Prevention of dental disease is a cornerstone of our practice ethos. We can help you to minimise any future dental interventions by a variety of measures you can incorperate into your daily routine. You will just have to make small changes to your lifestyle, but you can reap big rewards in the long term.

We have a hygienist 6 days a week (and some days we have 2 hygienists) in order to help you keep your gums healthy. They can also show you how to keep your gums as healthy as possible.

Our goal is to help you keep your teeth for life!

Fluoride has been shown to help prevent tooth decay. If a small amount of fluoride is consumed in the diet from birth, it is incorperated into the tooth structure and inbues a degree of protection from tooth decay. Also, by using Fluoride toothpaste or mouthwash, small amounts of fluoride are absorbed into the surface layers of the tooth, again giving a degree of protection from decay. We advocate the use of fluoride toothpaste routinely. We can prevent early dental decay, before a filling is required, by applying fluoride varnish. If you are prone to tooth decay, additional fluoride in the form of a fluoride mouthwash can help prevent you getting more cavities.

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Sugar is the prime cause of tooth decay. Studies have shown that without processed sugar, there is no tooth decay and if processed sugar is introduced into societies that previously had none, decay becomes rampant. Sugar is present is everything sweet (unless artificial sweeteners are used) as thus has a tendency to cause tooth decay. In addition sugar is hidden in items you wouldn't expect. Frequency of sugar consumption is one of the most important factors in tooth decay; try to avoid sugary snacks between meals and sugar in tea or coffee. Look on our diet page for advice.

Fissure sealants are an easy way to reduce the risk of tooth decay on the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The tooth is cleaned, etched then a resin is applied and then a light is shone on the resin to set it. The resin seals the small cracks (fissures) on the back teeth which are prone to decay. It is simple to do and completely painless.

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Toothbrushing alone does not adequately clean all the surfaces of your teeth. To keep your gums really healthy, you need to clean between your teeth using floss or inter-dental brushes. If you miss plaque when brushing your teeth, it becomes calcified (tartar) and is then impossible for you to remove. This tartar is an ideal environment for bacteria that cause gum disease to live in. You are also at risk of devloping bad breath. Our hygienist are experts at removing these stubborn deposits and for finding a routine you can use at home to keep it from coming back. Gum disease is the biggest cause of tooth loss in adults.

Hygienist have been at the heart of our preventive approach at the Half Moon Dental Centre since we opened. We now have a hygienist working 6 days a week and some days we have two hygienists. If you haven't ever seen a hygienist, we strongly recommend you try it. Your teeth will feel as clean as they ever have, you will get advice on how to maintain them properly and it will help to control any gum disease. You need to see a dentist first who will then refer you internally.

Smoking, you probably know causes cancer, but did you know that it also causes gum disease? Smokers experience worse levels of gum disease and respond much less well to any treatment provided to stop the gum problems. Mouth cancer rates are rising so we urge you to stop. Our smoking page gives you some useful advice on stopping and some contact information for smoking cessation clinics provided by the Primary Care Trust. Useful numbers :Southwark quitline = 0800 169 6002 Lewisham quitline = 08000 820 388 South London = 020 7848 0054

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