It is Christmas eve and the big day is nearly here. Here are some use useful tips to avoid any dental disasters on Christmas day (when all dentists are closed!):

1. Avoid hard, crunchy sweets especially if you have large fillings or have had extensive dentistry

2. Drink from a cup or plastic glass rather than a bottle. An inadvertent knock could fracture an incisor! 

3. Drink responsibly- falling over after a few too many may ruin your Christmas smile 

4. If you grind your teeth at night please and have a night guard, please wear it! 

5. Clean your teeth properly after indulging in all of those lovely treats. Cleaning in between teeth is especially important. 

We are open today until 12pm, so if you do have a dental disaster this morning, please feel free to call us.

For those dentists out there who are curious about what is acceptable when fitting your indirect restorations such as crowns, bridges, implant crowns and bridges, inlays and onlays, here are some useful facts on marginal fitting: Quality ratings for marginal fitting:

1. Clinically excellent: no gap; smooth transition between margin and tooth; probe does not catch 
2. Clinically acceptable: space of 150 µm; slight probe catching 
3. Clinically unsatisfactory: space > 150 µm - 250 µm; probe penetrates into the gap, but no dentine exposed.
4. Clinically poor: space > 250 µm; probe penetrates into the gap and dentine exposed. 

It is possible to use probes with a tip size of 250um and therefore check the fitting with accuracy prior to cementation.

It is that time of year again- back to school. The summer holidays are over and the new school year begins. Oh well, never mind, it will be half term soon! Here are some useful tips on maintaining your child's oral health for the new school year:

1. Avoid sugary drinks. Fizzy drinks are especially bad. Did you know that a can of cola contains 4 tablespoons of sugar. Yes, that is correct- tablespoons not teaspoons.
2. Avoid snacking on processed snacks such as the weird and wonderful shaped crisps. These can be very sticky and difficult to remove. They also contain starch. A recipe for tooth decay.
3. Brush twice a day for 2 minutes. A timer is useful.
4. Use a fluoride mouthwash after brushing especially at night time. There are many children's versions available. They key is not to swallow- gargle for 30 second and spit. Do not rinse with water afterwards.
5. Use plaque disclosing tablets. These are ideal at night to avoid a pink mouth at school!
6. Visit the dentist and hygienist twice a year. 

At Progressive Dentistry, we offer FREE children's examinations with a registered parent. Developing good dental habits at a young age is vital- prevention is better than cure.

Our dental tip of the day involves prevention, in particular reversing early decay. Did you know that in many cases dental decay starts from in between the teeth called the interdental area? If left untreated, these lesions will gradually progress and become closer to the nerve leaving you at risk of the dreaded root canal treatment. Our tip is simple - prevention is better than cure. Ensure your oral hygiene is excellent, clean properly in between the teeth using dental floss and brushes. We can also prescribe higher fluoride toothpastes to aid reversal and remineralisation of the decay. 

At Progressive Dentistry, we use state of the art digital radiography to spot early decay. Once seen, we will advise you on how to reverse the decay and monitor the areas for peace of mind. Remember - prevention is better than cure!

Are you a Juicing Fanatic? Now the festive season has started, some of my patients have told me they are trying a juicing diet to detox after Christmas party excesses, or before the inevitable over-eating starts. People are often surprised to hear the damaging effect juices can have on our teeth. A lot of juices, especially those made with fruit, are full of sugar and highly acidic. This causes a drop in pH in the mouth, which in turn can cause acid erosion which damages tooth enamel and/or decay if sustained.

Despite the possible damage, we do recognise the benefits of a good daily intake of fruits and vegetables, in particular the importance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for good gum health. Almost all vegetables are low acid, but some fruits are higher than others High Erosion Risk Fruits: Citrus Berries Peaches Pears Grapes Pineapple Moderate Erosion Risk Fruits: Figs Bananas Asian pears Dates Papaya Melons Mangoes Here are some tips to help reduce the damage that can be caused by juicing diets or high fruit intake:

1. Try to limit fruits to meal times, constant grazing causes more damage than a large amount all at once.

2. Wait at least 20 minutes after eating/drinking before brushing so you are not brushing the acid in to the teeth.

3. Drink juice through a straw and don't hold it for long in your mouth. 

4. Dilute juice with water and drink water after each juice/fruit.

5. Use a good, de sensitising toothpaste, such as Sensodyne Repair and Protect. 

6. Increase use of fluoride mouthwash such as Colgate Flourigard. GC Tooth Mousse is excellent for repairing damage when applied topically at night and left on the teeth, and also comes in some delicious fruity flavours!

Our dental tip of the week involves teeth whitening. Teeth whitening can be achieved without expensive treatments by following these simple steps: 

1. Visit the dental hygienist. Stain removal will instantly whiten your teeth and keep your gums healthy.

2. Avoid staining foods and drinks. These include coffee, strong tea especially green tea, dark berries, artificial colourings and curries.

3. Use an electric toothbrush. High quality electric brushes are far better at removing stain than manual toothbrushes.

4. Use teeth whitening strips. These are inexpensive and do not require any messy gels or impressions. Teeth whitening need not be an arduous, expensive procedure. 

Start the process and contact us to book your hygiene visit now.

At Progressive Dentistry, we believe that Dental Implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. Much like natural teeth, if you care for them well, they will last a lifetime. Keeping your implants clean is crucial for long term success. It is recommended that your hygienist performs a professional, thorough clean at least twice a year, using specific implant friendly instruments and non abrasive polish. Home care is also very important, so here are some tips for day to day cleaning: 

- Use a rechargeable electric toothbrush and concentrate on brushing the gum line thoroughly 

- An alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash will help to keep your mouth fresh and the gums in good condition

- Ask your Hygienist to show you how to clean in between the spaces around the implant, using interdental brushes and/or floss. Make sure the interdental brush fits snugly into the space, so the sides are kept plaque free.

- A water pick is a great investment to help you remove trapped debris around the implants. Ask one of our team to help you pick the model best suited to you.

Article written by Jenny Wiggins, Hygienist and Therapist at Progressive Dentistry

Our dental tip of the week is related to tooth sensitivity. If you suffer from sensitive teeth due to gum recession, then place a pea sized amount of sensitive toothpaste such as Colgate Pro Relief or Sensodyne on to your finger tip and rub this into the sensitive areas. It is important not to wash or brush away the paste so ensure that this is the last thing you do at night after your usual oral health care regime. If the sensitivity does not ease after a few days, please visit your dentist as soon as possible.

As of this month, we are starting a series of dental tips which will provide simple information on how to look after your teeth and gums. This week, we go back to basics and emphasise what we should all be doing on a regular basis:

1. Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste for two minutes. We generally advise using a good rechargeable toothbrush which has a two minute indicator. Studies have shown that our perception of two minutes is usually way off, with the average time of brushing of only 27 seconds! 

2. Floss or use another interdental aid once a day. Our recommended interdental aids are te pe brushes, wisdom sticks, piksters and Corsodyl brushes. Brushing alone with not remove all the plaque that builds up in between the teeth which is the main cause of gum inflammation and tooth decay. This is especially so when there are large fillings, crowns or other restorations such as dental implants. 

By following these tips, your oral health will improve dramatically.