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Why a Regular Dental Check Up with your Dentist are so Important

A regular Dental Check-Up with your dentist provides peace of mind, as well as maximising your appearance

 

Putting off a visit to the dentist is something that we all have experience of, yet we should all try to go on a regular basis. Many people remember childhood visits which can play on their minds, but it’s important to remember that dentistry has come a long way, and uncomfortable visits are largely a thing of the past. The reality is that if you take care of your teeth, your dental check-up will probably be just that and nothing more.

 

The good news is that 8 out of 10 Irish adults are entitled to a free examination through either PRSI or Medical Card schemes. Further cover is available for those with dental insurance, which is becoming increasingly popular in Ireland and allows a greater focus on prevention.

 

Some people have the impression that seeing the dentist can be put off if nothing is visibly or physically wrong. However, it’s important to note that most dental issues don’t start to cause pain until they are at an advanced stage. The key here is to ensure that your dentist sees you for a regular dental check-up before any small issues develop into more serious (and costly) ones.

 

One of the benefits of seeing a trusted, experienced dentist is the chance to maximise your dental health and, by extension, your appearance. According to the British Dental Journal, “people are perceived more favourably over a range of judgments, including numerous personality traits, when they have normal dentition as opposed to abnormal tooth colour (caused by caries or severe dental fluorosis) or tooth arrangement”.

 

Perception is an important thing in any walk of life, be it personal or professional. Clean and visibly healthy teeth are something that we can generally all enjoy with minimal effort once we brush and floss regularly and see our dentist once every six months or once a year.

 

Getting into the habit of seeing your dentist regularly will also ensure you never have to worry about how your teeth are looking. If you have children, it’s also a good idea to lead by example and reinforce the need for them to look after their teeth as well as they grow older.

 

So, when should you go to your dentist other than your regular dental check-up? Below are some of the symptoms that should have you booking an appointment with your local Dental Care Ireland practice for your treatment needs straight away.

 

  • Sensitive teeth: this can be the result of tooth decay or cavities caused by not brushing and flossing regularly, and consuming too many sugary foods and drinks.
  • Bleeding gums after flossing: a few specks of blood in your saliva after flossing is normal (especially if you haven’t flossed in a while), but if you are seeing quite a bit, it could be an early sign of gum disease and should be treated as soon as possible.
  • Long-term bad breath: this can be the result of tooth decay, a build-up of bacteria in your mouth or tongue, or even oral cancer. Using mouthwash to disguise the issue won’t help resolve it.
  • Mouth sores: these can be uncomfortable, and could be signs of cold sores or oral thrush. Your dentist is ideally placed to advise you on their management or treatment if needed.
  • Pain: it may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people put off dealing with a sore tooth or jaw. If you are experiencing pain that makes you uncomfortable, see your dentist.

 

Of course there is another reason to see your dentist, and that is if you are unhappy with your smile or your teeth in general. Today, no one need worry about having to tolerate bad teeth if they don’t want to. Trusted dentists provide a range of treatments and patient-focused care to offer you a winning smile, such as teeth whitening, orthodontics or dental implants. For a list of specialist treatments, see our website

 

Regular attendance at your dental practice gives you easy access to professional dental care, advice and treatment. Together with our experienced clinical team, we will minimise the likelihood of costly treatment later on, giving you and your family the peace of mind that comes with attending a trusted health professional. Click here to find your nearest Dental Care Ireland practice.

 

If an existing Dental Care Ireland patient refers a friend to a Dental Care Ireland practice, the referred patient receives a €20 discount off their first visit and the referring/existing patient gets a €20 credit applied to their account at Dental Care Ireland. See dentalcareireland.ie for more terms and conditions, prices, and contact details for our practices.

 

To Floss or Not to Floss?

To Floss or Not to Floss?

Earlier in the summer media reports suggested that the health claims for dental flossing were unproven due to a lack of long-term studies. The issue received widespread media attention and caused a lot of confusion among the general public. The question remained To Floss or not to Floss?

According to Dr Kieran Davitt, Group Clinical Advisor, Dental Care Ireland, while the media reports pointed to a lack of long-term studies or evidence to prove that flossing was effective in reducing dental decay, from a clinical point of view, “every dentist and every hygienist would notice a big difference in a patient’s oral health” if they are flossing regularly.

Flossing reduces decay but it will also improve your gum health as well, Dr Davitt stated.

According to Dr Davitt reports questioning the effectiveness of flossing have been a little misleading.

“From a clinical point of view we can tell the difference if a patient is flossing…it will reduce bleeding in the gums and the gums will be in much better shape. It makes sense if food is caught in between back teeth you need to remove it,” he stated.

Dr Davitt said he wanted to reassure patients and encourage them to continue to floss once a day as it reduces dental cavities and improves gum health.

He said while there are various ways to floss, the standard method involved winding standard floss around your index fingers, placing it between the teeth and move it up and down a number of times.

“There are other types of floss like flosettes that some patients prefer because they have a handle on them so they can get into back teeth a little bit better, but it is up to the individual. Sometimes the floss on a handle or the flosettes can be a little bit more expensive, so if you can get used to the standard tape, the standard floss, it is not as expensive,” Dr Davitt explained.

Another option is interdental brushes, which look like tiny bottle brushes. These come in different sizes depending on the interdental space.

“Sometimes for patients the space in between the teeth might be a little bit wider and if you are flossing, then it probably isn’t as effective in some of those spaces.  If you have spaces between back teeth sometimes the interdental brushes are a bit more effective. Whereas if you have front teeth that are very tight together, it would be difficult to get an interdental brush in there, so you are better off with floss,” he added.

According to the Dental Health Foundation Ireland, periodontal or gum disease is a pathological inflammatory condition of the gum and bone support surrounding the teeth. Most Irish adults suffer from some form of periodontal disease: based on the most recent national oral health survey, only 18 per cent of 16–24 year olds, 8 per cent of 35–44 year olds and 7 per cent of older people aged 65 years and over have healthy gums.

The two most common periodontal diseases are: gingivitis – inflammation of the gum at the necks of the teeth, and periodontitis – inflammation affecting the bone and tissues of the teeth.

As Dr Davitt stated regular flossing can help to keep your gums healthy and while this is very important for your overall oral health, it can be equally important for your overall physical health as well.

The link between oral health and overall physical health has been well proven with research suggesting that gum disease may increase the risk of a number of health conditions including stroke, heart disease and diabetes.

“When people present to us with gum disease we stress to them that the first issue here is the gum disease and you are at risk of losing your teeth or losing gum attachment, but there is the risk of cardiovascular disease as well. You really should be looking at your overall health and systemic health. If somebody comes in with gum disease there is an increased risk of cardiovascular disease as well,” Dr Davitt stated.

According to Dr Davitt there are a number of systemic diseases that can affect gum health and these include diabetes.

“Anyone with diabetes would be much more prone to gum disease. Somebody with diabetes whether it is type 1 or type 2 should be attending a dentist or hygienist for regular check ups and cleanings”.

According to Dr Davitt the main take home message from the great floss debate would be not to be put off by the recent reports and to continue to floss every day.

“Every dentist would still recommend that you should be brushing at least twice and day and flossing once a day. Absolutely, we would still recommend flossing.”