Dental care and advice

Top tips to get the best out of your visit to the dentist, and to ensure you keep smiling for life.

Dental phobia and sedation

Have you been avoiding the dentist? Would you rather endure the discomfort of toothache than face booking an appointment?

Anxieties over visiting the dentist and dental phobia (also known as odontophobia) are common across the UK. In fact around 25 percent of us admit to dreading the dentist. While it’s nice to know that we are not alone in our anxieties, it’s also reassuring to know that dentists are aware of these fears and strive to make your visit as comfortable as possible.

Our Portman practices are not only calm and tranquil spaces, but our staff are comprehensively trained to help you with any concerns or worries you may have about your visit, and can even offer sedation if required.

Good dental health

With a healthy, fresh mouth you’ll want to smile all day, every day. Gleaming teeth, pink gums, fresh breath and a wide smile are all expressions of good dental health.

Diet and lifestyle all play a part in your overall health and it’s no different for your mouth. Eating certain foods such as dark leafy greens, dairy, and even shiitake mushrooms can help encourage good oral health. Some other helpful tips include brushing with a fluoride toothpaste and waiting a few minutes after you brush before you mouthwash.  

Your Portman dentist and hygienist will be able to give you further practical advice on how to improve your overall oral health, but if you are brushing and flossing twice a day and can pinpoint your next dental check up in your diary, then you’re already on the road to great dental health.

Common dental conditions

Speaking, eating, drinking, laughing – your smile is how you face the world. Your teeth and gums will go through a lot in one lifetime. Taking good care of them with a quality dental care routine will go a long way in keeping your teeth bright, white and gleaming and your gums healthy and strong.

However, there are some common dental conditions that can crop up due to lifestyle, genetics, illness or just bad luck. Toothache, enamel erosion, tooth sensitivity, mouth sores and gum disease are all common concerns.

If you are worried about your dental health, for any reason, make an appointment to see your Portman dentist. They can help and advise with some of the most common dental conditions and put your mind at ease.

Children’s teeth

There’s nothing that will bring a smile to your face like your child grinning from ear to ear. You want to make sure that they keep that smile confidence from toddler to teenager.  

Children usually get their first teeth (their milk teeth) at around six months old, and plaque and tartar will start to form from that moment on. Ensuring that your child has regular check ups will not only help to prevent more serious issues in adult life, it will encourage them to become dentist-confident.

You and your dedicated Portman dentist can help maintain their smile, encourage and educate them in good oral hygiene, and make visits to the dentist part of their routine.

Fresh breath

Is bad breath impacting your self-confidence? Halitosis can affect anyone at any age, and studies show that around one in four people suffer from bad breath on a regular basis.

What should you do if you think you have bad breath?

Your first port of call should be to speak to your dentist or hygienist. Bad breath is a symptom. It could be something as simple as last night’s garlicky dinner, or daily coffee and cigarette breaks, but your breath can also be an indication of your overall health. Halitosis may be a sign of mild or developed gum disease, or it may indicate problems in other areas of your body, such as the liver, kidney or lungs.    

A professional examination can ascertain the underlying cause and help you find the right treatment for fresher breath and a healthier mouth.

Periodontology

Three in every four adults over the age of 35 suffer with gum disease, and it is gum disease (not tooth decay) that is the leading cause of tooth loss. Apart from damaging your smile with unsightly gaps, losing a tooth can affect the structure of your mouth and lead to further complications.   

Gum disease is silent, and a brilliant smile can often hide the early stages. You need professional insight and prevention techniques to maintain healthy teeth and gums for life.

Portman periodontists are some of the most acclaimed in the country. Highly skilled and expertly trained, their primary concern is to keep all your teeth in place for your lifetime. A quick diagnosis and treatment of mild to advanced gum disease leaves you in the best position to retain a wide, full and bright smile, no matter what your age.

Also in this section:

General dentistry

At Portman, general dentistry is the foundation of what we do. Whether you’d like a routine check up, are interested in hygienist services, or need an emergency appointment, we can help.

    Dentist and Patient - Treatments - Portman Dental Care

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