Advice on Dental issues

If you have any questions which you would like us to include in this section, please email them to mail@wholetooth.co.uk.

Question 1 - My Gums bleed when I brush my teeth, am I brushing too hard?

Answer - When Plaque( the white bacterial film) is left behind on the gum margins( where the tooth meets the gum), the gum becomes inflamed( red and swollen). When the gum is in this state, it can bleed at the slightest touch, including brushing.

Therefore to answer your question, you are not brushing too hard, but not well enough. Make sure that you brush on the gum margin, and ignore any bleeding which you will get for the first few days. As the irritant plaque is removed, the gum will become healthier, and the bleeding will stop. The appearance of your gums will also be pink and less puffy.

Question 2- I brush my teeth thoroughly. Is this enough or should I be flossing as well?

Answer- No Matter how well you brush your teeth, by not flossing, you are missing a third of your tooth surfaces. This is  bit like having a bath, and not washing above the chest!. Most of the damage is done by plaque is between the teeth.

Flossing should be a part of your tooth cleaning routine, and should be done thoroughly 2-3 times per week. Use a good quality floss or tape, or even a floss pik. clean the plaque off in between the teeth by moving the floss up and down against the tooth surface. It is often more pleasant to floss before tooth brushing, Floss right down to the gum margin, as this is where most of the plaque sits. If any bleeding occurs, this is because the gum is inflamed, due to the plaque, and this will get better as the plaque is removed.

Flossing may feel like a chore initially, but as you see all the plaque come out, you will feel the effort worthwhile. Eventually, it will become as routine as your tooth brushing.

Question 3 - How do your prices compare to an NHS Dental Practice?

Answer-  Most NHS Dental practices carry out an examination on the nhs, but then carryout the rest of the treatment on a private basis. Often these private prices are far higher than our regular prices. Many times, patients are not informed that these prices are not NHS prices.

Therefore going to an NHS dentist for adult NHS dental care does not always mean that you are getting cheap treatment.  If you are paying more than £44.60 for band 2 treatments, then you are paying for private dental treatment, either Knowingly or unknowingly.

Many patients have the perception, that  going to an NHS dentist is good value. However, this is not the case. The affordable, non NHS dental practices, are better equipped, allow more time for treatments, allowing for higher quality treatments, and better management of nervous patients. In addition to this, they have price transparancy, so that patients are aware exactly how much they are paying, and what for.

Question 4- Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual one?

Answer- If you brush well with a manual toothbrush then there is no need to change to an electric one. (Ask your dentist or hygienist at your next visit how well you are brushing or get some disclosing tablets to see for yourself.) In some cases there are areas that are hard to reach in a mouth such as wisdom teeth or teeth leaning back, in which case an electric toothbrush, due to the smaller head, may be recommended. Other times when an electric toothbrush may be beneficial is if you brush too hard or "scrub" your teeth. The side to side scrubbing action is not as effective at removing plaque and can cause other problems such as gum recession and tooth abrasion. The cleaning action of an electric toothbrush is circular which removes plaque more effectively and will also tell you if you are brushing to hard as the head will stop rotating. Also, an electric toothbrush removes bacteria more effectively thus preventing reformation as quickly.

Question 5- My teeth are really sensitive. How can I help this?

Answer- Sensitivity can be caused by a number of reasons including most commonly receding gums, presence of bacteria, erosion of enamel or presence of decay. If you clean well by brushing and flossing twice a day and your teeth are still sensitive try changing to a sensitive toothpaste. You can also use sensitive toothpaste as an ointment by applying to a dry tooth/area before you go to bed. Sensitive toothpastes have ingredients that plug up the little holes in the tooth surface dampening the nerve response, which would otherwise cause sensitivity.

Question 6- Do I really need to floss?

Answer- If I could make it compulsory I would! If you do not floss you miss cleaning 1/3 of your tooth surfaces. It's like having a shower every day and never washing above your shoulders. You just wouldn't do it! We all know that initially flossing is fiddly, sometimes uncomfortable and your gums bleed but stick with it. It gets easier and if you do it regularly your gums won't bleed, it won't be uncomfortable, your gums will be healthy and you won't lose your teeth! There are different types of floss with handles to make it easier to use too.

Question 7- Does tooth whitening cause sensitivity?

Answer- In some cases it can cause sensitivity initially but this settles after a couple of days. With our tooth whitening system you are completely in control. If it's sensitive you can stop and put some sensitive toothpaste in your tray and wear that instead of the bleaching gel for a day or two. Then start whitening again.