How long would you like to have your own teeth for? Til you are 30? 40? That doesn’t sound too unreasonable for modern dentistry. Do you expect to start losing your teeth in your 40s? Maybe you think they will be pretty much all gone by the time you are 70? Certainly, you will be all gums and toothless grins by the time you reach 80?
Well no, that’s not how we see it at Harley Street Dental Clinic. At this dentist in Harley Street, in the heart of London’s private medical district, we believe that, as long as we work as a team with you to practise preventive dentistry, there’s no reason why you should not hang onto most, if not all, of your teeth for life.
And even less reason why your kids should ever have to lose their teeth.
Preventive dentistry
Modern dentistry focuses on prevention rather than cure, and while we may not be able to prevent every single cavity, with your help, we can catch any issues with your teeth early enough to be able to solve them with very simple treatments, such as small fillings.
It’s all about the hygiene routine
Preventive dentistry is a combined effort between the patient and their dentist in Harley Street. Your part of the deal is to diligently practice a twice-daily oral hygiene routine. This means:
- Brushing for two minutes with a soft or medium bristle brush
- Cleaning between the teeth with floss or interdental brushes
- Cleaning your tongue too
- Maybe use a mouthwash
- Come in to your dentist in Harley Street for bi-annual check-ups.
Our part of the deal is to check your mouth and teeth over for early signs of decay, gum disease and oral cancer. Also, to see if there are any other problems on the way, perhaps caused by erosion and attrition from brushing, or bruxism from night-time tooth grinding. Our hygienist (check-ups and hygienist sessions often come hand in hand) appointments are your chance to get any build-up of plaque and tartar removed.
If we both do our bit, you can have your own teeth for a very long time.