At Stellenbosch Dental Studio we believe in preventative care. The goal is to catch small problems early. For many people, this means a dental exam every six months. Your dentist may suggest that you visit more or less often, depending on how well you care for your teeth and gums, problems you have that need to be checked or treated, how fast tartar builds up on your teeth, etc.

There are a few questions that you can ask yourself to gauge your oral health, such as:

Do I floss every day?

Do I brush my teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste?

Do I eat a well-balanced diet, including food from all food groups, and limit sweets and sticky foods?

Do I smoke?

Do I have a history of cavities or gum disease?

Is my overall health good?

The answers to these questions will help you and your dentist decide how often you need to visit for dental exams.

The need for x-rays also depends on your oral health. A healthy adult who has not had cavities or other problems for a couple of years probably won't need x-rays at every appointment. If your dental situation is less stable and your dentist is monitoring your progress, you may require x-rays more frequently.

Dental x-rays deliver very little radiation; they are a vital tool for your dentist to ensure that small problems don't develop into bigger ones.

We recommend you ask your dentist if you are not sure why a particular x-ray is being taken.

It is important to maintain regular checkups during pregnancy because pregnant women with gum disease are at increased risk for premature births and low-weight babies. Dental decay is a communicable disease that can be passed from mother to child. Therefore, it's important to reduce the degree of bacteria in the mother’s mouth, and to treat her cavities before the birth of the child.

Your child's first teeth erupt around 6 months old. For the prevention of dental problems, Stellenbosch Dental Clinic recommend your child visit the dentist at 1 year of age. This first visit will help your child to become acquainted with our office and develop a relationship with the doctor and staff, and is also a chance to help educate parents to properly care for their child's teeth.

Brushing and flossing are the first steps to eliminating bad breath. Brushing and flossing remove bacteria responsible for creating odorous sulphur compounds and the food they feed on.

However, bacteria also hide also on the tongue under a layer of mucous and can create odours. It is best to brush your tongue daily or you may want to consider a tongue scraper. Both are extremely effective at removing this protective mucous layer from the back of the tongue.

There are products available to treat bad breath such as toothpastes and mouthwashes containing chlorine dioxide. The chlorine dioxide neutralises the odorous sulphur compounds, instead of simply covering up the odour.

Infections in your teeth and gums can also cause bad breath and foul tastes in your mouth. Regular check-ups to monitor your oral health ensure that problems of this nature are treated by the dentist or hygienist, allowing you to have peace of mind during personal contact or intimate moments.

Research shows that both powered and manual toothbrushes are equally effective when used properly.

The best way to be sure you are caring for your teeth properly is to discuss your homecare and needs with your dentist or hygienist.

All toothpastes help remove surface stains through the action of mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes contain gentle polishing or chemical agents that provide additional stain removal. Whitening toothpastes can lighten your tooth's color by about one shade.

In contrast, light-activated whitening conducted in your dentist's office can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter.

We specialise in treating the nervous patient. With more than 30 years’ dental experience, caring for patients of all ages you can approach your visits calmly and with confidence.

Our professional, caring team will discuss the options available to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible.