Posts tagged “dental hygiene”

Dental Hygiene For Dental Implants For Patients Near Ealing

May 20th, 2013

Dental implants are a very popular tooth replacement treatment; they restore full function to the mouth, as well as giving you a healthier, more attractive looking smile. Dental implants are designed to last for several years, but they do require a little looking after. Our friendly Sparkle Dental dentists will explain how to look after your dental implants to ensure that you get the best out of them and they last for as long as possible.

Looking after dental implants

Dental implants are small titanium screws, which are inserted into holes in the jaw bone to replace the root section of a missing tooth. Implants are a popular treatment because they last for a very long time and they offer unrivalled levels of functionality; they also help to reduce bone loss.

Implants are designed to integrate into the jaw bone and once this process (known as osseointegration) is complete, a new restoration can be attached.

Once the implants are in place, it is important to look after them, as you would look after your natural teeth. Implants are susceptible to plaque build-up and this can affect your overall oral health, as well as the success of treatment. It is important to take good care of your implants; we can offer advice about specialist cleaning and hygiene products, which are easier to use than traditional brushes and we also recommend inter-dental brushes, which remove plaque from the cracks between the teeth.

The importance of dental check-ups

In addition to good oral hygiene, dental visits are also very important and we encourage all our patients to attend routine check-ups every 6 months. If you have any problems with your implants or you experience symptoms such as tooth pain or bleeding gums, please arrange an appointment as early as possible, rather than waiting for your next scheduled check-up.

If you have any questions about dental hygiene or caring for your implants, our dentists and dental hygienists will be happy to help at Sparkle Dental Boutique near Ealing.

Dental Hygiene For Smokers Near Hanwell

May 16th, 2013

Dental hygiene is really important for all patients, but if you have stained or discoloured teeth, you may find seeing a dental hygienist particularly helpful. Smoking is one of the leading causes of tooth discolouration, as the chemicals present in cigarettes and cigars cause the teeth to become stained a yellow or brown shade. Many smokers choose to have dental treatment to lighten the shade of their teeth because discoloured teeth can appear unhealthy and staining may make your smile look less attractive.

Which treatments can help with staining?

Dental hygiene treatments are designed to clean the teeth and reduce the risk of oral health diseases, such as decay and gum disease. Treatments can also help to improve the aesthetic of the teeth. At Sparkle Dental Boutique, we offer the latest air abrasion techniques to clean and polish the teeth and lighten the shade of the teeth to produce a more attractive smile.

Air abrasion is a very effective treatment for removing stains from the teeth and giving the teeth a shiny, healthy glow. This treatment is not just suitable for smokers, it is also a great treatment for people who have discoloured teeth as a result of general wear and tear or drinking tea, coffee or red wine on a regular basis.

What is air abrasion?

Air abrasion is a revolutionary treatment, which removes surface stains from the tooth enamel; the procedure uses compressed air to channel aluminium oxide powder onto the teeth. The aluminium oxide powder is blown onto the teeth using an instrument with a very fine tip. When it comes into contact with the teeth, it removes stains and gently cleans the cracks between the teeth, blowing away debris and plaque and producing an amazing sparkly finish.

Air abrasion is a painless, hassle-free treatment, which is great for your oral health, as well as the aesthetic of your teeth. The Sparkle Dental Boutique hygienists near Hanwell are friendly and approachable and they have many years of experience in treating oral health problems and producing beautiful, healthy smiles.

Tags: dental hygiene, dental hygiene Hanwell, Hanwell, smoking cessation
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Patients and children from Hounslow: beware sugar treats this Easter

April 7th, 2012

Easter is often a time when parents, family members and friends love to spoil children with chocolate eggs and all kinds of sweet niceties. As exciting and tasty this can be for kids, the excessive sugar can be harmful to the dental and general health of patients from Hounslow and further afield.

The dangers of excess sugar

We know that too much sugar can harm children’s teeth and, when coupled with poor oral hygiene, result in tartar and plaque build-up. Dentists and other healthcare professionals often warn of the dangers of too much sugar during dental hygiene visits – yet many still indulge in one too many sweets from time to time, especially when we have an excuse like Easter.

Where possible it is a good idea to choose sugar-free sweet treats. It may not sound like the tastiest option for Easter, but you would be surprised by the selection and good taste of many brands available. Your teeth and gums will no doubt thank you in the long run. Or, if this is not possible, try to curb the amount of chocolate eggs you do eat and maintain good oral hygiene.

Role of dental hygiene

Dental hygiene is aimed at preventing poor oral health and the spread of infection in the mouth and body. Following dental hygiene guidance can help patients experience better health, as can teaching children to learn how to moderate their sugar consumption for healthy living.

Children should also learn oral hygiene basics to maintain their dental, physical and mental health too. These basics include:

Following a healthy diet with moderate sugar consumption.
Brushing teeth and flossing according to dentistry recommended techniques.
Having regular dental hygiene check-ups to prevent the build-up of tartar and plaque.
Following a dental care plan for good health and quality of life.

Tags: Dental cleaning, Dental cleaning Hounslow, dental hygiene, Hounslow
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Could yours do with a wake up call?

March 14th, 2011

Brushing your teeth is probably not something you give much thought to in your day-to-day to do list – brushing morning and night is about as routine as the morning rush hour in Ealing… but are you doing it properly?

It’s easy to get lazy when it comes to your oral hygiene routine as it is something you repeat day after day after day. If, though, you’re one of those lazy people then it will not take long for the results of your shoddy work to show.

Bacteria and food debris left behind in your mouth as you go through the day takes just 24 hours to turn into harmful plaque bacteria which, when left to linger, can cause tooth decay, gum disease and acid erosion to name a few. Even worse, plaque takes a mere 72 hours to turn into tartar and tartar cannot be removed by any other means than a professional cleaning.

Time to give your routine a revamp?

If you spend 3 minutes morning and night brushing your teeth any way then you may as well be making the most of it. Ineffective brushing means ineffective results and a waste of your precious time. Brushing should take three minutes every time and should involve front, back, sides and everything in between – every surface of every tooth in your mouth should be cleaned and not forgetting your tongue!

The correct technique for brushing is to hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums and, applying firm but gentle pressure, move back and forth in small circular motions. This is the best way to ensure that your gums and tooth enamel are not damaged. Many people will simply go manically back and forth in a scrubbing action (are you guilty?) but this is the way in which gums and tooth enamel are worn down and it is not even as effective a way of removing the plaque.

Your routine should never end there either! Flossing is just as important as brushing and should go hand-in-hand with your toothbrush. Brushing is only effective for the outer parts of the teeth but what about the bits you can’t see? Bacteria get everywhere and just because you can’t see it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. At least once a day, preferably at night you should spend 5 minutes flossing to make sure that your mouth is absolutely 100% bacteria free.

Sparkle Dental are here to add a little ‘sparkle’ to your smile

An effective oral hygiene routine really doesn’t steal that much time away from your day. The numerous dentist visits that will come should you neglect your oral health, however, will be much more inconvenient. If you think your daily routine could probably do with a revamp then do it today and keep that smile sparkling.

Tags: dental hygiene, Dentist, Dentist Ealing, Ealing
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Yoghurt Reduces Cavities For Kids

June 22nd, 2010

Eating yoghurt regularly could slash a child’s risk of developing tooth decay, according to new research.

Consuming the dairy product at least four times a week reduced the chances of three-year-olds developing cavities by 22 per cent, compared to those who ate it less than once a week.The findings, published in the Journal of Dentistry, came from a Japanese study which was investigating earlier claims that dairy foods generally could ward off dental decay in children.

But while butter, cheese and milk appeared to have no major benefit, high consumption of yoghurt did have a protective effect in young children.It’s not clear why yoghurt reduces the need for fillings.

But one theory is that it contains proteins that ‘bind’ to the surface of teeth and seals them against attack from harmful acids.This seal means the calcium and phosphate which makes up tooth enamel is not broken down over time.The research, by experts at Fukuoka University and the University of Tokyo, supports earlier work by Australian scientists who exposed extracted teeth to yoghurt and found it kept decay at bay.

Fears over children’s dental health in the UK were raised last year when figures revealed a steep rise in the number of children being admitted to hospital for emergency dental work due to tooth decay. Nearly 30,000 children a year in England need hospital treatment, many to have rotten teeth pulled. Children from poorer areas are twice as likely to need treatment as those from affluent families.

In the latest study, Japanese researchers looked at more than 2,000 children aged three and quizzed parents on their eating habits. Each child also had a dental check to assess the state of their teeth. The results showed a clear link with yoghurt but not with other popular dairy produce.

In a report on their findings the researchers said: ‘High consumption of yoghurt may be associated with a lower prevalence of dental cavities in young children.’ But British Dental Health Foundation chief executive Dr Nigel Carter warned: ‘It should be remembered that many yoghurts in the UK contain added sugar and it is well established that increasing the frequency of sugar containing foods and drinks leads to an increase in dental decay.

‘Yoghurts are also quite thick and will tend to coat the teeth for longer which can also lead to problems. If parents wish to increase their children’s yoghurt intake it is therefore important that this be confined to meal times.’

Source: Daily Mail

Tags: Childrens oral health, dental hygiene, Oral health, oral hygiene
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Dazzling Whites: Hygienists Given the Go Ahead

August 21st, 2008

The General Dental Council (GDC) have said that Dental Hygienists/Therapists can now carry out tooth whitening procedures `on the prescription of a dentist if they have the necessary additional skills`. Tooth whitening can only by carried out by dental professionals and is illegal to do so by any non dental professional.

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hounslow says, “Tooth whitening is a safe, effective and very fast way of having brighter, whiter teeth when administered by a dentist. With the growth in demand for Hollywood white teeth, clinics across the country have been cashing in on this trend, but many of these clinics whether it be hairdressers, beauticians, gymnasiums or beauty spa’s have been employing beauty therapists who, after a few days of training, have been applying harmful chemicals that can damage patients gums and teeth.”

A Which? Investigation earlier on in the year revealed that beauty salons were allowing unqualified staff to carry out teeth-whitening treatments and inflicting permanent damage to patients teeth. In the survey, the reporter posed as a potential client at six London beauty salons. At all six salons, the procedure wasn’t performed by a dentist and half were using dangerous chemicals, including chlorine dioxide. This chemical is a bleaching agent more commonly used to purify water and is very acidic thereby damaging tooth enamel. Others use hydrogen peroxide in strengths above the legal limit.

Sunita says, “At Sparkle, I see all my patients for a dental examination before we carry out any teeth whitening procedures. My dental hygienist Hardip Dhillon, who is also a dental therapist is already able to carry out dental procedures such as fillings, taking x-rays and placing temporary crowns. With the new guidance from the GDC and planned training course, she will be able to carry out teeth whitening treatments by September 2008.’

Tags: dental hygiene, Dental hygienist Hounslow, Hounslow, hygienist, teeth whitening
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