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Being a new mum is exciting, but it’s also stressful and tiring too. Often, it means putting your own needs aside for a while to meet the demands of your baby.

For example, many new mums stop brushing their teeth as often as they should, or neglect to go to routine dental visits. Unfortunately, this can cause your dental health to decline, and if you’re not careful then you can end up with a cavity or gum disease.

To keep your teeth healthy as a new mum, follow these simple tips.

1. Keep to your oral hygiene routine

Taking care of a newborn can be very tiring. There might be some evenings when you’ll feel like you won’t even have the energy to brush your teeth!

Despite this, you should still stick to your oral hygiene routine. That means brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day. Your teeth will thank you for it!

2. Don’t neglect your gums

Gum disease is a common complication of pregnancy. In fact, around two-fifths of pregnant women suffer from it. After giving birth though, the risk of gum disease usually returns to normal. Be careful though if you’re taking oral contraceptives though, as they can increase your risk of gum disease.

The best way to avoid gum disease is to also brush your gums thoroughly when you brush your teeth.

3. Keep going to routine dental checkups

Make sure to keep going to routine dental checkups during this busy time of your life. This means checkups every six to twelve months, or however often your dentist thinks is necessary.

Also, did you know that it’s free for new mums to see an NHS dentist? So you have no excuse not to go!

4. Tell your dentist if you’re breastfeeding

During pregnancy, women are often advised to postpone dental treatments such as braces, whitening and implants. X-rays are also discouraged for pregnant women because of the unknown effects on the fetus.

However, once you give birth then you’re free to have whatever treatments you want. Well – almost any treatment that is. You still can’t have any treatments that could affect your breast milk. This includes some medications, as they can pass on to the baby via your breast milk. So do make sure to tell your dentist that you’re breastfeeding so she knows which medications not to prescribe.

5. Don’t get dehydrated

Did you know that breastfeeding can cause dehydration? That’s because when you breastfeed, you’re giving some of your fluids to your baby.

Unfortunately, dehydration can cause problems for your dental health. That’s because a dry mouth is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. So if you’re breastfeeding, make sure to drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

Conclusion

Being a new parent will be a magical chapter of your life. However, it will also be difficult and testing at times. But don’t let your oral health standards slip during this time though. It’s important to keep yourself in good health.

If you’d like to speak to a dental professional about any of the topics that we’ve raised in this blog post, then simply call one of our receptionists to make an appointment. We’ll be happy to see you – and of course your new baby!

Getting small children to brush their teeth might seem impossible, especially if your little ones hate having their teeth brushed. And we understand how frustrating it can be when toddlers doesn’t want to cooperate.

But don’t give up on brushing your toddler’s teeth just yet. In this post, we’ll give you a few tips on how to make brushing time fun and how to make sure your child brushes his teeth.

1. Make sure she sees your brushing your teeth

Most toddlers love to emulate their parents. They want to help with the shopping, they want to help with the cooking, and they even like to pretend to talk on the phone like adults. The same goes for brushing. So if your toddler sees you brushing your own teeth, then she’ll be much more interested in brushing her own. Go forth and set a good example!

2. Play copycat

Try standing in front of a mirror with your toddler while you brush your teeth and he brushes his. He’ll be able to see you brushing in the mirror so with some luck, he’ll copy your actions.

3. Lower your expectations

Most toddlers are still too young to brush their teeth thoroughly, but this is normal. The idea at this age is to instil the habit of brushing into your child and not to make your child an expert at brushing her teeth right away. So don’t expect too much to begin with.

4. Keep it short

Since your toddler won’t be able to brush his teeth properly to begin with, you’ll have to help by brushing his teeth as well. However, this is always tricky because children don’t like having things put into their mouths. But always make sure to keep brushing fun so that your child associates brushing with positive feelings. You can do this by keeping the amount of time you’re brushing your child’s teeth to a minimum. Remember, all you’re doing when you brush your child’s teeth for them is doing a quick swipe over all the teeth. Later, when your child feels more comfortable, you can extend the amount of time that you brush your child’s teeth.

5. Keep it fun

Make brushing into a fun activity by incorporating games. For example, you can pretend that she’s a lion and that she has to roar so you can reach all her teeth. Another fun activity for children is songs. You can turn any song into a toothbrush themed one by changing the words – The Wheels on the Bus becomes “the toothbrush in the mouth goes round and round” for example.

6. Give plenty of encouragement

Make sure to tell your child what a good job he did brushing his teeth, even if all he did was chew on the toothbrush. All children like praise and over time, he’ll get better at brushing – all it takes is encouragement and practice.

7. Read books with your child about brushing teeth

Books can be a great help to encourage your child to brush her teeth. There are lots of books out there featuring children brushing their teeth, and when kids read them, it can make brushing seem like a fun activity rather than a chore.

Another option is to watch a YouTube video together of toddlers brushing their teeth. Some parents even find that videos are more motivating for their children than books.

Conclusion

Teaching your child to brush his teeth doesn’t have to be a monumental task. By taking it slow and being patient, you can eventually get your child to brush his own teeth.

Cavities are a problem that nearly everyone gets at least once in their life. No matter how well you take care of your teeth, it’s likely that at some point, you will get a cavity.

In this month’s blog post, we’ll explain what cavities are and how they form. We’ll also tell you how to minimise your risk of cavities and what to do if you think you have one. So, let’s go!

What is a cavity?

A cavity is a small hole in your enamel, which is the outer layer of your teeth. Over time, the hole can get bigger and bigger, eventually causing tooth pain and even an abscess.

What causes cavities?

The cause of cavities is bacteria. Everyone has bacteria in their mouths, and some of these bacteria are good while others are harmful. Problems occur when the harmful bacteria gain a foothold in your mouth and create plaque, which is a sticky, acidic substance. The acid in plaque can dissolve your enamel and that’s what causes a cavity.

What are the risk factors for cavities?

You’re much more likely to get cavities if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Poor diet. A diet high in sugar is a major risk factor for cavities. This is because the bad bacteria in your mouth feed on sugar and convert it into acids, which in turn dissolve your teeth. For this reason, it’s important to limit the number of sugary foods you eat during the day. Also, try to avoid highly acidic foods as these can directly dissolve your enamel.
• Poor oral hygiene. It’s important to have a good oral hygiene routine as this is your main defence against cavities. This means brushing twice a day, flossing once a day and seeing a dentist for regular check-ups. It goes without saying that if you fail to maintain an oral hygiene routine then you’ll be at greater risk of cavities.
• Smoking. Smokers have a higher risk of cavities than non-smokers because cigarettes can make your mouth dry, and a dry mouth is a perfect environment for bacteria to grow in.
• Alcohol. Alcohol also increases your risk of cavities for the same reason as smoking – alcohol dries out your mouth, which makes your mouth a more welcoming environment for bacteria.

Do cavities go away on their own?

Some cavities do go away on their own, but only when they’re very small. Most cavities unfortunately do not go away on their own and will require a dentist to fix them.

How are cavities treated?

The treatment depends on the size of the cavity and how far into the tooth it has reached.

• A small cavity might not need a filling; instead, it might be possible to treat it with a fluoride treatment. Your dentist will decide if this could work for you.
• Medium-sized cavities need to be covered with fillings, which are small blobs of resin, porcelain or amalgam.
• Cavities that have reached the tooth’s pulp might require a root canal, which is where the diseased pulp is removed. The good news is that the rest of the tooth can usually be saved.
• The most extreme type of cavity is where the cavity reaches the root. In this case, removal of the tooth is usually necessary.

Conclusion

If you think you have a cavity, then do see a dentist as soon as possible. The earlier you receive treatment, the less invasive the treatment will be. And remember to brush your teeth twice a day, as it’s a very important way to minimise your risk of cavities.

Did you know that most cavities happen between your teeth and not the fronts or backs of your teeth? That’s why it’s very important to clean the gaps between your teeth.

However, most toothbrushes don’t actually reach between your teeth. Therefore, while brushing is important, it’s not enough. Luckily, we have to floss to help us here. Floss is great at removing bacteria and plaque from in between your teeth so it’s fantastic at preventing cavities.

Keep reading, because in this post, we’ll explain a simple flossing technique that we encourage everybody to do.

How to floss

1. First, take a good piece of dental floss and wind it up with your index fingers. Don’t wind it too tightly though or you might hurt yourself!
2. Next, use both thumbs to pinch the floss. You should only leave about one inch of floss to work with at this point. If you leave any more, then you will make it more difficult to floss your teeth. Indeed, one reason why so many people have trouble flossing is that they try to get too much floss in their mouths.
3. Then, start flossing your upper teeth. Simply choose a place to start from and slide the floss between the two teeth. Then clean the surface of each tooth by sliding the floss up and down. Don’t use a side to side ‘saw’ motion though – it’s better to use an up and down motion.
4. When you’ve removed all the plaque from a tooth, you’ll hear the floss start to squeak. At this point, work on the next tooth. Then gradually work your way all around your mouth until you’ve done all your upper teeth.
5. Once you’ve finished flossing your upper teeth, you can move on to your lower teeth. With your lower teeth, it’s actually easier to use your index fingers and middle fingers rather than your index fingers and thumbs. By using your middle fingers, it will makes be easier to manipulate the floss from one tooth to the next.

Overall, it should only take you a couple of minutes to floss all your teeth. But if you’re slow at first, then don’t worry – your technique will improve will practice!

What should I do if my gums bleed when I floss?

If your gums bleed when you floss, it’s normal if it’s your first time flossing. Your gums will get used to the floss after about a week of flossing, after which they won’t bleed anymore.

Bleeding gums can also be a sign of gum disease, so if your gums continue to bleed when you floss, then do see a dentist to get it checked out.

Conclusion

Flossing really makes a big difference in the long term of your dental health and it’s not very difficult to do either. So please do make flossing a part of your regular dental routine, if you haven’t done so already.

If you’d like to talk to use about flossing or about any other dental topic, then just make an appointment with one of our dentists by speaking to our friendly reception team. We look forward to seeing you!

Cavities and gum disease or two of the most common problems that we see here in our clinic, and both are caused by the cumulation of bacteria in the mouth. For this reason, it’s important to brush your teeth twice a day to fight bacteria and maintain good oral health.

Believe it or not, many techniques exist for brushing your teeth. It’s important to find the technique that works best for you because it might not be the same as what everyone else is using.

In this post, we’ll cover three methods for brushing your teeth: the Bass technique, the Stillman technique and the Charter technique. Read on to find out more!

The Bass technique

This technique focuses on cleaning your gums as much as your teeth. This makes the Bass technique great at preventing gum disease, which is a very common problem, especially in older patients.

To perform the Bass technique, follow these simple steps:

1. First, put the toothbrush next to your upper teeth.
2. Point the bristles of the brush upwards towards your gums. The brush should be at a 45-degree angle.
3. Brush your teeth using a small, gentle circular motion. Make sure to clean under the gumline as this is where gum disease usually occurs.
4. Once you’ve cleaned one area, move onto the next one. You should be able to clean two to three teeth at a time with the circular motion.
5. Once you’ve finished cleaning the outside areas of your teeth, move onto the inside areas.
6. Finally, brush the chewing surfaces of your teeth as well as your tongue.

The Stillman technique

The Stillman technique is very similar to the Bass technique but it can be more effective for some people.

To perform the Stillman brushing technique, follow the same instructions as the Bass technique except that after making little circles, pull the brush downwards to scrape off any remaining food or plaque on your teeth.

The Charter technique

The Bass technique and the Stillman technique both involve pointing the bristles of the toothbrush upwards towards your gumline. The Charter technique, in contrast, involves pointing the bristles downwards instead.

Dentists often recommend the Charter technique to people with braces and dentures. You might also benefit from the technique if you have gum recession or if you’ve had periodontal surgery.

To perform the Charter technique, follow these instructions:

1. Place the toothbrush against your upper teeth.
2. Point the bristles up towards your gums so they’re at a 45-degree angle. As mentioned, unlike the Bass and Stillman techniques, the bristles should be pointing upwards instead of downwards.
3. Use small, gentle circular strokes to clean your teeth, one area at a time.
4. Once you’ve finished cleaning the outer surfaces of your teeth, move on to the inner surfaces and then finally, the chewing surfaces.

Need more information?

If you’d like to speak to a dentist about these brushing techniques, or indeed about any dental issue, then don’t be shy – make an appointment with us today by simply calling 01282 428435. We look forward to seeing you!