Frequently asked questions about prevention

Everything that stops teeth and gums from becoming diseased: the regular check-up, professional tooth cleaning, fluoridation and sealing at the practice – and daily oral hygiene at home. The two together work; either one alone achieves little.

Twice a year is the usual recommendation. Anyone at increased risk – after periodontal treatment, with diabetes, with a dry mouth – needs shorter intervals. The practice sets the rhythm according to the findings, not according to the calendar.

A short assessment at the start: where are the deposits, where do the gums bleed, how deep are the periodontal pockets? From that follows what needs to be done – and what can be measured against next time to see whether it worked.

For children and adolescents from 6 to 17 years of age, yes: examination, instruction, fluoridation and the sealing of the permanent molars. For adults, professional tooth cleaning is generally a private service; some insurers pay a contribution.

First the findings, then the removal of hard and soft deposits – including just below the gum line – after that the cleaning of the interdental spaces, the polishing and finally the fluoridation. At the end there is instruction on which technique suits your own teeth.

An hour is the rule, longer with a lot of plaque or deep pockets. Anyone who is back outside after twenty minutes has not had a complete cleaning.

As a rule, no. Work on exposed tooth necks and in deep pockets can become unpleasant; a local anaesthetic is possible there. Say so beforehand, not afterwards.

The price depends on the effort involved: the number of teeth, the amount of deposits, the condition of the gums and the time required. Ask for the amount in advance – it is part of a reputable treatment.

No. The instruments and powders used are matched to the hardness of the enamel. Brushing at home with a highly abrasive toothpaste and a lot of pressure, by contrast, removes more than any cleaning at the practice.

Twice a day, about two minutes each time, in a systematic order so that no surface is left out. What matters is not the pressure but the thoroughness.

Both work if the technique is right. Electric brushes take over part of the work and help especially where mobility is limited. The best brush is the one that actually gets used.

Where the interdental space allows it, the interdental brush is more effective. Dental floss is for narrow spaces that no brush fits into. The practice determines the right size – too small does not clean, too large injures.

No. A rinse reaches the surface of the bacterial layer, not its core. It is an addition, not a replacement.

A large proportion of the bacteria in the mouth sit on the back of the tongue. Removing them there daily noticeably lowers the number of germs – and prevents bad breath.

The gap between meals. Every contact with sugar keeps the tooth in the acidic range for about half an hour; only after that can saliva give minerals back. Eating sweet things with a meal rather than spread across the day shortens these phases considerably. Water in between and a sugar-free chewing gum after eating help as well.

No, but they belong with a meal and not spread across the day. Rinse with water afterwards, and wait about half an hour before brushing: acid makes the enamel softer for a short time, and the brush then removes it as well.

What matters is not the amount at one time but how often. Every time sugar enters the mouth, the pH value drops into the critical range for about half an hour. Ten small snacks are therefore more harmful than one piece of cake.

From the first milk tooth. Parents clean the first teeth once or twice a day with a soft children's toothbrush; a children's toothpaste is added later. It is important to let the child join in early – that way brushing becomes part of the daily routine from the outset.

No, the fine motor skills are missing for a long time. Children should brush themselves early in order to learn the routine – that does not yet make it thorough. Well into school age, parents have to help, above all by brushing again afterwards.

As early as possible, ideally with the first milk teeth. That way problems are found early, and the child experiences the visit as an ordinary appointment. If dark spots that cannot be removed appear during brushing, that belongs at the dental practice promptly.

Children are not afraid of the dentist to begin with – they are mainly curious. What matters is that parents do not pass on their own fears and treat the visit as something ordinary. An early first appointment at which things are only looked at helps with that.

By talking about what a dentist does and what the child can expect during the visit. Children's books take up the subject sensitively and in a way children understand. The visit should appear as an ordinary appointment, not as something threatening.

Yes, to a check-up – there the child sees how relaxed an appointment is. Let the practice know beforehand. For an extensive treatment or treatment of pain, however, the child should not come along.

In principle all dentists treat children too. A dentist specialising in children is useful above all when a child is very anxious or an extensive treatment is due. If in doubt, ask your dental practice for a recommendation.

Because in up to 90 per cent of cases bad breath arises in the mouth itself: bacteria break down food residues and deposits on teeth and tongue. Home remedies, lozenges and sprays only mask the smell – the dental practice finds and treats the cause.

Yes. Periodontitis is often behind it, a bacterial inflammation of the periodontium. Untreated, it endangers teeth, and chronic inflammation in the mouth is associated with risks to general health. Persistent bad breath should therefore be investigated by a dentist.

First the cause is looked for: with questions about diet and oral care and a thorough examination. Then treatment is targeted – usually with professional tooth cleaning including tongue cleaning and adapted care at home, because a large proportion of the odour-forming bacteria sit on the tongue.

On the contrary. Bleeding gums are not sensitive, they are inflamed. Brushing less there makes it worse. If the bleeding persists for longer than two weeks, it belongs at the practice.

Often not at all – it does not hurt for a long time. Signs are bleeding gums, bad breath, teeth that look longer and, later, loosening. It is measured with a probe, not by feel.

It can be brought to a standstill, but the bone that has been lost does not come back. That is why the follow-up care counts: cleaning and measuring at fixed intervals, often for life.