Good dental hygiene and oral care are important at any age, but as we get older, we might notice changes in our oral health that pose new challenges. Face Dental will be able to fully support you with these, but it is good to know what to look out for.

As with any other area of our bodies, as we get older, we might develop conditions that were not present when we were younger. Face Dental take a look at some of the conditions you may encounter:

Getting older in itself doesn’t necessarily make you more prone to dry mouth, however some of the other factors that come with ageing can. Taking some regular medications, having a chronic health condition or having existing cavities or decay can increase your risk for developing dry mouth. If you feel you may be suffering from this, speak to your dentist who can recommend some products to help.

As the enamel on the teeth inevitably starts to wear down through many years of chewing food, ageing teeth can have a greater risk of developing cavities.

This ranges from very serious diseases such as oral cancer to less serious illnesses.

Plaque forming on teeth, resulting in gum disease is one of the major causes of tooth loss in adults. See your dentist if you suspect you have gum disease because the sooner you treat it the better.

You may notice that your teeth become more sensitive as you get older. This can be due to your gums naturally receding and whereby exposing areas of the tooth that are not protected by enamel.

Initially, you could try toothpaste for sensitive teeth but if the problem persists, speak to your dentist.

The good news is that many of these dental problems above are easily identified, solved, or even prevented when you know what to look for.

Keeping your ageing teeth and gums in tip-top shape requires a few common-sense practices:

• Maintain regular dental visits: Even if you have dentures it is important to get your teeth and gums checked regularly.
• Brush and floss daily
• Use an antibacterial mouthwash
• Avoid smoking: Smoking has been linked to an increased risk of mouth and throat cancer, not to mention heart disease and other serious conditions.
• Monitor your sugar intake make healthy choices to limit your sweets and fizzy drink consumption. It is also a good idea to brush shortly after snacking if you can.
• Calcium intake. Ensure you have low-fat dairy products in your diet to prevent osteoporosis, which can also affect the bone surrounding your teeth.

Few people are blessed with naturally straight healthy teeth. Day to day consumption of food and drink can also hinder your teeth’s appearance. Yet social media, magazines and television could lead us to believe that everyone has a perfect natural smile.

While imperfections can add character and make your smile unique, for those of you looking to get the perfect celebrity smile, we’ve put together a guide on how to achieve and maintain one.

Teeth Whitening

Regardless of whether your teeth are perfectly straight, whiter teeth can improve your smile and make your teeth look healthier. There are a wide range of teeth whitening options available for those looking to improve their smile. Our own Boutique teeth whitening service is a tried and tested treatment that is used around the world. This wear at night treatment can deliver whiter teeth in just a few days. A very convenient method of achieving and maintaining whiter teeth.

Teeth Straightening

There are a variety of teeth straightening solutions capable of achieving your dream smile. Invisalign is one of the most innovative and comfortable methods of teeth straightening. As Platinum Elite providers of Invisalign clear aligners, here at Face Dental we have helped numerous patients achieve their perfect smile using this advanced high tech and fast working system. From simple alignments to more complex cases, Invisalign is a fast and affordable way to achieve the perfect celebrity smile.

Cosmetic Veneers 

Most people associate veneers with a whole set of new teeth. These are often only in drastic cases. In fact veneers can be used on a single tooth or an area.
If your teeth are chipped, stained or not straight, veneers are a fast and effective option to help get your perfect smile. Veneers can also be used to close small gaps between teeth without the need for a brace.

Composite Bonding

Composite bonding is the latest technique to improve your smile, without any tooth destruction. Composite resin is bonded to the tooth surface, to repair chipped teeth or improve the shape and size.

Diet

Diet has a major effect on your teeth and how they look. Avoid excessive numbers of sweets, reduce your coffee intake (stains), reduce your fizzy drinks consumption (if you can’t, use a straw). Diet has a significant effect on both your teethes appearance and health.

Regular Dentist Check Ups

Regular visits to your dentist can help reduce the risk of major treatments. Regular check ups can help your dentist spot any visible signs before they become a wider issue.

Get your dental problems fixed

Sometimes regardless of how well you try to look after your gums and teeth, dental problems such as cavities do arise. If your teeth become sensitive or you notice a small cavity in one of your teeth, visit the dentist straight away. Treating a dental problem as soon as possible can significantly reduce the risk of the problem getting worse or causing more pain. 

Conclusion

Consistency is key to maintaining good oral hygiene. Regular brushing, flossing and a good diet can help ensure healthy teeth and gums. Regular visits to your dentist can help make sure problems don’t escalate. If you would like to keep on top of your oral health with regular check ups, or are long over due a visit, Face Dental are always happy to accept new patients. Our welcoming and friendly team provide the highest level of care and treatments.

If you have not attended with your dentist for a while.

You may have been anxious about visiting us during the pandemic – that is perfectly understandable.

It could also be that you are worried that we might ‘tell you off’ for not coming for a while, the treatment may hurt or the cost will be too high.

I want to reassure you of the following:

• We want you to feel safe.

Throughout the pandemic, we have followed the strict guidelines advised by the Government and, at all times, the safety of our patients and team has been paramount.

That continues to this day. Your dental practice is one of the safest places you can visit, given the degree of protection we are required to provide.

• We want to help you feel good – not make you feel bad.

We understand that life can be busy and complicated and sometimes things slip through the net. We do not lecture people, but will support and encourage you to get the healthy smile you deserve.

• We won’t hurt you.

We treat people in the way we would like to be treated – gently and carefully. We are compassionate and will listen to your fears.

• We won’t give you a big bill out of the blue.

All treatment options are discussed in advance including costings. You are part of the decision-making process and your budget will always be taken into account. We have interest free finance available and membership plans to cover the cost of your ongoing care once we have helped you achieve oral health.

Hopefully this is good news to you. If you would like to book in for a Healthy Mouth Check then please call us on 02476 501125. You can see what we have been up to since you have been away at our website facedental.co.uk or our Facebook or Instagram page by searching Face Dental.

A fast and effective way of straightening teeth without the need for fixed braces, Invisalign clear aligners have steadily grown in popularity over the past few years. A new discreet and comfortable solution to achieving your desired smile, Face Dental answer some of the most common questions around Invisalign.

1. How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign are clear aligners which are custom made for your teeth. Small, discreet tooth coloured attachments are bonded to the tooth surface. These attachments engage with the aligners as they are worn to guide the teeth into the correct position. You will have a series of aligners, with each one being worn for 7-10 days and the teeth will gradually get straighter and straighter as you wear them.

2. What does Invisalign feel like?
Invisalign aligners are very comfortable to wear! You will feel pressure on your teeth for a couple of days when you first wear them, but other than that you will still be able to talk, eat and more importantly smile as normal!

3. Will Invisalign affect my lifestyle?
Invisalign aligners are very good at fitting in with your day to day routine. You take the aligners out when you eat and brush your teeth, which means you don’t have to change your diet and avoid certain foods like you would with a fixed brace. You can also brush your teeth and floss as normal with no bulky brackets to clean around. You will even still have the confidence to smile for photos.

4. Is Invisalign right for me?
If you want a discreet alternative to fixed braces then Invisalign could be right for you!
Using Invisalign Clincheck treatment planning software, we can accurately predict how your teeth will move and show you a before and after simulation of your smile. This technology enables us to plan out your smile before the treatment has even started! We can show you the limitations of treatment in the unlikely case you are not an Invisalign candidate and then explore other options. Otherwise, we can’t wait to sit together and plan out your dream smile!

5. What will happen after treatment?
When treatment has finished, it is very important you wear your clear removable retainers, to ensure your teeth do not move back to the original position. All of the tooth coloured attachments will be polished  off, we will take a digital scan of you teeth for your retainers. You can then consider other smile improvements such as tooth whitening or composite bonding to really enhance your new straight smile!

If you are looking to improve your smile or would like to find out more about Invisalign aligners, our knowledgable and friendly team at Face Dental can help. We are Platinum Invisalign providers with years of experience helping patients achieve their dream smile. To find out more about taking the next steps or if Invisalign is right for you, book an appointment with one of our Invisalign specialists.