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Dentistry
Good oral hygiene is obviously essential for good oral health, but a question we get asked a lot is should I use a daily mouthwash?
No, is the simple answer unless it has been prescribed for a short period, usually 7-14 days by your dentist or hygienist, but daily use of an over the counter (OTC) mouthwash is not necessary and can be damaging to your health. The only exception to this is that using a regular fluoride mouthwash when wearing fixed braces if advised by an orthodontist may be beneficial but only for the duration that the braces are on your teeth.
It is very important to remove the plaque from every surface of your teeth every day, the best way to do this is mechanical removal. This means using a toothbrush, electric or manual, an interdental brush or floss. Just rinsing with a mouthwash does not remove all the plaque, despite the claims manufacturers will make. Using a daily OTC mouthwash may result in too much reliance on the mouthwash to do the job a toothbrush or interdental brush should be doing.
This is a bit more complicated but here is a bit of background. In order to keep your blood vessels flexible, you need a substance called Nitric Oxide. This is made by the body in two ways, the first is by the lining of your blood vessels, but as you age this process becomes less efficient, you lose the ability to make Nitric Oxide by 10% each decade over 40. The other pathway by which Nitric Oxide is produced is through your salivary glands in conjunction with the good bacteria in your mouth. If you use a daily OTC mouthwash that gets rid of 99.99% of the bacteria in your mouth, not only are you getting rid of the bad bacteria but also the good ones too. Your mouth needs a healthy microbiome to function correctly. Luckily, the oral microbiome will re-establish itself within 4-5 days of stopping using an OTC mouthwash.
If your blood vessels become less flexible, your heart has to work harder and your blood pressure can increase. If you have high blood pressure and you are using a daily OTC mouthwash that was not prescribed by a dentist or hygienist, you might want to consider stop using it, your heart will thank you.
📘 Practice update – closed today 📘
Today the practice is closed for a team training day while our entire team completes Immediate Life Support (ILS) training.
This essential training ensures we’re fully prepared to respond in an emergency and continue to provide the safest possible care for our patients and wider community.
Thank you for your understanding — we’ll be back open as normal on Monday. 💙
#TeamTraining #PatientSafety #ILS #DentalPractice #PuttingPatientsFirst #ContinuousLearning #CommunityCare #EvolveDentistry
🎉 We’re proud to share some great news 🎉
Evolve Dentistry has been accredited by Save Face for the 6th year in a row.
Save Face is the UK’s leading register for practitioners who meet the highest standards of safety, transparency and patient care. This continued accreditation reflects our ongoing commitment to providing treatments you can trust, delivered with care, professionalism and integrity.
Thank you to our wonderful patients for choosing Evolve, and to our dedicated team for maintaining these high standards year after year 💙
🚦 Travel update for patients 🚦
If you’re visiting us over the next few weeks, please be aware that temporary three-way traffic lights are in place on Harbour Road in Portishead, which is causing some delays.
We kindly ask that you allow a little extra time for your journey so you can arrive relaxed and on time for your appointment.
Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to welcoming you to the practice. 😊
How healthy are your everyday habits? 🦷💚
The NHS Healthy Choices quiz is a simple, helpful way to reflect on small lifestyle habits that can make a big difference to your overall health — including your oral health.
It only takes a few minutes, and you might be surprised by what you learn. No judgement, just gentle guidance and practical tips you can use straight away.
👉 Take the quiz here: https://bit.ly/4sBMx2W
And if you ever want to chat about how your choices affect your smile, our team is always happy to help — you’re never on your own with it at Evolve.
#HealthyChoices #NHSWellbeing #OralHealthMatters #EvolveDentistry #LookingAfterYourSmile
Feeling self-conscious about your smile can affect so much more than just photos.
In this video, Gemma shares her experience of having veneers with Carol at Evolve Dentistry. She explains how she had always felt unhappy with her smile and was also a nervous patient — something many people can relate to.
From her very first visit, Gemma felt welcomed and supported by the whole team. The friendly, calm approach at Evolve helped her feel more relaxed and confident throughout her treatment.
Now, she’s absolutely overjoyed with her results and finally feels comfortable smiling again.
Thank you, Gemma, for trusting us and for sharing your story 💙
Looking after your oral hygiene at home makes a real difference to your long-term dental health 🦷
In this video, Jessica shares a few simple, everyday tips you can do at home to help keep your teeth and gums healthy between visits. Nothing complicated — just small changes that can have a big impact over time.
Whether you’re brushing twice a day already or feel like your routine could use a refresh, this is a great place to start.
If you ever have questions about your home care routine, our team is always happy to help. 💙
