Healthy Gums
Your gums are like cushions for your teeth; they surround the teeth in the jaws and help to support them. Looking after the health of your gums is just as important as looking after your teeth, through twice-daily brushing, regular flossing and regular dental check-ups.
Are Your Gums Healthy?
Gums that are red and swollen, or bleed when you brush them, could be a sign of gum disease, also known as gingivitis. It is very important to spot and treat gum disease at the earliest possible stage because if gingivitis is left untreated it can develop into a more serious gum disease known as periodontitis, which causes the gum and bone surrounding the teeth to breakdown, and eventually the teeth can become loose and fall out.
To avoid any possibility of gum disease and to keep your mouth in tip-top condition we recommend that you come in to see us for regular dental hygiene appointments and dental check-ups. If you have any concerns about your teeth and gums, especially if you have noticed any bleeding from your mouth, or your gums appear to be red and swollen, call us today to make an appointment to be checked for gum disease as soon as possible.
Sensitive Teeth
Protect your sensitive teeth
Do you feel a sharp shooting pain in your teeth when eating or drinking something hot? Does the thought of biting into a cold ice cream or hard apple make you wince? Sensitive teeth are a common problem and can be a burden for many people and caused by several different things. It is always important to seek advice from a dental professional so the cause of the problem can be identified and treated.
One main cause of sensitivity is dental erosion, which is the loss of tooth enamel. Enamel is the hard outer coating of a tooth which protects the sensitive dentine and nerve endings underneath. If the enamel becomes worn away, damaged or eroded, the dentine is exposed which can lead to pain and sensitivity, often made worse by extreme temperatures.
Dental erosion can be caused by your diet, such as frequent consumption of high sugar or highly acidic foods and drinks. Other causes include brushing teeth too hard, tooth grinding in your sleep, certain medical conditions and eating disorders.
If you suffer from sensitive teeth there are several ways we can help. For top tips on protecting your tooth enamel and for effective treatment of tooth sensitivity call us today to arrange a check-up, where we can create an individualised care plan specifically for you.
Caring for children's teeth
Prevent your children's dental problems
At Hadley Wood Dental we firmly believe in preventative dental care and encourage our patients to bring their children to the practice from the earliest possible age.
Regular check-ups for even the youngest child ensures they will not suffer from untreated dental decay with devastating effects on their growing dentition and problems in later life. There are a number of preventative treatments that our team can provide for children.
How to Safeguard Your Child’s Teeth
Fluoride applications are a safe and effective way to safeguard your growing child’s teeth from developing decay. A special fluoride varnish is carefully painted onto the surface of the child’s teeth which helps to mineralise the teeth and make them stronger. Fissure sealants can be applied to the biting surfaces of children’s teeth to also prevent decay.
Studies have shown that the younger the age that you bring your child to the dental practice, even if just for a check-up, the more likely they are to have a positive experience and grow up not to be afraid of the dentist. Our team will take special care of your child to make them feel safe and cared for.
Treating a child from an early age also allows the dentist to spot early signs of underbites, cross bites or overbites developing. As with most things, the sooner you can start to treat any problems, the quicker they can be resolved. Prevention is always better than cure so call the practice today to make an appointment for your child.
Dental Hygiene
Keep your smile healthy
Dental hygiene treatment is delivered by a hygienist who will help to remove any plaque from your teeth that may have built up in certain areas.
Your teeth will be professionally cleaned with special equipment and pastes, a process also known as scaling and polishing. An important aspect of the hygienist’s role is to show you how to look after your teeth so they remain free from plaque.
You will be advised on the best brushing technique and given tips on flossing and using interdental brushes.
Dental hygiene at the dental practice also forms part of treating gum disease and bad breath.
If you have a bridge, denture, orthodontic treatment or a dental implant you will have specific hygiene needs that the hygienist will be able to assist you with.
It is recommended that you come in for regular dental hygiene appointments to ensure your mouth stays clean and healthy.
Fresh Breath
Preventing bad breath
Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes. Some people find that they have bad breath all the time and there may be an underlying medical cause for that, such as throat, nose or lung infections and sinusitis, bronchitis or diabetes.
You can also suffer from bad breath if you have poor dental hygiene. Without regular brushing and flossing, bacteria and bits of food can get trapped in between your teeth, which release an unpleasant odour after some time. Another cause of bad breath is smoking. Bad breath is also caused or made worse by strong foods like garlic, onions and coffee.
Bad breath can be prevented by following a daily oral hygiene regime and cutting down on sugary foods and drinks. Regular trips to the hygienist will also ensure your plaque levels are kept under control.
Smoking Cessation
Enhance your smile, stop smoking today
Many studies have shown that smoking and using tobacco products has a detrimental effect on your teeth and gums. The problem is caused by the fact that tobacco affects the gum tissue cells, making smokers more prone to getting infections in the form of gum and periodontal diseases.
Other negative effects of smoking are: bad breath, stained teeth, jawbone loss, shrinking gums, mouth sores, decreased senses of taste and smell, poor healing of mouth sores and hairy tongue.
In addition to this, most people don’t know that smoking is the main cause of mouth cancer, with thousands of people dying every year from mouth cancer brought on by smoking.
As dental professionals it is important for us to tell you the risks for smoking and to help you to quit by giving you information and support.
By cutting down and stopping smoking or using tobacco products, your oral health will benefit very quickly and you will notice certain changes in your mouth.
It is essential that you come into the practice for regular check-ups so we can help you maintain good oral health and give you advice and encouragement.
Mouth Cancer Screening
Prevent the risk of oral cancer
Studies show that mouth cancer is on the rise, but that early detection dramatically improves the chances of recovery. Mouth cancer screening is a short procedure at the dental practice that involves a thorough examination of your whole mouth, including the use of a handheld scanning device that is used to examine any lumps or lesions that you might have. This will highlight any risk factors so we can treat or refer you as quickly as possible.
It is recommended that you come in for a screening on a yearly basis. If you have any sores, lumps or long-term ulcers in your mouth, no matter how small, it is very important that you come in to have them looked at. Late detection of mouth cancers has resulted in a higher proportion of deaths per number of cases than breast cancer, cervical cancer or skin melanoma, with about 2,700 deaths per year in the UK.
Because smoking is strongly linked with many forms of cancer and other dental problems, we always encourage our patients to quit smoking. An excellent source of information is the Mouth Cancer Foundation if you require any further information.
