Karen Noy has joined our practice as an expert in preventing and treating gum diseases. Karen is an approachable and caring dental professional with a proven track of clients’ satisfaction.
From March, we are going to be able to offer Monday and Saturday hygiene appointments (including walk-ins).
A hygienist can professionally clean your teeth above and below the gum, commonly known as scaling and polishing. One important part of their job is to show you the best ways to keep your teeth free of plaque. Plaque is a sticky, whitish deposit that forms on your teeth when bacteria mixes with food and saliva. The bacteria in plaque produce chemicals that cause gum disease. In turn, this can lead to bleeding gums, gum shrinkage and ultimately tooth loss.
You can do a lot to help yourself and the hygienist, as you are the one who looks after your mouth in between visits to the practice. Your hygienist will have shown you how to remove plaque with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. They will also have shown you how to clean between your teeth with ‘interdental’ brushes, floss or tape.
There are many oral care products you can get, including specialist toothpastes, electric or ‘power’ toothbrushes, and mouthwashes. Your hygienist will recommend those that are best for you.
We recommend that you follow three simple steps to help keep your teeth and gums healthy:
- brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste
- cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks
- visit your dental team regularly, as often as they recommend.
Cutting down the amount of sugar in your diet, and the number of times that you eat during the day, can help to reduce decay. Your hygienist can help you by looking at your decay problem and your diet, and by making some recommendations for you to consider.
Did you know… chewing sugar-free gum for 10 minutes after meals can also help to prevent tooth decay. Chewing gum makes your mouth produce more saliva, which cancels out the acid produced in your mouth after drinking and eating.
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