We’ve all heard the phrase, prevention is better than cure and this couldn’t be truer in the dental world. There’s also a saying ‘Dentistry isn’t expensive, dental neglect is’ and I hear that BIG TIME.

I have a few patients who see me sporadically (shout out to Cher Horwitz) or who see me routinely but don’t implement any of our plans in between visits and nine times out of ten these people will see me at some point for further gum treatments. If you decide not to have gum treatments as advised by your Dental Hygienist you will increase your risk of loosing a tooth or teeth not to mention all of the other health implications associated with Gum Disease*. Its sad but its true.

* you can read more about the benefits of seeing the Dental Hygienist on my blog post here.

These treatments require a good amount of time out of your diary and can seem costly, although when you break it down per tooth it is WAY more cost effective than extracting or replacing these individual teeth with dental implants or other options. The thing about Gum Disease and gum treatments are there are usually completely preventable if you follow a gold standard oral hygiene routine of:-

Using something like inter-dental brushes regularly in between your teeth
Tooth brushing twice daily using either preferably an electric or a manual toothbrush for 2 minutes with the toothbrush bristles pointing towards and gently massaging your gum line
With a fluoride toothpaste

Having said that it still is good to check in with me or your Dental Hygienist every 3-6 months or so. Some signs you need to make an appointment are:-

Bleeding & Tender Gums - never ever ignore bleeding gums. Bleeding gums are not uncommon but its not normal babe, if you see any signs of bleeding when eating, brushing your teeth or flossing or if the toothpaste is looking a bit pink or red when you spit out its time to make the call.
Bad Breath - if you have noticed, or a candid person close to you has commented on your breath its time to check in with your Dental Hygienist. The most common spots for bad breath are a build up of bacteria on your tongue or in between your teeth but its a sign of Gum Disease too so best to get it checked. You can read more about my top tips on how to keep your breath fresh here.
You’ve Noticed Staining on your Teeth - Teeth will become stained over time and some people experience this more than others, the most effective way to remove stain is at a Dental Hygiene appointment so don’t waste money on gimmicks and come see us instead (for more on teeth staining you can check out my blog post here)
The Back of your Teeth feel Rough - Roughness or a chalky buildup can be a sign of calculus which you can read more about here. Now even though I would always rather look in someones mouth and see calculus rather than plaque it can look a bit unsightly, pick up stain and increase surface areas for more plaque to form so best to get this removed at a dental hygiene appointment.
You Can’t Remember the Last time You’ve Been - We can all get complacent, days weeks and months can merge into one and we can get into a life groove doing or not doing the same things over and over again - go figure. If you can’t remember the last time you’ve seen me or your Dentist or Dental Hygienist you could be missing out on Mouth Cancer screenings (you can read more about this here), Dental Advice and Gum Screenings which could all save you time, money, your teeth and possibly your life in the future. It can’t hurt to book in.

Thanks so much for reading! If you live in Northern Ireland and would like to make an appointment with me you can at Moira Cosmetic Dental or Bupa Dental Care Glengormley. Remember you don’t have to be registered at a dental practice to see a Dental Hygienist and you can continue seeing your own Dentist throughout any treatment that has been advised so book in with your nearest Dental Hygienist today <3.