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Posts Tagged ‘oral hygiene’

Three Steps to Avoiding Bad Breath

Tuesday, September 26th, 2017

Bad breath is one of those problems nobody wants to admit to, but the reality is that bad breath, also known as halitosis, is very common. It’s very common to suffer from bad breath in the mornings or after eating certain foods that have very strong flavours, but bad breath can also be a sign of underlying dental issues. If you’re keen to keep bad breath at bay, here are 3 simple steps you can take:

  1. Maintain good oral hygiene: good oral hygiene is the best weapon you can use against bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria releasing gases, which have an unpleasant smell. If bacteria aren’t allowed to gather in the first place, there’s no risk of having bad breath. Brushing eliminates bacteria and it can also help to make your mouth feel much fresher and cleaner.
  2. Chew sugar-free gum: if you’re prone to bad breath after eating, it’s a good idea to carry sugar-free gum with you. Chewing gum for a couple of minutes after eating will freshen up your breath. It’s also beneficial for your oral health, as chewing stimulates saliva production and this neutralises acids in your mouth.
  3. See your dental hygienist: if bad breath is a persistent problem, it’s hugely beneficial to see a dental hygienist. Hygienists provide much more powerful cleaning therapies than brushing your teeth and this can help to remove bacteria and prevent further problems.

If bad breath is getting you down, call us now and book an appointment.

Did you know we treat Tooth Decay in the heart of Liverpool?

Wednesday, May 24th, 2017

Dental decay is one of the most common preventable illnesses among children and adults in the UK. If you have cavities, we are here to help. We provide first-class standards of treatment in the heart of Liverpool.

What causes decay?

Decay is caused by harmful oral bacteria, which release acids that weaken and wear away the protective enamel surface of the tooth. Once the surface is thin, there is a risk of holes (cavities) forming and bacteria can penetrate the tooth. Decay is often associated with poor oral hygiene, but your diet also plays a very important role. If you eat a lot of sugary or acidic foods, your risk of developing cavities will be high.

Treating tooth decay

If you have toothache, your teeth are sensitive or it hurts when you bite down, you may have a cavity. The most common treatment for cavities is a filling. The aim of the procedure is to fill the cavity to make the tooth stronger and prevent infection from spreading to other parts of the tooth. Fillings are usually made from dental composite; this is known as a white filling.

If your tooth is infected, and the infection has reached the pulp chamber, which contains the nerves and blood vessels, you may be advised to have root canal treatment.

Preventing tooth decay

The best way to look at oral health is to embrace the notion that prevention is better than cure. The best ways to prevent tooth decay are to:

  • Stick to a good daily oral hygiene regime
  • See your dentist every 6-9 months
  • Moderate your intake of sugar
  • Avoid snacking between meals

Call us today to find out more about tooth decay treatment and prevention in Liverpool city centre.

5 Helpful Tips to Make Your Smile Sparkle

Wednesday, May 17th, 2017

Most of us consider our smile our most important and attractive feature. If you’re keen to ensure your smile sparkles for years to come, here are 5 helpful tips to bear in mind:

  1. Perfect your brushing technique: you may brush your teeth religiously, but are you sure that you’re doing it right? When you’re brushing, you should use small circular motions and ensure you cover every surface of every tooth. It’s best to go for a brush with a small head so that you can reach right into the corners of your mouth.
  2. Swap your brush every 3 months: if your toothbrush is worn, you may not be getting the rewards of regular brushing. Make sure you change your brush or the brush head if you an electric toothbrush, every 3 months.
  3. Book a dental hygiene treatment: even if you do a thorough job every time you clean your teeth, you won’t be able to achieve the intensive clean our hygienists can with their powerful modern hygiene treatments. Seeing a hygienist on a regular basis can prevent oral diseases, as well as making your tooth look whiter and brighter.
  4. Use a straw: if you’re a fan of drinks that contain staining agents, such as cola, it’s a good idea to use a straw when drinking. This helps to prevent contact between staining agents and the tooth enamel. It’s also a good idea to avoid swilling the liquid around your mouth.
  5. Chew sugar-free gum: chewing sugar-free gum after eating can help to stimulate saliva production and wash away any food debris and bacteria.

Did You Know Liverpool Dental Spa Can Help You Kiss Bad Breath Goodbye?

Wednesday, May 10th, 2017

Bad breath is a very common problem, but knowing this probably won’t make you feel any better if you lack confidence in social situations or you’re very conscious about your bad breath. If you do suffer from halitosis, our expert team at Liverpool Dental Spa could help you to kiss goodbye to bad breath for good.

What causes bad breath?

It’s very common to have bad breath when you wake up in the morning or you eat foods that have a very intense flavour, like garlic or onions. If you have bad breath in these scenarios, there’s probably nothing to worry about. However, if bad breath is a constant problem, there may be an underlying cause. Poor oral hygiene is the most common cause of bad breath. If you don’t brush and floss, this causes bacteria to gather in your mouth. Oral bacteria release gases when they feed, and these gases have an unpleasant odour. Smoking and taking some forms of medication can also increase the risk of bad breath.

Tackling bad breath

In most cases, you’ll find that bad breath disappears when you clean your teeth or you chew sugar-free gum after eating. However, if you suffer from persistent bad breath, we recommend making an appointment with our dental hygienists. Bad breath often stems from collections of bacteria, most commonly on the tongue, and intensive cleaning treatments can cleanse the mouth, remove harmful bacteria and give you fresh breath. We also recommend sticking to a good daily oral hygiene regime at home and avoiding foods that you know give you bad breath. It can also be useful to carry sugar-free gum in your bag.

If bad breath is getting you down, give us a call now! We have many years of experience in treating halitosis and we can help you banish bad breath for good.

Top Tips for Ensuring Your Wisdom Teeth Don’t Cause Problems

Monday, May 8th, 2017

If you flinch when you hear the words wisdom and teeth in the same sentence, you’re not alone. Many people experience problems with their wisdom teeth. In some cases, the wisdom teeth erupt with no problem at all, but in others, they can be troublesome. Here are some top tips to help you ensure that your wisdom teeth don’t cause problems and some advice to help you out if you do have pain.

Seeing your dentist

When you have a check-up, your dentist won’t just be looking out for signs of gum disease and cavities. They’ll also look at how your teeth are developing. This means that any issues related to your bite (orthodontic issues) or your wisdom teeth, can be spotted early. If your dentist thinks that your wisdom teeth are going to cause problems, they may be able to act before you start experiencing pain. If the jaw is very small or the teeth are already crowded, for example, it may be useful to extract the teeth before they become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth often result from a lack of space in the jaw, which causes the tooth to start pushing against the neighbouring tooth. Ideally, we recommend check-ups every 6-9 months, but if you do have any pain in between sessions, don’t hesitate to call and make an appointment earlier.

Maintaining good oral hygiene

Sometimes, wisdom tooth pain is caused by infection, which can be prevented by good oral hygiene. Due to the location of the wisdom teeth, it can be very difficult to reach them to clean them properly, and this increases the risk of decay. If your wisdom teeth are developing, make sure you reach right into the corners of the mouth with your toothbrush.

Dealing with dental pain

If your wisdom teeth are giving you grief and you haven’t been to see your dentist, give us a call now. It’s best to get things checked out, just in case it looks like there are going to be issues further down the line. It’s common to have pain when your wisdom teeth are coming through, but sometimes, they can cause major problems, and it may be best to extract them before the situation gets any worse. If you’ve got pain, you can also take over the counter painkillers and use ice packs to make you feel more comfortable.

The Ultimate Cleaning Experience

Monday, June 20th, 2016

Nothing feels better than smooth, clean teeth and what better way to celebrate the first day of summer than with a clean bill of oral health? We encourage our patients to maintain good oral hygiene at home, but nothing beats the feeling of an intensive cleaning treatment. Our expert hygienists will give your smile a healthy glow and banish harmful bacteria to help you lower the risk of decay and gum disease.

What do hygienists do?

Dental hygienists are experts in oral hygiene. They provide a range of hygiene and preventative treatments, which help to lower the risk of oral diseases and keep the teeth looking strong, healthy and shiny.

Our dental hygienists play a very important role in the treatment of gum disease, but a visit to the hygienist can be beneficial for all patients – even those with good oral health! For patients who have a high risk of gum disease and those who have been diagnosed with severe gum disease, regular hygiene sessions can help to prevent the condition from getting worse.

Hygiene treatments

Our hygienists provide a range of services for patients of all ages, including preventative treatments, cleaning treatments such as scale and polish and gum disease management. Our hygienists are also available to offer advice about oral hygiene and teeth cleaning and to help with issues such as healthy eating and giving up or cutting down on smoking.

Why is dental hygiene so important?

Good dental hygiene is important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy, but it also plays a role in maintaining good general health. A number of studies have now suggested a connection between oral and general health and gum disease has been found to increase the risk of general health conditions, including strokes and heart disease, as bacteria from the mouth is able to travel through the bloodstream, contributing to harmful effects in other areas of the body.

What Does a Healthy Oral Hygiene Routine Look Like?

Saturday, April 16th, 2016

A healthy oral hygiene routine may differ for each person depending on when oral cleaning is done and the type of tools used for cleaning the teeth, gums and tongue. Some people wear dentures and these may require special care, as may orthodontic devices such as modern braces systems.

A good oral hygiene routine involves time set aside for proper cleaning of all oral parts. The routine time should include daily home cleaning and periodic professional oral cleaning with a dental hygienist.

A dental hygienist cleans scales and polishes the teeth using the latest technologies to reach where toothbrushes cannot. Regular six-monthly dental check-ups screens for tooth decay and gum disease so that the right treatment may be provided.

A healthy home oral hygiene routine comprises:

  • Teeth and tongue brushing
  • Gum and palate cleansing
  • Teeth flossing
  • Cleaning of dental devices

Brushing teeth according to dentist-recommended technique is important to avoid erosion of dental enamel and to remove all food debris and plaque from attaching around the tooth surface and gum line. Using fluoride-containing toothpaste and an antibacterial mouth rinse ensures that infection-causing bacteria are eliminated.

Part of healthy oral hygiene practice is to use a tongue scraper or brush for removing residue left by food, medication or smoking from the tongue surface. Cleaning the teeth alone is not sufficient as bacteria may colonise on the tongue, causing oral infection. Similarly, brushing the palate and massaging the gums helps to keep them clean and improve circulation.

Teeth should be brushed and flossed after every meal and before sleep. Gentle flossing around tooth restorations such as bridges and crowns maintains their quality. Dentures should be removed and soaked in cleansing solution over night. Depending on the type of orthodontic device, the team at Liverpool Dental Spa will provide advice for cleaning and care.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly to Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene

Monday, March 28th, 2016

Get advice on oral hygiene issue from Liverpool dentists

Having a healthy mouth has many benefits. The ability to eat, drink and talk without discomfort is something that many of us take for granted but can easily be compromised if oral hygiene is allowed to slip.  Oral hygiene is not just about looking after your teeth. Your gums need to be taken care of too, especially as gum disease is actually a greater cause of tooth loss than dental decay itself.  Thankfully there are a number of simple ways in which you can ensure good oral hygiene.

The most important thing to do to make sure that your teeth are in good health is to guard against the build up of plaque.  Plaque is a substance that forms on the teeth after sugary and starchy foods have been eaten.  It attacks the enamel (the durable coating of teeth). Once compromised then cavities can form and you will experience sensitivity when you eat and drink.

Being sure to brush and floss at least twice a day is the most straightforward way to ensure this isn’t happening but it is important to pursue a healthy and balanced diet too.  Brushing and flossing regularly should also take care of your gums but it is worth being vigilant for signs of the gum diseases which affect so many people in Britain.  Red spots on the gums or sensitivity while eating or drinking substances which are especially hot or cold can be signs that gum disease is taking hold.

Awesome Oral Hygiene Products

Thursday, January 14th, 2016

At Liverpool Dental Spa we encourage all our patients to maintain good oral hygiene at home and recommend a range of oral hygiene products, including inter-dental brushes. Good oral hygiene helps to keep gum disease and decay at bay and ensures your smile is beautiful and bright.

What are inter-dental brushes?

Inter-dental brushes are small hand-held brushes and are available in different sizes and colours. These brushes are designed to fit down the gaps between the teeth, which are very difficult to clean with a normal toothbrush.

You can use inter-dental brushes in addition to your normal brushing as an alternative to flossing if you don’t like the feel of dental floss or struggle with the process.

What are the benefits of using an inter-dental brush?

It is very difficult to clean the gaps between the teeth with a normal toothbrush because the bristles are too long and the brush head is not very flexible. With smaller, more flexible inter-dental brushes, it is impossible to reach these areas and remove food debris and bacteria. Inter-dental cleaning helps to reduce the risk of plaque forming. Plaque is a sticky substance that contributes to decay and gum disease.

When should I use an inter-dental brush?

Ideally, we suggest using an inter-dental brush on a daily basis. The brushes are very easy to use and you can brush at any time of the day.

If you have any questions about inter-dental brushes or oral hygiene in general, we’re happy to help!

The Benefits of Interdental Brushing

Friday, November 6th, 2015

An interdental brush is a type of flossing tool used to brush away food debris and plaque from between the teeth. For optimal oral hygiene, the interdental brush should be used at least three times a week and is easily included as part of daily oral hygiene practice.

We recommend interdental brushing

The interdental brush benefits patients at Liverpool Dental Spa in a number of ways:

Adjustable interdental brush heads

Our dental structures vary and the interdental brush is made to suit different sized and spaced teeth with adjustable brush heads. The flossing brushes come in thin to thicker sizes, some smaller and some larger. The brush heads are attached to a handle and may be removed and replaced as needed.

Versatile interdental brushing

Interdental brushes are versatile in that different brush heads can be used to clean away debris from between existing teeth and dental restorations. such as crowns and bridges.

It is recommended to have a selection of brush heads to clean between teeth, tooth gaps and dental restorations. Discuss interdental brushing with your dentist if you have dental implants or wear an orthodontic device for teeth straightening.

Thorough oral hygiene

Toothbrushes and standard floss does not always get between all of the tooth grooves. Plaque and tartar may therefore develop in hard to reach places. Interdental brushes are shaped to reach into tooth grooves to remove plaque and debris, preventing bacterial colonisation and tooth decay.

The brush heads are designed to clean teeth with ease, moving in between and gently moving out of tooth gaps and grooves for proper cleansing.

 

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6 Dentistry Awards!

Winners for National UK Award

  • > 2009 Best Dental Team

Winners for North West Awards

  • > 2009 Best Dental Team
  • > 2008 Best Dental Practice

Finalists for North West Awards

  • > 2009 Best Practice
  • > 2008 Best Dental Team

Finalist & Highly Commended for

  • > 2007 Best Young Dentist Dr Marius McGovern