Why are regular visits to the dentist important?

Whether you are a fanatical brusher or not, it is important that you keep up regular appearances at your dentist each year. Seeing your dentist for six monthly check up and cleans is an integral part of keeping good oral hygiene habits. Some of you may be wondering why we suggest that you come and see us regularly, when you already have good oral hygiene or don’t need any dental work.  Well, let’s break it down for you.

Brushing and flossing are important because they remove left over food and debris that builds up throughout the day. However, over time our teeth will get a build up of calculus (solidified plaque) which, if left can cause irritation to the gums and potentially decay in the teeth. If you brush and floss regularly then the build-up of tartar around your teeth should be minimal, however it still needs to be removed by a dentist to prevent any issues occurring.

Our mouths are home to millions of bacteria that thrive and feed off the plaque and tartar we accumulate over time. Your dentist will use specially designed instruments to remove the build-up from your teeth and around your gums, this can help to reduce swollen inflamed gums and prevent decay developing in the teeth. The longer we leave this on our teeth, the more likely we are to develop issues such as gum disease which over time can result in bone loss and the potential loss of teeth.

The dentists here at Redcliffe Smiles recommend getting your teeth professionally cleaned every six months to minimise the damage this build up can do to your mouth. We also suggest brushing and flossing multiple times a day as this promotes good oral hygiene and will make your check-up appointment much more pleasant!

The Redcliffe Smiles Team.

Children and the Dentist

toothy-grin-1502299-639x424There is always questions revolving around children and when they should first start seeing a dentist. Dental hygiene and regular checkups are just as important for kids as they are for adults. Good oral hygiene habits should be ingrained in us when we are young as they are essential for not only developing teeth as well as our adult teeth. If we don’t take care of our baby teeth then we can incur problems with our permanent teeth once they have developed. So this begs the question, what age do we start bringing children to the dentist and what ways can we improve their oral health?

It is recommended that kids have their first oral health check by the age of two, although it can be good to bring them in earlier during your regular check-ups and cleans, as this will help to get them used to the environment. It is not necessary to bribe your kids to see a dentist as it shouldn’t be a daunting experience, it should be portrayed as positive, interesting and fun. Appointments earlier in the day are generally better as they won’t be too tired and will be more compliable. We want them to enjoy coming to see us as this helps to prevent issues in the future as they grow older.

We find that a lot of children are left to their own devices in regards to their oral hygiene, parents should be helping and continuing to teach them until at least the age of 7 or 8. The reason you need to be brushing for your kids until this age is because they don’t have the dexterity to be able to brush their teeth properly, after this age they should be able to do a sufficient enough job by themselves.  

tidy-teeth-1-1425487-640x480Children, like adults, need to be brushing their teeth at least twice a day as well as flossing. Although their baby teeth will eventually fall out, it is imperative to look after them whilst they have got them. Losing a baby tooth early can impact the development of the adult teeth, it is something that is preferably avoided. It is advisable to avoid sugary and processed food as this is a major cause of decay, especially in young children. Tap water is always a good option as it contains fluoride which helps developing teeth to become strong and healthy.

If you have any further questions regarding children and the dentist, please don’t hesitate to ask our friendly staff. We will endeavour to be as helpful and insightful as possible. Remember the golden rule, prevention is better than a cure, it is much easier to maintain good oral hygiene than it is to fix an issue.