Author Archives: Smile Essential

It’s not just humans that should brush their teeth…

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How often do you brush your dog’s or cat’s teeth? Effects of poor dental care doesn’t only affect humans. Poor dental care of your beloved pooch can not only mean painful toothache in your pets it can also lead to liver and heart problems.

Today marks the start of National Pet Month and we thought we would help to get your whole house dentally fit and healthy!

How many times a day do you brush your own teeth? Hopefully at least twice! Compare this with how many times a day you brush your pet’s teeth… Imagine the state your teeth would be in after a few months or even years without brushing!

There are signs similar to the ones you would experience and they could indicate a problem with your pet’s dental health –

• Bad breath
• Bleeding gums
• Discolouration of teeth
• Difficulty or reluctance to eat
• Pus and abscesses
• Broken teeth
• Excess salivation

If you notice any of these signs it’s important that these problems are dealt with as soon as possible to prevent further health issues.

Vets recommend that the most effective way to look after your dog’s teeth/cat’s teeth is to brush them. This is the best way to prevent plaque build-up and subsequent painful dental disease in your pet.

Of course, your pet may be reluctant to having their teeth brushed at first. It normally takes about 5-6 weeks for them to get used to brushing, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Start off by getting some toothpaste specially made for pets – never use toothpaste made for humans as these are not designed to be swallowed and are toxic to dogs!

For one week allow your pet to come to you and lick the paste off your finger. Once your pet is used to this, try gently rubbing the paste around their gums and when they are relaxed about it continue this method for 7-10 days.

The next step is to put some of the paste on to a pet toothbrush and let them lick it off. They might be suspicious of the brush at first so if they walk away be patient and try again the next day. After a few days you’ll find your pet will lick the paste off the brush. Allow them to do this for a few days before you attempt to put the brush in their mouths while they are licking off the paste.

After another week your pet should be coming to you to remind you that it’s time for brushing! When brushing your pet’s teeth you should aim to gently brush the outside surfaces of all the teeth to remove plaque.

It’s recommended you get your pet a health check every 6-12months. Dental disease is progressive; it won’t go away without help and will get worse. That is why taking preventative measure is so important, much like your own dental health.

Click here for more information on National Pet Month and pet advice…

5 things most people don’t know about tooth whitening…

tooth whitening leicester

Want whiter teeth? You are not alone. It is without doubt the most popular cosmetic procedure in the UK today. But is it a simple case of treating yourself to a new fancy whitening toothpaste? Abracadabra you’ve got yourself a Holly Willoughby smile? Or perhaps you’ve heard about whitening strips? Easy to buy off the internet and a steal at around £50, but do they work and are they dangerous?

It’s important to consider all of your options when looking to whiten your teeth. In this article, we go over the top 5 things people rarely know about tooth whitening. You’ll find out what to expect and be able to make an informed tooth whitening choice…

1) Your teeth might not all end up the same colour

Most people’s teeth are slightly different shades. For example, your canine teeth are darker than the rest of your teeth and your bottom teeth may be darker than your top teeth (pause to look in the mirror). There are literally hundreds of different shades of teeth and each tooth could have a combination of 3 or 4 shades on just one tooth! So whilst whitening your teeth can help to achieve a more uniform colour. It’s unlikely that every tooth will be the exact same shade.

2) Sensitive teeth? You should have a dental health check before any tooth whitening treatment

Suffering from sensitivity could be a sign of an underlying problem. Having sensitive teeth isn’t a deal breaker when it comes to tooth whitening, but it does mean a little extra caution is required. If your teeth are okay but you simply have sensitivity, your dentist can help with desensitising treatments.

3) Whitening strips vs whitening trays

Teeth whitening gels work best when they’re concentrated but whitening strips allow for saliva to mix with the gel and get diluted. Teeth also tend to be darker near the gum line, where the strips can’t reach. It’s best to invest in some custom made tooth whitening trays, to give you the best results.

4) Over the counter whitening products don’t work the way you think they do

Generally shop/internet bought whitening products work in one of two ways – they either scrub away at surface stain which can be abrasive and also remove the enamel along with some staining. Or they can dehydrate the teeth making them temporarily appear whiter than they are.

5) Whitening your teeth isn’t a one off treatment

Even with the best tooth whitening procedure available, your teeth over time will become darker. Everyday eating and drinking will gradually make teeth darker. The best way to keep your teeth bright and white is to keep up with regular tooth whitening top ups.

Our advice

Whilst investing in a professional tooth whitening treatment with your dentist may seem more expensive than high street options, it’s often false economy as it doesn’t give you noticeable results and could be doing more harm than good.

Investing in a proper tooth whitening system can cost as little as £325 with top ups costing just £49 a year. The difference… safe, effective tooth whitening with results that will last.

Click to read about Enlighten Tooth Whitening…

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Simply the best dentist!

real patient review of leicester dental clinic

Where do I start with Smile Essential dental practice?! I have always hated going to see the dreaded dentist and as a result have avoided going for many years.

But the time had come and I wanted to start taking my son to a dental practice regularly. I found Smile Essential online, read the reviews and thought I’d give them a go!

I don’t regret it one bit, from the moment I arrived I was impressed, from reception to seeing Shrik the dentist, I felt I was in the hands of experts. My son loved his visit and his balloon and sticker.

I will now go regularly to see them and would recommend them to everyone.

Mrs T.H, Oadby, Leicester.

Click here to see what other patients think to Smile Essential…

 

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Smile Essential wins the award for OUTSTANDING customer service once again!

leicesters best dentist

Smile Essential dental practice has been recognised once again for outstanding customer service with an award for excellent customer service by healthcare search engine WhatClinic.com, based on feedback by customers over a twelve month period.

Smile Essential dental practice based in Leicester has been awarded this consecutively for the past several years. The award is based on feedback from patients, and combines scores for excellent customer service and timely consumer feedback. Customers rated clinics based on how well the clinic treated them, how quickly they were contacted and seen, and how happy they were with the treatment.

Dr Niket Patel today said; “We are delighted to be recognised once again for our commitment to customer service. As one of Leicester’s leading dental practices, it is something we focus on in everything we do and to receive such positive feedback from our patients is great…”

award winning leicester dental practice

WhatClinic.com CEO Caelen King congratulated Smile Essential dental practice and said “This is the 7th year we have run these awards. Every year, the standard goes up and up – and I’m delighted to recognise those clinics that are putting the needs of the patient first, every single day.

“It’s the customer who selects our awards winners, by their clinic ratings and the feedback they leave about service and experience. We believe that empowering the patient with accurate information is the future of a successful healthcare market.”

To read more on our caring approach please click here.

I never knew a dentist could be so kind…

leicester family review on dentist

My kids love coming to the dentist, unlike me and my husband when we were kids! But I have to say it’s amazing how friendly the dentists and the whole dental team are at Smile Essential dental clinic.

I recommend them to all of my family and friends.

Click here to read more on our popular dental membership plans to make caring for your families dental health easy and affordable…

 

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