Tips to look after your children to have healthy teeth.

A recent report in the national press has shown that over a quarter of children in the UK have some level of tooth decay, with ‘poverty’ and ‘sugar’ cited as the most likely causes. Here at Bristol dentist practice CK Dental, we were shocked to hear that so many children’s teeth are given this unhealthy start, so we wanted to offer a few tips to help you keep your children’s teeth healthy, without breaking the bank.

Cut back on sugary drinks

We know this is easier said than done, but if you can try to keep sugary drinks to a minimum it can make a big difference – when a child drinks a glass of juice or squash, they are literally bathing their teeth in sugar.

If your child refuses to drink water on its own, try diluting fruit juice with water to reduce the amount of sugar they are getting per drink.

Only offer sweet foods as pudding

If you eat sugary foods immediately after a meal, the damage done to your teeth is kept to a minimum, as your mouth is already producing saliva to help wash the sugar away. If you can encourage your child to drink a glass of water immediately after pudding, this will help too.

Brush thoroughly twice a day

Children can be resistant to brushing their teeth, so try to make it fun, rather than a battleground – there are some toothbrushing apps that can be downloaded onto smartphones or tablets to help with this.

Most chemists or supermarkets sell novelty children’s toothbrushes, in the shape of animals or with pictures on of children’s favourite characters, which can be used to make the whole process more appealing. Make sure you are using a fluoride toothpaste and just use a pea-sized amount (or less if you are using a toothpaste that is not specifically designed for children).

If you would like to have your children’s teeth checked over, please give our Bristol dentist clinic a ring to make an appointment.

Smile makeover treatment in Bristol for improved confidence is a treatment at CK Dental. According to a recent article in the Daily Mail, one in four Brits refuse to smile in photographs because they are ashamed of their teeth, and 42% of people surveyed said their teeth were the first thing they would change about their appearance.

We Britons have always had a bad reputation when it comes to our teeth, but that really needn’t be the case any longer. Here at Bristol dentist clinic CK Dental, we have seen hundreds of patients go from shame to pride about the state of their teeth.

And while teeth whitening, crowns and dental implants all have their place when it comes to bringing your smile back, there’s one treatment that is head and shoulders above the rest:

Invisalign invisible braces

The main culprit for causing embarrassment about your teeth is a crooked smile. And while braces have long been around to help resolve this problem, if you weren’t lucky enough to have them as a child, there is something unappealing about the idea of having a mouthful of metal as an adult.

Invisalign presents the perfect solution to this problem: an invisible braces system that realigns your teeth without anyone needing to know you are undergoing orthodontic treatment.

How does it work?

When a patient decides to go ahead with Invisalign treatment at our Bristol dentist clinic, the first thing we do is make an appointment for you to have a thorough consultation with our dentist. This will involve a full orthodontic assessment and – assuming that the dentist feels Invisalign is the appropriate treatment for you and that you are still happy to go ahead – a mould of your teeth will be taken so that your personal brace system can be made.

How long does treatment last?

Just like with traditional braces, treatment can last anywhere from six months to a couple of years, although sometimes Invisalign can work faster than traditional brace systems. You will be presented with a series of aligners, which need to be worn in sequence, each for around 2-3 weeks. This helps to gradually and subtly reposition your teeth.

If you would like to know more about Invisalign and find out how it can help you regain the confidence to smile in photos, please contact us to book a consultation.

Dental payment plan for affordable dental treatments. Even for the most diligent of savers, when you’re already worrying about mortgage payments, bills, taxes and other household expenses, sometimes budgeting for regular trips to the dentist can seem like a step too far.

But looking after your own and your family’s teeth should be a high priority, which is why Bristol dentist practice CK Dental has teamed up with DenPlan to help you keep up to date with your oral health, without any nasty financial surprises.

Pay monthly

With the DenPlan scheme, you pay just £19 per month and receive two check-ups and two visits to the hygienist per year. Six-monthly dental appointments are optimal to ensure any problems are detected early and to keep on top of your oral hygiene, dealing with plaque and tartar before they start to cause any real problems.

Worldwide coverage

The really great thing about DenPlan is that it doesn’t just help you keep up with your Bristol Dentist visits, but also covers you for dental insurance wherever you go in the world, so if you crack a tooth in a swimming pool in Greece, or lose a filling eating steak in Paris, you can rest assured that you’re covered for all eventualities.

Healthy teeth, healthy bank balance

No matter what your financial situation is, no one likes to find themselves with unexpected bills to pay, which is where the DenPlan scheme really comes into its own. Once you’ve paid your £19 per month, there are no nasty surprises – you can visit the dentist for routine check-ups or rush in with a dental emergency, safe in the knowledge that it’s all been paid for in advance.

For more information on DenPlan, or to find out more about the other services we offer here at CK Dental, please contact us.

These days, most of us know to brush our teeth twice a day, but flossing is still something of a specialist subject. So why is it so important?

Why floss?

Brushing your teeth is great to get rid of build-up on the surface of the teeth, but it can be difficult to get in between the teeth, which is where dental floss comes in. By flossing your teeth every time you brush, you can significantly reduce your chances of developing gum disease.

How to floss

Bristol dentist Cornelius Krause offers his top tips for how to floss your teeth effectively

1. Break off a piece of floss about 30 cm long and wind it around the middle finger of each hand.
2. Use the thumb and forefinger of each hand to grip the floss firmly, leaving about 5cm of floss pulled tightly between your hands.
3. Insert the taut floss between the teeth and move it gently up and down, all the way down to the gum. When you reach the gumline, curve the floss against the tooth until you feel some resistance.
4. Hold the floss against the tooth and gently scrape across the surface, away from the gum. This should help you to clean under the gumline without damaging the gum itself.

Repeat this process for every tooth.

Flossing alternatives

If you find flossing very difficult or time consuming, you could try using an interdental brush. This is a very small, fine brush which can be inserted between the teeth to clean in the same way as dental floss.

If you find that your gums bleed when you first start flossing, don’t worry – this is often the case as the plaque build-up is cleaned away. If bleeding continues for more than a few days, however, do contact us at Bristol dentist clinic CK Dental, to make sure you are using the correct flossing technique.

Here at Bristol dentist practice CK Dental, we are all very excited about the forthcoming open day, on Saturday 25th April held at Nuffield Health Bristol Hospital The Chesterfield, from 10am to 4pm. This will be a great opportunity to meet the team and find out more about what we have to offer.

FREE dental check-up

As part of the event, we will be offering all visitors the chance to undergo a free dental health check-up with expert Bristol dentist Cornelius Krause. These appointments must be pre-booked, though, to ensure that there is time to treat everyone! This is the perfect chance to find out how healthy your teeth and gums are, and to talk to Mr Krause about any oral health problems you may have been experiencing.

The CK team will also be on hand to explain more about the following treatment options:

Invisalign

The original invisible brace, Invisalign straightens your teeth without the need for unsightly “train tracks”. We can tell you more about exactly what the treatment entails and let you know whether you would be a suitable candidate for Invisalign.

Denplan

Denplan is a payment scheme specifically designed to help spread the cost of private dental treatment, allowing you to stop dental problems before they start. Here at our Bristol dentist practice we are pleased to be able to offer Denplan to our patients, and at our open event we will be explaining just how the payment plan can benefit you.

Implants

Many people think that when they start to lose their teeth, dentures are the only option. Implants offer a great alternative, looking, feeling and behaving just like your normal teeth, and without the need to remove them overnight – once fitted, you can forget they’re even there! Come along to our open event on Saturday 25th April to find out whether implants could be right for you.

To find out more or to book your free dental check-up, call 0117 906 4870.