There is a reason it is seen as a social faux-pas.

While there are many causes of bad breath, such as eating garlic or dehydration, if you notice that your breath is a bit aromatically unpleasant most of the time, it is time to book a dental appointment.

In society today, there are many ways to alleviate bad breath, such as chewing gum, but as bad breath is not a condition in itself, it should be taken seriously if it is persistent. As it may indicate any number of health issues, it may be worth ditching the gum and calling our team instead; you will save a lot of money on chewing gum and breath mints!

At Garden View, we have helped many patients freshen their breath and improve their oral health. While our dentist in Buckinghamshire will target each treatment to the patient, we will endeavour to identify the underlying cause of your poor breath and treat it. If required, we can refer you for other procedures, such as a scale and polish, to prevent the recurrence of bad breath too. Perfect!

But what could your persistent bad breath indicate? And why is it so important to see our dentist in Buckinghamshire if you have it? Read on to find out.

Periodontal disease

Perhaps the number one culprit of bad breath is periodontal (gum) disease, such as gingivitis.

Put simply, if your gums are inflamed, they are more likely to bleed regularly and so, proteins from your blood provide more food for oral bacteria to feed on. Yikes!

Our dentist in Buckinghamshire can provide you with a specialist mouthwash to reduce the inflammation caused by gum disease and can refer you for a scale and polish to remove associated plaque.

Tooth decay

It could be a minor cavity or caused by a cracked filling, but tooth decay is another cause of bad breath.

As these can be detected with regular dental check-ups, it is important to see our team twice a year, and our hygienist at least once a year, to identify and treat any new or pre-existing decay.

Acid reflux

How does acid reflux impact on your breath and how can a dental team help?

Well, in instances of prolonged acid-reflux, our team is likely to notice acid erosion on your teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities, cracks and other issues.

We can provide you with an acid neutralising mouthwash, to reduce the damage reflux causes to your teeth, which will improve your breath too!

Poor hygiene

If you brush your teeth every couple of days, you are more likely to have chronic bad breath.

This is because odour causing bacteria isn’t being removed regularly, and is accumulating on your teeth and gums; so it is important to keep up good oral hygiene.

Lifestyle

Do you smoke? In many instances, poor breath can be caused by lifestyle factors such as smoking. Ask our team for advice on smoking cessation and other factors that could cause bad breath.

It is nothing short of a conundrum; you want to have healthy, whiter teeth but the thought of walking into a dental surgery causes you to sweat. And, as is the way with human nature, if you avoid attending regular dental check-ups, you are putting the health of your mouth at risk.

Rest assured that you are not alone; many dental patients experience some sort of anxiety at the prospect of attending a check-up and, while you may have concerns about the condition of your teeth and gums, rest assured that the days of the lecturing dental team are long gone. Compassion and understanding are more commonly practiced in dental surgeries today, allowing you to build up your confidence.

At Garden View, our team can help you overcome your anxieties and worries. Our dentist in Buckinghamshire will take the time to listen to your concerns, get to know you as a person and guide you through a check-up with a no-pressure approach.

But why else should you choose our dentist in Buckinghamshire if you are a nervous patient?

Music

If you are like many nervous dental patients, it is the sound of the drill that makes your heart rate jump.

Luckily, our dentist in Buckinghamshire has just the solution for cancelling out the sounds of the dental surgery; music!

While you are in the chair, you are free to bring along headphones to listen to music or an audiobook. If you forget, don’t worry; our team has a set of headphones on hand and can play calming music to you while you are in the dental chair. Perfect!

Friends

At Garden View, we know it takes a truly brave person to face their fears and attend a dental check-up if they have a phobia.

But, while you may feel you can handle this alone, our team will welcome any friends or family members that you want to bring with you. Offering you moral support, they can make the day more enjoyable and can take you out for a well-earned coffee afterward.

Communication

Like most things, communication is the key to success.

When it comes to phobias, our team wants you to feel you can talk to us about any concerns you have and, as trained professionals, we will work with you to find a way to make communication easier. If you want our team to explain what they are doing just say and, consequently, you can tell us if you need a break.

Wand

At Garden View, we are able to offer injections with minimal discomfort using our wand therapy.

Visually resembling a pen and computer-controlled, the wand reduces the bee sting feeling of dental numbing.

No judgement

Fear of judgement is a key factor in many people’s dental phobias.

Our team will always treat you with dignity and respect, allowing you to feel comfortable while in the dental chair. Perfect!

Does the thought of going to a dental appointment make your stomach flip?

While many dental patients assume that they are alone in their worries and anxieties about dental visits, concerns about getting into the dental chair are exceedingly common.

Usually stemming from a bad experience in childhood, most dental phobias are deeply rooted and can cause patients to avoid attending dental check-ups, even if they are in intense discomfort. Of course, this has a negative impact on their overall dental health, leading to a spiralling issue.

But, for those who would rather swim with sharks than attend a dental appointment, there is hope!

At Garden View Dental Care, our dentist in Buckinghamshire will help you to overcome your dental phobia and get your oral health back in shape. We will endeavour to take our time with you, and ensure that you are in complete control at every stage of the procedure. Our team will aim to build a friendly rapport with you, so you will feel more comfortable in the dental chair.

But what else can our dentist in Buckinghamshire do to help you beat your fear of the dental chair?

Initial appointment

While the thought of walking into a dental practice and undertaking a check-up may make you feel faint, our dentist in Buckinghamshire offers a different approach to our nervous patients.

When you come to Garden View, you will be invited to an initial assessment with a member of our team. This will be a non-clinical appointment, which will enable you to discuss your fears and anxieties with our team.

Through this, we will work on a treatment plan to help you get back to top oral health while ensuring you are completely comfortable. Perfect!

Relaxed approach

Our team at Garden View takes dental phobias and anxieties very seriously; after all, we want you to be in good health and this is unlikely if you never attend check-ups!

Therefore, we will provide a more relaxed approach to your appointments, allowing you to signal when you feel uncomfortable or need a break. We often schedule in longer sessions for our nervous patients and so, you won’t have to worry about being rushed or pushed into undertaking any treatment you aren’t ready for.

Music

Does the sound of the dental surgery make you nervous?

Our team will be happy to provide you with relaxing music while you undertake any procedure with us, allowing you to feel calmer. Perfect if you can’t stand the sound of the drill!

Painless

Pain in a dental check-up is never fun and can exacerbate your phobia.

At Garden View, we are able to offer painless dentistry, due to our staff’s expertise and our top-of-the-range equipment. So, no need to worry about painful injections!

Garden View!

Need something to look at while you are in the dental chair?

We are called Garden View for a reason and can offer you a scenic landscape to explore while our team conducts their assessment of your mouth. All you need for a soothing dental visit!

Along with braces, root canals are one of the most disliked of all dental procedures.

While you may have heard all manner of horror stories revolving around this procedure, it is actually a very straightforward treatment that reaps many long-term benefits for the person who is undertaking it.

It may be tempting to say no to a root canal and ask for an extraction of the offending tooth as an alternative, but in choosing this option, you are missing out on the myriad advantages that are to be gained from endodontics. Also, if you are someone who takes pride in their smile, given the option of the most aesthetically pleasing procedure, the root canal wins over an extraction every time!

Our team at Garden View is aware of the worries our patients have about root canals and want to separate the myths from the facts about this procedure. Our dentist in Buckinghamshire performs thousands of root canals every year, and has seen at first-hand how beneficial this procedure can be for maintaining good oral health, and keeping your smile in one piece!

So, time to separate the myths from the facts!

Myth – Root canals are painful

Fact- Before our dentist in Buckinghamshire begins your root canal treatment, your mouth will be sufficiently numbed.

However, while many people who have root canals performed will be in discomfort before the procedure, a root canal is actually likely to eradicate the pain caused by the infection. Meaning that all you have to lose from this process is discomfort!

Myth – Root canals aren’t suitable for pregnant women

Fact- Before undertaking any endodontic treatment, our dentist in Buckinghamshire will perform an X-ray on your jaw. This will be to assess the damage the infection or trauma has caused to your tooth below the gum. It will also enable them to see the spread of the infection.

Pregnant women can and do have root canals performed and the radiation exposure from the X-ray is minimal, meaning it will not harm the baby. The anaesthetics used during this procedure are also safe for pregnant women.

Myth – Root canals weaken the tooth

Fact- Drilling through the centre of a tooth does initially weaken it.

However, once your root canal has been performed, our team will top it with either a crown or a filling, ensuring that your tooth remains strong and does not fracture. Simple!

Myth – Root canals are only required if there is discomfort

Fact- A damaged pulp does not always cause pain; our team is trained to identify issues with the pulp of a tooth through either infection or damage. If the pulp of your tooth is identified as needing repair, then our team will suggest a root canal to save it.

Myth – Root canals cause the tooth’s roots to be removed

Fact- While the name suggests the roots of the tooth are involved, they are not.

A root canal removes the pulp of the tooth and leaves the roots in place. We agree – the naming is indeed odd!

We warmly invite you to visit your dentist in Buckinghamshire to ensure that your smile is as healthy as it can be. Only with healthy teeth and gums can you enjoy a fully functional smile which can last for a lifetime. We recommend you take the time to come in to visit us twice a year to benefit from the range of different up-to-date and innovative tools and equipment that we have on hand. Our focus on preventive dentistry enables you to minimise your chances of needing restorative treatments done, which can at times be costly and painful.

Rather than getting to this situation, let us thoroughly examine your smile using digital scans, high magnification and strong lighting in order to identify any early signs of decay so that we can work together early in rectifying the situation. By informing you of your current dental health and offering ways in which to improve your oral hygiene routine with trusted methods which can strengthen your teeth, you can ensure your smile remains strong and healthy.

After you have lost your milk teeth during childhood, your new teeth are with you for life, so it is important to care for them in order to keep your original teeth with you for as long as possible. A simple visit to your dentist in Buckinghamshire twice a year is little effort to ensure that major dental work or loss of teeth is a risk kept to a minimum as much as possible as you age.

We provide you with all of the available options that you have in terms of preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental care, so that you are fully informed of the choices that you have. We can explain to you any potential risks associated with each treatment plan, expected costs and the advantages in both the short and long term.

Armed with this information, you will be able to make the best possible decision for your health. We understand that people can be hesitant to give themselves the gift of a healthier, happier smile, because of potentially large costs that they feel they cannot afford. Trust that your dentist in Buckinghamshire understands that you don’t always have money put aside for such situations. This is why finance options are available, meaning that you don’t have to compromise on your health because your current budget does not accommodate for the best possible treatment plan going forward.

It is important to us that you receive the treatment plan that you truly feel is best for yourself. It is our aim to provide you with the best possible treatment and service available so that you can be really pleased with the results. By talking with us and working together on creating a bespoke treatment plan that meets all of your unique requirements, you are able to ensure that your smile is healthy, strong and shared with the people that you know and love, just as it should be.

We look forward to you joining our warm and friendly practice where you will be able to see the results that you are looking for.

Whether you are looking for a qualified professional to ensure your smile is as clean and healthy as it can be, or you are wishing to perfect your smile to boost your confidence and enjoy all that this can bring, a dentist in Buckinghamshire is able to offer you a vast range of treatments and advice that can ensure you’re smiling from ear to ear.

Boasting competitive prices, a friendly atmosphere and the latest, greatest technology and equipment on site, your dentist in Buckinghamshire is a one-stop shop for all of your dental care needs. It is important to be able to discuss all of your options with an understanding, non-judgemental and friendly oral health care professional and this is just what you can get here at our Garden View practice.

Having open, honest and candid conversations about your oral health with your dentist in Buckinghamshire is beneficial because only when both individuals are understanding one another can a plan be formulated, in order to achieve oral health goals.

Some of us only wish to have a healthy mouth, but don’t entirely know how to achieve it. Only an oral health care professional is able to educate and inform patients on what their personal situation is and what steps need to be taken in order to create a healthy and long-lasting, functional smile.

Other individuals have specific goals, such as correcting the alignment of teeth, whitening teeth to a specific colour or having a treatment done such as veneers, which are well reported and have stunning results. So whether it is cosmetic, preventive or restorative treatments that you are looking to have done, rest assured that we will work together with you to help you achieve the best possible results.

What are some of the treatments available?

These three different fields of dentistry; preventive, restorative and cosmetic are the foundations that all treatments are based on. Many procedures overlap, meaning that a cosmetic treatment is often a restorative or preventive one as well. However by ensuring that you look at all three of these fields, you are making sure that you are providing yourself with an all round oral health care.

Preventive care is a lot about education, ensuring that you and your family know the importance of having an appropriate oral hygiene routine at home to prevent plaque and cavities forming. Other issues to prevent are gum disease, excessive staining of teeth and injuries, by being conscious and aware of what you eat and drink and to protect teeth during physical sporting activities with a mouthguard.

Restorative care deals with issues that arise in the mouth that need to be addressed in order to maintain full functionality of your teeth and mouth. Root canals and fillings are good examples of this kind of treatment. Cosmetic dentistry covers a diverse group of treatments, ranging from teeth whitening to gum realigning. Other treatments such as dental implants, teeth straightening or using white fillings are sometimes classed as cosmetic treatments as well. By talking to a professional about what treatments would be beneficial for your personal situation, you can create a combination that is effective for you.

We are always delighted when our patients want to take a proactive approach to keeping their teeth in a healthy condition. Fortunately this is not difficult to do with the help of a Dentist in Buckinghamshire.

It is important that patients acknowledge that like the rest of their bodies, oral care needs to be maintained over one’s lifetime.  Our Dentist in Buckinghamshire can point patients in the right direction as to which steps best protect oral health. These steps range from dentist-approved habits, to using recommended dental tools and oral care products. To make certain that they are looking after their teeth properly there are daily actions, and at least one annual responsibility, a Dentist in Buckinghamshire will recommend.

 Actions every patient should take to ensure healthy teeth

1. Everyday habits to observe

 Clean the mouth (teeth, gums and tongue) before bed

We can not emphasise enough that patients should resist the temptation to skip cleaning teeth before going to bed, no matter how tired the patient is. Over the course of the day germs and plaque build up in the mouth.  Brushing at night helps to minimise this accumulation.

Hydrate

We would encourage patients to increase, if necessary, the amount of water they drink. The most opportune time to do this is after having a meal. To keep one’s mouth healthy, it is important what one does between brushing at the beginning and end of the day. Drinking water helps to get rid of the destructive effects of certain types of foods and beverages, mainly those that are acidic or sticky in nature.

Replace bad habits that destroy teeth

Habits are automatic behaviours that patients can’t help but find themselves performing. Habits (if they are not working for you in a positive way) can be changed with consistent practice and willpower. Patients first need to be aware of any self-destructive habits before they can learn to undo them.

Examples of bad habits that contribute to poor oral health include:

•  Consuming too much food that lacks the proper nutrients the body needs.
• Biting down on hard non-food objects like pens and bottle caps etc.
• Teeth grinding (consult a dentist for helpful ways to address this)
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Not using a mouthguard when participating in sporting activities.
• Neglecting to repair or replace dental devices such as damaged braces and dentures

• At least once every year

Have your mouth checked by a dental professional

In the absence of pain and discomfort, a patient may be mistakenly led to believe that all is well with their teeth and gums. It is important to bear in mind that certain areas of the teeth are not visible without the use of dental technology and the ONLY sure way to determine oral health is to visit the dentist.

 These check-up appointments are beneficial for taking preventive measures or to initiate corrective dental treatments to secure present and future healthy teeth and gums.

Not sure when you last visited a dental clinic for a check-up or professional teeth cleaning? Contact us at Garden View dental clinic today to book an appointment.

The cause for one of the most common dental issues – bad breath – is hard to pin down without the help of a Dentist in Buckinghamshire. This is because there could be a number of different factors that come into play from poor oral health to a medical condition. It is best for patients to consult with a  Dentist in Buckinghamshire to determine the root cause or causes. Once our  Dentist in Buckinghamshire conducts a thorough oral health assessment,  we can then advise on the best course of treatment to address the problem.

What patients want to know most about bad breath

In the interests of patient education, we thought we’d provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions our dental practitioners are asked about bad breath.

• What are some of the best ways to prevent bad breath developing?

 The first thing we recommend is to look after your oral hygiene.  This means not only taking the time to clean teeth and gums, but to brush the tongue as well. Many patients are often unaware of the importance of tongue cleaning.  Bacteria can thrive on the tongue’s uppermost layer which leads to bad breath.

 Seek appropriate dental care for underlying issues such as tooth decay, abscesses, dry mouth and periodontal disease. The role of a dentist is critical in not only treating bad breath, but in preventing the condition too.

• Can smoking tobacco cause bad breath?

Smoking has been associated with bad breath along with other dental issues such as teeth discolouration, gum disease and oral cancer. If smoking is the cause of bad breath, the only option for the patient is to stop the habit.

• Can a health issue bring on bad breath?

There are a number of medical conditions that can give rise to chronic bad breath. These include: diabetes, kidney problems, and acid reflux. It is important to let our dentist know if you have any of these health issues.

• Can sugar-free gum help improve bad breath?

 The main role of chewing gum (sugar-free variety is recommended) is to stimulate the production of saliva in the mouth. This is especially important for patients exhibiting dry mouth syndrome. The mouth requires saliva to help flush out bacteria, as well as food particles that are left behind after eating.

• What products can I use to banish bad breath?

Patients can make use of a number of products that may assist in controlling bad breath. These are specially-formulated products that we can recommend. Toothpastes, mouth rinses, and oral sprays can be particularly beneficial.

To help a dental practitioner identify the cause of bad breath, a good idea is for patients to record what they eat in a food diary and to bring this along to their appointment.

Bad breath is a very treatable condition and there is no need for a patient to shy away from social events. If you suspect you may have a halitosis problem, why not schedule an appointment with one of our experienced dentists at Garden View dental clinic today? It is always best to address any dental issues as soon as it arises to prevent the need for complicated treatment in the future.

When discussing dental emergencies, few people know what actually requires a same-day appointment with a dental practitioner.

Of the following two options, which would you suppose requires emergency dental treatment? A  toothache that is causing some discomfort or a sudden, painless swelling on the gum?

While the toothache obviously requires attention soon, the painless swelling is the more worrying of these two presentations, as it could be indicative of oral cancer.

Surprised?

When many people think about dental emergencies, they instantly envision painful conditions, that keep you up at night or prevent you from eating. While any dental issue that does this is indeed an emergency, not all conditions requiring urgent dental care are painful.

At Garden View Dental Care, our dentist in Buckinghamshire is experienced in handling dental emergencies and can offer you same-day treatment to get you out of any discomfort you are in quickly. The sooner our team sees you in the event of an emergency, the more likely it is you will recover without further repercussions or complications.

But aside from a toothache and a painless lump on the gum, what else may need same-day treatment from our dentist in Buckinghamshire?

Chipped tooth

One of the most common emergencies our team sees at Garden View Dental Care are chipped or cracked teeth.

While these may not cause any discomfort, the moment you notice that your tooth is cracked or chipped, you need to book an appointment to see our emergency dentist in Buckinghamshire so they can repair it.

Not treating a cracked or chipped tooth can cause the damage to spread further into the tooth, causing discomfort or even an infection.

Facial swelling

Although facial swelling could indicate anything, it is important to rule out a dental cause as soon as you can.

Swellings are commonly seen by our team in people who have infected wisdom teeth, dental abscesses or have suffered a trauma to the face. Regardless of the cause or lack of discomfort you feel, if you notice one side of your face is swollen, book an appointment to see us as soon as possible.

Lost filling or crown

An irritant to anyone who has them!

Lost crowns and fillings can be a serious annoyance as they can seemingly occur for no reason and may or may not lead to discomfort, but almost always lead to extreme sensitivity.

Even if you notice a loose filling, it is vital that you contact one of our emergency team as soon as possible. If the filling is particularly deep in the tooth, the pulp may now be exposed, which can lead to extreme discomfort and allows bacteria to enter into the tooth.

Acute dental discomfort

As mentioned previously, if you have had a toothache that has kept you awake and cannot be controlled by painkillers, we need to see you!

Persistent, throbbing or pulsating dental pain could mean decay has reached the pulp of your tooth, which could lead to infection or a complicated dental abscess.

One of the most dreaded of all dental procedures, the root canal, is wrongly judged by many dental patients. Incorrectly associated with intense discomfort, swelling and long recovery time, endodontics is actually a very beneficial and very important area of dentistry. A mixture of both restorative and preventive dentistry, a root canal is a popular way to restore a tooth and keep your smile intact.

At Garden View Dental Care, our dental team is well aware of the fears surrounding all root canal treatment and aims to reassure our patients of our competence at performing this extremely common dental procedure. Our dentist in Buckinghamshire performs root canal therapy to restore tooth function while also removing the underlying infection.

So, if our dentist in Buckinghamshire tells you that you require a root canal, should you agree to the treatment? Below are five reasons to say yes to endodontics!

Preserves the tooth

In the past, if you had attended your dental surgery with an infected or dead tooth, they would have simply taken out the offending tooth to clear the infection.

However, if the tooth was located at the front of your mouth, this would inevitably lead to a very visible gap in your teeth – not a great look! A root canal allows our dental team to clean your teeth from the inside out, remove the infection safely and preserve the function of the tooth.

Prevents further infection

In the past, dental surgeries would have removed any infected tooth and simply flushed out the root. However, if the infection in the tooth had spread into surrounding tissues, it would become harder to treat.

Root canal treatments involve our dentist in Buckinghamshire taking an X-ray, which allows them to see if the infection has spread to other areas in the mouth. This allows better treatment and gets you out of pain faster.

Pain relief

Anyone who has had a dental abscess will tell you that they are far from fun!

When you come to Garden View with a dental infection, our team is likely to offer you short term pain relief and once the root canal has been completed, we will often prescribe you some strong pain relief.

Delaying a root canal can cause you unnecessary discomfort and can cause damage to surrounding tissues and teeth; a root canal can be performed in under an hour and you will never feel discomfort in that tooth again!

Preserves your smile

As mentioned earlier, if your infected tooth is one of your front teeth, then you really need a root canal.

A recurring infection can damage your tooth beyond repair, leading to an eventual removal. Choosing endodontic therapy eliminates the infection and keeps your smile intact.

High success rate

As a procedure alone, root canals have a very high success rate long-term, well over 90%! Choosing a root canal is a great way to preserve that once troublesome tooth long term and keep you smiling for many years to come.