01772 - 726932

Dental Cleaning – Scale and Polish

A dental hygienist is an expert in helping to keep your gums healthy.

Dealing With Bad Breath

Regularly get a new toothbrush

Brush your teeth after you eat.

Schedule regular dental checkups.

Floss at least once a day

 

Brush your tongue.

Clean dentures or dental appliances

Avoid dry mouth

Adjust your diet

Cleaner, Brighter Teeth with Scale and Polish

Don’t forget to talk to your Preston Dentist

What is scale and polish?

A professional dental cleaning or dental prophylaxis is a cleaning procedure that painlessly cleans all the teeth. Professional cleanings are an excellent way to help keep the teeth and the surrounding tissues in good health and stop the progression of gum disease (gingivitis and periodontal disease).

Cleaning is recommended twice annually as a preventative measure but should be performed every 3-4 months if you suffer from gum disease.  Though the periodontal disease cannot be completely reversed, teeth cleanings are one of the tools your dentist can use that effectively halts its destructive progress.

Apart from an effective teeth cleaning there are several other treatments that may be used in order to help you to prevent gum disease and its associated complications.

Calculus Build-Up

Your teeth are continually bathed in saliva which contains calcium and other substances which help strengthen and protect your teeth. While this is definitely beneficial, it, unfortunately, means that we tend to get a build-up of calcium deposits on the teeth. This chalky substance will build up over time, almost like the limescale deposits at the base of your kettle. Usually, it is tooth coloured and can easily be mistaken as part of the teeth, but it can also vary from brown to black in colour.

If this tartar is allowed to build upon the teeth, it will, unfortunately, provide the right conditions for bacteria to thrive beside the gums. The purpose of cleaning and polishing is basically to leave the surfaces of the teeth beautifully clean and smooth so that bacteria are unable to stick to them and so provide you with a better chance of keeping the teeth clean during your regular daily hygiene regime.

Years of expertise

Happy Clients

Dental Hygiene and Prophylaxis

We live up to this fact every day at our dental clinic – for our patients’ health. This is because your teeth and gums aren’t the only important aspects of our work as dentists. Oral health has a major impact on our general health, and thus on our well-being and quality of life.

Dental Hygiene Treatment
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Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that can reduce cavities in children and adults, it can also help repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay is visible. Topical fluoride treatment is offered to patients that require it.

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Tooth Desensitisation

Hypersensitivity of exposed root surfaces can be easily and quickly treated by applying materials to these areas. This treatment blocks dentin tubules (tunnels that exist in the root surface) and decreases the activation of certain nerve ends.

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Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride is a naturally-occurring mineral that can reduce cavities in children and adults, it can also help repair the early stages of tooth decay even before the decay is visible. Topical fluoride treatment is offered to patients that require it.

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Treatment of Gum infections

Periodontal disease is an infectious and inflammatory disease that destroys gum tissues and bone. Your preventative appointments include scaling (removing tartar and plaque from teeth), and root-planing (detoxifying the infected tooth surfaces as well as irrigation of the infected gum pockets with an antibacterial agent.

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Oral Hygiene Instruction

Using computer software, intra-oral camera, and a hands-on approach, we help to educate and train patients to control plaque levels in their mouths. We have the most current oral hygiene aids to customize the regimen for most patients, including powered toothbrushes, proxy brushes, floss, and Interdental brushes, etc.

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Preventative Maintenance Appointments

Regular dental exams are intended to catch developing dental problems before they escalate and to prevent existing problems from getting worse. We do more than protect and care for your smile; we can also help to keep you healthy. Through the oral exam, we can see if there are any abnormalities in your mouth that may indicate health problems, such as diabetes or oral cancer.

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Regular Teeth Cleaning

If you are a new patient, schedule your diagnosis and cleaning (if necessary). Get on the road to a beautiful and healthy smile. Let us show you our approach to dentistry as part of your total wellness. Call our dental practice today to schedule a diagnostic consultation.

Bad Breath Treatment

Daily brushing and flossing, and regular professional cleanings will normally take care of unpleasant breath. And don’t forget your often overlooked tongue as a culprit for bad breath. Bacterial plaque and food debris also can accumulate on the back of the tongue. The tongue’s surface is extremely rough and bacteria can accumulate easily in the cracks and crevices. Controlling periodontal disease and maintaining good oral health helps to reduce bad breath.  If you have constant bad breath, make a list of the foods you eat and any medications you take. Some medications may contribute to bad breath.

Bad Breath Treatment

Call For a Consultation:

(01772) 726932

At Lane Ends Dental Practice our dentists are experts in identifying and treating the many different causes of halitosis.  We will ask you about your personal habits, diet, and medical history, as well as the history of your symptoms. After a thorough physical examination in order to assess the source of the problem, we will provide you with a treatment plan so you can be confident that your breath is fresh and pleasant to others.

DISCUSS BAD BREATH WITH YOUR DENTIST

If you have questions or concerns, talk to your dentist about your issues with bad breath. Oure trusted dental team can help identify both the cause of and solution to your bad breath problems

WHY IS ORAL HYGIENE SO IMPORTANT?

Adults over 35 lose more teeth to gum diseases (periodontal disease) than from cavities. Three out of four adults are affected at some time in their life. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is by good tooth brushing and flossing techniques performed daily.

Periodontal disease and decay are both caused by bacterial plaque. Plaque is a colorless film, which sticks to your teeth at the gum line. Plaque constantly forms on your teeth. By thorough daily brushing and flossing, you can remove these germs and help prevent periodontal disease.

HOW TO BRUSH

We recommend using a soft toothbrush. Position the brush at a 45-degree angle where your gums and teeth meet. Gently move the brush in a circular motion several times using small, gentle strokes brushing the outside surfaces of your teeth. Use light pressure while putting the bristles between the teeth, but not so much pressure that you feel any discomfort. When you are done cleaning the outside surfaces of all your teeth, follow the same directions while cleaning the inside of the back teeth.

To clean the inside surfaces of the upper and lower front teeth, hold the brush vertically. Make several gentle back-and-forth strokes over each tooth. Don’t forget to gently brush the surrounding gum tissue. Next, you will clean the biting surfaces of your teeth by using short, gentle strokes. Change the position of the brush as often as necessary to reach and clean all surfaces. Try to watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you clean each surface. After you are done, rinse vigorously to remove any plaque you might have loosened while brushing.

HOW TO FLOSS

Gum disease usually appears between the teeth where your toothbrush cannot reach. Flossing is a very effective way to remove plaque from those surfaces. However, it is important to develop the proper technique. The following instructions will help you but remember it takes time and practice.

Start with a piece of floss (waxed is easier) about 18” long. Lightly wrap most of the floss around the middle finger of one hand. Wrap the rest of the floss around the middle finger of the other hand.

To clean the upper teeth, hold the floss tightly between the thumb and forefinger of each hand. Gently insert the floss tightly between the teeth using a back-and-forth motion. Do not force the floss or try to snap it into place. Bring the floss to the gum line then curve it into a C-shape against one tooth. Slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth until you feel light resistance. Move the floss up and down on the side of one tooth. Remember there are two tooth surfaces that need to be cleaned in each space. Continue to floss each side of all the upper teeth. Be careful not to cut the gum tissue between the teeth. As the floss becomes soiled, turn from one finger to the other to get a fresh section.

CARING FOR SENSITIVE TEETH

Sometimes after dental treatment, teeth are sensitive to hot and cold. This should not last long, but only if the mouth is kept clean. If the mouth is not kept clean the sensitivity will remain and could become more severe.

If your teeth are especially sensitive consult with your doctor. They may recommend a medicated toothpaste or mouth rinse made especially for sensitive teeth.

PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

Daily brushing and flossing will keep dental calculus to a minimum, but a professional cleaning by a skilled and experienced hygienist will remove calculus in places your toothbrush and floss have missed. Your visit to our office is an important part of your program to prevent gum disease. Keep your teeth for your lifetime.

Fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses, if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay as much as 40%. Tartar control toothpaste will reduce tartar above the gum line, but gum disease starts below the gum line so these products have not been proven to reduce the early stage of gum disease.

CAN DIET AFFECT MY TEETH?

Food and drinks containing sugar cause decay. If you cut down on how often you have sugary snacks and drinks this will help a lot. Foods such as cheese, fruit, nuts, and vegetables are better for your teeth.

A diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and minerals can help prevent gum disease and protect against mouth cancer.

WHAT IS DENTAL EROSION?

Dental erosion is the loss of enamel caused by acid attack. When the enamel is worn away it can lead to pain and sensitivity. Foods and drinks that contain acid, such as citrus fruits, fizzy drinks, smoothies, fruit juice, and fruit teas, can all cause dental erosion if you have them often.