Our teeth are an important part of our daily lives so they deserve as much care and attention as we can give them. That’s why we encourage starting dental care at an early age so we can be there right at the start. We’ll equip you and the family with what you need to look after your teeth at home.
Until children are old enough to brush their own teeth, it’s a family effort. It’s important for everyone in the family to know why dental health is paramount and to work together to keep all smiles healthy.
It may seem like a bit of a slog to brush your teeth twice a day, but this habit is essential to keeping your teeth clean. Clean teeth last longer. During the day and night, plaque forms on the surfaces of your teeth. The plaque contains bacteria which can attack the hard layer of the tooth called the enamel. Sugary food deposits are especially bad when it comes to bacteria as it creates acid, breaking down teeth and can create cavities.
Brushing daily removes the plaque and the bacteria, so keeps your teeth safe from any cavities. We can treat cavities with fillings, but it’s always best to prevent them from happening so your teeth stay strong.
Sugary foods may taste nice, but they are the worst for your teeth – especially fizzy drinks and sweets. Don’t worry – you don’t have to completely remove sugar from your diet, but be cautious of the harm sugar can do to your teeth – as well as your body.
Having water after eating something sugary can help keep your teeth clear of any sugary deposits.
The very best way to ensure that smiles are safe from issues like decay and gum disease is to see a dentist regularly. The sooner we can catch things, the more chance we have in keeping young smiles healthy and whole.
Seeing a dentist every six months will not only let us prevent problems, but give a steady source of helpful advice on how to brush at home and keep young teeth as healthy as possible.
We recommend that you bring your child to see a dentist from the moment teeth start to grow – at between six months and a year old. It may seem very young, but the earlier we can see how things are developing, the earlier we can spot any potential issues. It’s also good to introduce children early so they can get used to the sights and sounds of a dental practice. That way, they will feel more relaxed at future appointments as they grow up.
We can help give fresh adult teeth a hand with fissure sealants. Fissures are the grooves and pits in the back teeth. Food has a nasty habit of getting stuck and so makes them more prone to decay. A fissure sealant is a plastic coating that protects these grooves while making sure the bite surface can still do its job.
The sealant is either clear or white in colour. We apply the sealant to the tooth and then use a bright blue light to make it set. This way the setting process takes as little as 20 seconds.
Fluoride is present in most toothpastes but special children’s toothpastes are better for babies and infants because the amount of fluoride is controlled specifically for their needs.
Fluoride applications are a safe and effective way to safeguard your growing child’s teeth from developing decay. The fluoride is painted onto the surface of the child’s teeth and this helps to mineralise them.
87 Northcote Road
Battersea,
London,
SW11 6PL
Call us today on 0207 223 7096
