Preventative Dentistry

A preventative mindset is essential when it comes to looking after your teeth.

Coming in for routine dentist and hygienist appointments and practising healthy dental habits constitutes preventative dentistry. As teeth cannot self-repair, making sure you look after your teeth and gums is an extremely worthwhile practice.

Preventing gum disease

Without healthy gums, your teeth risk becoming loose as a result of your gums pulling away from your teeth. This can occur when gum disease reaches an advanced stage.

Gum disease is completely avoidable, yet it remains the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the UK. At Appoline, we will remove plaque from your gum line during hygienist appointments, using special instruments. Plaque can’t be removed at home (we strongly recommend against trying to do so as you could damage your tooth enamel and your gums), so coming to see us for routine cleanings is a really important habit to keep up.

Hygienist appointments are also a good opportunity to learn about how to look after your mouth. Your hygienist is trained to offer practical advice on brushing and flossing, which you can adopt at home to improve your oral hygiene routine.

If your hygienist identifies your diet as a possible cause of gum disease or developing problems with your gums, they may offer you some advice on swapping out high-sugar and high-acid foods for tooth-healthy foods.

Preventing decay and dental infections

The best way to think about your dentist is as a GP for your teeth. Your dentist will thoroughly examine the supporting structures within your mouth and your jaw.

FAQs

How often should I see the hygienist and the dentist?

How often you come in to see us will depend on the health of your teeth and gums, as well as your risk factors for decay and gum disease.

A person who smokes but has a low-sugar diet may need to come in for hygienist cleanings a couple of times a year and a dentist visit once a year. Meanwhile, a person with a high-sugar diet who has good gum health may require more dentist visits and fewer hygienist visits.

Once you have come in to see us, we can advise you on how often to come in and see us for both dentist appointments and hygienist appointments.

What are the symptoms of gum disease?

Gum disease can be elusive. It often doesn’t cause any symptoms right away, and in many cases, it can reach a serious stage before symptoms arise.

This said, there are some common tell-tale signs of gum disease:

• Bleeding gums when you brush and floss.
• Inflamed and red gums (healthy gums should be pink).
• Loose teeth.
• Bad breath.
• Gums that feel soft (plaque can feel furry against your gum line).
• Gum recession (when gums pull away from your teeth).
• Sensitivity – this occurs when dentin under your gums becomes exposed.

If you notice any of these symptoms persisting, please make an appointment with us right away, rather than waiting for your next routine hygienist check-up.