At Knighton Dental we pride ourselves on providing our patients with the best advice and oral hygiene techniques to help you look after your oral health at home. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 sadly we have not been able to offer you this service.
We are writing this blog to help you improve your oral health and hygiene at home.
Have you noticed that your gums are bleeding when you brush?
Bleeding gums indicate that the gum is irritated – this is usually caused by ineffective brushing. If you look closely at the site of the bleeding you may notice that the gum is red and puffy. You may also notice plaque (a soft white film) and in some cases, this may have hardened and become tartar. This is usually presented along the gum line and/or between the teeth and is a sign of ineffective brushing.
To address this situation there are a few things that you will need to look at.
The toothbrush – the bristles of your toothbrush should not be splayed; if they are you will need to change the brush head or purchase a new brush. The bristles should be soft for both manual or electric brushes to allow the bristles to flex around the teeth and effectively remove the plaque.
The brushing technique – when brushing you should make sure to brush every surfaces of each tooth. It is recommended to work in sections to make sure you don’t miss any areas.
Hold the head of the toothbrush horizontally against your teeth with the bristles part-way on the gums and tilt the brush head to a 45-degree angle, so the bristles are pointing under the gum line. Move the brush in small circular motions to allow the bristles to slide gently under the gum, making sure to spend 3-5 seconds on each tooth. For the insides of your front teeth, where the horizontal brush position is troublesome, hold the brush vertically instead. This time, using gentle back and forth brushing action finished by small circular motion. To clean the biting or chewing surfaces of the teeth, hold the brush so the bristles are straight down on the flat surface of the molars. Gently move the brush back and forth and/ or in small circular motions.
If you are using an electric toothbrush you should use the same technique but instead of creating small circular motions you should hold the toothbrush in place and let the brush do all the work.
You can clear even more bacteria out of your mouth by brushing your tongue. With your toothbrush, brush firmly but gently from back to front or use a tongue cleaner that you can find at most pharmacies. Do not go so far back in your mouth that you gag.
The bleeding you are experiencing should subside within 2-3 weeks, once you improve your oral hygiene by following the above instruction.
Top Tips
Tips:
• You should be brushing for at least two minutes, twice a day.
• You should replace your toothbrush or brush head every 3 months or when the bristles begin to splay.
• Be gentle when brushing, pressing too hard can damage the enamel layer of the tooth and cause the gums to recede.
• You should be cleaning between your teeth once a day.
• You should replace your interdental brushes when the bristles become worn and wires become distorted.
• Be gentle when brushing, pressing too hard can damage the enamel layer and cause the gums to recede.
• When using interdental brushes, you should feel a slight resistance on insertion but should not struggle to get them in or out.
• If you are using the smallest brush and are struggling to fit them into some of your gaps you should use floss in these areas instead.

Cleaning inbetween your teeth
Cleaning between the teeth – cleaning between the teeth is just as important as brushing your teeth. To clean between the teeth, we need to use either floss or interdental brushes (e.g. TePe brushes).
At Knighton Dental we recommend using waxed ‘tape’ floss as it helps the floss to slide between the teeth and the width of the tape aids the removal of plaque.
When flossing you should wrap each side of the floss around your index fingers and using your thumbs and middle fingers gently ease the floss between the teeth and slightly underneath the gum. Once between the teeth create a ‘C’ shape using floss so that the floss is hugging around the edge of the tooth, then flick the floss out of the gap, removing the plaque. Move slightly along the floss to a clean section and re-enter the same gap, again going slightly under the gum and again creating a ‘C’ shape on the next tooth.
E.g. O>
Here the ‘O’ represents the tooth and the ‘<’ and ‘>’ represents how the floss should cup around the teeth.
Before using interdental brushes (TePe brushes) you should look at the size of the gap you have between the teeth, at the gum level (they appear as small black triangles), if you have large gaps you will need larger brushes, if you have small gaps you should use smaller brushes. Many people have different sized gaps throughout the mouth and thus need a variety of brushes.
Insert the brush into the space between teeth at gum level, turning slightly as you insert.
This technique aids access and prolongs the life of the brush. Once inserted, gently move the brush backwards and forwards a few times on either side of the gap to remove plaque and debris. Between each insertion, rinse clean with water or wipe clean with a tissue.
Teeth bonding
/0 Comments/in Blogs /by KirstyComposite Bonding Leicester
Transforming your Smile with Composite Bonding
Composite Bonding is a modern, minimally invasive approach to aesthetically transform your smile. One of the main advantages of bonding is that there are NO NEEDLES involved. There is NO DRILLING of the natural tooth structure, meaning no irreversible damage can be done!
If you’re wondering how it works, our highly skilled clinicians use tooth-coloured composite resin material. They carefully sculpt this on to your natural teeth, aiming to achieve balance and harmony in your smile. This is achieved by mimicking the natural anatomy of each tooth. By respecting how a tooth should look, we finish with a result in which you and our patients, can be proud to show off your natural smile.
Maintaining your composite bonding
Composite bonding on average lasts between 5-7 years, with a variety of factors which can affect this, such as maintenance, oral hygiene, habits such as tooth grinding, plus more. However, any such factors which may increase the chance of problems will be picked up during our initial consultation and factored in our planning, ensuring you are in safe hands all the way through!
The smile transformations that can be achieved with composite bonding are extraordinary. What makes it even more special is that the natural tooth is completely untouched! This allows for the biological health of your teeth to remain completely intact. As well as leaving you with an aesthetically pleasing smile. As a result, we believe this treatment option is a “win-win” scenario if you’re somebody who is thinking of transforming your smile. So, why not book in to start planning your smile makeover!
Book your FREE CONSULTATION today to discuss how you can transform your smile here at Knighton Dental!
Kids Fixed Braces
/0 Comments/in Blogs, Fixed braces, Fixed braces /by KirstyKnighton Dental fixed braces for children
Struggling to get braces on the NHS for your Child?
Unfortunately not every child will be eligible for free fixed braces on the NHS and this is determined by strict criteria from the NHS. Even if your child is eligible for NHS treatment you then maybe told there is a 2-4 year waiting list, or longer. If your child is eligible for NHS treatment and the waiting time is not a concern, we strongly advise you to have treatment on the NHS.
Has your child not qualified for braces on the NHS?
Your child may have attended an appointment for an orthodontic assessment and you have been told they do not qualify for treatment on the NHS or the waiting list is too long and you do not want to wait. Here at Knighton Dental we offer private options for fixed braces from as little as £24 per month per arch.
Are you on a never ending waiting list?
At Knighton Dental we offer a free consultation with our experienced treatment coordinator. During your childs appointment all options can be discussed along with finance packages available.
We are fortunate at Knighton Dental to have Dr Neena Amin providing our fixed orthodontic treatment (braces). Neena has a special interest in orthodontics and at Knighton Dental her practice is limited to orthodontic treatments. After your child’s free consultation with our treatment coordinator, Dr Neena Amin will be able to see you to assess your child’s clinical needs.
What are fixed braces?
Conventional fixed braces are a great treatment that deliver exceptional results. Metal or ceramic (tooth coloured) brackets are bonded to the enamel of every tooth and a wire is then maneuvered between each bracket.
The wire is then connected to the bracket using elastic O-rings (O-rings can be clear or as adventurous as you like with different colours available). The arch wire can then be adjusted to pull teeth back into a better position over time.
Cleaning while wearing fixed braces
Even though Dr Neena Amin will see your child for regular appointments to monitor your child’s fixed braces. A good oral hygiene routine must be maintained at home.
Brackets and wires can encourage food to build up. This is why it is so important to encourage your child to brush in between their teeth and braces. Knighton Dental recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes to help clean around brackets and under your wire, as well as an interdental toothbrush.
We also advise avoiding hard or sticky foods that aren’t brace friendly such as:
Crusty bread
Chewy or crunchy foods- such a chewy sweet, toffee, chewing gum
Apples
Popcorn
Nuts
Sticky foods can get lodged between the braces and teeth. When this happens and if sticky foods are not removed, bacteria could grow and develop and eventually lead to tooth decay and pain.
If you would like to book a FREE consultation to discuss the options available for your child.
Book an appointment today.
Investing in your child’s smile can give them self-confidence that they can use for the rest of their lif
What are Dentures
/0 Comments/in Blogs, Dentures /by KirstyKnighton Dental Your Dentures Leicester
What are dentures ?
Dentures can be used to replace teeth on your upper and lower jaw or both. Dentures are a more affordable way to replace missing teeth, compared to dental bridges or dental implants.
Replacing missing teeth can give you back not only your ability to eat and speak clearly, it also gives back your confidence and could even make you look years younger.
At Knighton Dental we offer many different options to replace missing teeth and dentures are one of them. There are different denture options available here at Knighton Dental which fit a wide range of needs and budgets.
If dentures are something you’ve been thinking about, whether that’s a new denture to replace missing teeth or replacing your current denture we can help with your denture needs.
We offer a free consultation with our Treatment Coordinator, during this consultation she will be able to discuss different denture options available to you along with procedures, costs and finance/payments options. Depending on your clinical needs, number of teeth missing and your goals we may recommend partial dentures, complete dentures, or implant supported dentures.
Partial Dentures
A partial dentures are a great option when just a few teeth are missing. Partial dentures can have an acrylic or metal base and they also require natural teeth to anchor the denture in place. We can add clasps or other attachments to help support the denture from moving around.
Complete Dentures
If you are missing all teeth on an entire arch, conventional complete dentures are a perfect solution. Complete dentures are best created after the tissue has healed upon removal of existing teeth. The healing process can take around 3 months. Alternatively, immediate dentures can be made before remaining teeth that need extracting and these can be fitted immediately after tooth removal. This avoids any social embarrassment. As the gum tissue heals the tissue sink during this process which can effect the fit and lead to adjustments needed after several weeks.
Implant-supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are the most permanent type of denture restoration. Implants are placed into the jawbone to replace the missing root to provide stability and support for the dentures, which will snap into place via an abutment. Implants also prevent bone loss. When a natural tooth is missing, the lack of stimulation from the root can cause the bone to deteriorate. Eventually, this can lead to further oral health problems including bone loss, gum tissue loss, and tooth loss. The implant acts as a replacement for the tooth root, stimulating the jawbone and preserving its structure.
Whenever tooth loss occurs, it’s important to seek prompt treatment. Replacing missing teeth will not only give you back a beautiful smile.
It will also improve your oral health and give you the confidence to eat and speak without worry.
At Knighton Dental we use the most skilled technicians to make the finest of dentures.
We listen to your needs to make sure we get the result that you expect.