Hygienist

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Are We Subconsciously Damaging Our Teeth?

Could we be subconsciously damaging our teeth? If we are brushing our teeth twice daily, visiting the dentist regularly, surely our teeth must be fine? We wish that was the case! We might have a really good dental hygiene routine, but there are plenty of things we do unconsciously every single day that are seriously…

smiling

Are you ruining your smile?

You could be ruining your smile without even knowing it! You have a more extensive knowledge of dental health these days. Brushing twice a day with toothpaste is not all you need to do though. Here are some hints and tips on how and why these things could be wasting your teeth and therefore ruining…

natural-smile

The Unusual Suspects: Surprising Things That Harm Your Teeth.

Are we subconsciously harming our teeth? When we think of the things that can harm our teeth, we automatically think of foods that stain our teeth or sugary foods. We think of not brushing our teeth and missing dental appointments. While all of those will certainly cause damage to your teeth, have you ever considered…

1 in 10 children don't know how to brush their teeth properly

Shocking report says that 1 in 10 children leave school without knowing how to brush their teeth!

A shocking report was published recently by Tic Watches. Amongst its findings it revealed that 1 in 10 primary school children in England are unable to brush their own teeth properly. You can read the full report here. Boys are better than girls! Another shocking fact in the report was that girls are less likely…

hygienist, dental hygiene, hygienist appointment

Your appointment with the dental hygienist

Why your hygiene appointments are as important as dental check ups guest blog by hayley irons We all know that we should attend for a dental check-up. Normally this is as regularly as every six months. This helps your dentist to keep a close eye on your oral health and spot any changes early before…

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Why you should attend regular dental check-ups

a defacto dentists guest blog from Hayley Irons Dental check-ups. They’re not the most exciting plans in your diary and you can probably think of about 10 different things you’d rather be doing instead! However, they are one of the most important errands you need to run, and it’s worth remembering why…   Attending regular…

teachers, uk teachers, buying toiletries for pupils, hygiene poverty, uk schools, toothbrushes, oral health

UK Teachers Taking Children’s Oral Health Into Their Own Hands

Teachers across the UK are now taking steps to try to improve children’s oral health. Children’s oral health is a hot topic. One week it’s improving, the next it’s getting worse and now, it’s come to light that teachers in primary schools up and down the UK are getting involved in Children’s oral health. Teaching…

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Can The Winter Months Affect My Oral Health?

Did you know that your oral health is more likely to worsen during the winter months? New research has shown that your oral health is more likely to worsen in the winter months, due to a number of factors. In this blog post, we look at the reasons why your oral health is likely to…

https://www.defactodentists.com/blog/morning-sickness-teeth/

Four Common Misconceptions About Fillings

Due to get a dental filling soon Having a dental filling nowadays is more common than not. A sad but true fact. Some people are shocked when they find out that they need a filling. They brush and floss every single day, so the news that they have a cavity can be quite shocking! We…

tooth erosion, enamel erosion, tooth decay, decay, herbal tea, salt and vinegar crisps

How Much Do You Spend On Your Teeth?

How much do you spend on your teeth? A new survey has shown that us Brits are spending just short of £200 every year to keep our teeth and gums fresh and clean. We spend almost £17 every month on dental products including toothpaste, brushes/brush heads and mouthwashes. The £17 also includes extras including sugar…

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Stop Feeling Embarrassed About Your Smile!

Your dentist has seen it all before. Have you ever avoided a trip, or trips to the dentist because you’re embarrassed about your smile? You keep cancelling your appointments or missing them accidentally but on purpose? Well you’re not alone. 1 in 4 adults say that they’ve avoided going to appointments at the dentist because…

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Too Many Adults Are Skipping Out On Hygienist Appointments

When was the last time you visited the hygienist? Almost one third of adults in the UK have never had a hygiene appointment at the dentist,  research from Tepe has shown. This is a truly shocking statistic. Some people think that visiting the dentist is enough. And in some cases, that is true. There are…

happy at the dentist

Dental Care and The Elderly.

Dental health is important at all ages, but it can decline as you get older. Even with vigilant dental care as a child and an adult, a whole host of dental related problems can emerge later in life. Tooth sensitivity and tooth loss are not just a fact of life as you age, they can…

dark chocolate is good for your teeth, smile, chocolate, dentistry

Chocolate Is Good For Your Teeth – There Is Proof.

Can chocolate really be good for your teeth? Never did we think we’d hear those words. Here at Defacto Dentists, we love chocolate as much as the next person. Luckily for us, it’s just been Easter and we’ve still got plenty of chocolate eggs to work our way through in the office. How can our…

obesity, NHS, weight, weight management, dental treatment, diet

Too Big For Dental Treatment?

People in the UK are being forced to go to specialist treatment centres to receive dental treatment because of their weight. Is there such a thing as being too big for the dentist? Can weight really affect how you can be treated by a dentist? In short, yes. Obesity levels are soaring. Unsurprisingly, obesity is…

teeth-whitening-upkeep

You’re Looking After Your Teeth Completely Wrong.

Think you know everything about looking after your teeth? Think again.   Spit and DON’T RINSE Too many of us after brushing our teeth, are guilty of rinsing with water. If you rinse your mouth with water after brushing your teeth, you’re washing away the fluoride that helps harden your teeth. Fluoride is vital for…

dementia and dentistry, dementia, dental care

The Link Between Dementia and Dental Care – Defacto Blog

Preventive dental care provided in the early stages of dementia could help limit major tooth problems later, researchers say. According to Dementia UK, Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders. There are many different types and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. Some people may have a combination of…

eating disorders, ED, eating dissorders and dental care

Dentists Will Spot The Signs of Eating Disorders.

Dentists are able to spot the initial signs on eating disorders. Dentists can play a key role in the detection of health conditions including anorexia nervosa and bulimia according to new research from King’s College London. Data which has been published in the British Dental Journal has found that many of the medical conditions that…

tooth erosion, enamel erosion, tooth decay, decay, herbal tea, salt and vinegar crisps

Tea and Crisps Are Causing Tooth Erosion!

It would seem like we learn of something else that isn’t good for our teeth just about every day. First it was sugar, then it was using the wrong toothbrush, and now? It’s drinking tea and eating salt and vinegar crisps. Yep, you heard it. Herbal teas and crisps. There’s a good chance you do…

dental filling, fillings, dental care, oral health

Aftercare Tips for Fillings!

Getting fillings is a pretty common procedure, but what should you do after treatment? Most adults have at least one filling. Although they are not the worst possible thing you could have done at the dentist, they’re not a lot of fun. If you don’t care for them, you might land yourself back in the…

teeth-whitening-upkeep

White Spots on Your Teeth: Spotting The Signs of Decay

Nowadays, it can seem like there is so much to look out for in term of our dental health. Swollen gums, increased sensitivity and shifting teeth to name just a few. We hate to add to the list, but there is something that many people have and don’t realise there is a problem! Ever noticed…

cold, winter, teeth, sensitive, sensitivity, freezing

Caring For Your Teeth During The Cold Months

It’s getting colder! It’s time to look out the winter coats, our hats, scarves and gloves and it is also time to start taking care of your teeth. The cold weather can cause our teeth problems if we don’t take care extra care of them in the winter months.   What should you watch out…

oral cancer, cancer screening, oral health, HPV, HPV Vaccine, cancer

HPV & Dentistry: How They’re Linked & What You Need To Know.

HPV or the Human Papillomavirus is a group of viruses and is the most common sexually transmitted virus. But what has this got to do with dentistry? Well, HPV is most commonly attributed to causing genital warts or cervical cancer but HPV can also cause oral cancer. HPV is the leading cause of oro-pharyngeal cancers…

extraction, dental extraction, tooth extraction, wisdom teeth, tooth out, smile

Extraction – What You Should and Shouldn’t Do Afterwards!

Extraction of a tooth is one of the most common dental procedures. But what should you do after you’ve had a tooth removed? As with all dental procedures, making sure you follow a strict aftercare routine is vital. Extractions need that little bit of extra care because there is essentially a gap in your mouth…

taking control of your dental health

Taking Control of Your Dental Health

Are you in control of your dental health? Do you feel like you have bad teeth? Have they always had cavities? Every time you go to the dentist, they find something different. A new hole. A problem with your gums. Maybe a broken tooth? Your teeth are weak. Or maybe it was bad genes? If…

Make A Point of Making Appointments!

Missing dental appointments is something you shouldn’t make a habit of. One missed appointment can easily become many year’s worth of missed appointments. The problem is, too many of us don’t make visiting the dentist a priority. Unfortunately, by doing this, we open the doors to more dental problems further down the line!   No…

The Food That Is Good For Our Teeth.

The food that we eat can hugely impact our dental health.   On the blog before, we’ve looked at Food that can help to whiten our teeth. We also briefly looked at the food we should pass up on to avoid tooth discolouration. Today, we’re looking at the food that is actually surprisingly good for our…

brushing-teeth-too-much

Is There Such a Thing as Bad Brushing?

Brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day is a sure-fire way to keep any dental problems at bay. But are you doing it right?   Sure, you might be brushing twice a day for the right amount of time, but doing it wrong could be just as bad as not brushing at all.…

can dentists identify

Can Dentists Identify Health Problems?

When we think of going to the dentist, we automatically think of our teeth – check-ups, fillings, visiting the hygienist but did you know that your dentist is there to care for more than just your teeth? Your dentist is able to identify a number of health problems.   Can dentists identify eating disorders? People…

5 things wedding day

Five Things People Forget Before Their Wedding Day

Weddings are listed in the top 10 most stressful events in a person’s life. It’s no wonder people get a little forgetful on the lead up to their wedding day… There’s so much to think about for your wedding day. Flowers, cakes, dress, suits and guests and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The…

8 ways to cut down on sugar

8 Ways to Cut Down on Sugar

Sugar is a nation wide addiction. Should you want to kick the habit, we can offer you 8 ways to cut down on sugar. We don’t expect people to cut it out entirely. Sugar is hard to escape these days. But, there are ways to skirt around it without eating too much. Not only will…

dental surgery do's and don'ts

Recovering From Dental Surgery: Do’s and Dont’s

Dental surgery could be required for a multitude of reasons. From tooth removal to implants, there are various reasons you may need dental surgery. However, it’s likely that your surgery will be a pain free ordeal. Dealing with the aftercare is where people might be a bit lost. For the first two days it is…

dental hygiene rules

Dental Hygiene Rules You Don’t Know but Should Follow

We think we know all the basic dental hygiene tips. But we probably don’t. You’ve been brushing your teeth your whole life but its likely there are a couple of things you could be incorporating into your dental hygiene routine that you haven’t already. Brushing and flossing twice a day is still important. However, we’d…

dental tips for diabetics

Dental Tips for Diabetics

Around 700 people are diagnosed as diabetics each day. That’s roughly one person every two minutes. Since 1996, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK has more than doubled from 1.4 million to almost 3.5 million. Not only can diabetes wreak havoc on your body, it can do the same to your…

how our teeth age

How Our Teeth Age

We all get older and we know the standard side effects. Like wrinkles, poor eyesight and age spots. But, have you ever thought about when you age, how your teeth age too? Your teeth can change dramatically over short spaces of time. If you’re really consistent with brushing, you’re teeth will look a lot whiter…

how to have a good dentist appointment

How to Have a Good Dentist Appointment: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do

You might be approaching your six-month check up, or you might have just registered at a new practice. It’s common that we all want to have a good dentist appointment. But, it goes beyond excessive brushing beforehand. Actually that could be one of the things you don’t do. Brushing right before you go for your…

replace a filling

When Should You Replace a Filling?

It’s common nowadays for an individual to have a filling. However, it may not be common knowledge that sometimes you need to replace a filling… Tooth decay affects around 31% of adults. So, it’s not surprising that fillings are as common as they are. But, before we get to why you would need to replace…

dental appointments

Why You Shouldn’t Skip Dental Appointments

Dental appointments can feel inconvenient. You might need to go during work and they cost money. However, they are necessary. We’ve seen a couple of articles this week explaining how people are skipping their dental appointments to save money. Here’s a few reasons why that isn’t a great idea. Flossing and brushing isn’t enough. You…

dentist over christmas

Why You Should Visit Your Dentist Over the Holidays

Christmas and New Year can be a busy time for us all. But, you should be making it a busy time for your dentist. We’re not saying we want dentists laden down with work over the holidays. What we are saying is that you should be focusing on maintaining your dental health over this festive…

what does smoking do to your smile

What Does Smoking Do To Your Smile?

We all know that smoking is bad for us. However, while the majority of us are focusing on the cancer risk or our lungs, what does smoking do to our mouth? It has been estimated that every year in the UK around 96,000 people die from diseases caused by smoking. Also, about half of all…

plaque can contain bacteria

What Can Plaque Tell Us?

You may be familiar with adverts in TV showing plaque being buffed away. But what do we actually know about it? What many dentists know is that plaque is a biofilm, a combination of bacteria (500+ types), fungi, and protozoa. This mixes with nutrients from foods and drinks in the mouth to create a self-sustaining…

teeth whitening

Why is Tongue Scraping Important?

Of course we know that brushing and flossing is an important part of your dental routine, but why is tongue scraping important? You may or may not have heard of this technique before, however, tongue scraping does a lot to aid in your dental health. The small instrument is a plastic tool that you would…

Nursery Staff Teaching Kids About Dental Hygiene

Tooth decay in young children is on the rise and nursery staff are trying to change that. The cost of removing teeth in hospital has risen by 66% since 2011 according to the British Dental Association. However, although there may be children going through the discomfort of having fillings or extractions, there are many other children…