Oral hygiene

To help create and maintain a beautiful and healthy mouth and smile, brushing twice daily is not always enough. Tooth loss in adults can be caused by periodontal (gum) disease; this is due to bacterial plaque forming on the tooth surface, causing inflammation of the gums. Common signs of gum disease are; swollen and bleeding gums when tooth brushing and flossing.

Working closely with Dr. Greenwall our excellent and friendly team of Oral Hygienists and Therapists, Alison, Diane and Myra provide a tailor-made preventative care programme, for each individual patient to help them achieve and maintain a high standard of oral hygiene.

They also provide excellent preventive care for children, helping them with tooth brushing, providing topical fluoride when required, dietary advice, and fissure sealants. All this is done in a professional, yet friendly and relaxed way.

Oral Hygiene in Mature Years

More people than ever have healthy teeth well into later life but the aging process does bring about its own set of medical problems. Elderly people are more susceptible to oral disease and this can bring about further medical complications and complaints. Many people are unaware that oral disease is closely related to their overall health and if oral disease is discovered it may well be that there are also other underlying medical problems.

Dry Mouth

Among the more common dental complaints is a condition called dry mouth that occurs due to a reduction in the amount of saliva produced. Dry mouth (salivary dysfunction) can happen for a number or reasons with the most common being the amount and type of medication taken, it can also occur as the result of cancer treatments using radiation,  systemic illnesses, or salivary gland disease.  which enhances the risk of mineral loss and dental caries or erosion of teeth.

Tooth Mousse Plus

This Mousse is recommended at night when a patient has dry mouth.  These patients would also benefit from daytime applications of GC Dry Mouth Gel to gain symptomatic relief for oral dryness. Tooth Mousse provides extra protection for teeth. It helps to neutralise acid challenges from acidogenic bacteria in plaque and other internal and external acid sources.

Darkened Teeth

After a lifetime of consuming food, drinking coffee, tea and other stain inducing liquids, you will find that darkened teeth may be a problem. Darkened teeth can also be caused by changes to dentin, this is the tissue that lies beneath the tooth enamel.

Root Decay & Sensitivity

Root decay occurs as the gums recede from the teeth, the roots of the teeth are then more exposed to bacteria and more susceptible to decay.

Sensitive teeth are common, affecting up to 81% of adults in the UK, yet many do not know that the twinges they experience are a sign of sensitivity which is caused by exposed dentine.  Rather than addressing the problem, a large number of sufferers try to ignore the twinges or develop ways to avoid them, without realising their teeth have vulnerable areas.

This new formulation Sensodyne repair & Protect is the first everyday fluoride toothpaste to contain patented NovaMin technology, which is scientifically proven to repair sensitive teeth by forming a tooth-like layer over exposed dentine to help continually repair and protect sensitive areas.

Used twice daily, as you would a regular toothpaste; Sensodyne Repair & Protect will continually help repair sensitive teeth and help prevent sensitivity. Plus, it provides the benefits of an ordinary daily fluoride toothpaste including all-round protection, cleaning and freshness.  Please ask a staff member for a sample today.

Biotene: Fast Relief for Oral Dryness and Chronic Dry Mouth or Xerostomia Chronic dry mouth or xerostomia is a common problem that can affect about 25% of all adults. Biotene offers a full line of products that can help alleviate dry mouth symptoms triggered by medications, diabetes, Sjögren’s Syndrome or a variety of other causes. Please ask a staff member for a sample today

Do you have chronic dry mouth?

Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is a condition that can interfere with everyday activities, such as eating, talking or sleeping. Some common symptoms of dry mouth include:

bad breath
a sticky, dry or sore mouth
cracking at the corners of the mouth
a red and parched mouth
blisters and mouth ulcers
a pebbled look to the tongue
difficulty eating dry or spicy foods
waking up with a dry mouth at night

 If you fail to give your teeth good dental care during your life then the end results will soon catch up with you. Such unwanted consequences will typically fall into two categories:

Gum disease

If plaque, a form of bacteria, is allowed to build up around the teeth and gums then this can lead to gum disease and is a major factor in tooth loss . This is a condition which is often painless and therefore goes undiagnosed. This can occur for a variety of reasons. Poorly fitting dentures, use of tobacco, an unhealthy diet and food being left between teeth will all enhance the rick of plaque. Symptoms you should look out for include bleeding gums, loose teeth or bad breath. The symptoms may differ for some people. Diseases such as diabetes and cancer will also be common sources of gum disease. If gum disease is left untreated then it can cause other medical complaints such as heart and respiratory problems.

Tooth decay

Plaque and bacteria can also cause the teeth to decay, which can cause them to become sensitive and break up. You should limit your intake of sugary and acidic foods to lessen the chance of tooth decay.

Good dental care will take all of these problems into consideration and restorative measures by a dentist can be taken to ensure that the problems are treated and minimised.

 Daily Dental Care

Daily dental care should consist of a regular brushing and flossing routine. This should occur twice daily, once in the morning and before bed. Partial or full dentures should be cleaned thoroughly to ensure that no food is left on the dentures that can contribute to gum disease. If you have a problem with mobility and find it hard to visit the dentist we can arrange a mobile home visit for you, either in your home or to your nearest residential home. The aging process does not mean that teeth should be neglected and regular dental care means many senior citizens can have a full set of healthy teeth for the duration of their lives through good oral hygiene and a healthy diet.

There is always something that can make your life more comfortable. If you think you may be experiencing any of these problems please discuss it with your dentist or hygienist today.
There are many oral health products that can help with problems during the aging process.