During pregnancy, there a few changes that occur with your oral health and the surge in hormones paired with morning sickness and tiredness can cause havoc in the mouth.
Firstly, the increase in hormones exaggerate the way the body deals with plaque which can cause an increase in inflammation and bleeding. This is called ‘pregnancy gingivitis’.
Secondly, the morning sickness that many expectant mothers suffer from often creates a more sensitive gag reflex and nausea. This can prevent them from reaching far enough to the back teeth and sometimes from brushing at all. The vomiting will also cause acid erosion and an increased risk of decay in teeth.
Thirdly more regular snacking and increased intake of ‘healthier’ foods inadvertently increases the amount of acidic foods induced for example, fruit, cereal bars and dressed vinegary salads. This can also contribute to the damage and weakening of enamel.
The best advice for all pregnant patients is as follows:
- continue to brush twice daily but use a softer toothbrush head if gums are sore,
- to try to make time for any missed brushing when nausea has subsided (at a different time of day),
- use a fluoride mouthwash to help combat the effects of acid erosion,
- interdental cleaning is very important to help keep on top of any pregnancy gingivitis,
- keep up regular dental check-ups and hygiene visits – this is not dangerous for the baby.
If you are suffering from pregnancy gingivitis or have noticed any oral health changes since becoming pregnant, call us at the bank house dental centre for an appointment.
Sports drinks are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young adolescents who consume them regularly believing that they will improve their sports performance.
We are all aware of the damage that sugar can do to the teeth but in these sugar free drinks many people are unaware that it is in fact the acid level that they should be worried about. Research shows that they can start to destroy the teeth after only 5 days of consecutive consumption.
To reduce the risk of tooth erosion from these drinks it is best to:
- Reduce the frequency of consumption
- Drink through a straw where possible
- Do not hold the liquid in your mouth or ‘swish’ it around
- Dilute sports drinks with water
- Do not brush your teeth directly after drinking these drinks. The acid softens the enamel and brushing can cause more enamel to be lost.
Visit us regularly at The Bank House Dental Centre in Princes Risborough, Bucks to keep your and your family’s dental health in check.
Most people have heard of plaque and spend lots of time trying to remove it and prevent it, but what actually is it?
Plaque is a sticky film containing bacteria and food debris which collects on the surfaces of the teeth and the gum line. Everybody gets plaque, and it is developing all the time because of the bacteria that is constantly forming in our mouths. Plaque that is not removed is the main cause of cavities and gum disease so it is important to remove it every day.
If plaque is left behind it will react with the minerals in your saliva and harden to form calculus – this is impossible for you to remove at home.
How can I prevent plaque build up?
We cannot stop plaque from forming but it is possible to prevent it building up by doing the following things:
- Brush your teeth twice daily to remove the plaque from the surfaces of the teeth and the gum line (preferably using an electric toothbrush).
- Clean between the teeth at least once per day using floss and interdental brushes.
- Limit sugary and sticky foods, and keep them to meal times.
- Disclosing tablets are a good way of showing the plaque you have left behind, use them once a month.
- Make sure you schedule regular check ups and hygienist appointments to monitor the condition of the teeth and gums
Visit us in Princes Risborough or call us on 01844 343381 to book your regular appointment.
Straightened Teeth are Better for Your Oral Health
Braces aren’t just for children anymore! Lots of adults are now opting to have orthodontic treatment to improve not only the look of their teeth but their oral health too. We are very busy here at the Bank House Dental Centre providing popular orthodontic care to patients from Princes Risborough, High Wycombe, Aylesbury, Thame and the surrounding areas.
One of the biggest challenges of having crooked teeth other than the way they look is that it is much harder to keep them clean, even with an electric toothbrush. After brushing, plaque inevitably gets left behind which can cause tender and bleeding gums, gum recession and bad breath – eventually even tooth decay.
Properly aligned teeth are much easier to brush and floss, and the gums fit more tightly around them reducing the retention of plaque. This in turn reduces the risk of gum disease and other problems which leads to much better oral health.
There are different types of braces available from the traditional fixed bracketed braces to removable appliances, like the Inman Aligner, and even clear ‘invisible’ braces depending on suitability and how discreet you want them to be.
If your teeth are misaligned and you don’t like the look of them or you are worried about the impact they are having on your oral health, then call us on 01844343381 to book a FREE consultation.
Are you scared of needles? If so you are not alone! Many people are scared of having injections either due to a past experience, anticipation of pain or a lack of empathy from dental professionals. This can result in going long periods of time without check-up appointments and even ignoring dental problems that need attendance.
While it is understandable to have a fear of needles, dentistry has advanced so much over the years that we can reduce many of the causes of fear. Firstly, finding a sympathetic dentist can help with the anxiety that dental treatment causes as it is important to feel listened to and not rushed. Numbing gel can be used to desensitise the area prior to the injection to lessen the feeling of the needle, and techniques can be applied to make it a gentler experience.
At the bank house dental centre, we offer a calm and sympathetic approach as we aim to provide you the highest standard of dental care possible. We use numbing gels for all of our injections as standard to try and make them as comfortable as possible.
If you are worried about needles but feel you may need treatment then don’t put it off any longer, your first appointment will just be a check-up so you can get to know us and tell us if you are anxious about anything. Booking an early appointment can help as you won’t be dwelling on it all day and you can even bring a friend if you wish to!
Why do I need dental X-Rays?
X-rays are often the only way to diagnose certain problems in the mouth. For example, they show us decay, bone loss around the tooth and infections around the root. We take dental X-rays for all our new patients to help us assess the condition of the mouth and then every couple of years depending on individual history, age and condition of the mouth.
What types of X-rays are there?
There are various types of X-ray. Some that show us multiple teeth at once, some that show us between the teeth and some that look at the roots of a tooth. We will only take the ones that you need!
Are X-rays dangerous?
With modern equipment and safety measures, dental X-rays have very minimal risks. The dosage is always kept to a low level, and we only take X-rays when we need to. We get more radiation from natural sources in the environment!
Visit our dental centre in Princes Risborough, Bucks.
Unfortunately, due to decay, gum disease, infection or trauma, most of us are going to be told at some stage in our lives that a tooth needs an extraction.
Because of this, many people in Princes Risborough, and other parts of Buckinghamshire come to us for advice on how to replace their missing teeth.
‘Why should I have a missing tooth replaced?’
When you lose a tooth, not only does it not look good, but the efficiency and function of the mouth suffers, placing more stress on the rest of the teeth.
In turn, this can mean that other teeth can start to chip and break under the added strain, over erupt, or the adjacent teeth to the gap can start to drift and tilt making them more difficult to keep clean which makes them more likely to decay. It is always recommended that when you lose a tooth you get it replace.
There are a number of ways to replace missing teeth:
- Dental implants – This is the best option for replacing teeth if you are a suitable candidate. This is because they are a long lasting, natural feeling tooth substitute which are secured in the jawbone and have a very high success rate. An implant consists of two parts; a titanium ‘root’ which is surgically placed and sits in the jaw bone and a crown which is mounted on top after the ‘root’ has integrated with the bone (after a few months).
- Bridge – A bridge is a fixed prosthetic device made up of two crowns with a false crown in between. These two crowns are attached to the ‘anchoring’ teeth either side of the gap and literally bridge the gap left by the missing tooth.
- Denture – A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth. There are different types of dentures available depending on your lifestyle and needs. While dentures do take some getting used to, they are custom made and are more comfortable and natural looking than ever before.
For more information and advice, or to book an appointment please call us at The Bank House Dental Centre on 01844 343381.
One of the most common dental treatments performed in a dental practice is the repair of broken or decayed teeth – usually using a filling. There are different types of fillings available to us but we will select the best one depending on where the break/decay is and personal preference of the patient.
- Amalgam filling – this is the well-known and recognised silver fillings and they have been around for a long time. They are not made entirely of silver but a combination of metals including silver, mercury and tin. Because of the mercury content, many people are opting for white fillings instead but studies show that the mercury levels are not harmful and are up to 8 times lower than eating certain fish. Amalgam fillings are long lasting and durable but are not the most aesthetically pleasing.
- Composite filling – this filling is a type of synthetic resin and is rapidly becoming the most popular type due to the absence of mercury and the natural look it provides. It chemically bonds to the tooth which means we can keep the preparation as small as possible and although it is not as hard wearing as amalgam, it can still last for several years. It does however come with its cons, it is not suitable for extremely large fillings, for fillings too close to the level of the gum, and it is usually more costly.
- Glass Ionomer filling – this also create a chemical bond with the tooth and have the added benefit of releasing fluoride which helps to prevent further decay. They are not very hard wearing so are usually only used as a temporary measure or to ‘patch up’ a tooth. Having said that some last many years!
- Inlay – this is a type of filling used when the decay/break in the tooth is quite large and something is needed to not only fill the hole but also to bond it to help thin or fragile walls from breaking further. These inlays are usually made in the laboratory of strengthened composite or compressed porcelain and require two appointments, one to prepare and one to fit the inlay. They are a bit like a crown but fit inside the tooth
Visit us in Princes Risborough if you have an teeth that need to be fixed.
What you eat and drink can not only cause problems such as tooth decay, but also enamel erosion and can impact the development of the teeth.
It is important to eat a balanced diet and also to reduce the amount of sugary foods and drinks that you eat. If you are going to eat or drink these foods, then it is best to keep them restricted to meal times so you are reducing the frequency of acid attacks to the teeth, which causes decay.
When it comes to erosion, the drinks don’t necessarily have to contain sugar as even diet drinks can be carbonated making them very acidic which dissolves the teeth.
It is vital to follow some simple tips which will help to keep your teeth healthy.
- Restrict sugary or acidic foods and drinks to meal times only.
- Drink acidic drinks through a straw.
- Brush teeth twice a day morning and night with a fluoride toothpaste.
- Use mouthwash after eating or rinse the mouth with water to neutralise the acid.
- Chew sugar free gum containing xylitol after meals to help neutralise the acid.
Ask for more advice about diet and tooth health at your next dental appointment at the bank house dental centre.
Brushing your teeth is an essential part of the day in order to keep your teeth healthy, and how often you brush and the effectiveness of your technique are two of the most important factors to keep plaque at bay.
The next question that comes along is whether an electric toothbrush is better for the job than your regular manual toothbrush? Is it worth making the switch?
If used correctly, the electric toothbrush can enable you to improve your brushing results, removing 11% more plaque than a manual and reducing gum problems.
This is due to the electric toothbrush being powered to do all of the work, all you have to do is position it on the tooth at a 45 degree angle and leave it for a few seconds before moving swiftly onto the next tooth – no more scrubbing! They also feature a number of the following things:
- Numerous brushing modes
- Pressure sensors
- Timers
- Oscillating-rotating or sonic technology (depending on the brand)
Here at Bank House Dental Centre, not only do we stock electric toothbrushes we also have a demonstration electric toothbrush so we are able to allow you to try before you buy! We are sure you will be able to feel the benefit, so if you are on the fence and would like to try the demo brush at your next appointment then please feel free to mention it when booking. Our hygienist will be able to show you how effective they came be.