Oral Health • Ascent Dental Care

ORAL HEALTH MAI N TAI N YOUR O RAL HEALTH

CARING for your smile Protecting one of your most valuable assets – your smile – through good oral health and regular oral hygiene visits plays an essential role in your overall health and wellbeing.

Getting into the habit of good oral hygiene and sound nutrition are the best things you can do to preserve your smile and keep it looking its best. In addition to daily brushing and flossing, and trips to the dentist, it’s important to schedule regular oral hygiene visits with our dental hygienists so we can help prevent many of the problems that lead to tooth decay and loss.

At Ascent Dental Care, our aim is to help keep your smile healthier and brighter for longer, refreshing your teeth and helping you keep your smile in tip top condition for a lifetime.

WHY is good oral hygiene important?

Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental cavities and gum disease and has also been linked to an increased risk of health problems such as heart disease and diabetes . Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a constant commitment and the earlier you learn to adopt proper oral hygiene habits the easier it will be to avoid dental problems and long-term health issues.

WHAT are common dental problems?

Prevention is better than cure. If you experience any of the following oral health problems, you should make sure you come and see us as soon as possible.

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Bleeding or swollen gums after brushing or flossing

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Chronic bad breath

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Sores or ulcers that don’t heal in a week or two

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Loose, cracked or broken teeth

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Pain and/or toothache

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Pain when you bite or chew

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Jaw clicking

BRUSH UP on your oral health To improve your oral hygiene you’ll need to take small steps that build lasting good habits. Start by freshening up your dental know-how with our top tips. Use these and the recommendations of your dentist and hygienist to feel confident that you’re doing everything necessary towards a more effective oral hygiene routine.

Floss once a day with dental floss or interdental sticks

Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste Wait 30 minutes to eat after using mouthwash

Manual or electric toothbrush? Either are fine Don’t share your toothbrush Change your toothbrush every 3 months Don’t use mouthwash straight after brushing

Never brush straight after a meal – wait 1 hour Spit don’t rinse after brushing, so fluoride stays on your teeth for longer

Maintain a healthy diet

Keep your sugar intake low to limit the risk of tooth decay and other health factors such as obesity.

Recommended daily sugar intake

Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

Drink lots of water and avoid fizzy drinks

Avoid smoking and tobacco products

4-5 years 5 cubes

7-10 years 6 cubes

11+ years 7 cubes

HEALTHY GUMS = healthy teeth Healthy gums are the foundation of a beautiful, long-lasting smile. Your gums (or gingiva) act as a foundation, anchor and firm base in which healthy teeth will thrive. If gums are well maintained, with both professional cleaning and a robust home care regime, there is no reason why your teeth cannot last you a lifetime.

WHAT is gum disease?

However, periodontal or gum disease is a very common condition and most people will experience it at some point in their lives. It’s important to recognise the signs and understand the different stages, so that preventive measures and recommended treatment plans can be put in place.

Gums will become inflamed and can easily bleed during brushing. Although the gums may be irritated, the teeth are still firmly planted in their sockets. No irreversible bone or other tissue damage has occurred at this stage.

Gum disease (gingivitis) is gum inflammation and usually happens before periodontitis (gum disease) – although, not all gingivitis leads to periodontitis.

An infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place, gingivitis is normally caused by poor brushing and flossing habits that allow plaque (a sticky film of bacteria) to build up on the teeth and harden.

WHAT is periodontal disease?

If gum disease is left untreated, it can develop into advanced periodontitis and eventual tooth loss.

In this scenario, the inner layer of the gum and bone pull away from the teeth and form pockets, which collect debris and can become infected.

Eventually the bone and connective tissues that hold teeth in place break down. When this happens, teeth are no longer held in place, they become loose and tooth loss occurs.

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PERIODONTITIS Inflammation of the gums

Advanced bone loss Deep pocket

Pocket Bone destruction

The early stage of periodontal disease plaque inflame the gums and bleed easily

Pockets and moderate bone loss

Severe bone loss and deep pockets tooth is in danger of falling out

DON’T ignore the signs Most people will get gum disease at some point in their lives and although there are many signs and symptoms, some are very mild in the early stages of the disease and can often go unnoticed. But without treatment, it can turn into bigger problems for your mouth.

Signs and symptoms of gum disease can include: •

Swollen or puffy gums

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Bright red, dusky red or purplish gums

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Gums that feel tender when touched Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing

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Noticeable presence of plaque or tartar

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Persistent bad breath

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Loose teeth or loss of teeth

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Receding gums

Prevent & treat gum disease The good news is that gum disease is largely preventable through good oral hygiene and here at Ascent Dental Care we have an experienced hygiene team dedicated to providing healthy gum treatment and advice.

Although dental cleaning is not a treatment for gum disease, it can be a preventive measure to stop the condition from progressing. You can also have scaling and root planning, which is a deep-cleaning, nonsurgical procedure and if the condition is more serious, you may have to have periodontal or gum surgery with one of our periodontists.

Our experienced hygiene and periodontal team can create a bespoke periodontal treatment and maintenance package designed to keep the symptoms of periodontal disease at bay and prevent further damage and tooth loss.

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Remember healthy smiles aren’t just nicer to look at, good oral hygiene can also make your whole body healthier too.

So, whether you’ve had dental work such as implants or orthodontics, or you simply want to ensure your smile stays healthy, be sure to book in for a regular appointment with one of our hygienists.

Our hygienists are not only qualified to give your teeth a professional deep clean, removing plaque from areas that your toothbrush can miss, but are also experts in helping get your oral care routine back on track.

From brushing and flossing we’ll teach you the optimum oral health techniques and provide nutritional advice so that you can easily maintain your oral health at home and help prevent tooth decay. Our hygienists are also trained to spot the signs of gum disease.

BENEFITS of professional hygiene treatments

Remove stubborn stains If you drink tea, coffee or red wine you might experience staining. And if you neglect your oral hygiene, the staining will be exacerbated by tartar. Your hygienist can combat this with a scale and polish so you have a high shine.

Freshen breath Bad breath is a common concern. In the majority of cases, bad breath can be treated with your hygienist. We will listen to your concerns and help establish a robust hygiene routine that you can stick to at home, providing tailored advice and helping you choose the right products suited to your needs and lifestyle.

Eat and smile well Having a healthy diet can help improve your oral health. Cut down on sugar and acid which are bad for the teeth and have a balanced diet of protein, fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates and calcium-rich dairy. Speak to our hygienists for the latest lifestyle and nutrition advice.

WHAT happens at a dental hygienist appointment?

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First, we’ll review your medical and dental history, ask questions around lifestyle habits such as smoking and diet, as well as discuss your current oral hygiene regime and any concerns you may have.

We will examine your teeth and gums, checking for any irregularities, bleeding, early signs of gum disease, or receding gums, which is an indicator of periodontal disease.

We will examine where the biggest buildup of plaque and tartar is and if your tooth enamel is healthy, before discussing our findings with you and determining what treatment is needed.

Your treatment may include a professional clean, also known as a scale and polish. No matter how thorough you are about cleaning your teeth, there are plenty of hard-to-reach areas where bacteria can build up and will require a professional clean with our airflow jet polishing.

Before you leave, your hygienist will advise you on the best way to keep your teeth and gums healthy and let you know if there are any dietary changes you’ll need to make to better look after your oral health.

Fast, effective and gentle cleaning.

Your comfort is of paramount importance and airflow polishing at Ascent Dental Care can be used to give your teeth a gentle yet powerful deep clean. With this high-tech system, a combination of high-pressured jet water, air and fine particles of sodium bicarbonate are gently blasted onto the enamel of your teeth to remove stubborn stains and plaque and tartar. With no direct contact, heat and vibration, air polishing can effectively clean and brighten your teeth, leaving you with a sparkly fresh “healthy mouth” feeling.

Benefts • Gentle – less abrasive than traditional hand scaling • Effective - tackles plaque and cleans thoroughly around the gum pockets, helping to lower the chances of gum disease • Brightens teeth - removes tough stains and complements whitening treatment • Refreshing - you’ll leave feeling refreshed and with a sparkling smile, plus it tastes nice too

Benefits

SMILE maintenance We understand that maintaining your smile is an investment in your long-term dental health. The ability to budget for your routine dental care means long-term peace of mind and the increased likelihood of a healthier smile for life.

We have found that most patients who join one of our monthly membership plans will enjoy a much healthier and disease-free mouth. You are encouraged to attend for regular health checks and the benefits of easy monthly direct debits will mean there are no unexpected bills on the day of your dental visit.

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More cost-effective than pay-as-you-go

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10% discount off non-specialist dental treatments

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Worldwide dental A&E cover

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Regular visits reduce your risk of requiring invasive treatment

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Tailored payment plans reduce the risk of unexpected dental bills

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Easy monthly direct debit payments.

Explore our range of membership plans!

Happy Smile maintenance plan

Preventative plan

Hygiene plan

Maintenance plan

LOUGHBOROUGH

MALVERN

66 Park Road

143 Barnards Green Road

1 Arden Building

57 Albert Rd

Loughborough, LE11 2HH

Malvern, WR14 3LT

Dorridge, B93 9HH

Tamworth, B79 7JN

0330 9 125 135

SOLIHULL

Periodontal care plan

ascentdental.co.uk

TAMWORTH