Top Questions To Ask Your Dentist

If your routine check-up appointment with your dentist is coming up soon, you may want to start thinking about a few questions which you can ask your dentist, or information which you really ought to pass on to them.  Your oral health is very important, and the more information your dentist has, the better they can help you to ensure your teeth and gums stay nice and healthy.

Prior to your appointment, have a think about the following issues:

• Have you experienced any sensitivity or pain in your teeth or gums since your last visit?
•  Do your gums bleed when you are brushing your teeth?
• Are you experiencing a dry mouth, does your mouth seem to not be producing saliva as it usually does?
• Have you found that your mouth tastes or smells unpleasant?
• Write down a list of any medications you are currently taking.

By informing your dentist of any of the above issues, he or she can take extra care to find out why you may be experiencing any issues.  They can also provide you with help and guidance to nip any oral health issues in the bud before they become too serious.

Following your check up, you may find you have a few questions which you would like to ask your dentist.  For example:

• Are my teeth and gums healthy, do you have any recommendations on how I can improve on my current teeth cleaning method?
• What else can I do to help me to keep my mouth healthy?
• Are there any issues which I should mention to my GP?

Your dentist should be willing to discuss any concerns that you may have, and they should also provide recommendations on how you can improve your oral health.  If you are doing everything correctly and your teeth are nice and healthy, your dentist will no doubt advise you to keep going with your current oral care routine!

Many dental practices will also have on site dental hygienists who will be able to perform procedures such as a scale and polish as and when recommended by your dentist.  The hygienist will also be able to provide you with some handy hints on how to keep your mouth in good condition.

There are a number of reputable dentists and hygienists across the UK who are able to provide an excellent service along with useful help and advice, but if you are looking for a dentist in Knowle, feel free to visit the Smile Spa.

What Does At Home Teeth Whitening Involve?

Teeth whitening is becoming more and more popular, possibly as a result of a number of high profile celebrities undergoing treatment themselves.  Teeth naturally become stained over time, due to diet and lifestyle habits, and whiter teeth are associated with youth.  In their quest to appear younger, more and more people are trying out at home teeth whitening in order to improve their smile and achieve whiter gnashers. 

But what exactly does the treatment for at home teeth whitening involve?  Let’s take a look:

Visit your dentist

Whilst there may be DIY teeth whitening kits available online, it’s far safer to consult your dentist who will be able to advise you as to which method would be most suitable for you.  The most popular type of teeth whitening is a treatment which is carried out by you at home, but is supervised by your dentist.  You will usually need to see your dentist two or three times in order for you to be fitted with special trays which look like gum-shields.  The dentist will then show you how to apply the whitening gel into the shield which will be placed in your mouth. 

Apply the whitening gel as directed

It’s vital that you follow the dentist’s instructions very closely in order to achieve the optimum results and also to stay safe.  The gel includes a number of chemicals, so it is important that you only wear the gum-shield for the amount of time which was recommended by the dentist.  Most treatments will only take half an hour per wear but others will need to be worn overnight.

How long will the treatment take?

The length of the treatment will vary according to the current colour of your teeth and what shade you wish to achieve.  The average treatment will take between 2 and 4 weeks.  Be realistic about the final shade of white – remember that nobody has perfectly white teeth, as this would look unnatural.

More and more dentists are now offering advice on teeth whitening kits, further information can be found on the Smile Spa website.