Preventive Dentistry

At Hermitage Clinic we provide the highest standard of dentistry . We have a strong focus on prevention to educate you to help you improve the condition of your mouth. We also have a special interest in providing dentistry which preserves as much of your natural teeth possible with advanced dental techniques and highly trained dentists.

The two major causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance people have of keeping their teeth for life. The joint efforts of the dentist, and the patient, can help to prevent the need for treatment, and so avoid the traditional pattern of fillings and extractions.

Prevention is always better than cure

The main aim is to help you get your mouth really healthy, to try and prevent any dental problems returning. In a healthy mouth it is unlikely that decay or gum disease will continue to be a problem.

Good dental health begins with you. By following this simple routine, you can keep your mouth clean and healthy:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day with fluoride toothpaste - this will involve brushing as you have been shown.
• Use a small to medium size toothbrush. Use small circular movements to clean your teeth
• Use a toothbrush with soft to medium multi-tufted, round-ended nylon bristles. Tests have shown that electric toothbrushes with an oscillating, rotating action are better than manual brushes at removing plaque.
• Change your toothbrush regularly. Worn-out toothbrushes cannot clean your teeth properly and may damage your gums. It is important to change your toothbrush every three months, or sooner if the filaments become worn. When bristles become splayed, they do not clean properly.
• Floss your teeth daily - brushing alone only cleans up to about 60 percent of the surface of your teeth. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between your teeth and under the gumline, areas a toothbrush can't reach. If flossing is difficult there are other products you can buy to clean between your teeth (they are called "interdental brushes").
• Use a mouthwash daily - this can help to freshen breath. It can also help to dislodge any food debris, there are many different types including ones with anti-bacterial agents and fluoride.
• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.
• Use a straw when you have fizzy drinks - this helps the drink to go to the back of the mouth and reduces the acid attacks on the teeth.
• Chew sugar-free gum - it stimulates saliva and stops your mouth drying out and can help to prevent dental decay and erosion.
• Check your mouth regularly for any lumps, non healing ulcers or red/white patches in the mouth - as these can all be early signs of mouth cancer.
• Visit your dentist regularly, If you visit your dentist regularly, you will need less and your dentist will spot any problems earlier, making any treatment easier.

Can diet affect my teeth?

Food and drinks containing sugar cause decay. If you cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks this will help considerably. Foods such as cheese, fruit, nuts and vegetables make good substitutes. Many people think that it is a high level of sugar in your diet that causes decay, but this is not so. It is how often you have sugar in your diet, not the amount, that causes problems. It takes an average of 40 minutes for the mouth to neutralise the acid caused by eating and drinking sugar. It is therefore important to limit the number of attacks by keeping sugary foods and drinks to mealtimes.

What is dental erosion?

Dental erosion is the loss of enamel caused by acid attack. When the enamel is worn away it can lead to pain and sensitivity. Acidic foods and drinks such as citrus fruit juices and all fizzy drinks such as cola can be harmful if taken often in large amounts. Try to limit acidic food and drinks to meal times. It is also recommended that you do not brush your teeth for at least one hour after eating or drinking anything, so that they can build up the mineral content again.

Does Smoking and drinking affect my teeth and gums?

Yes. Smoking can lead cause tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and mouth cancer. If you smoke you may need to visit the dentist or hygienist more often, but the best advice is to try and give up. Alcoholic drinks can also cause mouth cancer and if you smoke and drink you are more at risk.

Some alcoholic drinks contain high sugar levels and some mixed drinks may contain acids. So they can cause decay or erosion if they are frequently consumed in large amounts

Preventative Measures at the Hermitage clinic:

• We will thoroughly "scale and polish" your teeth. show you the best methods of brushing and flossing to remove the bacterial "plaque" which forms constantly on your teeth and gums. When you eat or drink something sugary, the plaque turns the sugar into acid, which will cause tooth decay. Plaque will also cause gum inflammation if it is not regularly and thoroughly removed. The hard tartar (calculus) which builds up on the teeth also starts off as plaque.
• We will tell you which oral care products are the best ones for you to use.
• We will discuss diet and any habits such as smoking and drinking with you. Therefore advising you on Caries/Gum disease/Acid erosion and oral cancer prevention.
• We will make sure that all your fillings are in good repair and there are no rough edges to make cleaning difficult.
• We will advice you on topical fluoride supplements.
• We will also advice you on other preventative measures such as Fissure sealants and Mouthguards and SCI splints if required.

At hermitage clinic patient satisfaction is our ultimate goal and we always strive to achieve this. Please read some of our patient testimonials

We would be delighted to welcome you to our practice. Please give us a call on 0207 481 2999

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