Author: Dr Nishan Dixit

Helping Harrow prevent tooth decay

Preventing tooth decay is a major part of the work of any dental practice. Tooth decay can cause problems with the aesthetics of your smile, pain,  tooth loss and subsequent problems with your bite if the whole tooth all parts of the tooth are lost due to the tooth decay.

How to detect tooth decay

Detecting tooth decay there is done with a visual examination of your teeth, however a very common part of your tooth  to become affected by decay is the contact point between each tooth. This area is not so easy to keep clean with regular toothbrushing, and is more prone to bacteria buildup and therefore tooth decay. Your dentist in the Harrow area will take x-rays to view this area between your teeth, to see if there has been any form of tooth decay.

Preventing tooth decay.

One of the best ways of preventing tooth decay is to ensure that you clean your teeth properly each day. Regular brushing with an electric toothbrush, flossing with either take or floss and then a quality fluoride mouth rinse will ensure that your chances of tooth decay arising are lowered.

As tooth decay often happens in the areas between your teeth, we also recommend visiting your dentist at least every six months. Doing this allows your dentist to monitor any areas where tooth decay may be taking hold, and then to decide if remedial treatment to prevent the decay from worsening is required. If you do not visit your dentist, you will not be able to see this progression of decay in your tooth possibly until you are faced with a great deal of pain. It may then be too late to save the tooth!

Dental hygiene and tooth decay.

Within each dental practice there are specially trained people to look after various aspects of your dentistry needs. This dental practice in Harrow uses a dental hygienist to ensure that your teeth are adequately cleaned and that your oral health care routine is such that tooth decay is much less able to take hold. Visiting the dental hygienist is a vital an integral part of preventing tooth decay health. and ensuring that you keep your teeth fit and healthy for life..

Blue court dental practice is keen to ensure that the people of Harrow have the least amount of tooth decay possible, and so all patients are recommended to our dental hygienist to help maintain your oral and dental health.

John Bishop has teeth whitening

the comedian John Bishop enjoys teeth whitening

The comedian John Bishop has recently had teeth whitening, a process where we can apply a small amount of whitening gel to your teeth to remove dark and yellow staining in order that your teeth can be beautifully white again.

teeth whitening is an increasingly popular option for people in the public eye, or for those who are concerned about their appearance. So long as you have all of your natural teeth, and don’t have a veneer or Crown at the front it is more than likely that you are suitable for a teeth whitening procedure.

Your smile is the most important feature of your face, as this is what people tend to notice first. In fact John Bishop has been quoted as saying on Radio Fours Desert Island discs:

“They are my real teeth! I’ve had them whitened, because my teeth probably account for about 30 per cent of my head,”

What other types of teeth whitening available?

Teeth whitening in Harrow is available from Blue Court Dental using either home teeth whitening or dental tooth whitening.  Home teeth whitening allows you to easily control the amount of whitening that you want, you simply use the whitening trays with a small amount of bleaching gel each day until you reach your desired whiteness. You can also stop whitening if your teeth come too sensitive.

Teeth whitening works by applying a small amount of gel to your teeth which then breaks up the stains and discolouration. This gel is held in place by seeing, clear whitening tray which is made to fit precisely over your teeth.

Blue Court Dental Centre provides teeth whitening in Harrow for the local people.

I’m so sad i need a filling !

 This patient came for her routine appointment and on examination, early decay was detected on a tooth that had not been treated before.  She wanted her new tooth to look as natural as possible.

 

The decay was removed and the tooth was prepared for a filling.  A white composite filling material was used to fill the hole.  The colour was made to match her existing teeth and shaped to look as natural as possible.

The patient was delighted with the result.

The sugar factor…

To help keep your teeth healthy, it is advised that you eat only three or four times a day, avoiding the temptation to snack in between – and if you must snack, then choose something that has no or minimal amounts of sugar in it, such as cheese, nuts, raw vegetables or breadsticks.

This is because every time you eat or drink something with sugar, the bacteria in your mouth reacts with the sugar which produces acid that attacks your teeth.  If these attacks happen too often, your teeth will suffer decay.

In addition, you should avoid acidic or fizzy drinks, as these can cause tooth erosion, where the hard outer coating (enamel) of your teeth is gradually worn away by repeated acid attacks.

If you must eat or drink sweet stuff, either ensure it is sugar free ( low sugar or no added sugar still contains sugar!), or indulge less often – at or immediately after mealtimes is ideal.  You can also chew sugar-free gum with xylitol after eating or drinking to help boost saliva production and neutralise decay.

Below you can see a couple of pictures of common snacks and drinks with their equivalent sugar content.

 

My tooth looks like a clothes peg! Can you help me?

This patient was very unhappy with her peg like tooth in her upper jaw.  The tooth appeared smaller and sharper than the rest of her teeth and was very visible when she smiled.  She wanted a more natural looking tooth with the least amount of tooth destruction possible.

To change the shape of the tooth, a white composite filling material was used.  The filling was blended with the existing tooth using the latest techniques, giving the tooth a very natural look.

The patient was delighted with the final result.

Testimonial

“A treatment that definately exceeded expectations.  Very happy with the reults – Thankyou.”

There’s a hole in my tooth!

This patient did not like the appearance of her tooth and had also noticed that food was getting trapped in the hole after every meal.  The extensive decay made the tooth look grey and had led to the tooth breaking away.  The decay was cleaned out and replaced with a tooth coloured (composite) filling material.

The patient was delighted to have a natural looking tooth again and is due to have the existing white filling on her back tooth and the crown .replaced in due course.

I don’t like my crooked teeth

  

This patient wanted to have straight teeth in less than 9 months.  He wanted an appliance that could  be removed and inserted as easily as a retainer.  For this reason we decided upon the Inman Aligner.  The spring action of the appliance gently guided the teeth to an ideal position quickly and effectively in a matter of weeks.

The patient was absolutely delighted with the result.

  

My smile means a lot to me

   

This lady did not like the natural colour of her yellowish teeth. She wanted a highly effective way of  lightening the colour of her teeth, without removing any of the tooth surface.

After considering various options,  the patient decided to have  tooth whitening treatment, using the custom made home kit.

Approximately two weeks later, we achieved a very satisfactory result, leaving the patient delighted with the new colour of her teeth.

 

Are your gums healthy

Gum infections are the most common cause of adult tooth loss but often go unnoticed as they progress without pain.  However, the following are warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored:

  • Gums that bleed when brushing/flossing
  • Bad breath or bad tastes in the mouth
  • Loosening of teeth
  • Loss of teeth
  • Gums that are red, swollen, or tender
  • Gum recession
  • Teeth that drift from their original position

In order to prevent gum disease and keep your teeth and gums healthy, we advise:

Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, especially at bedtime.  You should clean them for 2 minutes, making sure you brush every surface of each tooth – be thorough but not forceful as you can cause damage to your teeth and gums.

Make sure youclean between your teeth and under your gumline.  We advise you on the best method for your teeth.

Eat a healthy diet.  In particular, don’t eat too much sugar, and dont consume sugary foods or drinks too often – we recommend limiting sugar intake to mealtimes only.

Don’t smoke! Smoking has a particulary damaging effect on your oral health.  Smokers are four times as likely to suffer gum disease ( the biggest cause of tooth loss among UK adults ).

Visit the practice regulary so we can check your mouth for signs of potential problems and treat them early.  Having your teeth professionally cleaned by us also helps protect you from gum disease by removing any hardened plaque and flushing away plaque bio-films.

If you are overdue for a check-up or have any concerns, please give us a call and book an appointment, and let us help you to enjoy healthy teeth and gums for life!