Frequently Asked Questions

Teeth discoloration may occur because of staining agents in our diet- e.g. tea, coffee, red wine, etc. or habits- e.g. smoking. These sort of stains are outside of the tooth shell and can be removed by your Dentist or Hygienist.

Teeth may also be stained from a natural discoloration, or following trauma. This type of stain is inside the tooth structure itself and can only be removed or lightened by professional tooth whitening. Tooth whitening is a very safe dental procedure resulting in a brighter natural smile.

• Toothpaste provides a foaming lubricating medium in which we clean our teeth. Most toothpastes are fluoride-based which helps to strengthen the tooth structure.
• Toothpaste with 1,450ppmFluoride are recommended for adults.
• Children up to three years of age should use toothpaste with a fluoride level of at least 1,000ppm (parts per million).
• After three years of age, children should use toothpaste with a fluoride level of 1,350-1,500ppm. The level of fluoride can be found on the pack.
• Children should be supervised when brushing their teeth until about seven years of age.
• The amount of toothpaste your child uses is important. Up to the age of three, a smear of toothpaste is sufficient, and from age three to six, a pea-sized amount is recommended.
• People with sensitive teeth may choose to use specific sensitive toothpastes. Similarly, people with allergies may wish to use alternatives.
• Special high fluoride toothpaste can be prescribed by your Dentist if you are at high risk of developing tooth decay.

Yes, we do teeth straightening for adults only. Using invincible braces, crooked teeth can be straightened in a relatively short time. The average treatment time is between 4months-9 months.

Gums usually bleed due to trauma or inflammation. Trauma can be from food wedged in the gums, brushing too hard or using toothbrush with firm bristles. These are all damaging to the gums.

Inflammation of the gums is often due to plaque and other bacterial products breaking the gum seal and causing irritation to the gums. Bleeding gums is often the 1st sign of gum disease. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.

Teeth become sensitive when the enamel layer is worn away. This can be from tooth decay, abrasive tooth brushing, acid erosion, receded gums or a poor bite. Sensitive teeth need to be investigated for the cause and treated as appropriate.

Dental crowns are a reinforced hat that a weak tooth wears. Crowns may be used to support a weak or rumbling tooth, replace a missing tooth or to change the shape of a crooked tooth. They are custom made by a master dental technician to fit over the tooth and are then cemented in permanently by your Dentist. Crowns can be made of gold, porcelain, or porcelain and metal.

Dental implants are a titanium roots buried in the gum to support and carry missing teeth. They represent the gold standard for replacing a missing tooth.

Studies show that electric tooth brushing which rotate as well as vibrate as the same time clean much better than manual toothbrushes. However, individual preferences do apply.

We all have areas where we miss when we clean around our teeth. Left uncleaned, these areas harbour the germs which cause gum disease.

The recommended interval for dental hygiene sessions for most adults is every 6 months. However, people with immaculate oral hygiene may only require 1 visit every year. On the other hand, people with active gum disease may require a hygiene appointment every 3 months.

Silver (amalgam) fillings have been around for a very long time and are the standard by which the strength and longevity of filling materials are measured. They however sometimes cause a low grade allergic reaction, cause the teeth to fracture and are unsightly.

White fillings overcome these shortcomings as they look more natural and blend with the tooth better. Advancements in technology means that well placed white fillings can last many years just as a silver (amalgam) filling does.

• Anyone can be affected by mouth cancer, whether they have their own teeth or not.
• Mouth cancers are more common in people over 40years, especially men, but can affect any age or sex.
• In the UK, about 7,000 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer every year.
• Nearly 2,000 people die every year from mouth cancer in the UK. Early diagnosis is key to survival.
• Most cases are linked to tobacco and alcohol; the risks increase if tobacco and alcohol are taken together.
• Excessive exposure to sunlight is a risk factor for cancer of the lips
• The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – the virus responsible for warts, is also linked to mouth cancer.
• HPV can be spread through oral sex.
• Mouth cancer can affect any part of the mouth and may present as a swelling, a painless ulcer, a red or white patch or persistent hoarseness of the voice.
• Any ulcer which does not heal within 2 weeks should be checked by your Dentist.
• Most cases of mouth cancer can be treated if detected early. Many people with mouth cancer go to their Dentist or Doctor too late.

Gum disease is caused by bacteria which pool around the gums. Some types of gum disease are inherited, however this only accounts for a minor percentage in the population. In most cases, gum disease is caused by poor oral hygiene, smoking or poor general health.

Gum disease can be prevented by tooth brushing, regular visits to your dentist and maintaining a good state of general health.

Crooked or malpositioned teeth affect our ability to clean around them properly and are more predisposed to gum disease and tooth decay. In addition, many people find their confidence in smiling diminished because of this.

Most orthodontic treatment is carried out during the teenage years, but there is no age limit for having your teeth straightened. Acting Icon Faye Dunaway famously had her braces at the age of 61! There are increasingly discreet ways of having teeth straightened using white braces, braces behind the teeth and invisible braces.

Yes. Smoking increases your chances of early tooth loss due to gum disease by reducing your gums ability to heal. In addition, Nicotine is a cancer-inducing agent and can trigger mouth cancer in addition to other types of cancer.

Also the stains from smoking create a rough surface area for bacteria to attach and multiply and cause unsightly staining.

Dental implants are titanium roots embedded in the gums to replace missing teeth. Just like natural teeth, dental implants require care and maintenance and can be expected to last as long as a natural tooth given sufficient care.

Root canal treatment (RCT) is the treatment that is done to save a tooth which would otherwise have been removed. The nerve space in the middle of a tooth is a sterile environment. If germs enter into this space, it becomes contaminated and left untreated, may result in tooth loss.

Root canal treatment is the process of cleaning away the infected nerve and therefore restoring the tooth.

All drugs have undesirable side effects which may be experienced to a greater or lesser extent by different people. In addition, some drugs interact with each other and such interaction can cancel the action of a drug, or increase its activity to dangerous levels. Some medication can hugely impact what treatment options your Dentist is able to provide.

Knowing which medication you’re on helps your Dentist to avoid any prescription that could potentially interact with anything else that you may be taking. It also helps us to make sense of side effects such as dry mouth, blood blisters, thrush, swollen gums, etc which may be due to a medication you are taking.

The bones which support your teeth also support 2/3rds of your face.

When a tooth is lost, the supporting bone in this area diminishes, causing your face to lose support in that area. This is the reason people who have lost a lot of teeth look much older than their natural age.

In addition, teeth don’t like to stand alone and they constantly shuffle towards the middle all through our life. If a tooth is lost early, the teeth behind the gap drift trying to find another tooth to contact. The tooth opposite also drifts for the same reason. Therefore early loss of one tooth can lead to early loss of multiple teeth.

Yes it does. When under stress, many people clench their teeth or grind at night. The effect of this is that teeth can be subjected for forces up to 10 times greater than normal causing crack lines, fractures, sensitivity and tooth wear.

Every time we eat, the acidity of our mouth increases. Brushing right after a meal is an attack on teeth at their most vulnerable period. It’s better to neutralise this acid by rinsing out with a glass of water and waiting a while before brushing.

It’s however safe to floss right after a meal. You don’t want to walk around with that bit of spinach between your teeth.