Guides
Oral and dental health articles
Plain-language articles on the questions patients ask most often at the examination. Diagnosis and treatment decisions require a dental examination.
Who is suitable for clear aligners, and how does treatment progress?
How aligner treatment differs from braces, which cases it works for, daily wear rules and the retention phase.
The dental implant process step by step: from examination to the crown
Assessment, surgery, the healing period, the prosthesis and maintenance — the stages of implant treatment and what to watch at each one.
A child's first dental visit: when, and how to prepare
When the first check-up should be, how the visit goes, what parents should and shouldn't do, and home-care and feeding advice.
How long does teeth whitening last, and who should not have it?
Causes of discolouration, the difference between in-office and at-home methods, sensitivity, how long results last and when whitening is not suitable.
Why do gums bleed, and when should it be taken seriously?
The commonest causes of bleeding when brushing, the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis, what you can do at home and the signs that need an examination.
Dental health during pregnancy: what can be done, what to watch for
Gum changes in pregnancy, which treatments are safe in which trimester, X-rays and anaesthesia, and care during morning sickness.
What causes bad breath, and how does it go away?
Oral and non-oral causes of persistent bad breath, what you can do at home, the role of tongue cleaning and when an examination is needed.
Teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism): symptoms and the night guard
The common cause behind morning jaw pain, worn teeth and headaches; the signs and harms of bruxism and protection with a night guard.
When should wisdom teeth be removed, and when can they stay?
The problems caused by impacted and partly erupted wisdom teeth, the criteria behind the decision to extract, the procedure and recovery.
Orthodontics for children: when should the first assessment be?
Why a check at age 7, conditions that need early intervention, the effect of habits and treatment timing.
Tooth sensitivity: why teeth twinge in the cold, and what helps
The causes of the short, sharp twinge from cold, heat and sweets; what you can do at home, how desensitising toothpastes work and the situations that need an examination.
How to teach a child to brush: an age-by-age guide
From infancy to primary school — how much toothpaste at which age, who brushes, which brush; practical tips for children who resist.
A single missing tooth: implant or bridge?
The differences between the two options: effect on the neighbouring teeth, time, durability, care and when each comes out ahead.
How long does pain last after a root canal, and when is it not normal?
The tenderness expected after root canal treatment, how many days it lasts, measures that reduce pain and the signs that call for a visit to the dentist.
Does scaling damage the teeth? How often should it be done?
Whether scaling harms enamel, why teeth feel sensitive and gappy afterwards, the recommended frequency and habits that reduce tartar build-up at home.
Zirconia or metal-ceramic crowns? What decides the choice
The differences between zirconia, porcelain-fused-to-metal, e.max (lithium disilicate) and veneers; which is preferred for which tooth, and how they compare in strength, aesthetics and lifespan.
Dental abscess: symptoms, what to do at home and how it is treated
The causes and signs of a dental abscess, the signs that count as an emergency, what you can do until you see the dentist, and the roles of root canal treatment, extraction and antibiotics.
Who needs a night guard? How a splint works for clenching and grinding
What a night guard (occlusal splint) does, who it is recommended for, the difference between an over-the-counter guard and one made by the dentist, getting used to it and caring for it.
What to do when a tooth breaks or is knocked out: emergency steps
What to do in the first 30 minutes for a broken, cracked, displaced or completely knocked-out tooth, how to transport the tooth, the difference for a child's primary tooth and the treatment options.
Teething in babies: symptoms, sequence, when it starts and how to soothe it
The eruption sequence and ages of the primary teeth, the symptoms seen during teething, whether fever and diarrhoea are related, safe ways to soothe, and the first dental visit.
Diabetes and gum health: what people with diabetes need to know
The two-way relationship between diabetes and gum disease, the oral problems common in diabetes, precautions before treatment and how often to have check-ups.
How smoking affects teeth and gums: what happens, and what recovers when you quit
The effects of smoking and e-cigarettes on gum disease, implant loss, wound healing, oral cancer and tooth colour; the recovery expected after quitting; the dentist's role.
Are dental X-rays safe? Radiation doses of panoramic, periapical and CBCT imaging
The types of X-ray used in dentistry, what the dose you receive means in everyday terms, X-rays in pregnancy and children, how often they are taken and protective measures.
Electric or manual toothbrush? Choosing the right brush and brushing technique
A comparison of electric and manual brushes, which suits whom, choosing a brush (bristle stiffness, head size), correct technique, timing, toothpaste amount and common mistakes.
How to floss: interdental brushes, water flossers and the right order
Why flossing is necessary, correct use step by step, where interdental brushes and water flossers fit in, common problems such as bleeding and floss catching, and whether to floss before or after brushing.
Why do teeth turn yellow? Types of discolouration and the solution for each
External stains, the natural darkening that comes with age, intrinsic discolouration from medicines and trauma; when cleaning is enough, and when whitening or veneers are needed.
Why do gums recede, and do they grow back? Treatment options
The causes of gum recession (hard brushing, gum disease, clenching, thin gums, orthodontics), its signs, ways to stop it progressing and treatments such as gum grafts.
What is an impacted tooth? Which impacted teeth are removed and which are monitored
Impacted wisdom teeth and impacted canines; symptoms, assessment with X-rays and CBCT, criteria for extraction, orthodontic exposure, the operation and recovery.
Canker sores (mouth ulcers): causes, how they heal and when to see a dentist
The causes and triggers of aphthous ulcers, how they differ from cold sores, healing time, soothing measures, what to investigate in frequently recurring ulcers, and the warning about sores lasting more than 2 weeks.
Jaw joint pain and clicking (TMJ): causes, what you can do at home and treatment
The symptoms of temporomandibular disorders, the link with clenching and stress, locking, exercises and measures you can do at home, splint therapy and when further investigation is needed.
Caring for removable dentures: cleaning, removal at night, sore spots and when to replace
Daily cleaning of full and partial dentures, night-time use, denture adhesives, what to do about sore spots and loosening, denture stomatitis, when to replace, and implant-supported options.
Overcoming dental anxiety: practical advice for nervous patients
The causes of dental anxiety, the consequences of letting fear delay treatment, methods that work before and during the appointment, agreeing with the dentist, the approach in children and sedation options.
Is pain or sensitivity after a filling normal, and how long does it last?
Why hot-cold sensitivity, pain on biting and throbbing occur after a filling; which is normal and which calls for a return visit; high fillings and when a root canal becomes necessary.
Aftercare following tooth extraction: the first 24 hours, eating and the signs of dry socket
Stopping the bleeding after extraction, protecting the clot, what to eat and what not, why smoking and spitting are forbidden, the course of pain and swelling, and the warning signs of dry socket (alveolar osteitis).
What are porcelain veneers, who are they suitable for, and how long do they last?
How veneers differ from crowns, which problems they are chosen for, who should not have them, the steps of the procedure, lifespan and care; composite versus porcelain veneers.
Is mouthwash necessary? Which one, when, and for how long
Whether mouthwash can replace brushing, the difference between fluoride, antiseptic and chlorhexidine rinses, when to use them, notes for children and pregnant women, and common mistakes.
Preventing tooth decay in children: fluoride, fissure sealants and diet
The causes of early childhood caries (bottles, night feeding, snacking), when fluoride varnish and fissure sealants are done, why primary-tooth decay is treated, and a protection timetable by age.
How long do dental crowns last? Pain after a crown, care and when to replace
The average lifespan of porcelain, zirconia and metal-ceramic crowns, causes of sensitivity and pain after a crown, how decay under a crown is recognised, a crown that comes off and the signs it needs replacing.
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