What?

Preventive dentistry is the modern way of reducing the amount of dental treatment necessary to maintain a healthy mouth; Oral Hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth clean.

Why?

It helps you keep your teeth! Good oral hygiene helps to prevent tooth decay, gingivitis and periodontitis, major causes of tooth loss as well as bad breath and other dental disorders. It also keeps your smile bright!

Tooth Decay - an infectious disease which damages the structures of teeth.
The disease can lead to pain, tooth loss and infection.

Gingivitis - inflammation of the gums around the teeth. Gingivitis may be caused by a build up of plaque and tartar from improper cleaning of teeth or by injury to the gums from over vigorous brushing and /or flossing. This condition is generally reversible with proper care but if not treated it can, over the years cause deep pockets between the teeth and gums and loss of bone around the teeth, otherwise known as Periodontitis. Since the bone in the jaws holds the teeth into the jaws, the loss of bone can cause teeth over the years to become loose and eventually to fall out.

How?

Brushing teeth thoroughly but gently with toothpaste and flossing with dental floss are the best ways to ensure oral health. Regular cleaning below the gum line, best accomplished professionally by a dental hygienist or dentist will help prevent inflammation of the gums.

Professional scale and polish treatments remove stains which can build up over time from consumption of highly coloured foods and drink including red wine, tea etc and help keep your smile bright.

Who?

Dental Hygienists Carol and Denise.