There are 5 simple steps that you can use for effective brushing.

1. Always look in a mirror whilst brushing. It sounds so simple but many people do not use a mirror and hence cannot see where they are brushing and so miss cleaning certain areas.

2. Use a methodical approach, concentrating on one tooth at a time.

3. Make sure that you brush the outside, inside and biting surfaces of the teeth.

4. Try to begin brushing in a different place everyday to ensure that you do not neglect any particular area.

5. Toothbrushing should last for at least two minutes (A good tip is, if you listen to the radio in the morning you should brush for the duration of 1-2 songs).

Flossing techniques

Some people say that they spend a long time brushing their teeth and therefore they do not need to floss, this is not the case. Although the bristles of a tooth brush are fine, collectively they are still to thick to get in-between the teeth effectively. It is very easy to forget that teeth have more than two surfaces and they all need the same care and attention, especially as food can get trapped in-between teeth and if left it can cause decay/ carries/cavities. The only way to remove this is by flossing.

1. Take about 50cm (20inches) of floss and wind the ends around your middle fingers, leaving a short distance between them.

2. Using your thumb and first finger, gently move the floss between your teeth and wrap in a C shape around the tooth.

3. Guide the floss to where the tooth meets the gum, but take care not to damage the gum by flossing too vigorously

4. Then move the floss up and down the tooth. During use the floss spreads out for more effective plaque removal.

Inter-dental Brushes

Inter-dental brushes are small pocket sized brushes that are available to buy in different sizes. A dentist would recommend what size is best for the pateint, and some people are advised to use two different sized brushes corresponding to the size of the gaps between teeth. Tepe brushes are great as they come with a lid and can be kept in your pocket incase you are going out for a meal and you have a tendency to get food trapped in certain areas.

For the ultimate feeling of a fresh mouth, don’t forget to use a tongue scraper  as your tongue  harbours many bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Should you need any further advise on brushing and flossing techniques, speak to one of our team members who will be happy to help you.

In the early stages, gum disease often goes unnoticed because there is little, if any, pain. Gum disease causes bad breath and swollen gums, which bleed on brushing or flossing. If it is left untreated, this can progress to pus-filled cavities, receding gums and loss of tooth support. There are two main stages of gum disease, gingivitis (which is reversible) or periodontitis.

What causes gum disease?

Its caused by plaque, a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on the teeth from a mixture of food, bacteria and bacterial waste products. If plaque isn’t cleaned off your teeth regularly, your gums will become red, swollen and shiny and they may bleed. This can cause the gums to pull away from your teeth, leaving a little pocket around the tooth. This pocket traps plaque that you can’t reach with your toothbrush and over time the plaque can harden to tartar (calculus). The irritation gradually spreads to the bone structures around your teeth. Gradually, the pockets get deeper and more difficult to clean, and the gum and bone may shrink. This can now be described as the stage of periodontitis. the shrinking gums may expose some of the roots of your teeth, making them wobble and sensitive. If left untreated over a number of years, your teeth may fall out, or need to be taken out by a dentist. Although periodontitis is not reversible, with appropriate treatment the disease can be halted.

There are other factors that can make you more likely to get gum disease, these include, smoking, diabetes and hormonal changes such as pregnancy.

How can i tell if i have gum disease?

You may not be aware that you have gum disease because often there is no pain. There are warning signs that you can look out for, these include;

Gums that bleed during toothbrushing. If this occurs you should carry on brushing as normal, do not avoid the area

Red, swollen tender gums

Gums that have pulled away from your teeth

Persistent bad breath

Pus between the teeth and gums

Loose or separating teeth

A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

A change in the fit of partial dentures

However it is possible to have gum disease without any of these signs.

How does the dentist/hygienist help prevent gum disease?

During a dental examination a dentist examines the gums for periodontal problems. They inspect the colour and firmness of the gums, they also us a small instrument called a periodontal probe which gently measures the depth between your teeth and gums. The more advanced the gum disease the greater the depth of pockets. Depending on the outcome of the examination your dentist will inform you if you have any signs of gum disease and the severity of it.

If the gum disease is still in the early stages where it is still reversible patients maybe advised to undergo a course of thorough periodontal clean and then see and dentist/hygienist every 3 months and be advised to use an electric toothbrush and floss or inter-dental brushes to help minimize the buildup of plaque.

If the examination shows that a patient has periodontitis, patients maybe advised to have infected teeth removed as decayed teeth can weaken bone structures and loosen other healthy teeth, a intensive course of periodontal treatment would be recommended which is carried out over several appointments of the course of a few months. Pocket charting (the depth of pocket between the gums) is recorded and then compared over the course of the treatment to see how the gums are responding to treatment.

If think you have symptoms of gum disease, please speak to a member of our team who will be happy to book you an examination or hygiene appointment.