 Should you touch your gums when brushing or flossing?
It is very common to think that we should not touch our gums when cleaning our mouth. But we definitely and imperatively have to touch our gums in our daily routine. Sometimes we think that our gums are sensitive or we can cause recession (exposure of the roots of our teeth) if we brush around the gums. Our gums will not bleed if they are healthy, and to keep them healthy we need to remove the bacterias that are hidden in the tiny space between the gum and the teeth which is called gingival sulcus. If we avoid touching the gums or miss any area while brushing and flossing, the bacterias will start accumulating in these areas, our body will develop a defence (inflammation) towards them, and that is the reason our gums bleed, not because we are hurting it. Recession of our gums has multiple causes and the traumatic brush is just one component of it. Furthermore, if we use soft or medium brushes and not put excessive force while brushing, there is no harm to the gingival tissue. Try and check the results for yourself. ******* Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes 18 Cadogan Gardens, London SW3 2RP, United Kingdom Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now
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 It's National Fresh Breath Day!
Let's talk about bad breath: Most of the mouthwashes only mask the unpleasant smell but some complex factors can determine whether you will have pleasant breath or not... Whether you have fresh breath is determined by both oral and other factors. The most common cause is deficient oral hygiene and consequent formation of tongue coating and dental plaque. It is quite common to think that good oral hygiene simply means brushing after food. However, the most important is cleaning all bacteria from the dental surface, especially close to the gums. If you do not use floss every day to disrupt the bacteria in the interdental areas, you will certainly have bad breath. Morning breath is not considered a medical problem but for some people, it can be an area of embarrassment. The cause is mild hypoglycaemia (reduction of blood sugar), the reduced salivary flow during sleep, and the increase in more pathogenic bacterial species. These microorganisms act on the natural balance of oral mucous and saliva proteins, generating unpleasant smells. Poorly fitted dentures and defective restorations are also sources of bad breath as they can increase plaque retention. Bad breath can also be caused by some medical problems. Dry mouth (xerostomia) is a condition that affects the flow of saliva. This increases the bacteria accumulation in the mouth leading to bad breath. It can be caused by certain medications, salivary gland problems or by continued mouth breathing. Other medical conditions include throat, nose or lungs infections, sinusitis, bronchitis, diabetes, liver or kidney problems. If you have bad breath, you will need to make some changes in the way you clean your teeth and gums in order to keep your mouth healthy and fresh. Visit your dentist so they can conduct an evaluation to find the cause of your bad breath, clean all those areas that are difficult to reach and research the best way to keep your mouth clean. Most mouthwashes only mask bad breath for a short time. Though some mouthwashes are specially formulated to match the volatile sulfuric compounds responsible for bad breath, but they do not treat the underlying problem. One of the warning signs of gum disease is that you always have bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth, usually associated with bleeding when brushing or flossing. Again, your dentist will be able to diagnose and treat the problem. The sooner the problems are found, the more effective any treatment will be. Brush your teeth and gums effectively at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Do not forget to brush your tongue as well. Floss once a day for cleaning the bacterias from the interdental surface in all areas. An interdental brush can be used as an alternative or supplement to dental floss to clean bacterias between the teeth. Remember that cleaning between the teeth means cleaning bacteria, not only food scraps. ******* Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now  Preventive care is a great way to make sure that you never need any of those dental procedures that everyone tries to avoid. Those who keep their mouth healthy end up improving the health of their entire body.
👉 Avoiding sugary foods prevents tooth decay as well as diabetes 👉 Preventing bacterial infections that cause cavities and gum disease means that a person will never have an oral infection spread to the rest of their body 👉 Regular oral checkups help with early detection of oral cancer 👉 Poor oral health has been associated with heart disease and osteoporosis, so good oral health may help to keep such diseases at bay Have a rigorous oral hygiene routine. Do it every day. Preventive care is not some big chore that takes a huge chunk out of your day. It is one of the little things in our daily lives that we do without a second thought that helps us keep a healthy lifestyle. ******* Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now  How often should you go to the dentist? We get asked this a lot!
The basic rule of thumb says you should visit the dentist every six months. Patients without any problems are ok to go once a year while those with dental issues should get checked out every 3 or 4 months. Here are some guidelines to help you: 👉 Exams: Regular exams are crucial for several reasons. They check your teeth are healthy, clean them and tackle problems you may not have identified as a problem. 👉 Prevention: Many years ago, trips to the dentist were to fix any problems that had already happened. Now we are better educated and know the importance of maintaining good dental hygiene. Issues can be tackled before they cause pain or problems. 👉 Cleaning: Having a proper dental cleaning can reduce issues. Not only do they remove stains, giving you a brighter smile, but they also remove plaque. Plaque is a clear, sticky layer of bacteria. Build-up can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. 👉 Extra Care: Any pain that suddenly comes about definitely needs an extra visit to the dentist. Whether it’s tooth sensitivity or toothache you should book in as soon as there is a sign of any problems. Leaving a problem to get better on its own can result in more issues down the line. Make sure you book in to see us every six months or more regularly at the sign of any problems. ******* Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now  Dr Italo shares some of the best practices that can keep your teeth and gums healthy:
1. Brush your teeth regularly but not aggressively 2. Use a fluoride toothpaste 3. Don’t neglect your tongue 4. Floss at least once a day 5. See your dentist regularly 6. Do not smoke 7. Consider a mouthwash 8. Limit sugary foods 9. Drink water instead of sugary drinks ********⠀ Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now  April is oral cancer awareness month.
Lower your risks of developing oral cancer: * Avoid tobacco in all forms * Drink moderately * Use sunscreen and lip balm even in the city * Eat more fruits and vegetables * Brush and floss regularly * Exercise often * See your dentist regularly ********⠀ Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now  Oral health is highly important.
Apart from having a great smile, oral hygiene reduces the chances of infections and even cancer. It's a crucial part of your and your family’s overall health and wellness. ********⠀ Book your appointment with Dr Italo Carpes Moraes Call 0203 659 7249 WhatsApp +44 7903 782697 https://www.icmdentistry.co.uk/book-now  The prevalent diseases we have in our mouth are the dental decay and the disease on the gums.
Both of them are caused by bacteria that accumulate in the areas we don’t touch. What happens is that we tend to concentrate our cleaning in the central areas and other areas we just don’t reach. In the areas we don’t touch bacteria will develop and once they develop they will be able to cause the disease. So, if we understand the process of the disease, we can intervene in this process and stop it from happening. We can have a very healthy oral cavity and a very good smile.  Plaque control is the regular removal of microbial plaque and the prevention of its accumulation on the teeth and adjacent gingival surfaces.
Microbial plaque is the major cause of periodontal diseases. Patient cooperation in daily plaque removal is critical to long-term success of all periodontal treatment. Plaque formation begins on the surfaces between teeth where the toothbrush does not reach. Masses of plaque first develop in the molar and premolar areas, followed by the proximal surfaces of the anterior teeth and the facial surfaces of the molars and premolars. Patients consistently leave more plaque on the posterior teeth than the anterior teeth, with surfaces between teeth retaining the highest amounts of plaque. Plaque control measures: Tooth brush Dentifrices Dental floss Interdental brushes Dental hygiene Proper oral hygiene practices control periodontal disease.  The oral health promotion philosophy is a different approach to dentistry. It’s a preventive approach compared to traditional dentistry. This philosophy was originated in the Scandinavian countries in the 70’s. It deals mainly with the understanding about the process of the dental decay and the disease on the gums. In traditional dentistry, the dentist acts mainly as a mechanicist restorative agent. Patients go to the dentist to check for problems and fix them. In the end, they go home with zero understanding of what is going on in their mouth. In the oral health promotion, the dentist acts more as a guide. We try to clarify and share knowledge with our patient, empowering them to intervene in the process of the disease by changing certain behaviours and perceptions about how it happens. The prevalent diseases we have in our mouth are the dental decay and the disease on the gums. Both of them are caused by bacteria that accumulate in the areas we don’t touch. What happens is that we tend to concentrate our cleaning in the central areas and other areas we just don’t reach. In the areas we don’t touch bacteria will develop and once they develop they will be able to cause the disease. So, if we understand the process of the disease, we can intervene in this process and stop it from happening. We can have a very healthy oral cavity and a very good smile. |
ABOUTLondon dentist registered in the UK since 2008. His mission is to improve patient health & appearance, self-confidence and overall quality of life. ARCHIVES
September 2021
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