Why good dental hygiene is so important.

I would have thought that the need for good dental hygiene is obvious, although I appreciate many might not realise how serious the consequences of untreated gum infections and dental abscesses can be.
Of course there are problems that only a dental surgeon can solve, eg, the need for orthodontics, accidents to the mouth and teeth etc but unfortunately merely visiting the dentist a couple of times a year won't keep teeth and gums clean and healthy on a daily basis. Brushing regularly and using dental floss or tepees helps a great deal!

Overthemoongran Thanks. I Googled after I’d posted and you can use various oils, although coconut appears to be the most popular. I think I’ll give it a go with my ev olive oil.

I had an infected tooth removed last year and within a few days I nearly developed sepsis and had to be on intravenous antibiotics for a week. Previously when I had had an infected tooth removed the (different) dentist wouldn’t take it out until antibiotics had knocked out the infection but now practice is different apparently …….

My dentist wouldn’t take mine out earlier this year until a couple of weeks after I’d finished the course of antibiotics he’d prescribed. I would have thought that was standard practice.

Yes, its important. First lockdown couldnt get a 6 month check-up appointment then when I did found my own dentist had retired and he was brilliant with me as a child my mother rarely took me to the dentist so he built my confidence. For this new younger dentist to say "think u got some plaque" my reply was "shouldnt have as I floss each night" and he removed a very tiny white filing top left corner tooth which was a small filing yes - but then sensitivity for months to finally get an appointment with another dentist at my practice and it was re-done for free after her checking on the computer screen the exact place that it was originally. Bit of a nightmare + know everyone seems to be under pressure + mistakes are being made at this time.

Just paid £2k for crowns and fillings. IMO NHS is like getting part worn tyres it only get u so far but doesn’t safeguard you. My NHS dentist didn’t tell me I had 6 cracked teeth. Only went private because there was such a wait for a replacement filling which could flare up any moment. Money well spent from my pension pot.

Money well spent from my pension pot.

Maybe so, Bucks, but not everyone can draw money from a pension pot, and toothache is the Devil's own work. In a rich country like the UK nobody should have to suffer toothache, and I would argue that nobody should have to have missing front teeth unless for some reason they choose to do so.

As I said upthread, I am in the middle of a course of treatment that is costing £3k. I can find the money, but resent having to do so when there is such an unbalanced system which would offer the same treatment for a tenth of that if I were lucky enough to be able to get an NHS dentist. I am also very aware that a lot of people can't find that sort of money and would have no choice but to have the teeth extracted. This would still cost a pretty penny - my extraction is going to cost £200 as it is 'complex', which a lot of people couldn't afford.

It may be 'money well spent', but not everyone can afford to spend it, so saying that is equivalent to telling someone about the benefits of First Class travel when they have to think twice about going Economy.

Well said doodlebug

I had a check up, filling and polish on Friday and it cost me £26.08p....I'm also an nhs patient in Scotland....I havnt need any treatment in 10 years but my filling had broken...I thought it would have cost me a lot more and just to add my dentist is amazing....My practice is also advertising for new NHS patients...I live in South Lanarkshire...

Article about the difficulty of accessing across the UK an NHS dentist.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62253893

It costs an arm and a leg over here. I go when something is wrong or I really need a check up, keep it to a minimum

ExDancer I'm surprise your NHS Dentist doesn't offer to do the work Privately. A lot of them do. You get the same level of customer service (which might be lousy) but you pay several times higher than NHS work. I had some work done locally but had to wait for an Emergency appointment. Then I put my name down to join that practice but the wait list is 'at least' 18 months.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

All of the dentist that I know of are mainly private but set aside on day a week or afternoon for NHS work.if they do it at all.

The whole dental care system is a mess, well in England at least. I am in and out of the chair in less than a minute. Time is money.

People on benefits are entitled to free dentistry in England. Problem is, if you cannot find an NHS dentist, you cannot make use of any free treatment as private dentists don't cover this no matter what your circumstances are.

Old thread but still relevant.

I have mentioned before that if possible it’s sensible to have teeth checked prior to surgery in case of infection.

We seem to be a third world country where dentists are concerned- just ridiculous in this day & age.

Jaberwok

People on benefits are entitled to free dentistry in England. Problem is, if you cannot find an NHS dentist, you cannot make use of any free treatment as private dentists don't cover this no matter what your circumstances are.

Some are entitled to free dentistry- not all.

Catlover123

Has anyone else tried a waterpik? It seems as if as I've got older I have lot more little crevices in my teeth and I was struggling with flossing. It's great now - anytime I get any bits or meat fibres stuck I just use my waterpik and my mouth feels a lot fresher. I still use my electric toothbrush twice a day too.

Yes it’s great ! I have very close together teeth and find even floss difficult between some of them . The water pik is a game changer, once whet the hang of it ! I covered myself in water at first but now I happily use it fully clothed twice daily. It was recommended by my dental hygienist .

No Private Dentist Practice offers ANY free dentistry for anyone except children, as they have no tie up with the NHS for adults. Only NHS patients can be offers free dentistry under the NHS.

offered!!

Absolutely! Poor dental hygiene can really sneak up on you. A friend of mine had some serious issues because she waited too long to see a dentist. If anyone ever needs urgent care or can’t find a regular dentist, checking out emergency dentist could be a lifesaver.

Feel I must reiterate Mt61s’ reply. Only some benefits entitle claimants to free dentistry and optical vouchers.

I visit a hygienist privately as I have implants and crowns. I thought I was looking after my teeth ok but on a routine visit to my nhs dentist yesterday he wasn’t happy with my gums. Scared me a bit so I’m going to try to be more thorough.

That happened to us. Coincidentally we moved house just after and had to search for a dentist. We went with Denplan. Because our old dentist had looked after us so well we have been ok with the new one, and it has not been too expensive. Pity about the initial check up charge though