Curious about what’s true and what’s not when it comes to dental care? Let’s uncover some popular myths that might be holding you back from the healthiest smile possible! Knowing the facts can make all the difference for your oral health.

Myth #1: If You’re Not in Pain, Nothing is Wrong

Fiction! Dental problems often develop silently. Cavities, gum disease, and enamel erosion may progress without symptoms until they become serious. Regular dental check-ups allow your dentist to spot early signs of trouble and prevent the need for invasive treatments later.

Myth #2: Brush Immediately After Meals

Fiction! Brushing right after eating, especially acidic foods, can harm softened enamel. Saliva needs about 30 minutes to neutralise acids and harden enamel. Waiting to brush helps protect your teeth and keeps them strong.

Myth #3: Brushing Harder Cleans Better

Fiction! Vigorous brushing can damage gums and wear down enamel. For effective cleaning, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and light, circular motions. Gentle brushing removes plaque without causing harm.

Myth #4: Bleeding Gums Mean Stop Brushing

Fiction! Bleeding gums are often a sign of plaque buildup and inflammation. Continue brushing gently along the gumline and use interdental tools to clear hard-to-reach areas. Persistent bleeding, however, may indicate gum disease, so consult your dentist.

Myth #5: Sugar Alone Causes Cavities

Partly Fiction! While sugar feeds bacteria that produce enamel-damaging acids, poor oral hygiene and prolonged sugar exposure are also to blame. Brushing, flossing, and reducing sugary snacks all play a role in preventing decay.

Myth #6: Baby Teeth Don’t Matter

Fiction! Baby teeth are essential for guiding adult teeth into place, supporting speech development, and enabling correct chewing. Protecting them helps avoid alignment issues and promotes lifelong oral health.

Myth #7: Mouthwash Replaces Brushing

Fiction! Mouthwash may freshen breath, but it doesn’t remove plaque or food particles. Brushing and interdental cleaning are essential for a thorough clean. Use mouthwash as a supplement, not a substitute, for daily oral care.

Back in November 2023, Haleon (formerly GSK) and the College of General Dentistry launched the Dental Health Barometer, a project created to help understand the role that preventative oral healthcare plays in routine dental visits across the UK. The project kicked off with a research survey of dental health professionals and consumers, with one of the key findings from the survey being that there’s a gap between the intervention of oral health professionals to provide preventive oral care and the delivery of such care.

The majority of professionals and the public acknowledged the crucial importance of preventive healthcare, but both audiences saw a great deal of room for improvement in the actual provision of advice. Now, the College is working with Haleon to help close the gap - which is where you come in.

On the 5th of March 2024 at 6:30 pm, we’re hosting a focus group to bring together dental professionals and discuss potential recommendations that Haleon, the College and others can deliver to improve oral health across the UK.

Fill out the form below to book your place in our focus group today.

At Forward Dental Care, we offer numerous hygiene treatments to our patients to ensure healthy mouths. To tackle plaque, Forward uses the Airflow® MAX by EMS Dental as part of the hygiene treatment.

What is Airflow®

An Airflow® MAX is a piece of equipment that the clinical team use to remove plaque during GBT treatments. GBT (Guided Biofilm Therapy) is a minimally invasive and detailed procedure that removes plaque from the teeth using gentle air jets.

During your GBT treatment, your dentist will use an organic dye on your teeth to show your dentist where the plaque is and where it is most condensed; then, the Airflow® will be used with Erythitrol powder to remove the plaque.

This treatment is not painful and doesn’t involve using anaesthetic, so you can continue your day after receiving it. It is known to be very comfortable for patients due to the temperature of the water and the regulation of vibrations.

Benefits of the treatment

There are many benefits to receiving GBT, such as the guarantee of the complete removal of plaque and calculus, which will improve your oral health. GBT is a preventative measure; it can help avoid cavities and prevent gum disease. If you already have gum disease, then GBT can halt the progression. Additionally, this treatment can better your overall health as the bacteria from plaque can affect your entire body.

At Forward Dental, we understand that going to the dentist can be anxiety-inducing, and we do our best to alleviate the worries of our patients. Surveys reveal that 53% of the UK population have dentist-related anxiety, which leads to patients not visiting the dentist as often as they should. We want to highlight that the use of Airflow® during GBT is entirely pain-free, but if you’re still worried, our dentists are more than happy to discuss the procedure and your concerns.

If you want to learn more about the Airflow® or wish to book an appointment for GBT, contact us to take the next step in your oral health journey!

A Permanent Solution for Missing Teeth

At Forward Dental Care, we understand how missing teeth can affect your confidence, comfort, and ability to enjoy everyday life. That’s why we offer high-quality dental implant treatments designed to restore your smile with a natural-looking, long-lasting solution.

Dental implants are one of the most advanced and reliable ways to replace missing teeth, helping patients regain both function and confidence.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small titanium posts that are placed into the jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. Once healed, they support a custom-made crown, bridge, or denture, creating a strong and natural-looking replacement tooth.

Unlike traditional dentures, implants are fixed in place, meaning they won’t move or slip when eating or speaking.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a wide range of long-term benefits, including:

• A natural look and feel
• Improved ability to chew and speak confidently
• Prevention of bone loss in the jaw
• No impact on surrounding healthy teeth
• Long-lasting and durable results
• Improved facial structure and smile aesthetics

Many patients describe implants as feeling just like their natural teeth.

Are Dental Implants Right for You?

Dental implants may be suitable if you:

• Have one or more missing teeth
• Have healthy gums and sufficient bone support
• Want a fixed, long-term solution
• Are looking for a more stable alternative to dentures

Even if you have been told you are not suitable in the past, advancements in dental techniques may still make treatment possible.

Why Choose Forward Dental Care for Dental Implants?

At Forward Dental Care, we are committed to delivering high-quality implant dentistry in a comfortable and supportive environment.

Patients choose us because we offer:

• Experienced clinical team
• Careful treatment planning and assessment
• Focus on comfort and patient reassurance
• High-quality, natural-looking results
• Continued aftercare and support

We take pride in helping patients restore both their smile and their confidence.

Dental Implants – A Long-Term Investment in Your Smile

Dental implants are designed to be a long-term solution, helping protect your oral health while restoring full function and appearance. With good care and regular dental check-ups, implants can last many years.

Book Your Dental Implant Consultation Today

If you are missing teeth and want to explore your options, our team at Forward Dental Care is here to help.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that often occurs from tooth infection or inflammation. In the early stages, the gums can become further inflamed, red, and even bleed in certain instances. 

Inflammation is often the result of bacteria in the mouth for a prolonged period. Long-term bacteria will form plaque on the teeth and eventually harden to what is known as tartar and spread to the gum line. If not professionally removed, this can infect the teeth and lead to periodontal disease.

In this blog, we will delve into periodontal disease, understanding what it is and the risks it can impose on you. We will address the oral hygiene routine you should follow to prevent and reduce it, along with how diet and exercise can lower disease incidences. 

What are the risks of periodontal disease?

If periodontal disease isn’t addressed at the earliest opportunity, it can have the potential to implement serious dental health repercussions. 

Periodontal disease can worsen if not correctly treated, leading to periodontitis, which has the potential to break down the tissue surrounding the teeth, affecting the gum and supporting bone. Where the gum and bone are impacted, teeth may become loose and sometimes fall out. 

What oral hygiene routine should you follow?

Proper oral hygiene is essential for healthy gums and teeth and lessens your chance of dental problems, such as periodontal disease. Best practices of cleaning and flossing teeth twice daily and yearly dentist visits are recommended to ensure you properly clean your teeth and remove toxic bacteria.

Discover our dental hygiene treatments today

Studies into electric toothbrushes compared to manual and sonic toothbrushes have discovered that when correctly used, electric toothbrushes provide a more effective job at removing biofilm from the teeth, helping to prevent plaque build-up. It’s important to be aware that brushing teeth alone is not enough. The use of interdental brushes and other aids like single tufted brushes and floss contribute towards proper oral hygiene.

Can diet increase the chance of periodontal disease?

Like with other areas of your body, diet can significantly impact the progression of periodontal disease, impacting the levels of inflammation in the body and the progression of periodontal disease, with specific foods encouraging inflammation of the body or contributing towards reducing inflammation.

Two types of components heighten or lessen inflammation. These are known as pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory. 

The particular foods which contain anti-inflammatory components and contribute towards the reduction of inflammation in the body include: 

• Whole fruit - (apart from high sugar fruits, such as melons and pineapple), particularly brightly coloured fruits.
• Berries
• Whole Vegetables - (apart from potatoes, parsnips, and carrots), particularly green vegetables
• Fish and seafood
• White meats, poultry and game
• Whole grains - whole grain rice, oats, barley, quinoa
• Nuts and seeds
• Eggs
• Some oils, in particular olive oil

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce inflammation, but it is not something our body can produce. These unsaturated fats are found in foods such as oily cold fish (salmon, tuna, herring, or sardines) and walnuts.

Green tea also plays an important role in reducing inflammation because it contains antioxidants. 

To prevent the inflammation in your body and reduce the progression of periodontal disease, reduce the following:

• Refined Carbohydrates - all forms of sugar (sugars, syrups, etc.), processed/packaged foods, white flour
• High-sugar fruits – melons, pineapple
• Dried fruits
• Some vegetables – potatoes, parsnips and carrots
• White rice
• Saturated fats – dairy products, animal fats, some oils (coconut, palm)
• Saturated fatty acids

 Does exercise reduce the likelihood of periodontal disease?

Exercise plays a considerable role in the body and its response to tackling health issues, especially with respect to your teeth and gum health. Studies into the disease have shown those who maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly, compared to those who do not exercise and have a higher BMI, are less likely to suffer from periodontal disease.

 Book a consultation with Fran, our dentist, who is passionate and has extensive knowledge about treating gum disease. 

Healthy teeth start with a healthy mouth. Booka check-up with Fran today to prevent periodontal disease and ensure good dental hygiene.