament to how tough our tender teeth are – yet how delicate they can be given the wrong conditions.

The Team at Time Dental can help with all of your dentistry needs; Cosmetic or Hygienic.  Their advice is incomparable and believe me, good advice from your dentist goes a long way!

The Simple Things

August 18th, 2010

A lot of us know that drinking fizzy or sweet drinks through a straw can help our dental hygiene… or at least to some extent prevent the causes of plaque and tooth decay.

It is a fact that the amount of plaque produced is consistent with the amount of sugary and starchy foods we consume.  The reason behind this is; acid from the sugars contained in these items promote bacteria… as the bacteria grow, they produce a white film around the neck of the tooth – called plaque – which causes the tooth to decay.  But alas, this is just one aspect of tooth decay.  Fizzy drinks are acidic in their most basic of forms and can cause extra tough erosion of teeth through their use of refined sugars.  These sugars are the bacteria’s favorite and allow big bad Mr. Plaque to grow and grow and GROW!

Intrigued by different all the varieties of ‘pop’ out there – and I have to admit IF I’m feeling desperate for a Coca Cola, I always stick with the ‘worst’ kind – straight up, regular, Coke – however, I thought I’d take a look and see if buying a ‘Coke Zero’ for instance is any less harmful to your teeth..?

You may guess; the answer is (a rather mean looking) NO!

Even Coke Zero who claims to be zero – well, virtually everything – has Phosphoric Acid in it… you can look ‘Phosphoric Acid’ up in your local garden center as it’s also used for rust-removal(!!!).

My advice, and that of Time Dentals Dr. Rashid is; where possible, avoid these bacteria-promoting refined sugars.  However, understanding that sometimes life requires its own little pleasures to keep things ticking over nicely… in these rare moments, do think to drink with a straw.  Every sip counts!

TD.  x