toothbrush Archives - Irby Dental Practice

Dental hygienist in Wirral

Posted on 29/04/202329/04/2023 by admin@irbydental_surgery

What is dental hygienist in Wirral ?

Dental hygienist is a dental professional who has received training to provide preventative care and treat periodontal(gum) disease. They are integral part of the clinical team and of critical importance for ensuring good oral health.

What is the role of the dental hygienist in the dental practice?

Dental hygienists assess your gum health,prevent and treat gum disease if present.

They give important advice on how to improve your oral hygiene in order to prevent accumulation of plaque, gum inflammation and tooth decay.

Dental hygienist can also place fissure sealants,take X-rays and apply fluoride varnish.

Is it a requirement for a dental practice to have hygienist on site?

It is not mandatory but is highly recommended. Dental hygienist works in close collaboration with and under dentist’s supervision so that patients can benefit most.

Why are the visits to dental hygienist so important?

Sticky coating forms naturally on teeth over the course of time because of fine food debris and bacteria that reside in mouth. If this coating is not removed when brushing it turns in hard mass which we call tartar(calculus). Tartar causes soreness and bleeding of the gums and can be removed only by dental professional. .Hygienist eliminates plaque and tartar from teeth regularly . This ensures good gum health,sound teeth and fresh breath.

Can a dental hygienist take care of children ?

They certainly can. Your children will get advice about what diet they should stick to and dental hygienist may alter their home dental care habits. They will will clean the plaque from children’s teeth and coat them with fluoride varnish.That will reinforce enamel and make teeth more resilient to decay.

How often should one see dental hygienist?

The usual frequency is 6 months. On some occasions though you should visit the hygienist more often. This could be the case if there is predisposition to gum disease in the family or you have hard-to-control form of periodontitis.

Is it painful to have dental hygiene treatment?

No,it isn’t. When you have healthy gums and there is little to scale off the procedure is completely pain free.You can request local anesthetic in case of having more sensitive teeth or deep debridement is necessary.

Is it expensive to get treatment from dental hygienist?

Here,at Irby Dental Practice, we charge £70 for routine scale and polish. You can reduce and spread this cost though if you sign up to our Denplan facility. If you want to book dental hygienist appoinment in Wirral please call 0151 648 1974.

Prevention of dental caries in children

Posted on 25/03/2023 by admin@irbydental_surgery

What is prevention of dental caries in children?

Although dental caries is very common in children,this is a preventable disease. That means if adequate measures are taken on a regular basis it may never occur.

What is necessary to do in order to avoid this problem?

Dental preventative care can be achieved through:

1/ Plaque control

Brushing twice a day is essential to prevent creation of plaque. Parents should start brushing their children’s primary teeth with fluoride containing toothpaste as soon as they erupt. Technique is not so important at this stage but just cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums. The children should be supervised until the age of 6-7 when they develop good manual dexterity .

Cleaning between teeth,for instance with floss, is just as important because a toothbrush cannot adequately reach these areas.

Plaque disclosing tablets can be useful as they help gain control over the plaque

2/ Diet control

Advice that dentists give with regards toi this should be simple,clear and most importantly realistic.

The bottom line is that the amount and frequency of sugary intake should be as minimal as possible. This ideally should happen at meal times only. Sticky and chewy sweets should not be part of the everyday child’s diet.

3/ Fluoride

There are two main types of fluoride applications- topical and systemic.

Topical fluorides athe ones in toothpastes,gels,rinses and varnishes.

Systemic application occurs through water fluoridation,fluoride tablets and drops,fluoridated milk and fluoridated salt.

4/ Fissure sealants

This is a flowable dental material, similar to white fillings, that provides barrier against bacteria. It is suitable for children that are more prone to develop tooth decay.

When should the prevention start?

There is a simple answer to this- as early as possible.

Parents should bring their children to the dental office by the age of 6 months so that they can take an advice before the problems develop. It is aslo of paramount impritance for the cildren to become familiar with the dental clinic environment and not have fear to visit.

How long should prevention last?

This is continuous process . Every dental treatment planshould have prevention at the heart of it . Dental professionals give preventative advice during the first visit and reinforce it as the treatment goes on.

Why is preventative care so important ?

It is always easier to work towards avoiding a problem than having to deal with it when it happens. Sometimes complications from dental caries can be very difficult to manage. They could result in loss of teeth and cause long-lasting unpleasant experience.

Teeth sensitivity

Posted on 11/03/2023 by admin@irbydental_surgery

What is teeth sensitivity?

The experience could vary from mild twinge and insignificant discomfort to sharp,brief shock and even pain lasting for hours. It could also indicate that there is more serious problem that requires further investigation.

What causes sensitivity to teeth?

The outer layer of the teeth is called enamel. It has a role of a shield that covers and protects the main tooth substance,tooth dentine. When the enamel wears down that exposes the underlying dentine and results in development of sensitivity.

Possible causes for for teeth sensitivity are:

1/ Over enthusiastic tooth brushing or employing incorrect brushing technique thatcould lead to loss of enamel. This usually occurs at the area where gums join the tooth

2/ Gum disease and gum recession could be another reason. Build-up of tartar makes the gum tissue drift away from the tooth which results in exposure of the root surface.

3/ Dental erosion. This is when the enamel is lost because of frequent consumption of acidic foods and drinks

4/ Grinding teeth could cause the enamel to wear away over the course of the time

5/Tooth decay or tooth fracture could expose the dentine

6/ Teeth whitening may lead to increased sensitivity but this is transient and normally easy to manage

What should I do when I have sensitive teeth?

You should avoid foods and drinks that are very hot,cold or sweet . Using toothpastes designed for sensitive teeth could be very beneficial. You can rub this in the teeth as an ointment in order to achieve quicker relief. Sensitivity should not prevent you from maintaining good oral hygiene.

What treatment can be provided when having sensitive teeth?

Your dentist will apply fluoride products such as gels,rinses or varnishes. If the problem is more advanced you may need some type of restoration or even root canal therapy.

Can teeth sensitivity be prevented ?

You have to brush your teeth regularly using the correct brushing technique in order to avoid gum recession and enamel wear. Powered tooth brushes are very good as they have pressure sensors that indicate when you are using too much force.

You should consume sugary foods and fizzy drinks in minimal amounts and at meal times only.

If you are aware of clenching teeth overnight or during the day do speak to your dentist as soon as possible. They will be able to advise what is the right course of action.

How to choose your toothbrush?

Posted on 15/08/2021 by admin@irbydental_surgery

The first toothbrush was probably seen around 3000 BCE. It was actually a frayed twig created by the Babylonians and Egyptians. Accorrding to other sources around 1600 BCE Chinese created sticks from aromatic trees twigs to help freshen their breath.

William Addis made the first toothbrush to be produced on a large scale in 1770- he used bone and hair bristles.

The toothbrush as we know it today was invented in 1938 by the DuPont company. This had nylon fibers making it more robust and eficient than animal hair.

We cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene. Not only is this critical for the health of your teeth and gums but also for the overall welbeing . It has been proved there is a strong link between poor oral health and heart disease,cancer,diabetes,infertility,dimentia etc.

The best way to achieve dental health is to properly select and use your toothbrush.

Nowadays there is a great variety of oral health products on the shelves and chossing the right toothbrush for you could sometimes be a hard task.

So, what shall we look at when bying a toothbrush?

1/Size of toothbrush head

You should be able to access all the surfaces of even the furthermost teeth. That’s why we,at Irby Dental Practice, recommend small-headed toothbrush to make this job easier

2/Type of bristles

Soft bristles are generally more appropriate to use especially if you are prone to or already have gum disease. Hard or medium options could cause enamel to wear or gums to bleed . To put it simple healthier gums can allow use of a little bit harder bristles and withstand more enthusiastic brushing

3/Manual or powered?

It doesn’t actualy mattter as long as you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes employing the right technique. This will be enough to remove the buld-up from your teeth which will significantly reduce the chances for tooth decay or gum disesase.

There are certain situations though where the electric toothbrush should be the one of choice:

if you have limited mobility

if you tend to brush too hard: most of the electic toothbrushes have pressure sensors to help you balance the force you apply when cleaning your teeth

4/ What handle?

Generally speaking – it should be comfortable , easy to hold, ideally non-slip grip to allow better control of the head movement along the dental arch

5/ How would you know when your toothbrush needs replacing?

This is usually every 3 months or when you notice that the bristles are bent, stiff or they just start to fall out.

Worn toothbrush would certainly clean less and could also give you bad breath so make sure you know when to dispose of your old hygiene tool.

If you need any further information on how to look after your teeth , feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to help.

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Tag: toothbrush

Dental hygienist in Wirral

Prevention of dental caries in children

Teeth sensitivity

How to choose your toothbrush?

Book your dental appointment with Irby Dental Practice today to boost your confidence and smile.