Did you know you can visit Leeds City Dentalcare to see one of our hygienists, without the need to see Dr David Brown or another of our dentists? Of course we do hope to see you still for regular dental check-ups. The General Dental Council recently implemented new rules allowing this important change to the way patients receive dental care. If you are already a regular patient at our Leeds surgery then you’ll probably already be familiar with the high standard of care offered by our hygienists who are an essential part of the dental team.

Dental Hygienists Offer Great Preventative Dental Care

Visiting one of our hygienists at Leeds City Dentalcare is a great way to help gain and maintain a healthy mouth. Good dental hygiene will greatly help to reduce the risk of you developing any dental diseases such as gum disease or tooth decay, and will help your teeth to last for longer.

Your hygienist will scale and polish your teeth. This is a process that is familiar to many, and involves having the tartar removed from your teeth. Tartar consists of hardened plaque bacteria, and if left on the teeth is likely to irritate and inflame the gums as it produces toxins. Its removal will help ensure there is less risk of you developing gum disease.

If you do have any early signs of gum disease, a condition known as gingivitis, then our hygienist can offer you treatment and advice on how to cure this condition. One of the most noticeable signs of this condition is having gums that bleed when brushed or flossed, as healthy gums should never bleed. Quick action is essential to stop this disease in its tracks before it can progress into its more serious form which is called periodontal disease.

Your hygienist can offer you lots of useful advice on how to cure gingivitis. This is something that can be done simply by making sure you clean your teeth thoroughly, and that you floss once a day. However technique is very important, and this is when it can really help to have a professional assess your oral hygiene routine, as they will be able to identify any areas of weakness, and can work with you to improve it.

Improve your Brushing and Flossing Habits

It is all too easy to fall into bad habits when brushing and flossing, and to be unaware of areas that you may be missing. In addition, having great technique and using the right tools can help a lot. If you struggle with flossing there are a lot of different things to try to make this task easier. It is well worth discussing all these things with our hygienists when you visit our cosmetic dentistry Leeds, as they’ll be more than happy to demonstrate the correct and easiest way to floss, or to suggest alternative tools to try.

If you can’t get on with floss then there are alternative methods that can be very effective. These include soft picks that are made out of a rubber material. These are very easy to insert in between your teeth, and can be very good at removing food and plaque from the areas where the teeth contact each other. You could also try interdental brushes which are small wire brushes that come in a large variety of widths, and they work in much the same way as the soft picks. These will help to stimulate and massage your gum tissue, something that is very important in helping to prevent gum disease.

People often think good dental health means having healthy teeth, but it is vitally important to take good care of your gums, something we do stress to all of our patients in Leeds. Your gums and the ligaments surrounding your teeth have an important job to do as they help to hold your teeth firmly in place, and without their support your teeth would become loose and will eventually fall out. Healthy gums that are in good shape should be pale pink in colour, and should fit snugly around the necks of the teeth. There should be no gaps or signs that the gums have begun to pull away from the teeth. These are all things we assess during your regular check-ups at Leeds City Dentalcare.

It is pretty easy to look after your gums, and provided you clean your teeth properly and floss once-a-day you are unlikely to have any significant problems. However it is all too easy to become complacent over your daily oral hygiene routine and that is where we can help. Next time you visit our Leeds surgery why not ask Dr David Brown, or any of our dental staff for their advice on how you can improve your daily regime. Your hygienist is a wealth of information as they can identify areas of the mouth that you may regularly be missing, and can show you various techniques on how to brush and floss more thoroughly. It can also help to take a methodical approach to cleaning your teeth as this will ensure you don’t miss any sections of your mouth.

Flossing is Essential for Healthy Gums

We know many people find flossing a real chore, but it is important to do something to remove food and plaque bacteria from in between the teeth. With the correct technique this essential task should only take a few minutes to complete and really does help keep your gums healthy. If you can’t stand the thought of flossing in the conventional way then try out alternative methods. You can buy interdental brushes from your local chemist, and these look a little like tiny Christmas tree shaped brushes that come in a variety of different sizes. These can be used to clean in between the teeth and help to stimulate the gum tissue. Another option is to purchase a water or air flosser. These literally squirt away the debris from in between your teeth using water, or both water and air. The concept may sound strange but they are pretty effective and can be very good for anyone who finds it difficult to manipulate dental floss.

Come to Visit us regularly at Leeds City Dentalcare

Regular visits to our Leeds surgery are an essential part of maintaining your healthy gums. We will check to make sure you do not have any signs of gum disease, and can take action to ensure treatment is quick and effective. You can also help yourself by keeping an eye out for any early symptoms of gum disease.

Important things to look out for include any changes in the colour of your gums, for instance noticing that they look redder than normal, and any signs of bleeding when you brush or floss. If you notice these symptoms then do make an appointment to visit a dentist at Leeds surgery as early treatment is essential. Having your teeth professionally cleaned will help considerably, as will paying extra attention to your brushing and flossing regime. You should notice your gums begin to look healthier in just a few weeks so they can continue their important task of supporting your teeth.

Flossing is one of those essential, but often thankless tasks that we know many of our Leeds patients find tricky to do properly. It is one of those things that needs a good technique, and it can be a good idea to ask our dental hygienists or Dr David Brown or another of the dentists for advice next time you visit Leeds City Dentalcare. We realise it can be tricky to reach right into the back of the mouth or to other hard to reach places, but we assure you it is worth the effort. Failing to do so could lead to you requiring costly restorative dental work, or at the very least you may need a new filling. If you aren’t due to visit our Leeds surgery for a while then we’ve put together a few of the most common mistakes that people make when flossing as well as how to avoid them.

Using the Same Section of Dental Floss for the Whole of Your Mouth

When properly used dental floss is excellent at helping to remove plaque bacteria from in between your teeth, but it is essential to use a nice fresh section for each tooth as otherwise you’ll simply be moving the plaque bacteria to a different site in your mouth. Dental floss is pretty cheap, so make sure you break off a nice long section of approximately 18 inches so you can easily cover the whole of your mouth. Some people find it useful to wind the ends around the middle finger of each hand, so the floss can be easily wound on for each tooth.

Failing to Floss the Teeth Right at the Back of the Mouth

A lot of people make this mistake, and think it is adequate to only floss their front teeth, or those that are relatively easy to reach. You should be flossing all of your teeth, even those teeth right at the back of the mouth as pieces of food and bacteria can still become trapped in these areas.

Forcing the Floss In Between Tight Spaces

Many of our Leeds patients have teeth that are very tightly squeezed in, and this can make it very difficult to thread the floss in between each tooth. If this is the case you shouldn’t be forcing the floss down between each tooth, but should be working in gently down to the gum line. If you find it very difficult then try a different brand of floss, as some are thinner or more heavily waxed than others, making them much easier to use.

Failing to Floss because it makes Your Gums Bleed

We sometimes find that patients fail to floss because their gums bleed whenever they try. While this may be off-putting it is extremely important to persevere and to take action over any bleeding. Healthy gums do not bleed when flossed as the gum tissues are strong enough to take the flossing action without reacting in this way. Bleeding is the first sign of gum disease, and it is worthwhile booking an appointment to visit our dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare for a check-up and cleaning. This should help remove infection from your gums, and our hygienists can also help you improve your oral hygiene routine to stop the bleeding while flossing. If you follow their advice then you should notice significant improvements within a couple of weeks.

Failing to Think About Which Teeth You Have Flossed

We know it isn’t the most scintillating of tasks, but it is important to keep track of which teeth you have flossed and those still left to do. Approaching it methodically helps a lot. You may have heard the saying that you should only floss the teeth you want to keep, well unfortunately it is true.

If you are addicted to cigarettes then you may well find yourself reaching for your first smoke within just a few minutes of waking up. However new research has found that doing this could double your risk of developing oral cancer or lung cancer compared to those smokers who wait for at least an hour before having their first cigarette. The levels of tobacco smoke carcinogens were found to be much higher in people who smoked within a few minutes of waking up compared to those who waited at least an hour before lighting up.People who smoke first thing in the morning are likely to be more addicted to smoking than those who are able to wait a while, something that is perhaps borne out by other recent research that found people smoking early in the morning have a much harder time trying to quit the habit.

If You Smoke Make Sure You Have Regular Dental Check-ups

This is all pretty bad news if you are a smoker, and if you’re finding it extremely difficult to kick the habit. Oral cancer is a real problem in the UK, and smoking is known to be a risk factor. If you do smoke then it’s doubly important to make sure you visit Leeds City Dentalcare at regular intervals for check-ups with Dr David Brown or another dentist at the surgery. Checks for oral cancer are an important part of your regular appointments and could help save your life. Our dentist in Leeds will closely examine all your oral tissues, including your tongue and the inside of your cheeks to check for any colour changes, or any unexplained sore patches or roughened or thickened areas that may indicate the early signs of this disease. When caught early enough, the survival rates for oral cancer are extremely good, but one of the problems is that these early symptoms are very easy to miss.

Carry Out Regular Self-Examinations at Home

In between regular dental check-ups in Leeds you can also help yourself by carrying out self-examinations every month. Try to get into the habit of examining your tongue and the tissues in your mouth for any signs of abnormalities. Your mouth tissues should be a healthy pale pink colour, and shouldn’t have any white or red patches. You can also gently feel around in your mouth for any changes to the texture or thickness of the tissues. Other symptoms to be aware of include:

• Sores or ulcers that fail to heal within a reasonable amount of time
• Having unexplained bleeding in your mouth
• Experiencing difficulty in chewing or swallowing
• Noticing your voice has changed or that you have a chronic sore throat
• Noticing your teeth fit together slightly differently
• Having any areas of unexplained numbness or pain in your mouth or neck area

Although it may be difficult, the best course of action is to try to quit smoking, and this is something you may wish to discuss with the dentists at our Leeds surgery. Smoking not only increases the risk of developing oral and lung cancer, but also the risk of developing gum disease. Nicotine makes it more difficult for the gum tissue to heal properly, and this can also be a problem if you are thinking about having certain dental treatments, for example dental implants. In addition giving up smoking will help keep your breath fresher. Even though these reasons are compelling, we do realise it can be extremely tricky to quit.

Sjögren’s syndrome is an auto immune disorder and is a chronic disease for which there is no known cure. It has a significant effect on oral health, and in fact the initial symptoms are often first identified by dentists during regular check-ups. This condition affects the saliva glands and other glands that produce moisture in the body and can lead to dryness developing in the eyes and mouth. It’s something that tends to affect women who are nearing the menopause, and although the exact cause of the Sjögren’s syndrome isn’t known, it’s thought it could be linked to hormone levels. However some studies have also looked at genetic links and whether or not it may be triggered by a virus. This condition can sometimes run in families, and it may also be associated with other health problems in particular lupus, scleroderma or rheumatoid arthritis.

If you think you might be at risk of developing this condition than it’s worth discussing it with Dr David Brown or another dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare. One of the first symptoms is experiencing a lack of saliva for several months, and being unable to attribute this dryness to any other reasons such as prescription medications or other diseases. Other symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome include unexplained muscle pain, a feeling of fatigue and experiencing numbness or tingling in the extremities.

Sjögren’s syndrome is a condition that can affect numerous parts of the body, and it can even affect the pancreas and liver. If this should happen then there’s a greater chance that cancer could develop in the lymph tissue. Lymphoma can occur in the minor and major saliva glands and can cause them to become enlarged and painful. Additional symptoms include unexplained weight loss, having itchy skin or noticing red patches on the skin, having unexplained fever and suffering from night sweats. However these symptoms can just as easily be a symptom of other illnesses or infections so it is important to get a proper diagnosis.

Alleviating the Oral Symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome

If you do have this syndrome is important to make sure you get treatment for your dry mouth or xerostomia. Although there is no cure there are lots of things our Leeds surgery can do to help you feel more comfortable. For instance we can prescribe or suggest saliva substitutes to help replace some of the moisture in your mouth, and it can help to make sure you keep well hydrated. Some of our patients in Leeds find it helpful to suck on sugar-free sweets, or to chew sugar-free gum, especially gum containing xylitol as this can help reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth.

One of the major problems with having a lack of saliva is that it does increase the risk of oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease. Saliva has a protective effect on the mouth as it helps to keep it clean, and washes away some of the bacteria present in the mouth. This means good oral hygiene is absolutely essential, and it’s quite possible that we might recommend you use an antibacterial mouthwash and additional fluoride treatments may also be helpful.

Visiting our Leeds surgery at regular intervals will enable us to keep a close eye on your oral health. We’ll be able to treat any early signs of dental diseases much more easily. It’s especially important to try to prevent gum disease or periodontal disease, as people with Sjögren’s syndrome can find it more difficult to fight off infections due to the way this condition affects the immune system.

Gum disease is one of those conditions that is often overlooked, but it can be extremely serious if not treated in a timely manner. It’s often referred to as being a silent disease as the early symptoms are easily missed. If your gums bled slightly when you last brushed them you may have dismissed this sign as being caused by something else, or perhaps you thought you brushed too hard. However this is one of the first symptoms that something is wrong, as healthy gums should not bleed when brushed and flossed normally. This is a signal that you need to do something about your oral health, and that perhaps you’re overdue for a visit to Leeds City Dentalcare. Additional symptoms of early gum disease include noticing your gums are a little bit puffier than normal, and they may appear red in colour. Healthy gums should be a nice pale pink colour and should fit snugly around your teeth.

Seeking treatment at our Leeds surgery sooner rather than later will enable us to treat the early signs of gum disease with relatively little fuss. It’s likely that you’ll just need to have your teeth professionally cleaned by one of our dental hygienists. You’ll be given lots of help and instructions on how to look after your teeth at home, and with extra vigilance this should be enough to see an improvement in your gums within just a few weeks.

If you choose to ignore these early signs then it’s likely the disease will develop into periodontitis. This is a much more serious condition and will require you to attend our Leeds surgery much more frequently for treatment to help hold it in check.

Factors That Can Increase the Likelihood of Gum Disease

While one of the major causes of gum disease is simply a lack of oral hygiene, there are certain factors that can increase the risk of developing this disease. These factors include:

• Hormonal changes that occur during puberty, during monthly menstruation, in pregnancy and during the menopause can make the gums more sensitive towards plaque bacteria. These are the bacteria that cause gum disease.
• Certain illnesses can increase the susceptibility of the gums towards developing gum disease. These illnesses include diabetes as this affects the body’s ability to control blood sugar levels, and HIV and cancer as these affect the body’s immune system.
• Certain medications can also increase the risk through causing a condition called dry mouth. This is where insufficient saliva is produced to help keep the mouth clean and healthy. Some drugs can also cause the gums to grow abnormally, increasing the risk of gum disease as it’s more difficult to keep the gums clean.
• Smokers are more at risk of developing gum disease as the smoking affects the body’s ability to heal the gum tissue.
• Gum disease may also be down to genetics, as anyone with a family history of dental disease may be more susceptible towards developing this condition.

Regular Dental Care Can Increase the Odds in Your Favour

Even if you are more at risk of developing gum disease you can greatly help to decrease this risk through making sure you have excellent dental care. Visiting Dr David Brown or another dentist in Leeds will help ensure your gums are kept healthy and free from disease. Regular dental hygiene appointments are essential for helping to remove hardened plaque bacteria from around the teeth, lessening the risk of inflammation and infection. Regular dental care at home through daily brushing and flossing will definitely help stack the odds in your favour.

Having an abscessed tooth is no fun, as it can be pretty painful and is definitely something that will require urgent treatment with one of our dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare. An abscess can be due to tooth decay, or it may be due to trauma to the tooth that has resulted in it becoming broken or chipped.

If the tooth enamel has been damaged in some way then this will enable bacteria to enter the tooth and to penetrate the pulp area of the tooth, causing infection. The pulp contains all the nerves of the tooth, and if it becomes infected it can be very uncomfortable. The bacteria causepus to develop in the pulp as the body tries to fight the infection. Eventually the pulp may die, and this can result in the toothache subsiding although the abscess may continue to develop in the root of the tooth. Without treatment at our Leeds surgery this abscess can spread and can even destroy the tissues surrounding the infected tooth.

The main symptom that indicates you could be developing an abscess is having a severe toothache that can manifest itself as a throbbing or shooting pain. Additional symptoms of an abscess include:

• Having bad breath
• Having an unpleasant or bitter taste in the mouth
• Feeling generally unwell or noticing the lymph glands and neck are swollen
• Noticing your jaw is swollen in the area nearest to the infected tooth
• Experiencing pain when biting or chewing
• Experiencing increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods
• Developing a fever

If you think you may have an abscess then it’s worth booking an appointment at Leeds City Dentalcare, even if your toothache subsides as there has to be some underlying reason as to why it occurred and this will require investigation.

Diagnosis of a Dental Abscess

Diagnosis of a dental abscess is relatively straightforward. Dr David Brown or another of our dentists will examine your mouth and will test your tooth by tapping it gently to see if it is infected. You may be asked to bite your teeth together to see if this is painful. The condition of your gums is also a good indication as to whether or not you have a dental abscess. It might be necessary to take dental x-rays to see how far the infection has spread.

Treating a Dental Abscess

The main aim of treating a dental abscess is to remove the infection and to try to save the tooth. It might be necessary to drain the abscess through making a small incision in the gum tissue, or the infection may be able to be cleared through having root canal therapy. You may need to have a root canal treatment even if the infection has subsided as it will be necessary to remove the dead tissue from the pulp. If the infection is severe you might require antibiotics to help fight it, and over-the-counter painkillers can help to relieve any discomfort and pain. Unfortunately some teeth may be too infected to save, and it is sometimes necessary to extract the tooth to drain the abscess. This is one reason why it’s essential to seek treatment sooner rather than later, as prompt action can usually save the tooth.

Avoiding Tooth Abscesses

You can lessen your risk of developing a tooth abscess by making sure you visit Leeds City Dentalcare at regular intervals for check-ups and professional cleanings. This will ensure any signs of trauma or decay in your teeth can be picked up quickly and treated before bacteria can penetrate the tooth, causing infection. It also helps immensely if you follow a good daily oral hygiene routine which should include thoroughly brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day.

Osteoporosis is incredibly common and affects millions of people throughout the world. It’s estimated to affect approximately 1/3 of women over the age of 65. It’s a condition that tends to affect more women than men, especially after the menopause as diminished oestrogen levels can increase the rate of bone loss. It’s also something that can affect extremely thin young women who may have eating disorders that result in insufficient oestrogen being produced. People with untreated coeliac disease may also develop osteoporosis.

One of the problems with osteoporosis is that there are few warning signs that it is developing, as it’s often called a silent disease. It results in a decrease in bone density, and can even weaken bones to the point that they will break under normal stresses. However one of the early signs that osteoporosis may be developing is a loss of bone in the jaw, something dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare may be able to detect during a regular checkup, especially if they take dental x-rays. Signs of that osteoporosis may be affecting your mouth include noticing:

• Teeth have become loose
• You have developed gum disease
• Eating and speaking has become more difficult
• Dentures may fit less securely

It is important to try to maintain bone mass from an early age, as it tends to peak during the early 20s. Making sure you eat plenty of foods containing calcium can help, as can weight-bearing exercises.

Tell Your Dentist If You Are Taking Medication for Osteoporosis or are Receiving Cancer Therapy

People who do have osteoporosis may be given medication to help strengthen their bones, called antiresorptive agents. While these can be quite effective they can bring about an additional problem as they have been associated with an extremely rare but serious condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw. This condition can cause extensive damage to the jawbone. Most people taking antiresorptive agents for osteoporosis will take them orally, and the risk of developing osteonecrosis is extremely low. In this case there is probably no need to avoid or postpone any dental treatment, but it is important to let our dental staff know you are taking these drugs.

However this group of drugs is also given to people receiving cancer therapy, and the doses tend to be much higher. In this case the risk is more substantial, so if you know you are likely to need these drugs then it is worth asking Leeds City Dentalcare for advice before you begin treatment. It is well worth having a check-up and making sure you have all essential dental treatment completed before taking these drugs. This way Dr David Brown or other dentists at our Leeds surgery can develop a treatment plan for you that will help keep your mouth healthy while you are receiving cancer therapy.

Symptoms of osteonecrosis can include noticing:

• Gums that have been injured or treated aren’t healing properly
• Developing a swelling or infection in the gums or jaw
• Some teeth may have become loose
• Experiencing a sense of heaviness in the jaw
• Some bone may become exposed

It is important to emphasise that osteonecrosis is very rare, and if you have been prescribed antiresorptive agents for osteoporosis then you shouldn’t stop taking them. The risk of bone fractures and weakness is far higher than the risk of developing osteonecrosis.

Women do need to take extra care of their dental health at certain times throughout their lifetime. The reason for this is due to the unique hormonal changes that occur. These changes can affect the blood supply to the gum tissue, but also affect the way the body responds to toxins produced by plaque bacteria. This can mean women become more susceptible towards developing gum disease or periodontal disease at certain times during their lifetime, and may also become more susceptible towards other oral health problems. We obviously like to see all our patients regularly at our surgery in Leeds, but we do urge women to pay particular attention to their oral health during these times, and to make sure they don’t miss any appointments for check-ups and professional cleanings. The times when susceptibility can increase include:

Puberty. This is due to an increase in the production of the female hormones of progesterone and oestrogen that occurs at this time. These hormones can increase the blood flow to the gums, and may change the way the gum tissue reacts to plaque bacteria. This can result in the gum tissue becoming tender, swollen and inflamed, meaning it’s more likely to bleed when brushing and flossing.

During menstruation. At this time of the month the hormone progesterone increases, and this can affect the oral cavity. Common symptoms include experiencing swollen salivary glands, or developing mouth ulcers, and a condition called menstruation gingivitis can occur a day or two before menstruation begins, resulting in bright red, swollen gums that bleed when brushed and flossed. This condition will clear up within a day or two.

Using birth control pills can increase progesterone levels which in turn can lead to inflammation in the gum tissues due to the body’s increased reaction to the toxins produced by plaque bacteria.

Pregnancy causes considerable changes in hormone levels, in particular in the level of progesterone. This means pregnant women are more prone towards developing gum disease between the second and eighth month of pregnancy. This condition is called pregnancy gingivitis. If we think you are susceptible towards developing this condition then we may recommend that you see David Brown or another of our dentists more frequently for check-ups, and that you schedule more frequent professional cleanings to help reduce the chances of developing pregnancy gingivitis.

The menopause is also a time when hormonal changes take place. In addition women may need to take extra medications at this time in their life to help combat other diseases, and these may cause changes to the oral cavity. Common problems at this time can include a burning sensation in the mouth called burning mouth syndrome, increased sensitivity to hot and cold foods, and a decrease in saliva that can result in dry mouth.

Dry mouth can increase the risk of gum disease and tooth decay as saliva is very important in helping to keep the mouth clean and moist, and it also helps to neutralise the acids produced by plaque bacteria. If you suffer from dry mouth, then it’s something we can definitely help you with here in our Leeds surgery.

Another problem that can occur during the menopause is a loss of bone density due to the fall in oestrogen levels. This decline in bone density can affect the jawbone and could eventually lead to tooth loss. One sign that this might be occurring is noticing that the gums are receding, something that also puts teeth at increased risk of tooth decay.

All these problems have the potential to be serious, but with proper dental care most can hopefully be avoided. Our dentist at Leeds City Dentalcare is able to offer advice on how to look after your teeth and gums more effectively, and regular check-ups and cleanings should ensure any potential problems are picked up quickly before they can become serious.

All of our staff here at Leeds City Dentalcare put a lot of emphasis on preventative dental treatments, as we’d much rather help you keep your teeth and gums healthy than have to treat any dental diseases. A major part of preventative dental care involves making an appointment to see one of our dental hygienists at regular intervals, preferably at the same time as your dental checkup. Dental hygiene appointments are about much more than simply cleaning your teeth, and all the hygienists are highly trained and are able to assess the condition of your mouth.

Your Hygienist Will Check to See If You Have Any Early Signs of Gum Disease

They’ll be checking the state of your teeth and gums to make sure they don’t show any early signs of disease. You can also expect them to check whether or not you have any pockets around your gums, and the depths of these will be measured with a tiny dental probe. This part is extremely important, as pocketing around your teeth can indicate the presence of gum disease or periodontal disease. Healthy teeth should have pockets of less than 3 mm in depth, and they shouldn’t really bleed when probed.

They’ll Also Scale and Polish Your Teeth

Having your teeth professionally cleaned is an important part of your hygiene visit as it helps to remove all the hard deposits of calculus or tartar that build up on your teeth in between visits. This process is called scaling, and once it is completed then they’ll polish your teeth to help remove stains. It is a really good way of helping to freshen up your smile, and you may notice your teeth looking a bit whiter afterwards, and your breath will almost certainly be a little fresher. This part of the treatment also reflects how well you’re looking after your teeth and gums. For example if you have very little hard deposits on your teeth and you’re gum tissues are healthy and firm, and are nice pale pink, then you may be recommended to return in six months’ time. If your gums show signs of disease or if you had significant deposits on your teeth then you may be recommended to see our hygienist at more frequent intervals. This may also apply if you have any other medical conditions such as diabetes that may affect your oral health, or if you are currently pregnant.

Ask Your Hygienist about the Best Way to Clean Your Teeth

Education can be an important part of your visit to our Leeds surgery, as your dental hygienist is definitely the best person to ask about how to brush and floss more effectively. They can demonstrate different techniques to you to help improve your oral health. They may also recommend certain products such as fluoride mouthwash to help strengthen your teeth. If you find it difficult to floss then we do recommend you discuss this with our dental hygienist, as they will almost certainly be able to suggest different methods of flossing, or alternative tools such as interdental brushes or maybe a WaterPik to help make the job much easier and more effective.

Your dental hygiene appointment at Leeds City Dentalcare is about far more than just having your teeth professionally cleaned, and can help set you on the path to better oral health.