Good oral hygiene isn’t only important for a white smile. It can also impact on your overall health and wellbeing.
At Pure Elegant Smile (Kennington Dentist), our dentists place a strong emphasis on prevention and oral hygiene education. We advise patients of all ages on the best ways to look after their teeth and gums, to help lower their risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and related health problems.
Daily oral care at home and regular check-ups and professional teeth cleaning with our dental hygienists improve your chances of living free from cavities, bad breath, and painful dental problems. We’ve designed our dental clinic at 97 Kennington Ln, Prince’s, London, SE11 4HQ to be a comfortable and relaxing environment, to help make hygiene visits a positive experience.
Is it time for a check-up and clean? Call us on 0203 950 6620 or book an appointment online with a dental hygienist in Kennington, London.
Why is oral hygiene important?
Oral health is about more than a pretty smile. Daily brushing and flossing, a balanced diet, and regular check-ups with your dentist can lower your risk of developing dental diseases and oral infections.
As oral health reflects general health, taking good care of your teeth and gums and following your dental hygienist’s instructions can also lower your risk factor for a variety of health problems.
Understanding how dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease start, and how to spot the warning signs, could help you to take better care of your oral health.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay (dental caries) is caused by dental plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that can build up on the teeth. If it’s not thoroughly removed, it eventually hardens into tartar (calculus).
This bacteria feasts on the food and drink you consume every day, especially sugars. It converts these into acids that can slowly erode the hard enamel surface of your teeth, exposing the yellow dentin beneath or even reaching the soft centre of the tooth where the nerve endings are.
Regular brushing and flossing can usually remove most plaque, and a dental hygienist can remove hardened plaque during your hygiene appointment. If tooth decay is untreated, it can lead to cavities that may need a filling or a pulp infection that may need a root canal.
Gum disease
Gum disease (periodontal disease) is also caused by plaque. If plaque on your teeth reaches the gum line, it can irritate or infect the gum tissue.
The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which may be characterised by red, swollen, itchy, or bleeding gums. This can usually be treated by visiting your dentist and improving your oral hygiene.
The advanced stage of gum disease is periodontitis. At this stage, it can start to damage the supporting structures of the teeth and can eventually cause teeth to fall out. Advanced gum disease needs to be treated by your dentist.
A number of international studies have linked gum disease with an increased risk of developing other health problems, including heart disease, digestive disorders, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer. Pregnant women with gum disease may also be at risk of premature delivery.
If you think you might have gum disease, tooth decay, or another oral health problem, call our Kennington dentists on 0203 950 6620. We’ll help you arrange an appointment at the nearest time that’s convenient for you.
Daily oral hygiene tips
Taking care of your teeth and gums every day is the best way to keep plaque at bay and keep your smile sparkling. When you visit us for your check-up, your dental hygienist will let you know if your oral care routine needs to be improved and can offer more personalised advice.
In general, our dentists in Kennington recommend that you:
- Brush your teeth twice a day – brush for two minutes each time and make sure you clean all surfaces of the tooth. Replace your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 3 months.
- Use fluoride toothpaste – fluoride helps to strengthen teeth enamel for extra protection against plaque. Young children should use low-fluoride children’s toothpaste.
- Floss once a day – flossing between your teeth can remove trapped food and plaque from areas your toothbrush can’t reach.
- Use a mouthwash – gargling with an antibacterial mouthwash can also help to reverse gingivitis.
- Cut down on sugar – sugar in snacks, soft drinks, fruit juice, and sports drinks is a major cause of tooth decay in England.
- Follow a balanced diet – leafy greens, lean proteins, and calcium-rich food and drink can help to strengthen enamel and stimulate saliva.
- Drink plenty of water – if your local water supply contains fluoride, drinking tap water can help to protect your teeth as well as keeping you hydrated.
Dental hygiene appointments
Keeping up with your scheduled dental visits is also part of a good oral hygiene routine. We recommend that patients visit us every 6 months for a comprehensive check-up and clean, but the ideal visiting frequency depends on each patient’s individual needs.
Hygiene appointments at Kennington dental practice normally involve 3 stages:
1. Oral health assessment
Your dentist will inspect your mouth, teeth, and gums to check that they’re healthy and look for any possible signs of a problem. This could include signs of decay or gum disease, loose or broken teeth or damage to fillings, dentures, and other dental restorations.
If we do notice anything unusual, we may use dental x-rays to get a closer look and can discuss the most suitable treatment options with you.
2. Professional teeth cleaning
Teeth brushing and flossing isn’t always enough to get rid of all the plaque on your teeth. Our dental hygienist will carefully remove any plaque and tartar that has accumulated since your last visit, leaving your teeth as clean as possible.
3. Fluoride treatment
Finally, we’ll apply fluoride to your teeth to help strengthen the enamel and provide a first line of defense against plaque.
If we think you could benefit from dental treatment, we’ll discuss treatment options with you and arrange a follow-up appointment or consultation where you can find out more. In some cases, it may be possible to complete treatment during the same visit.
Oral hygienist near me in Kennington, London
If it’s time for your check-up or you need to talk to a dentist, get in touch with our team at Pure elegant Smile today.
Call 0203 950 6620 or book online to schedule an appointment at a time that works for you.