Brushing and flossing every day are essential aspects of maintaining good teeth and gums for life. But caring for your smile doesn’t stop there – routine hygienist and dentist appointments are a no-brainer if you want to keep problems like gum disease and tooth decay at bay for as long as possible.
At Cliftonville Dental, we want to make a difference to your dental health each time your visit us, whether it’s offering informative advice, providing restorative treatment or performing cosmetic procedures that boost your confidence and wellbeing. However, in this post, we discuss the role of simple routine check-ups and the part they play in preventing the need for cosmetic and restorative treatment in the first place.
Preventative Dentistry: Invest in the Future of Your Smile
There’s no doubt that prevention is better than a cure, and here at our Northampton dental practice, we work with patients to ensure any potential problems are recognised and treated early. It’s always our aim to minimise the need for complex treatment in the future wherever possible, and attending regular check-ups will help ensure this.
The phrase ‘preventative treatment’ is an umbrella term for techniques, treatments and procedures that stop problems from progressing. In routine hygienist appointments, the most common preventative treatment we carry out is a scale and polish, which removes plaque from your teeth and gum line.
This professional cleaning of your teeth has many benefits, including ensuring gum disease does not advance to cause irrevocable damage to your teeth, freshening your breath and giving you a stain-free smile to flaunt to the world!
Signs You’re Due a Check-Up ASAP
We encourage patients to attend routine hygienist appointments and dentist appointments in Northampton, even those who feel that their teeth are in good health. Dental and gum-related problems can often show no symptoms that you can see in the mirror at home or feel day-to-day. Dentists and hygienists are experienced in spotting such issues and treating them before they become serious. In every case, we will always do our best to avoid extraction, which is the last case scenario.
Meanwhile, some symptoms warrant an appointment as soon as possible, including:
- Red or bleeding gums
- Unusual taste in your mouth or chronic bad breath
- Loose and sensitive teeth
- Jaw pain.
- Receding gums
- Mouth ulcers that don’t appear to be getting better
Diet, Lifestyle habits and Oral Health
It’s no secret that high sugar foods lead to bad teeth, but the consequences of a bad diet don’t just cause problems like discolouration and decay. Failing to drink enough water throughout the day (particularly after a meal) reduces saliva production, which is essential for washing away loose food particles. This, coupled with a lack of flossing, is a long-term disaster for your smile, as you’re allowing the acids in the loose food particles to stick around and cause tooth erosion. Eventually, this kind of habit can result in tooth loss.
We’re all aware that smoking and regular alcohol consumption are big no-nos for good physical health. However, did you know that regularly smoking and drinking increase your risk of mouth cancer by 38 times? During your routine check-ups with us, we will look for potential mouth cancer symptoms and refer you for further treatment if necessary. We understand the subject of cancer can be highly distressing, and no matter what the outcome of your appointment with us, we’re here to be compassionate and supportive.
If you’re struggling to amend certain lifestyle habits known to increase the risk of mouth cancer, we can help you overcome these by referring you to professional services. We take great pride in helping many patients in the Northampton area develop better oral health habits and healthier lifestyles.
Poor Oral Health and Poor General Health: Are They Connected?
Absolutely. Several credible studies have unearthed links between poor oral health and heart disease, diabetes and, more recently, dementia. Keeping your mouth plaque-free is incredibly important if you’re looking to keep these conditions at bay, as it’s plaque that can enter the bloodstream and cause problems like stroke and heart attacks. You can find out more about the link between your oral health and general health here.
We’re Open for Routine Appointments
When the first lockdown occurred in March last year, we were disappointed not to be able to deliver the routine care our patients required, but this was, of course, necessary in the interests of the health of the country.
We’re delighted to be open for routine care again, and if it’s been a year or more since you’ve had a dental check-up or hygienist check-up, it’s imperative that you come along, so we can make sure your teeth and gums are in good health. It’s no understatement to say that the three U.K lockdowns have made it tough to stick to an everyday routine, and it might be that your brushing habits and healthy eating habits aren’t quite as regular as before.
Statistics have shown that alcohol consumption at home has gone up over the past twelve months, particularly amongst women, who are more at risk of gum disease due to hormonal changes during their menstrual cycle. It’s also thought that those who use birth control pills are also more prone to gum inflammation. Mouth cancer screening is another essential part of our job as hygienists and dentists. Research shows men are twice as likely to suffer from mouth cancer, but the survival rate currently stands at 90% when caught early.
Book your routine hygienist appointment here in Northampton by contacting our friendly reception team today. We currently have measures in place to ensure your safety when you visit the practice – we’re committed to helping prevent the spread of Covid-19.