When dental hygiene is key to oral health

You may have heard that washing every day is not so good for you as it stops important bacteria that live on your skin being able to build up enough to protect you. This may be true, but please don’t think that it also applies to the bacteria that live in your mouth.

Dental Hygiene in Harley StreetWhile the bacteria in our mouths are harmless, and even play an important role, they can also go a bit crazy on all the sugar we eat. They feed on whatever sugars are in our mouths and when they do, they proliferate and start to build up on our teeth in a sticky film called plaque. They also give off acids and it’s these acids that cause the damage, because they are corrosive.

Acids can eat through our tooth enamel, creating tiny holes through which decay-causing bacteria and infection can enter. This is tooth decay.

The acids also attack the gums. Think how much lemon juice can hurt if you get it in a crack in the skin on your hand, and now imagine having it leaking onto your gums. It’s no wonder they get sore and inflamed and can start to bleed. This is the early stage of gum disease. In the advanced stage, the sore, swollen gums pull away from the teeth and bacterial plaque sneaks into the pockets underneath, where it starts to corrode your tooth roots and the bones holding them in place. You teeth can become loose and wobble and then fall out.

Brushing and flossing

The only way to prevent decay and gum disease is with good dental hygiene. You need to brush well for 2 minutes using a soft brush with fluoride toothpaste on it, twice a day. You also need to floss between the teeth, making sure to curve up under the gums to remove plaque. Interdental brushes are also good as you get older, to remove trapped food.

You also need to see the dental hygienist here at Harley Street Dental Clinic in Harley Street, twice a year to remove any plaque you’ve missed. Do all this and you have a good chance of keeping all your teeth all your life.

Stress and your teeth

Stress can take a big toll on our bodies. You may be aware of some common symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, or depression, but have you considered your teeth? Problems with oral health, such as teeth grinding, gum disease and dry mouth can be caused by stress. Luckily a visit to your dentist in W1, Harley Street can help to deal with stress symptoms in your mouth.

Dentist in W1Oral health stress symptoms

Problems with oral health will only get worse if you ignore them. Get to your dentist in W1 for a check if you notice anything unusual in your mouth or jaw. Here’s some examples of oral health problems related to stress:

Bruxism – teeth grinding

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, usually happens during the night whilst people are asleep. Symptoms include:

  • Teeth grinding / clenching
  • Worn, chipped or loose teeth
  • Tooth pain / sensitivity
  • Tired or tight jaw muscles
  • Jaw, neck or face pain
  • Earache / headache
  • Disrupted sleep.

Chronic dry mouth

This is when you don’t make enough saliva. We need saliva to keep our mouths healthy, free from infection, and feeling good. Dry mouth can be caused by stress, or by some medications. Symptoms include:

  • Dry / sticky mouth
  • Constant thirst
  • Sores / cracks around your mouth
  • Burning / tingling mouth or tongue
  • Dry, red, sore tongue
  • Trouble speaking or eating
  • Hoarseness
  • Dry nose
  • Sore throat
  • Bad breath.

Gum disease

Stress negatively affects your immune system. In turn this increases your risk of oral infections and gum disease. Some symptoms include:

  • Red / swollen / sore gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Receding gums
  • Loose teeth
  • Mouth sores
  • Bad breath.

Other oral health risks linked to stress

When you neglect your usual oral hygiene routines or healthy diet as a result of constantly being in a rush or preoccupied, oral health can suffer. Making time to visit your dentist in W1 can be a reminder to find a way to de-stress. It can also save you from long-term oral health problems. Visit us at Harley Street Dental Clinic to check your oral health today.

Straighten up with clear braces

It’s common for people to put up with their wonky teeth for years on end because they don’t like the idea of wearing traditional metal braces. Let’s face it, not many people want to sport a mouthful of metal for months or years. Thank goodness then that we have such things as clear braces in Harley Street. Clear braces are the modern equivalent of traditional metal braces. When they’re in your mouth, nobody will be able to see that you are wearing them. This means you will not have to feel self-conscious whilst getting your teeth straightened. There’s no reason to hold back with teeth straightening any more.

Clear Braces in Harley StreetInvisalign aligners

Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we provide our patients with clear braces in Harley Street, such as Invisalign. Invisalign is an invisible, removable, and fast-acting teeth straightening system. Gone are the days of fixed metal brackets that dig into your cheeks and tongue. Invisalign braces are custom-moulded to fit your teeth, no chunky brackets are required. Invisalign clear braces in Harley Street are made of a thin, clear, plastic. These braces, usually called aligners, look similar to the retainers people wear after having their teeth straightened with traditional metal braces. They are tailor-made according to 3D image scans taken of your mouth, so they fit perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. To move your teeth, the aligners must apply pressure in strategically placed points. When putting the aligners in for the first time you’ll notice that they feel tight. Some teeth may feel more pressure than others. Over the course of 1-2 weeks, the pressure will move your teeth and the feeling of tightness will go. At this point, it’s time to move on to the next set of aligners in the series. You’ll need a number of aligners to get your teeth straight, step by step.

Do I need Invisalign braces?

If you’re unhappy with the shape or alignment of your teeth, Invisalign clear braces in Harley Street could be the solution for you. The Invisalign teeth straightening system is great for correcting mild to medium alignment problems such as crooked, crowded or gappy teeth.

What can you find at the cosmetic dentist in Harley Street?

While general dentistry services are common knowledge (check-ups, fillings, root canals), what you might find at the cosmetic dentist in Harley Street isn’t so well known.

Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we offer the full range of dental treatments, including aesthetic ones to improve the look of the teeth and gums. Here’s a rundown of our cosmetic services:

Cosmetic Dentist in Harley StreetGum lift

This uses a laser to cut away excessive gum tissue and reveal more of the natural tooth. It treats ‘gummy smile’, and because the laser seals as it cuts, bleeding is kept to a minimum.

Veneers

These porcelain shells fit over the teeth much like false nails. A thin layer of enamel is removed from the tooth, then the veneer is bonded on top, using dental adhesive. Veneers typically last for 10 years, and are great for covering up cracks, chips, stains and small gaps.

Teeth whitening

This removes surface stains from the teeth that are caused by smoking and consuming highly pigmented food and drinks such as red wine, coffee and red berries. Teeth whitening can either be done in-clinic, which takes about an hour, or at home, over about two weeks. Either way, it’s important to talk to our cosmetic dentist in Harley Street before going ahead with teeth whitening. Over-the-counter gels maybe tempting, but because the whitening trays aren’t custom-made, as the ones you receive from us will be, there is the risk the gel will leak onto the gums, causing irritation. We can also offer a much higher concentration gel, so the treatment will be more effective.

Ikon white spot

This removes white spots from the teeth, creating a more uniform smile. It’s a gentle procedure that doesn’t require any drilling or injection. Using infiltration, the white spots are blended in with the colour of the surrounding tooth.

Smile makeover

Two or more treatments can be combined into a smile makeover. Our cosmetic dentist in Harley Street will first ask you what you would like the outcome to be, take a look at your mouth, teeth and gums as a whole, and see what series of treatments would enhance the natural beauty of your smile the most.

Tooth sensitivity

If you sometimes feel pain in your teeth whilst eating or drinking hot or cold foods or drinks, you probably have tooth sensitivity. Foods like cold crunchy apples or ice cream are enough to make any person with sensitive teeth wince. Sensitive teeth can be caused by a number of things. If you feel you have sensitive teeth you should visit your dental clinic in W1 to find out why you have the pain and treat it.

Dental Clinic in W1What causes tooth sensitivity?

Sensitive teeth make some things like brushing, eating, or drinking cause temporary pain in your mouth. There is always a reason for pain in your teeth. Often the pain is a result of:

  • Worn tooth enamel
  • Exposed tooth roots
  • Cavities
  • Cracks
  • Chips
  • Failing dental restorations such as fillings or crowns
  • Gum disease.

Tooth erosion

Enamel is the hard layer of your tooth that covers the soft core of your tooth called dentin. Your tooth enamel exists to protect the softer dentin layer of your tooth and allow you to chew your food. The dentin core is sensitive to pain but your hard enamel layer is not. If your enamel is worn down, the dentin layer of your tooth becomes exposed which usually leads to pain, sensitivity, and a trip to your dental clinic in W1.

How to prevent sensitive teeth

Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic in W1, we recommend brushing and flossing your teeth twice per day. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a good quality toothpaste. Don’t brush your teeth too harshly or use abrasive toothpastes. These can cause sensitive teeth. If you grind your teeth, get a mouth guard to wear at night.

Take care with what you eat and drink

Avoid acidic or sweet drinks and food such as coke, orange juice, or wine. These drinks can wear down your tooth enamel. If you really want to have them, use a straw so that the liquid bypasses your teeth. Don’t hold the liquid of sweet or acidic drinks in your mouth for too long or swish them around your mouth. After eating or drinking something acidic, rinse your mouth with plain water to balance things out.

A worldwide reach

As we are situated in the heart of London’s medical district at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we get visitors from across the world. Millions of tourists, business people and students pour into the capital every day, and some of them are going to need dental care.

In fact, some are medical tourists, which means that they have come to the UK specifically to have treatment. With Harley Street’s global reputation for excellence, this is no surprise.

Dentist in Harley StreetWe are fully aware of the needs of our international guests and we do all we can to accommodate you if you have travelled from outside the UK and find yourself at our dentist in Harley Street.

One way we do this is with our multi-faith prayer room. Patients of all religions are welcome to use the space if they need to pray or take some time for quiet contemplation while they are with us.

We also have several multilingual staff, so, chances are we will be able to explain your procedure to you in your own language. While you may have no issue with asking for a train ticket or buying a coffee in English, understanding a complex dental treatment is another matter. We take the difficulty out of it for you, with our on-hand translators.

We also recognise that, as overseas visitors, attending our dentist in Harley Street during regular working hours may not be possible. This is why we offer appointments on weekends and during holidays, to fit around your schedule. And we also offer longer appointments, to do all we can to fit your treatment in during your stay.

And, being in an unfamiliar and bustling city, we know that you may not want to dash straight out onto the West End streets after your procedure. This is why we offer a recovery room, so you can make sure you feel ready to take on London again before you leave us.

Next time you are here, why not drop in and see our dentist in Harley Street, and save our phone number? It could save you time and energy if you ever do need dental treatment on a visit to London.

A lifetime of happy smiles

A visit to the orthodontist in Harley Street can have a huge impact on your life. If you’ve ever covered your face when you talk or held back on laughter or smiles because of wonky teeth, it could change all that.

Having crooked or crowded teeth doesn’t just dent your self-confidence, it can also affect how you relate to others. If you don’t feel able to smile a genuine and warm smile, others will subconsciously register you as unfriendly. They don’t know you are embarrassed by your teeth. All they pick up on is the lack of a smile, and they won’t even know they are doing it.

Orthodontist in Harley StreetHumans are subconsciously programmed to respond to smiles within a split second of meeting someone new. Without that response, we don’t feel as open towards the other person and we won’t necessarily even know why. This could be having a big effect on your personal and professional life.

What happens at the orthodontist in Harley Street?

Orthodontic treatment is complex and multi-layered and can take 2-3 years to complete, but it’s worth it for a lifetime of happy smiles. The orthodontist in Harley Street is aiming to bring your teeth and jaws into balance, to improve both the health and appearance of your smile. There are a variety of dental appliances they use to do this job, including:

  • clear braces that blend in with the teeth
  • transparent plastic aligners that fit over the teeth like thin mouth guards
  • lingual braces that fit behind the teeth
  • bracket and wire braces that are great for resolving complex misalignments of the jaw.

Jaw realignment needs to happen before age 18, as the bone sets solid once we enter adulthood. The teeth can move around in the jaw at any age, however, so braces are useful for adults as well as children.

An adult is more likely to see the orthodontist in Harley Street for cosmetic issues with their teeth, which can be resolved ever more discreetly these days.

Drop into Harley Street Dental Clinic and talk to us about your options for clear, invisible and hidden braces. It could just be the best thing you can do to boost your self-esteem.

The value of a smile

What price would you put on your smile? How valuable is it to you? If you’ve always had good teeth, it may be something you’ve never thought about. However, if you have lost one or more teeth, you’ll know it’s not something to take for granted. As we age, it’s increasingly likely that we’ll need a replacement tooth at some point, so it’s worth thinking about your options before you get to that point.

Dental Implants in Harley StreetOur smile is one of the most treasured aspects of our appearance. When we feel happy to laugh and smile freely, it boosts our mood, leading to more smiling and more mood-boosting… you get the picture. And the great thing is, if we invest in making over our smile, we don’t need to do it again next season. Restorations with dental implants in Harley Street last 15 years plus. Forget the wardrobe makeover, this is one aspect of your look well worth investing in.

As well as boosting our self-confidence, a beautiful, natural-looking smile can do wonders for our interactions with others. Beyond clothes, hair, make-up or jewellery, what really makes a lasting impression on others is our smile. Human brains are geared up to notice and respond to a warm smile. It’s an instinctual subconscious response that happens in a split second. Smile a genuine smile and whoever you are with will instantly relax and open to you, and feel you are a trustworthy and decent human being. It’s is a shortcut to intimacy.

If you have or are about to lose a tooth, or if you have removable dentures that you aren’t happy with, dental implants in Harley Street can provide stable and long-lasting replacement teeth. As well as looking good, dental implants in Harley Street also restore the functionality of natural teeth, meaning you can chew, speak and smile as you did before and no don’t need to avoid chewy or crunchy foods.

At Harley Street Dental Clinic, patients are our number one priority and if you are unhappy with your gappy smile, we will do all we can to help you get a grin that you can feel proud of again.

Preventing gum disease

When you keep a good oral hygiene routine, you’re also likely to keep a set of healthy teeth. The first step is knowing how to care for your teeth and having the right tools. Many people think they’re doing the right thing by flossing and brushing twice a day, but often they’re not doing these things properly. Gum disease can creep up on people silently and can be caused by incorrect brushing or flossing techniques. It’s important to visit your dental clinic in W1 to keep an eye on your oral health.

Dental Clinic in W1Gum disease, what is it?

Gum disease is an infection in your gums that can cause tooth loss. It is often caused by food and plaque trapped between your gums and your teeth. Plaque is a thin layer of bacteria, the sticky white film you find on your teeth if you forget to brush them. Plaque, when not cleaned away properly with correct brushing and flossing, will harden and become tartar. Plaque and tartar lying beneath the gum line can cause gum disease.

Symptoms of gum disease

Gum disease can cause your gums to separate from your teeth leading to possible gum, tooth and bone damage. If the infection is left untreated, your teeth can fall out. Symptoms include:

  • Red, swollen or sore gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Receding gums
  • Loose teeth
  • Mouth sores
  • Bad breath.

Some causes of gum disease

  • Ineffective brushing / flossing
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Crooked teeth
  • Broken fillings
  • Hormonal changes
  • Some illnesses such as HIV/AIDS
  • Some medications such as contraceptives, steroids, chemotherapy.

Brushing and flossing guidance

Here at Harley Street Dental Clinic, we want to help you have a good oral care routine. At your W1 dental clinic, we can review your brushing and flossing techniques and advise you on how to improve things when you visit us for a check-up.

What tools do I need?

Advice from your dental clinic in W1 – a soft toothbrush, whether electric or not, will do the job. A good floss that will not break easily and fits between your teeth is all you need. The important thing to know is how to use these tools.

The benefits of orthodontics in Harley Street

Once a dentist has completed their five years initial training, they can practise as a general dentist. If they want to focus on a particular field, such as orthodontics in Harley Street, they need to do another qualification, which takes an additional 2-3 years.

Orthodontics in Harley StreetOrthodontics is concerned with straightening teeth. The way most of us will understand that is braces. Orthodontists are those fiends who fit you with metal train tracks for up to two years. But there’s a very good reason for doing so. The aim of orthodontics in Harley Street is to create harmony between the teeth and jaws. This is because if your jaws don’t bite together correctly, and your teeth don’t line up right, it can cause a number of health issues, including:

  • Jaw pain
  • Uneven wear on teeth, leading to tooth loss
  • Headaches
  • Joint wear.

Then there’s the cosmetic aspect to consider. While wearing braces is no one’s idea of a good look, it’s a short-term pain for a long-term benefit. If you have crooked, crowded, gapped or protruding teeth, braces can bring these into line, leaving you with a lifetime of straight smiles.

Straighter teeth are also healthier because they are easier to clean. There’s fewer irregular spaces to try and work the brush and floss into. And, this also means there are fewer gaps for bacteria and plaque to hide in.

So, orthodontics in Harley Street provides many benefits. At Harley Street Dental Clinic, we offer a number of teeth straightening services, for both health and cosmetic purposes. This includes options that will appeal to image-conscious teens and adults, who don’t want to sport a mouth full of metal while getting straighter teeth.

Lingual braces are bracket and wire braces that are fixed to the back of the teeth. This means they can’t be seen, and they do the same job as their front-facing counterparts.

Invisalign is a braces system that uses pairs of thin, clear plastic aligners to gradually nudge the teeth into position. Not suitable for more complex cases, but it can do wonders for mild to moderate misalignments of the teeth.

Clear braces use bracket and wire technology but are made of tooth-coloured materials, so blend into the teeth.