Welcome to the FAQs on hygiene, oral health, dental problems and treatments that our patients have asked over time, and to which our dentists in the Algarve have given enlightening answers, in order to provide valuable information for maintaining a flawless smile.
Follow us through this knowledge gallery and take note of the direct insights of our dental professionals, who have answers to all your questions… including the ones you didn’t even know you had!Follow us through this knowledge gallery and take note of the direct insights of our dental professionals, who have answers to all your questions… including the ones you didn’t even know you had!
FAQs about hygiene and oral health, answered by our dentists in the Algarve
Your smile deserves our full attention! Find out the answers to the most frequently asked questions about hygiene and oral health, courtesy of our qualified dentists in the Algarve.
How many times a day should I brush my teeth?
At least twice a day, in the morning and before going to bed, to remove plaque and accumulated food residue. However, if possible, we recommend brushing your teeth after every meal to avoid plaque build-up and prevent dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease.
How often should I change my toothbrush?
You should change your toothbrush every 3 months, or sooner if the bristles are frayed.
Is it important to floss?
Of course! The dental floss is essential for removing food debris from between the teeth and along the gum line, preventing cavities, periodontal disease and bad breath.
What is the best toothpaste?
It’s impossible to choose the best one, because the most suitable toothpaste depends on each person’s individual needs. However, we always recommend a toothpaste with fluoride, a component that helps to prevent cavities.
Would you like to know which toothpaste is best for you?
Book an assessment appointment with one of our dentists in the Algarve.
How often should I go to the dentist?
You should visit your dentist every 6 months for a full check-up to prevent dental problems from appearing or developing.
Are you 6 months old? Even if you don’t have any visible problems with your teeth, you should book your routine appointment at Orallagos
FAQs about dental problems, answered by our dentists in the Algarve
Our patients have also expressed concern about a number of common dental problems. Find out the answers from our dentists in the Algarve and practical advice for smiling with more confidence!
A tooth hurts: what should I do?
You can take an analgesic to relieve the pain temporarily, but then you should book an appointment because a toothache shouldn’t be ignored.
Have you taken your painkiller and your tooth still hurts? Contact our dentists in the Algarve now! Pain can be a sign of a dental problem that requires professional attention.
I broke a tooth: what should I do?
Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to remove loose fragments. If you find a part of the broken tooth, store it carefully because it may be possible to replace it. Next, cover the affected area with gauze or cotton wool to protect your tongue and cheeks, and book an appointment at Orallagos urgently so that a dentist can assess the situation and propose an appropriate solution: from a simple restoration to the fitting of a crown.
And until then, avoid hard foods that could cause more damage and hot foods that could affect the sensitivity in the fractured tooth.
My teeth are crooked: what should I do?
Correct them! Nowadays, no one, regardless of age, needs to walk around with crooked teeth when the field of orthodontics is booming, with braces to align teeth for all tastes, for all budgets and for all kinds of problems.
More information about the speciality of Orthodontics? Click here
My teeth are ugly: what should I do?
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, consult a dentist specialising in aesthetic dentistry who will recommend some options, such as tooth whitening, porcelain veneers, crowns, implants, braces or other aesthetic procedures that will help you achieve the appearance you want, boost your self-esteem and give you back a confident smile.
My teeth are yellow: what should I do?
Professional tooth whitening, a safe and effective option for restoring lost colour.
More information about dental whitening? Click here
I have a hole in my tooth: what should I do?
Book an appointment at Orallagos as soon as possible so that we can assess the decay and determine the appropriate treatment. Until then, avoid hard and sweet foods that could aggravate the pain or damage to the tooth.
My gums are red: what should I do?
As red gums are usually a sign of inflammation, you should start by improving your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth after meals and flossing daily.
If it doesn’t go away, contact Orallagos: it could be gingivitis or another gum problem that requires professional treatment.
FAQs about dental treatments, answered by our dentists in the Algarve
Common questions about dental treatment? Here’s another block of FAQs answered by our dentists in the Algarve:
What are dental fillings?
Dental filling or restoration of a tooth is a procedure to re-establish masticatory function and aesthetics in teeth with lesions due to caries, worn teeth or fractures. During this treatment, the tooth is cleaned, filled and restored, with the aim of restoring its normal shape and function.
What is devitalisation?
Dental devitalisation, or Endodontics, is another dental treatment that helps preserve the structure of the tooth and restore its normal function. In this case, it involves removing the inflamed, infected or damaged dental pulp and subsequently cleaning and sealing the tooth’s canals. In this way, it is possible to save a tooth that would otherwise have to be extracted.
More information about Endodontics? Click here
What is the difference between crowns, bridges and veneers?
Dental crowns are pieces that replace a complete tooth, placed over a damaged natural tooth or over a dental implant when a tooth is missing.
Dental bridges are prostheses attached to adjacent natural teeth, roots or dental implants to replace several teeth simultaneously.
Dental veneers are coverings applied to the front of the tooth just to improve aesthetics, correcting imperfections such as stains or irregularities.
Regardless of the choice, crowns, bridges and dental veneers play a positive role in boosting our patients’ self-esteem and confidence.
More information about crowns and bridges? Click here
What is the difference between dentures and dental implants?
The difference lies in the way they replace missing teeth: dentures are removable prostheses that replace several teeth or all the teeth in an arch, whereas dental implants are fixed and inserted into the jawbone to replace one or several missing teeth (including roots). As a general rule, dental implants are the preferred solution for our patients who are missing one or more teeth, because they are more natural and functional.
More information about dental implants? Click here
How can I whiten my teeth?
You can whiten your teeth at home with over-the-counter products such as whitening toothpastes, but to achieve an excellent result, we recommend professional whitening supervised in our dental clinic, with hydrogen peroxide gel that whitens teeth.
More information on tooth whitening? Click here
How can I solve my periodontitis problem?
Seeing a dentist! If your gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) has already progressed to periodontitis, you urgently need dentatisation to remove plaque and tartar from the root surface. In advanced cases, regenerative periodontal surgery may be necessary to rebuild the bone that may have been lost in the area supporting the tooth.
Have our dentists in the Algarve solved your problem of periodontitis? Great, but now don’t forget to maintain good oral hygiene, avoid smoking and, of course, visit Orallagos regularly for ongoing professional treatment.
When is tooth extraction necessary?
It is on the basis of an assessment of the patient’s clinical situation that we make the decision to extract a tooth, and this procedure may be recommended in the case of very extensive caries, very serious infection, advanced periodontitis, as well as fractured teeth, wisdom teeth and orthodontic problems (extraction may be necessary to align the teeth correctly).
(H3) At what age can my child get braces?
The ideal age for getting braces varies depending on your child’s specific needs, but as a general rule orthodontic treatment can start from the age of 12, after the replacement of primary teeth with permanent teeth.
Book an orthodontic appointment at Orallagos so we can determine the best time to start braces treatment.
What are invisible braces?
It is an orthodontic treatment option that uses custom-made transparent aligners to straighten teeth progressively, instead of conventional dental braces with metal wires, brackets and coloured rubbers.
The invisible appliance, it should be emphasised, is a more discreet and convenient alternative because the aligners are transparent and removable so that the patient can eat and perform oral hygiene freely.
More information about Invisalign, a system of removable aligners? Click here
Have we answered all your questions about oral hygiene and health, dental problems and treatments? If you have any further questions, please contact Orallagos.
We have several dentists in the Algarve on hand to help you keep that bright smile!
