How can we already be at the beginning of September and the kids going back to school next week?

We have certainly had a very eventful year, not necessarily a good year. This year has certainly made a lot of people reassess their lifestyles.

We at Oakley Road Dental Practice have also had to reassess everything ranging from appointment types and how appointments are booked. Hopefully we have found the most suitable pathway for most people considering the limitations we have with the pandemic not disappearing as previously hoped for.

We have as yet not activated the recall system but we would like to invite anybody that would like to have a check up or have any dental related problem that they would like looking at to please call us: 023 8077 1450. We will be able to book those appointments for you as of October so it is best to ring as early as you feel comfortable.

We would like to invite you to book with our Dentist Neha and Hygienist Ian, quite a few of our patients have attended appointments with them and have given them rave reviews!

Please don’t forget to keep your hands sanitised and wear masks which are all available to buy at the practice.

As always, we look forward to seeing you soon, take care and stay safe!

We have missed you all!

Wow, we have been overwhelmed by all the kind messages we have received since reopening up the practice. It has been such a great feeling to know that you have missed us as much as we have missed you!

We do still appreciate the ongoing patience with us as we are trying to complete treatments that were not finished due to lockdown – as well as emergencies.

We are still restricted to the amount of people we can see at one time, as well as the time needed in between treatments for sterilisation of the rooms.

We are aware that there are a few hick ups with the new portal – majority of this is caused because it is super sensitive to even the slightest discrepancies. If you have any problems with it just give us a ring or send us an email and we will resolve these problems. Once you have managed to log on, there should hopefully not be any future problems.

COVID-19 Questionnaire

We would like to request that the COVID questionnaire not be filled out more than 48 hours ahead of time as this will trigger an alert that the form needs to be filled out again. Please also remember to let us know if you suddenly develop symptoms within that timeframe. We would also like to stress how important it is for us to have these records – without them we will be unable to see you for your appointment.

Appointments for Children

For patients who had children booked in during lockdown, please give us a ring as we are still honouring the last free NHS check up until September – after which date children can still come and see us, but will either have to pay privately or join their families on Denplan.

New Dentist

We would like to use this opportunity to introduce our lovely new Dentist Dr Neha Rawal.

Feel free to book check-ups etc with Neha as she has plenty of appointments available sooner and if you are a nervous patient – she is definitely the one to see!

New Hygienist

Ian Jones has also joined our team as a hygienist and he is helping to get everybody’s oral health back on track. He has got a great sense of humour and will have you giggling in the chair!

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram for further updates.

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Kind regards and stay safe.

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What is periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease. The inflammation is part of the body’s natural defence mechanisms and occurs in response to a build-up of plaque (bacteria) on the teeth. In some patients, this natural inflammatory process is too severe or poorly controlled and the inflammation actually damages the supporting structures of the teeth, namely the gums and supporting bone. Whilst we can control this process and stop the bone loss from getting worse, the bone loss is usually irreversible.

Who gets periodontal disease?

Approximately 10% of the population are severely affected by periodontal disease and by the age of 60 years old around 80% of people will display some bone loss, albeit mild. There appears to be some genetic link with periodontal disease, with trends running in families. If you have been diagnosed with periodontal disease, then potentially your siblings are at increased risk of having the same problem and potentially your children may also be at increased risk. Ideally, they should all be screened and monitored for potential problems by their dentist.

Does anything make it worse?

The single biggest risk factor for developing gum disease, after poor oral hygiene, is smoking. Smokers lose three times more teeth than non-smokers and they do not respond as well to treatment as non-smokers. There are other conditions such as poorly controlled diabetes, poor diet or stress that can also play their part. Stopping smoking is a very important part of controlling this disease and preventing tooth loss. Should you wish to quit smoking, the best people to speak to would be your GP or local stop smoking clinic. We are also happy to offer advice.

Can it be treated?

Periodontal disease can be treated successfully; however, we cannot cure it. Similar to diabetes, there is no cure, but by stabilising the disease, we can prevent further damage and allow you to keep your teeth for a long time.

What can I do to help?

Your role in the management and stabilisation of the disease is crucial. We will show you techniques aimed at helping you clean your teeth to a very high standard so that the bacteria levels are below the level that triggers inflammation. This is different from one patient to the next. Without this change in home care, our treatment cannot be successful. Controlling the risk factors outlined above is an important part of helping yourself control your disease.

What if I don’t have treatment?

If the bone loss around the teeth is not controlled, then teeth may become loose, gums may shrink and, in some cases, teeth may become infected or even fall out.

What does treatment involve?

Once you are successfully controlling the plaque build-up, we will help by removing the deposits that you cannot reach or are firmly attached to the teeth. This can take time and you may require several treatment sessions over a period of many months depending on how severe the disease is. It is impossible to know how long it will take to stabilise the condition but the harder you work at home the quicker things tend to happen.

If it is about bacteria, why can you not just give me antibiotics?

This is not an infection, it is the body’s reaction to removable plaque. When the plaque is physically removed by you and by us, the inflammation will resolve and the disease will stabilise without the need for antibiotics. Gum disease is almost never treated with antibiotics.

Are there any side effects to treatment?

Due to the fact that there has been irreversible bone loss, when the inflammation resolves it is likely that you will experience some gum shrinkage and possibly some sensitivity. These are unavoidable side effects of treatment, but you must remember that failing to control the disease may result in tooth loss.

If you think you have periodontal disease then please book an appointment at Oakley Road Dental Practice.

This summer, take on the Big Family Brush-Up! 24th June – 31st August 2019

Without a doubt, one of the most stressful parts of the day for any parent is the teeth brushing battle that commences first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Tiredness, general averseness and lack of time all contribute to a hurried, often ineffective teeth clean.

This summer at Oakley Road Dental Practice we are supporting families by helping them to understand the importance of a proper teeth brushing routine and the impact it has on their oral health.

We’ll be providing a helping hand in getting your kids to brush their teeth in conjunction with Denplan and Simplyhealth’s national campaign – The Big Family Brush Up!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some top tips, visiting local schools, hosting an open day here at the practice and offering advice on how to make teeth brushing fun for all the family – so stay tuned for more information.

Teething problems

Tooth decay is a huge problem in the UK, especially amongst school aged children. In a recent survey conducted by Simplyhealth, statistics showed almost a third of children under the age of 18 taking part in the study had already needed a filling with some requiring up to five!

These statistics are shocking. We all know that we need to brush our teeth for two minutes twice a day, the question is, are we actually all doing it?

Out of 1,000 parents questioned, 18% admitted that their child only brushed their teeth once a day, with two thirds confessing that two minutes proved too challenging for their child. So how can we help our children to brush their teeth thoroughly and overcome their reluctance to brush regularly?

Top dental tips that are easy to follow

We want your child to adopt a healthy brushing routine so here’s some simple advice to help you all.

1. Make sure you brush your teeth the minute you wake up. Brushing after breakfast is actually more damaging for your teeth, due to the acid and sugars that soften our enamel, found in the foods that we eat. It is also easier to get your child to do two minutes when they have longer to linger, rather than last minute as they scramble to school.
2. Brush your teeth at least an hour after eating each evening. Similar to the morning routine, certain foods can cause damage to your teeth so it’s always best to wait a while before cleaning. Once brushed, make sure your child only drinks water without extra snacks.
3. Invest in a timer so that your child can grasp the concept of time. Whether it is a sand egg timer or a musical app, two minutes can feel like an eternity without watching the seconds tick by.
4. Make sure that your child’s toothpaste contains the recommended strength of fluoride for their age group. Children under the age of three years old should use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1000 ppm. Children between three and six years old should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1000 ppm fluoride, whilst children aged 7 and over can have fluoride toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm.

Be a part of the big family brush-up

Get your toothbrushes at the ready and join us for a summer challenge as part of the national brush-up campaign. Running from 24th June – 31st August you can pick a four week timeframe to suit you and your family.

Don’t forget to download your very own reward chart and send your pictures to www.bigfamilybrushup.co.uk for a chance to win some fabulous prizes. Here you can also find more tips, information and downloadable resources to help your family brush better.

Book your child a check-up today

We know that visiting the dentist can be nerve wracking, especially for children, but our friendly team of dentists and dental staff at Oakley Road are here to make it fun.

We offer family appointments so that you can all be seen at once and can provide a host of different payment plans including Denplan for Children to make life easier for you when check-ups are due.

So, to make an appointment get in touch today by booking online or calling 023 8077 1450.

It’s never too early to start a good oral health routine

The daily battles that commence morning and night; the constant bribery; the singing of songs…getting your kids to brush their teeth can often be challenging. But let us reassure you, that caring for your children’s teeth now will be well worth it in the long run.

Children’s teeth are prone to decay, just like adult’s teeth, so it is essential that your child is taught the importance of good oral hygiene and a healthy diet from an early age – even if they still have their milk teeth.

See our Children’s dentistry in Southampton page.

Brushing up on teeth cleaning skills

Mornings are manic when time is of the essence and you are juggling everything around the school or nursery run. But there are some things we just shouldn’t rush. On average, we brush our teeth for just 45 to 70 seconds a time, which is well under the recommendation of 2-3 minutes.

Failure to make sure that our kids are looking after their teeth is having a major implication on their dental hygiene, with one in three children starting school with tooth decay! But it isn’t just poor brushing that’s to blame, a combination of readily available sugary snacks and drinks and a lack of preventative care has led to an increase in the number of children having teeth extractions.

Shockingly teeth decay in children is now 5 times more likely than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever. However, with a good brushing routine, regular dental check-ups and a balanced diet, you can ensure that your child has a healthy mouth today, tomorrow and for the future.

The importance of check-ups for children

It is not uncommon for parents to hold off taking their children to see the dentist until their adult teeth start to come through. However, baby teeth have an important role to play and should not be dismissed, as they help with a child’s physical, emotional, and social development.

We strongly recommend that from the age of 3 your child has six monthly check-ups, as tooth decay with children can happen quickly and catch everyone unaware.

Most children start to receive regular visits from the tooth fairy around the age of 6 years when their permanent teeth start to push through from below. Children tend to lose their teeth in the order they arrived, with their upper and lower front teeth often falling out first – enabling them to perfect the art of whistling.

Last year, according to an NHS survey, only 58.6% of children saw a dentist. At Oakley Road Dental Practice, we like to see patients of all ages and the younger they are the more familiar they can get with our comfortable dental surroundings.

Denplan for Children

From wobbly teeth, right through to misalignment, your children’s oral health can change rapidly as they grow. At Oakley Road Dental Practice, we place an emphasis on preventative care and now offer Denplan for Children.

This monthly plan not only helps to protect your children’s teeth with regular check-ups, dental x-rays and hygiene treatments but offers educational care to encourage a healthy smile for life.

The category your child is placed in is based on the condition of their oral health and the amount of treatment that may be required. Denplan for Children allows you to budget for your family treatments and helps our dentists to spot and avoid problems before they occur.

For more information on Denplan for Children, please call us on 02380 771450.

Oral advice and preventative care for parents

Below we have put together some simple steps that you and your family can take every day to protect and improve your child’s dental health.

1. Brush two minutes, twice a day: make sure that your child brushes their teeth for a full two minutes last thing at night and at least one other time during the day. Either use an app or a timer, sing a song or tick it off on a reward chart, but make sure that you supervise, watch and assist at all times.
2. For more information on the correct way to brush your teeth, our dental hygienist Michelle has created a YouTube video which you can view by clicking here.
3. Do not brush straight after eating: wait at least an hour after eating and drinking before encouraging your child to brush their teeth. This will allow their saliva time to neutralize the acids in their mouth and for their tooth enamel to reharden.
4. No need to rinse: often we encourage children to rinse their mouths after they’ve brushed their teeth, especially if they don’t like the minty taste of toothpaste. However, rinsing actually washes away the protective fluoride found in toothpaste which is meant to coat their teeth and offer continuous protection against decay.
5. Use age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste: ensure that your child’s toothpaste contains the recommended level of fluoride for their age group – this can be found on the side of the tube. Toothpastes containing 1350 – 1500 parts per million fluoride (ppm) are the most effective at helping to prevent tooth decay.
6. Children under the age of three years old should use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1000 ppm. Children between three and six years old should use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing more than 1000 ppm fluoride, whilst children aged 7 and over can have fluoride toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm.
7. Replace brushes regularly: when choosing a toothbrush for your child, choose a small headed toothbrush with medium texture bristles. Use either a manual or powered (rotation action), but make sure that you replace the toothbrush heads as soon as they become worn.
8. Promote healthy eating: sugar consumption is the major cause of tooth decay in children and whilst we all like a piece of chocolate, a bag of sweets or a slice of cake; they should be considered a treat and not an everyday occurrence.

Try and avoid giving your child sugary foods and drinks just before bedtime and only give snacks such as dried fruit and juice at mealtimes. Remember that smoothies and fruit juice may count towards your child’s 5 a day, but even unsweetened fruit juice is sugary, so should be monitored.

Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet that is rich in fruit, vegetables and starchy foods, making sure that you include some proteins, milk and dairy products. And, where possible, always ask for sugar-free medicines.

Book your child a check-up today

We know that visiting the dentist can be nerve-wracking, especially for children, but our friendly team of dentists and dental staff at Oakley Road are here to make it fun.

We offer family appointments so that you can all be seen at once and can provide a host of different payment plans to make life easier for you when check-ups are due. So, to make an appointment get in touch today by booking online or calling 023 8077 1450.

Managing Diabetes and Dental Problems

Everyone knows that keeping your teeth, gums and mouth healthy helps to improve your overall health and wellbeing. But did you know that this is particularly important if you have diabetes, as you are at a higher risk of developing oral health issues such as gum disease, dry mouth, dental decay, oral thrush and infections?

Here at Oakley Road Dental Practice, as part of National Diabetes week, we will be highlighting the benefits of healthy living and offering dental support and advice to those who are dealing with all types of diabetes on an everyday basis.

Diabetes and your oral health

4.7 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes. That’s enough to fill Wembley Stadium 52 times over, and with figures predicted to reach 5 million in 2020, it is important that we understand the implications of living with this disease.

Diabetes is connected to a number of serious medical conditions such as kidney failure, strokes and heart attacks, but it can also have detrimental effects on our oral health.

Keeping your teeth, gums & mouth healthy is particularly important if you have diabetes, as research has shown that high blood glucose levels can increase the risk of developing gum disease, dry mouth, dental decay, oral thrush & dental infections. In fact, if you have Type 2 diabetes, you’re three times more likely to develop periodontal disease than someone without, but by controlling blood glucose levels, these risks can be minimised.

Gum disease

Too much sugar in your blood can lead to more sugar in your saliva, which ultimately helps to create bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria then goes on to produce acid which attacks your teeth’s enamel and infects the gum line. Left untreated, gum disease can cause bad breath, pain, bleeding of the gums, make chewing difficult and even result in tooth loss.

And the bad news does not stop there, as the above situation can also work vice versa. Gum disease and infection can, in turn, increase your blood sugar levels, and lead to other complications like cardiovascular disease.

Oral thrush

People with diabetes are also more at risk of oral thrush. The yeast fungus, Candida albicans, that causes oral thrush is often present without causing problems. However, a change in the environment of the mouth, such as high sugar levels, a dry mouth or increased amounts of glucose, can make favourable conditions for thrush to thrive.

Symptoms may include redness, soreness of the lining of the mouth and cracking at the corners, although in some instances there aren’t any symptoms until it is diagnosed at an oral examination.

Dry mouth

A dry mouth is more frequent in patients with diabetes, and although it is unknown exactly why, some professionals put it down to the result of dehydration, the side-effects of medication and constantly breathing through the mouth.

Problems caused by dry mouth include increased plaque, fungal infections, dental decay, thinning or peeling of the lining of the mouth, reduced ability to chew, difficulty in swallowing and impaired taste sensation.

Diabetes and Oral Health: What to watch out for!

Whilst the warning signs of diabetes are difficult to ignore, the connection to your oral health is often overlooked. Below are some tell-tale signs you should look out for:

• Sore, swollen or bleeding gums
• Eroding of the gum line
• Thrush, bad breath or other fungal infections
• Prolonged healing of sores or open wounds
• Loose or sensitive teeth
• Dry mouth or burning sensations
• Loss of taste buds
• Jaw or facial pain when eating

If you are concerned about any of the symptoms listed above, please get in touch with us today at our private dental practice in Southampton, and we can book you in for a full dental check-up. Failure to act straight away could lead to serious implications for the future.

Our top tips for improving your oral health

Although you should always check out the reasons why you may be suffering with the above symptoms, there are certain remedies you can try yourself to attempt to improve your saliva production.

Try swapping sugary drinks and those that are high in caffeine for a cold glass of water. Pile your plate with plenty of high-fibre fruit and vegetables and remember to floss (the dental not the dance variety!) after every meal. Use a toothpick to gently scrape away any soft plaque that is covering your teeth and remember to brush them at least twice a day. Finally, chew on some gum or suck a mint and you’ll not only benefit from increased saliva flow but a minty, fresh breath.

Just how clean are your teeth?

We all know that in order to ensure our teeth stay in tip-top condition that we should brush them both day at night. However, in order to properly maintain both oral and general health, it is imperative that you schedule regular routine check-ups with both your dentist and hygienist.

Our in-house hygienists are passionate about educating patients on their oral health. From in chair teeth cleaning demonstrations to comprehensive treatment plans and informative YouTube videos, every appointment is tailored to our patient’s needs.

If you have diabetes or any other medical condition, then please let our dental team know and together we can avoid complications and maintain good oral health standards.