Veneers were devised as a solution to cosmetic teeth problems; they are no good for teeth that are infected or seriously damaged says a South east London dentist. Gum disease cannot be cured or covered over by a veneer, but many other problems are solved by the use of conventional veneers. They are made for each tooth individually to ensure a good fitting, this is done by taking digital pictures of the rogue tooth and then scanning them into a computer, this information is then available in 3D to a dental technician who will make the veneer. They are made from a tough formula containing the clay Porcelain, this material is hard wearing, and can be colour coded so the veneer fits in with the other teeth around it. Your dentist will need to prepare the tooth first to accept the veneer; they do this by first taking off the enamel on the front. As the tooth is most likely damaged on the front, or discoloured, it makes little difference to the tooth. The thickness of the veneer will determine the amount taken off, but once it is taken off it never grows back. When the veneer wears out or becomes discoloured, it is easily replaced, but unless the tooth is lost entirely it can only be replaced by another veneer. The procedure is quite painless and all you`ll suffer is a little discomfort for a few days as your mouth and tooth get used to the new covering, it can be used normally after that.

Brushing and Flossing is probably the most important part of our dental hygiene regime, says a dentist from South East London. However, it has to be done properly in order to have the fullest effect and to keep gum disease away. The method of brushing is as important as the brush itself, there tends to be a fallacy about the fact that if you use an electric brush you don’t need to brush for too long, fallacies in dental care can cost you your teeth. A hand brush is the best method in a lot of cases as it allows you to feel the way around the teeth, and to get into all those awkward places that electric brushes often miss. That said, electric brushes are just as useful and effective as the old method, many of them have a timer and that is a handy tool in itself. A good mouthwash can dislodge recently consumed food particles, and that followed by a good flossing session will usually dislodge almost all the bits of food hiding in between the teeth. When we brush it should be the last part of the operation, a clean and healthy mouth will ensure that the teeth last a long time, and keep gum disease at bay. Carrying around a few floss sticks for cleaning in between the teeth after a sandwich or a light meal will also help in the fight against tartar, this is the hardened bacteria that accumulates around the base of the teeth where the gums meet the tooth. Tartar is usually removed at our 6 monthly visits to the dentist, but don’t let that make you lax in your regime, brushing and flossing should be kept to a high standard and never relaxed.

Gum Disease should be a thing of the past says a dentist from SE1 in London. It is so easily prevented by a simple regime of controlled and habitual oral care and hygiene. Every dentist has an oral hygiene nurse and when we go to have our 6 monthly check up we should talk to them. Preventative dentistry is as important as repairing and curing gum disease, which by the way is incurable. Most people who have constant and depleting gum disease are exasperating the condition by not brushing their teeth properly or for long enough. Your teeth should be cleaned after every meal, but in the absence of the opportunity to do that you should clean your teeth when you get up and go to bed. Rinsing with a quality mouthwash will also help, but it isn’t a `be all and end all` of cleaning the gums and teeth. Flossing is another much missed opportunity to keep bacteria at bay, especially as most gum diseases are caused by food residue lodged in between the teeth. Once a gum disease like Gingivitis takes a hold there is no cure, the best we can hope for is a delay in the disappearance of the gums. Even slight gum disease is hard to eliminate once it occurs and again this is easily prevented by a good and regular regime. Bad breath is a sign of lodged food in between the teeth, and that in itself should sound the alarm bells about gum disease. If you can’t manage to brush your teeth after every meal, then carrying some floss sticks around is the next best thing, they have a floss hoop at the top and a pick point at the other end, this alone will go a long way to keeping bad bacteria away from the gums.

Dental hygiene is the process of keeping your teeth and mouth clean and healthy by following a correct brushing and flossing routine. The third and possibly most important factor is maintaining regular visits to the dentist every six months for dental check ups.

Brushing and flossing help to prevent the build up of plaque on the enamel surface of teeth. Plaque is a sticky, bacterial substance that releases enamel damaging acid causing tooth decay and gum disease. The purpose of dental hygiene is to use good brushing and flossing techniques to remove this plaque and prevent it turning into harder, immovable tartar. This will result in healthy, debris-free teeth surrounded by healthy pink gums that are not sensitive and a mouth that smells nice.

Teeth that are not clean and healthy are often prone to painful or bleeding gums, bad breath, yellow or brown stains on the teeth and teeth that become loose over time. These are all quite unpleasant conditions that can be easily remedied with better dental hygiene. Ignore these problems and they become worse and can eventually lead to painful periodontitis, tooth decay and eventually tooth loss.

In addition to brushing and flossing it may be necessary to use mouthwash or fluoride to protect your teeth but it is only recommended to use these products under advice from a South East London dentist. The dentist can also advise patients which toothpaste is most suitable to use and what brush is most suited to your teeth. Seeing a dental hygienist can also help to improve the overall quality of your dental heath.