Help me Keep my Teeth Longer

At Ringley Park, Preventive dentistry is central to our modern dental care. It helps you to keep your teeth.

There are two major causes of tooth loss: dental decay and gum disease. With the appropriate care, it is possible to reduce the incidence of these preventable problems.

The joint efforts of the dentist, the hygienist and you, the patient, can help to reduce the need for treatment and to avoid the traditional pattern of fillings and extractions.

At first, a course of treatment may be recommended to get your mouth into good condition. Ongoing supportive care can then be planned to help you keep it that way.

Oral hygiene

The dentist or hygienist will show you the best method of brushing or flossing to remove bacterial plaque which forms constantly on your teeth and gums.

Diet

When you eat of drink something sugary, plaque bacteria turn the sugar into acid which cause tooth decay. Our hygienists will be pleased to discuss diet in relation to your dental health and any habits such as smoking and drinking, which can also affect the outcome for your teeth.

What treatment might the dentist recommend?

A preventive dentist will often recommend treatment to reinforce a tooth to make sure it does not break. For example, if the dentist sees that a tooth is cracked, or is weak and in danger of breaking, a new filling that bonds to the tooth or perhaps a crown or onlay may be recommended to protect it. This is always better than waiting till the breakage happens and then working out how best to deal with it, perhaps as an emergency!

What else can the dentist and hygienist do to prevent tooth decay?

Fluoride helps resist decay. Of course this is found in most toothpastes. It may be appropriate for some people, on professional advice, who are especially at risk to use additional fluoride. The use of fluoride rinses, tablets, or stronger toothpastes may be appropriate. As part of a routine examination, fluoride varnish (Duraphat) can be applied to children’s teeth as part of a preventive regime.

What are pit and fissure sealants?

The biting surfaces of teeth often contain deep grooves which can trap food debris. These surfaces can be protected with the application of a sealant. This makes the surface smoother, easier to clean and reduces the incidence of decay.

How does my diet affect my teeth?

Food and drinks containing sugar may cause decay. It is important to cut down on the frequency of sugary or acidic food and drinks. Foods such as cheese, fruit, nuts and vegetables make good substitutes. New mums should be aware that juices and dried fruit (eg raisins) when consumed regularly can cause problems to the teeth, but are often thought of as organic and therefore, misleadingly, as a healthy alternative option to sweets!

What is dental erosion?

Erosion is the loss of tooth substances (enamel and dentine) from acid attack resulting in tooth wear. Acidic foods and drinks such as citrus fruit juices, all fizzy drinks especially cola, fruit tees and even Alco-pops can be harmful if consumed in large amounts. It is better to try to limit such foods to meal times. You should also wait a while, ideally an hour, before brushing your teeth to allow the teeth to harden again (remineralisation).

What should I be doing to look after my teeth?

It is important to maintain a good routine involving brushing your teeth thoroughly, ideally for two minutes, twice a day using a standard Fluoride toothpaste. Brushing alone only cleans about 60 percent of the surfaces of the teeth; it is not very effective in between the teeth so the use of floss or tape on a daily basis is recommended. For some people, the use of interdental brushes are a satisfactory alternative to floss for cleaning in between the teeth as part of a daily routine.