Correct brushing and flossing!

We found these great videos on Youtube, 

which show the way brushing and flossing should be done:

'Floss only the teeth you want to keep!'   

Sometimes no matter how well we brush and floss, there are certain stains that we can not remove ourselves.

These stains may have formed over many years or may be as a result of the following factors:

-tooth decay (caries)

-a necrotic (dead) nerve in the tooth

-too much flouride in the drinking water that we drank as a child (before the age of 6)

-certain antibiotics that were taken during childhood eg. Tetracycline

-staining due to poor oral hygiene 

 -staining from tea, coffee, red wine, spices, nicotine, tobacco, e.t.c

If these stains affect the front teeth they may cause us to feel embarrassed and self conscious as they affect the aesthetics of our smile.

There are many safe and painless treatment options available today, that can correct unsightly stains, depending on the severity and cause of the stain. 

Examples of tooth whitening treatments include:

-Scaling and polishing to remove external or superficial stains.

-Bleaching i.e. Zoom in-office tooth whitening with UV light, or custom made home-bleaching kits which lighten the shade of the enamel of the teeth and may also lighten deeper stains.

  

-Composite veneers for stains that are not too large.

-Porcelain veneers for deeper and larger stains found only on the front aspect of the teeth.

-Full porcelain or metal-ceramic crowns for teeth with large restorations.

We usually take Panoramic x-rays to check the health of all the teeth, before we proceed with cosmetic treatments. We are all different and unique, therefore a treatment plan is drawn up and discussed with each patient prior to treatment. 

Smile and conquer your dental fears!

The author of the adjacent poem is unknown, but the message is very true... Remember, your dentist is there to help you achieve your best smile. Greet her, or him, with a smile and forget all your worries. 
Everyday I meet new people at my dental practise in Paphos, and many of them are very depressed and afraid. If I had a penny for every time I heard the words: 'I hate the dentist' or 'I'm frightened of dentists' , I would be rich and probably not working as a dentist!!  Frightened patients please try to forget the bad experience you had as a child, or in the past, and try to be positive when visiting your new dentist. We are here to help you, not to hurt you. 

Unfortunately the dentist has acquired an unpleasant reputation over the years, thanks to Mr Bean movies, and horror stories from friends and relatives. As a result many people have acquired dental phobias. We all know that the best way to get over our fears, is to face them. Don't wait until you have excruciating pain to visit your dentist, as this will result in many more visits, uncomfortable or complicated treatment and a much higher cost to your pocket.

Dentistry has come a long way since our parents were young. Today we are more conservative when drilling teeth, and we try to preserve as much tooth enamel as we can. We try our best to save teeth instead of pulling them out. In order for us to achieve this, we need a little help from our patients. Visit your dentist every six months so that dental problems can be caught early. The earlier you catch tooth decay, the easier, and more pleasant the treatment will be. The earlier gum disease is treated the healthier your mouth, and your body will be. Remember, your mouth is the entrance to the rest of your body, and if it is filled with decay, toxins and bacteria, so is the rest of your body! 

Your dentist may also be the first person to spot suspicious mouth lesions, which could potentially lead to oral cancer, if not treated early enough. Please don't let your phobias stand in the way of good health. I promise dentists don't bite!

Dr. Elena Demetriou

Dental surgeon Bds Wits SA 

Dental clinic Paphos Cyprus 

tel: 26913399

elenadentist@cytanet.com.cy
Limnaria complex, Posidonos Street 
Kato Paphos, Cyprus
(Behind Niki's pharmacy, 

opposite Alexander the great hotel)