As dentists, we spend a great amount of time discussing oral hygiene with our patients to ensure we are working together to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

I often find that while my patients are extremely motivated to keep their teeth as clean as possible, they can at times need a bit of help to direct that enthusiasm and improve their technique.

Here are 5 top tips for improving your dental hygiene to keep your mouth as healthy as possible:

• Toothbrushing- It goes without saying but brushing is the single most important step in the cleaning process. Make sure you are brushing twice a day, in the morning and at night, for 2 minutes at a time- and ensure you are brushing every surface of every tooth so that there are no areas being missed!
• Toothpaste- Brushing is excellent but it is made even more effective by using the correct toothpaste. Make sure as an adult you are using toothpaste with a concentration of 1450ppm Fluoride (it will tell you this on the box!)
• Interdental cleaning – Interdental brushes are the best way to clean between your teeth. For patients with tight gaps there is always flossing. Flossing has been a subject of much debate recently. At Millersneuk, our advice would always be that flossing is worthwhile to prevent decay between your teeth and keep your gums healthy, just look at the plaque on the floss when you remove it! Try to floss as often as possible for best results.
• Mouthwash- This is something which is really poorly marketed by the mouthwash companies. Mouthwash should NEVER be used at the same time as brushing unless instructed to do so by your dentist. Feel free to use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash throughout the day or after meals to freshen your breath but just not straight after brushing, as this dilutes the fluoride from your toothpaste.
• The Process- When it comes to your oral hygiene routine, how you bring it all together is really important to gain the maximum benefit. I would advised brushing first with toothpaste, but don’t put the brush under the tap to wet it, brush for 2 minutes, then spit out the excess into the sink, but DON’T rinse out with water or mouthwash etc. This is to allow the fluoride form the toothpaste to sit on your teeth which helps to strengthen them and to prevent decay.

If you have any questions about your oral hygiene please feel free to book an appointment where we can discuss this with you.

Jonathan is a Dentist at Millersneuk Dental Practice in Lenzie. He has a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry and works together with patients to achieve the results they want. Jonathan has proved popular among his patients since joining the practice, please read some of his reviews on Facebook and on the practice website to find out more. 

To book an appointment with Jonathan, please phone 0141 777 7511

We often get asked in the practice about veneers and ‘smile makeovers’ and so I thought this may be a good topic to cover for this week’s blog.

Veneers are thin layers of ceramic which fit over the front of teeth to change their appearance. They can be used to change the shape, colour and length of teeth, and when used correctly can really make a difference to your smile.

Many dentists try to ‘sell’ their patients veneers and smile makeovers, promising to totally change their appearance, and while in some situations this can be true, you need to be really careful and thoroughly think through any treatment like this before proceeding.

To provide veneers, the procedure involves removing some of the front of the tooth to make space for the ceramic, before taking an impression to send to the lab, and then making you temporary veneers to wear until the final ones are made. You would then come back for a second appointment to have the temporaries removed, and if we are happy with the colour, shape and fit of the final veneers, they would be cemented in place that day.

An important point to consider when providing veneers is removing healthy tooth. The veneers need to be made in ceramic, and the thinnest we can normally have them fabricated in is 0.3mm. Sometimes if we are covering heavily discoloured teeth this can be even more.

I was at a course last week from the company who produce the ceramic EMAX, who were educating us on the latest developments in ceramics.

One thing to consider is that we are increasingly moving more and more towards ‘minimally invasive’ dentistry and there are other options other than veneers which can be considered, including composite bonding, which involves no removal of healthy tooth tissue.

I often get asked about other local practices providing so called ‘non-prep’ veneers. What I normally say to my patients about this is that I don’t think it’s an appropriate treatment option in almost all cases. Not removing any tooth to make space for the ceramic means most of these veneers end up looking really big and bulky, and as though the teeth are too big for the mouth. It’s really hard for the dental lab to make a natural looking veneer when the dentist hasn’t given them any space to do so. In addition, not having a smooth join from ceramic to tooth can lead to gum problems down the line.

If you’ve been thinking about having veneers done, or simply want some more information, please don’t hesitate to give the practice a call for a consultation.

Jonathan is a Dentist at Millersneuk Dental Practice in Lenzie. He has a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry and works together with patients to achieve the results they want. Jonathan has proved popular among his patients since joining the practice, please read some of his reviews on Facebook and on the practice website to find out more. 

To book an appointment with Jonathan, please phone 0141 777 7511

Why Do My Gums Bleed?

This week’s blog is about gum disease, and what you can do to prevent it.

Gum disease is a problem which affects the majority of the population at some point in their lives, and the problem tends to get worse as you age. Some studies suggest over 75% of those aged 65 and over are affected by gum disease.

The early signs of gum disease can include bleeding gums, especially when you brush your teeth, bad breath and a bad taste in the mouth.

Gum disease is caused by plaque which is the white sticky substance which forms on your teeth. The bacteria in plaque irritate the gums and they then become red and swollen as they try to protect themselves from the bacteria. This is what causes the bleeding and sometimes tenderness when brushing. It can be made worse by a number of factors, including smoking, poor toothbrushing, and diabetes.

If caught at an early stage, as dentists we call this “Gingivitis”, which means the gums are inflamed. This is the best stage to treat things as there can often be no lasting damage to the teeth and supporting bone. If left for longer periods however, what happens is the inflammation then starts to affect the bone which supports the teeth, and this eventually leads to teeth becoming loose and having to be extracted. When the gum disease affects the bone as well as the gums themselves, it is then classified as “Periodontal Disease.”

The good news is that gum disease is something which can normally be kept under control by regular visits to the dentist to keep on top of things, and a routine gum check is included in all examinations I carry out on my patients.

The first step is to eliminate any risk factors, which includes stopping smoking and control of any systemic medical conditions such as diabetes. We would then work together to ensure you are removing as much plaque as you can at home, and this includes toothbrushing and general oral hygiene advice. I work together with my patients using things like plaque disclosing tablets, interdental brushes and floss to get a regime that works for them and allows them to keep their teeth and gums as clean as possible. As a general rule, you should be brushing with fluoride toothpaste for 2 minutes in the morning and at night, but when we are dealing with gum disease this can often be a lot longer.

We would then move on to the next step which is a professional cleaning of all surfaces of the teeth and gums, and cleaning below the gumline to areas you wouldn’t be able to reach at home. This gives an excellent starting point which my patients can then keep on top of on a daily basis.

With gum disease, it’s essential to continually monitor to ensure we have everything under control, and with my patients we continually check for plaque and bleeding on an ongoing basis to ensure your gums are as healthy as possible.

Bleeding gums can often be an early sign of gum disease but can also be a sign of something more systemic, and that’s why regular trips to the dentist are essential. If you are concerned about the health of your teeth or gums, don’t hesitate to give us a phone and book an appointment today.

Jonathan is a Dentist at Millersneuk Dental Practice in Lenzie. He has a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry and works together with patients to achieve the results they want. Jonathan has proved popular among his patients since joining the practice, please read some of his reviews on Facebook and on the practice website to find out more. 

To book an appointment with Jonathan, please phone 0141 777 7511

I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who liked and shared last weeks blog, it has proved to be much more popular than I anticipated!

This weeks blog will discuss facial aesthetics carried out in the practice. Both myself and Philip Church are fully trained in providing botox and dermal fillers. These have proved really popular treatments since we introduced them to the practice.

Some may be concerned about what the treatments involve or the materials used but both botox and dermal fillers can be carried out extremely safely and the results can be absolutely fantastic!

The benefit of having facial aesthetics carried out can be a massive boost to your self confidence and a more youthful appearance. Another benefit is that none of the materials we use are permanent, they can last up to 12 months depending on the product used, meaning you’re not committing to a massive change for the rest of your life.

Botox, or botulinum toxin A, blocks nerve activity in the muscles, causing a temporary reduction in muscle activity. What this means in practice is a reduction in wrinkles, which can last up to 4 months. The main areas we treat are forehead lines, frown lines between the eyebrows, and crow’s feet at the side of the eyes. Having botox done takes a matter of minutes and the results are visible within 1-2 weeks. Patients often comment on how simple the procedure is and often ask if ‘that was it’ when we are finished!

Dermal fillers or lip fillers are an increasingly popular treatment, with loads of celebrities having had them done. The can be used to soften lines and wrinkles and restore volume. The most popular area for dermal fillers has to be the lips, with the vast majority of TV celebrities and personalities having had lip fillers of some kind. The procedure itself is really simple and the results are instant. I always work together with my patients to achieve the result they want. If that means using a really small volume of filler to provide slightly more definition, or if you want loads more volume we can work together to get things how you want them. Additional areas to be treated with fillers can include lines between the nose and mouth, corners of mouth and cheeks.

Dermal fillers can last up to 12 months depending on the product used. At Millersneuk, we use Juvederm due to its proven track record and excellent safety record. As with tooth whitening that we discussed last week, having these procedures carried out can be extremely safe, but I would always recommend having the procedure carried out by a trained professional in a professional clinical environment to ensure you are getting the best possible service.

If interested in any facial aesthetic procedure, or if it has been something you’ve been interested in for a while but just want more information before going ahead, please give the practice a phone to book an appointment. We are offering a free consultation at the moment so phone and book today!

Jonathan is a Dentist at Millersneuk Dental Practice in Lenzie. He has a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry and works together with patients to achieve the results they want. Jonathan has proved popular among his patients since joining the practice, please read some of his reviews on Facebook and on the practice website to find out more. 

To book an appointment with Jonathan, please phone 0141 777 7511

A question we often get asked in the practice surrounds tooth whitening. With the procedure seemingly available from an abundance of sources including dentists, beauticians and DIY kits from the internet I understand how confusing it can be.

Tooth whitening in itself can achieve fantastic results fairly easily and can really transform your smile. Teeth tend to discolour and go darker with age, and in addition can pick up stains from tea, coffee, red wine and smoking among others. It doesn’t require loads of time in the dental chair and the results can really change patients’ confidence and self-esteem.

Legally, tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry, and therefore can only be carried out by dental care professionals registered with the GDC. In addition, safe and approved products for tooth whitening can only be sold to dental professionals, so having the procedure carried out elsewhere means they could potentially be using unsafe and illegal products which are not approved for use in the mouth. This means tooth whitening carried out in salons and beauticians is fully illegal and could lead to considerable damage to your teeth and gums.

On a daily basis I see how much my patients care about their teeth and gums and want to keep them as healthy as possible. Tooth whitening can be completely complimentary to this, but having the procedure carried out by someone who isn’t qualified to do so can put your dental health at risk. You wouldn’t be happy for a joiner to fix the brakes on your car, so why have anyone other than a dental professional carry out any procedure in your mouth?

At Millersneuk, we believe we have the best solution in terms of providing tooth whitening. We only use fully approved and safe products and fully qualified dental technicians to make custom made trays to fit your mouth. This ensures the procedure is carried out to a high standard without fear of damage to your teeth or gums. We work together with our patients to achieve the results they want and I really feel strongly that tooth whitening can be a fantastic procedure if carried out safely.

If interested in having tooth whitening carried out whether you are a patient of the practice already or are looking to join then please give us a phone on 0141 777 7511 to book an appointment today.

Jonathan is a Dentist at Millersneuk Dental Practice in Lenzie. He has a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry and works together with patients to achieve the results they want. Jonathan has proved popular among his patients since joining the practice, please read some of his reviews on Facebook and on the practice website to find out more. 

To book an appointment with Jonathan, please phone 0141 777 7511