Preventative Dentistry

Children’s Teeth

Looking after children’s teeth is vitally important. Many studies have shown that getting a child used to visiting the dentist from an early age not only helps to prevent childhood tooth decay, but also increases the chances of your child having healthy teeth for life. Early visits to the dental practice help to make it an everyday, positive experience and let youngsters get to know the dentist as a friendly face.

childrens teethAlthough rates of childhood tooth decay are starting to fall, the UK still has a very high proportion of children who suffer from caries (decayed teeth). Diets rich in sugar – including natural sugars found in healthier options such as fruit juice or honey – can lead to tooth decay, as can a poor brushing routine and failure to visit the dentist. Like adults, some children are also just more prone to decay, which makes visiting the dentist even more important.

The team at Wimbledon Dental Care are passionate about preventative dentistry – stopping problems before they start, whenever possible. We recommend you bring your children in to see us as soon as they get their first tooth. By visiting from a young age they get used to opening their mouth to let the dentist look inside, and it may even help for them to watch Mum, Dad or an older sibling having their teeth examined then copying what they saw.

As well as regular examinations to spot caries early, your dentist may also recommend the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant, both of which help to prevent decay. Fissure sealant is a tooth-coloured coating applied to the back teeth to help prevent food particles or bacteria getting trapped in tooth ridges, while fluoride varnish is painted on to all the teeth to strengthen the enamel.

Early intervention also helps to spot orthodontic problems such as overbites or crossbites sooner rather than later, making treatment easier.

Preventative Dentistry: an Easy Way to Keep Your Smile at its Best

All of our dental team at Wimbledon Dental Care is passionate about preventative dentistry. We know this is the best way to help maintain healthy teeth and gums, greatly reducing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. We’d far rather work with you to prevent any problems from occurring than have to offer emergency dental care for toothache. Gum disease is another huge problem and particularly as in the early stages it often creates few if any symptoms. It’s the major reason for tooth loss in the developed world, and just like tooth decay is generally highly preventable. In addition, looking after your teeth and gums will help lower your dental bills in the longer term and ensures your smile is always looking its best.

Regular Check-ups

We suggest you visit our dentist, Dr Kulej Sihra in Wimbledon every six months as this will enable us to detect any problems, hopefully at a stage when treatment is quick and straightforward and we can keep an eye on your oral health. Oral cancer checks are an important part of your regular check-ups, particularly as your dentist is most likely the only health professional who regularly examines the inside of your mouth.

Regular Oral Hygiene Appointments

We thoroughly recommend all our patients book regular hygiene appointments. Good oral hygiene in Wimbledon is vitally important and most people will need to see a hygienist every six months, or at every regular check-up, but some will benefit from more frequent cleanings. This might be the case if you have any conditions that affect your immune system and which might increase your risk of gum disease, or if you are pregnant as the hormonal changes during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing a condition called pregnancy gingivitis, a form of gum disease.

The main reason for having your teeth professionally cleaned is to remove hardened plaque, a substance called tartar from your teeth. Plaque and tartar tend to build up around the gum line and if not regularly removed will increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. This is because the bacteria in plaque and tartar release toxins that gradually infect and inflame the gums.

During your professional teeth cleaning, all hardened tartar will be scaled or scraped away from around the gum line and just below. Treatment finishes with your teeth being gently polished which helps to remove some surface stains and is great for just putting a bit more sparkle into your smile.

Get Customised Advice on How to Look after Your Teeth and Gums at Home

As part of your regular oral hygiene treatments, we can offer instructions on the best way to look after your teeth and gums at home. We know many people struggle with flossing and you’d be surprised at how much easier this task can be when you’re shown how to do it properly. We can also advise you on the best tools to use at home, so you make the most of every single second spent brushing and flossing.

Has it been a while since you last visited a hygienist? Call us today to book your appointment on 020 8946 6546.