Cheaper Teeth Whitening For Our Streatham Patients

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Teeth whitening
White smile asian lady

Save yourself £50 on a brand new whiter smile for Spring.

There are almost certainly some cold and dull, almost Wintery, days still to come. That said, it’s hard not to acknowledge the first feelings of warmth from the sun, and the first shoots coming through as Spring finally seems to be just around the corner. With this new season often comes a desire to make changes; to have a ‘personal spring clean’.

This can happen in many ways. A new wardrobe and a throwing out of old clothes is common at this time of the year. Increasingly though, people are also looking at cosmetic dental procedures as a way to really kick start the new season. One of the most popular of these treatments is the teeth whitening procedure.

£50 off!

To help our Streatham patients with their personal spring clean, we currently have a special offer on teeth whitening, with  £50 off this popular cosmetic dental procedure. This is one of the simplest ways to really give your smile a major boost in time for Spring.

To have attractive white teeth is not only good for personal self esteem, but can also have an effect on those around you. A number of studies have concluded that one of the first things that others notice about you is your smile. If that smile reveals a set of discoloured and stained teeth, it is probably not going to give the impression that you would want it to. An attractive white smile, on the other hand, can make a difference not only to the way people generally warm to you, but could also potentially have a positive influence in situations such as job interviews and romantic relationships, for example.

Your new ‘designer’ smile

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Why You Should Look After ‘Baby Teeth’

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Childrens dentist

Don’t wait until adult teeth appear before starting good oral care habits

Unlike sharks, which continually lose and replace their teeth around 37,000 times during their lifetime, we humans only have two sets of teeth, and when they are gone, they are gone.

We know that we will lose our first set of teeth however well we look after them, but this doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t take good care of them whilst we still have them. In fact, failing to do so could have unexpected consequences later on in our life.

At the Confidental Clinic, your dentist in Streatham, we always encourage parents to take responsibility for their children’s teeth, starting at a young age. Supervision and constant encouragement go a long way to helping them clean their teeth properly, and avoiding the pitfalls that would probably happen if they didn’t.

Don’t let them suffer

The most obvious reason to make sure that your children’s teeth are looked after well, is that you don’t want them to be in pain. A severe toothache can be extremely painful to a young child and is almost certain to result in little or no sleep for both the child and the parent(s). Although tooth decay can still occur even if you brush your teeth well (especially given that children usually love sugar), the chances of it are greatly reduced. It is worth remembering that, for younger children, teeth extraction will probably have to take place in hospital and not at your local dental practice. So certainly something to be avoided.

Not just the baby teeth

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Daily Habits That Are Good For Your Teeth

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Advice
Teeth flossing

Professional dental care is essential for healthy teeth, but there are lots of other things you can do to help.

What we do in our daily lives can have a significant impact upon our teeth. What we eat, whether we brush well and even if we grind our teeth, will all impact upon their overall health and condition.

Professional dental care is also essential, of course, and we encourage all of our Streatham patients to visit our practice for a check up at least every six months.

Whilst professional care is essential, there are also many small things that we can do in our daily lives to help. In combination, these can make a real difference to our oral health. Some of these suggestions require a small change in thinking, whilst at the same time, taking up very little, if any, additional time from our busy lives.

Improve your cleaning routine

Let’s start with an obvious one. Cleaning your teeth shouldn’t just be about whether you clean them or not, but how you do so. Some golden rules apply such as using a fluoride toothpaste and brushing for at least 2 minutes. In addition, make sure the bristles on your brush aren’t worn, and if they are, replace the brush. Make sure to brush your gums lightly as well as your teeth. Finally, add flossing to your regime if you don’t already do this. Our Streatham dentists can demonstrate how to do this if you find it difficult or awkward.

Quit smoking and reduce alcohol

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Living With Dental Braces

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Orthodontics
Lady with straight white teeth

Tips to help with a better experience whilst receiving orthodontic treatment.

Having crooked teeth can create a number of problems, the most obvious of these being that, no matter how white your teeth are, crooked teeth will almost certainly spoil your smile.

Other factors also come into play too, and crooked teeth can cause an incorrect bite, leading to potential damage to your teeth. Add to this the fact that uneven teeth are harder to keep clean and you can see why so many people opt to have them straightened.

There are a number of orthodontic braces systems now available, including Invisalign which we will discuss later as these differ greatly from the way that traditional braces work. For now though, your local Streatham dentist Dr Rohit Kumar looks at some of the lifestyle changes that you can make, in order to have a better experience whilst wearing traditional style braces.

Wires and brackets

There are two essential types of ‘traditional’ braces; those that are perhaps best known to many of our Streatham patients, and which are made of metal. Cosmetic versions in this style are also available, often using finer materials that are made to blend in better with your teeth. All of these though will use a series of wires and brackets which are used to reposition your teeth. Wearing either of these types of braces means that you will need to make certain adjustments to your lifestyle for the duration that you are wearing them.

Which foods should you avoid?

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Cosmetic Restoration Of Teeth For Older Patients

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Cosmetic dentist
great smiles for older people

The New Year could offer a new start for your smile with our wide range of dental procedures.

Most of us will look back at 2018, perhaps with a mixture of emotions. Whatever sort of year we have had though, we can’t do anything to change it, but can now start to look forward to the year ahead. The new year is a time when we often try to make changes in our lives that offer a more positive future for us.

Whilst we probably can’t help you to lose weight, get fit or even find a new job, our team of cosmetic dentists can help you to restore the appearance of your teeth, especially beneficial if you are an older patient whose teeth have suffered the wear and tear of daily life for many years. There are a number of procedures we can use that can help our Streatham patients with this.

Before we start

Before we look at any treatments to help you to have attractive looking teeth again, it is critical that we make sure that you have a healthy mouth. Nice looking teeth will offer no real benefits if they are likely to fall out, or if people won’t go near you because of smelly breath.

Whilst this should not be such a problem for patients who have maintained regular appointments at the Confidental Clinic over the years, for those whose appointments may have been more erratic, the first step is to make an appointment to have a full and thorough check-up. Before we look at ways of improving how your teeth look, we will need to treat any instances of tooth decay and gum disease.

Fillings

Relating to the above, and as a part of your cosmetic restoration plan, it makes sense to make sure that any necessary fillings used are not of the traditional dark amalgam type. Our composite dental fillings can be used to fill any new cavities and can also be used to replace any existing dark amalgam material. This is especially important on the visible front teeth that people will see when you smile. For the rear teeth, there are also tooth-coloured materials available which are very strong and can usually be used as an alternative to the traditional, dark amalgam versions.

Wear and tear

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Teeth Extraction In Children Rises 18% In The Last Five Years

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Childrens dentist
Dentist Tushar Patel

Minimising the risk of tooth decay in your child.

A report published the other day (1), notes that there has been an increase of 18% in the number of young children needing to have teeth extracted over the last five years.

With all the additional nutritional and health advice that is now available online, this is perhaps a little surprising. In today’s blog,  your nearby Streatham dentist, Dr. Tushar Patel, takes a look at some possible reasons for the rise, and also, how you can minimise the risks for your own children.

Our daily lives

Although it isn’t uncommon to hear people claim that kids have an unhealthy diet because everything is all too easily accessible and nobody makes food from scratch these days, that is to ignore the changes that have happened in society over the past twenty or thirty years. Some of these changes have been revolutionary and have been very beneficial for the majority of people. Few people now have outside toilets and have an almost constant access to hot water, for example. Others changes though, have included the widespread availability of convenience foods and high sugar drinks which have contributed to our increased sugar intake to the point where some are now claiming that sugar is as harmful as smoking.

Our working lives have changed too, and many families now have both parents at work. It isn’t surprising then, that at the end of the day when the parents are tired from working, often long hours, and their children are hyperactive, that we sometimes give in to their pleas for sweets and other sugary things, simply for a quieter life.

All things in moderation

Some people think that dentists are unrealistic when we tell them about how bad sugar is for their children’s teeth. The fact is that we do understand how hard it can be to avoid it, and, instead, we recommend that you allow them to eat a moderate amount of sweets.  A small, sweet treat a day will do little harm providing that it is given at the right time, and that your children are also encouraged to keep their teeth clean. All families will vary in their lifestyles, but, as a rough guide, here are some suggestions for their daily food intake which may help.

Breakfast

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Genetic Factors That Can Affect Your Teeth And Gums

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Advice
Good smile and teeth

A look at some inherited family traits that can affect our overall oral health.

Let’s presume that everyday, you brush your teeth diligently, floss them every night and also eat a tooth friendly diet and keep all of your dental appointments. Do this mean that you can almost guarantee that you will have healthy teeth and gums? Sadly, almost certainly not.

Whilst carrying out the above is by far the best way to keep your mouth healthy, there can be external factors that can have an impact on your teeth and gums. Some, such as accidents, are well understood, others though may come as more of a surprise to patients of our Streatham dental surgery.

Genetic sugar cravings

Believe it or not, the choice that we make to eat sweeter foods may not just be down to our willpower. Scientists in the USA have claimed that some of us may have a genetic predisposition to sweet tasting foods. Obviously, those that have this will eat more sugary foods over their lives and this alone will greatly increase the likelihood of tooth decay.

Enamel structure

Having strong tooth enamel is key to preventing tooth decay. Once it becomes weakened or damaged, tooth decay and root canal infections may well be only a short time away unless treated. Unfortunately, we are not all born with the same strong enamel, and those of us who are born with weaker enamel are prone to more damage, infections and tooth decay.

‘Quality’ of saliva

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Bathroom Essentials For Healthy Teeth

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Hygienist
Teeth flossing

Our guide to what you should have in your everyday oral healthcare kit.

Taking care of your teeth and gums is a long term project. The dentists and hygienists at the Confidental Clinic are here to support our Streatham dental patients in achieving this by providing ongoing examinations, hygienist cleanings and dental restorations when needed. The majority of routine oral care though, takes place in your own home, on a daily basis.

Although other factors, such as diet and lifestyle habits, such as smoking, play a significant part in how healthy your teeth and gums are; even with a tooth friendly diet and lifestyle, your teeth, and gums, will need to be cleaned every day. To help you do this in the most effective way possible, below we offer advice about some of the products that you should have in your bathroom cabinet.

Toothbrush

Presumably, everybody has a toothbrush, or we certainly hope that you do. It is now possible to spend hundreds of pounds on a toothbrush, or just a few pounds on the most basic type. Does this make a difference though? In our opinion, it is probably best to avoid the really cheap type of brush as the quality of the bristles may be far from great. If the bristles are too hard, and especially if you tend to ‘scrub’ your teeth, you may wear the protective enamel from your teeth quite quickly. If you stick to reliable brands, you shouldn’t go too far wrong.

Although manual toothbrushes can be effective, it is probably better to use an electric brush if possible. This is especially the case for younger patients and those with mobility issues such as arthritis. The rotating heads on these brushes make it relatively easy to clean your teeth without too much effort.

There are three golden rules to brushing your teeth:

  • Brush both morning and night
  • Use the correct method (ask our hygienist to show you how)
  • Replace your toothbrush, or brush head, every three months

Remember too, not to rinse after brushing and, instead, leave the toothpaste in your mouth to help fluoride absorption.

Toothpaste

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Getting The Maximum Benefit From Your Dental Check-ups

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Advice
Dr Payal Patel of Confidental Clinic Streatham

Dr Payal Patel advises what to discuss with your dentist during a checkup at our Streatham practice

Hopefully, most of our patients are in  the habit of having a dental examination every six months or so.

This is one of the key requirements for having a healthy mouth. Although these may seem routine, they are essential in monitoring your oral health and taking corrective action where necessary. Because of this, it makes sense to get the most from these appointments and this is best done through two way communication with your dentist.

Whilst we can see most problems upon close inspection, it is still very important that you let us know of anything that may be concerning you about your teeth, gums or oral cavity in general.

Below, we take a look at some of the things that you may wish to discuss with your dentist during your checkup at the Confidental Clinic.

Pain or discomfort

If you have been experiencing any discomfort, you should let us know, even if it has since subsided. Not all causes of pain are obvious, and root canal infections, for example, can often only be detected through the use of an x-ray. Although we do x-ray your mouth from time to time, this will not be done on every occasion as a matter of routine. Therefore, if you have been experiencing discomfort and we suspect that a root canal infection may be the cause, we will take an x-ray to determine if this is the case. If so, an appointment to have root canal treatment will need to be made.

Have your gums been bleeding?

Patients may have noticed a little blood in their saliva when they spit after brushing. This can sometimes be dismissed as just ‘one of those things’. The reality though is that if this has happened more than once, it is likely that you are suffering from gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease. This can usually be reversed through a better cleaning regimen and we may also recommend that you have a scale and polish which can be performed at our Streatham practice by the hygienist. We will also investigate further to check for any signs of more advanced problems.

Are you unhappy with your smile?

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Bad Breath, Gum Disease, Smelly Clothes, Oral Cancers From Smoking

Posted on by streat-admin Posted in Advice

Just a few of the things you can avoid more easily with a successful Stoptober.

You may have noticed that this month heralds the start of Public Health England’s ‘Stoptober’ campaign. The aim of this is to focus people’s attention on stopping smoking, with regular information and support being offered for those who try to do so. As a lot of people use this month to stop smoking, you may find it easier to find others to support you and be supported during the times that you are struggling in your own ‘stop smoking’ campaign.

The harm that smoking causes is well known, and thankfully, a growing number of people have now quit, with many more aiming to do so as soon as they feel able. The benefits of stopping smoking are huge for all areas of your health. It is probably fair to say that there are no health benefits at all to be had by continuing smoking. From serious heart and lung problems, to socially unpleasant effects, such as halitosis, stopping smoking can only be a good thing.

How to stop smoking

How you stop will probably depend on you as an individual. For some people nicotine patches or gum offer a successful approach. Many people have found that switching to vaping works well for them. This should though, perhaps, be seen as a relatively short term solution as little is known of the long term effects of this smoking alternative. For other patients, good old fashioned will power is enough. There is a wealth of information on the Public Health England website to help you along the way.

A few tips to help you

Whatever method you choose to help you stop smoking, you will, almost inevitably, meet a number of challenges along the way. Sometimes, you might ‘weaken’ and have a cigarette. This is not the end of the world, and you simply need to refocus on stopping again. To help you along the way, our local dental team have suggested a few tips that they, or their friends found to be helpful when they kicked the habit.

Change your habits

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