Prevention
Rosemary wants to give you the best advice and treatment to help you maintain a healthy smile. This includes Oral hygiene advice, diet advice and where necessary treatment.
The key to preventing both dental decay and gum disease is to get rid of plaque effectively. Plaque contains bacteria and is constantly forming around the teeth, especially around the necks and in between the teeth.
It is very difficult to remove plaque from teeth, tooth brushing is often not enough, it is our job to show you how to use dental floss and inter-dental brushes so that you have healthy gums.
A healthy mouth has firm, pink gums that don't bleed when probed, or brushed, although early stages of gum disease may not be painful you may be unaware that you have a problem.
Unfortunately gum disease can progress without you noticing until there has been significant loss of the bone that anchors the teeth in place. However, the disease develops very slowly in most people, and if diagnosed early it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.
At your dental health check you will have the 'cuff' of gum around each tooth measured to see if there is any sign that periodontal disease has started. If plaque has been allowed to accumulate around your teeth it gradually hardens and you are no longer able to remove it with just a toothbrush.
Hard plaque is called calculus and is what is removed by the dentist or hygienist when you have your teeth scaled and cleaned..
