The listening dentist – Malcolm Harbour and his team at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich
Being listened to when we speak and feeling we are being truly heard is important in every area of our lives – and something many of us feel is not often achieved!
Of course, there are lots of reasons why someone can’t give us their full attention. They may be too busy, too stressed or too distracted by their phone, the TV or planning what they are having for tea.
The team at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich makes a conscious effort to give our patients all the time, space and opportunity they need to let us know about any concerns they may have about their teeth, mouth or gums. And we promise to listen.
Unhurried, calm dental care
We want every one of our patients to have faith and confidence in their teeth, have their concerns and problems fixed and enjoy predictable results for their treatment. We allow plenty of time for our appointments so that patients do not feel hurried and rushed.
If that’s the kind of dental care you think you’d enjoy, then please give us a ring.
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Love your smile with the Top Ten Tips from Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich
As dentists, our main aim is for you to feel happy and confident about your smile. Here are Harbour Dental Care’s Top Ten ways to help you enjoy a stunning smile every day.
- The easiest, most effective – and cheapest – way to keep your teeth and gums looking great is to brush for two minutes twice a day using fluoride toothpaste.
- Visit your dentist regularly. There’s nothing more attractive than strong, healthy teeth and regular visits will help ensure your teeth stay this way.
- Discoloured teeth were the biggest reason (33%) given in a recent survey for people feeling self-conscious about their smile. Visit your hygienist for a thorough clean and polish to bring back the natural sparkle to your teeth.
- Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks, including fruit and smoothies. Decay-causing bacteria feed on sugar, so by cutting out their food you will reduce the chance of tooth decay.
- Choose foods rich in the minerals that help protect your teeth from harmful acids. Calcium rich foods promote good bone density and affect the quality of bone around the teeth.
- Chewing sugar-free gum after eating and drinking is a convenient way of looking after your oral health. It washes away food debris, helps to neutralises damaging plaque acids and remineralises tooth enamel by stimulating the flow of saliva which helps protect teeth.
- Are your teeth stained? Try cutting down on curries, red wine, tea and coffee and you’ll love the difference this will make.
- What better time to quit than now? Stopping smoking will improve your general and oral health, reduce your risk of cancer and boost your smile.
- Do you hide your smile or feel embarrassed about your teeth? Let us know – we have lots of treatments that can help, and most won’t break the bank.
- Love your smile! Smiling is contagious and also linked to a boosted immune system and reduction in stress – and we could all do with that!
Our door is always open to new patients, so please get in touch to find out more.
Feel confident your breath is minty fresh with a hygiene clean at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich
Bad breath is the last thing you want when puckering up under the mistletoe! Make sure your breath is minty fresh with a visit to the dental hygiene team at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich High Street.
Our meticulous hygienists are experts at removing every last speck of plaque from every surface of every single one of your teeth, leaving you with a spotlessly clean and fresh mouth.
We make it our business to help people have fresher breath. Bad breath is a common problem and we are used to helping people with this issue, so there’s no need to feel embarrassed.
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Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich joins the fight against mouth cancer
In the UK, more than 7,800 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year, says Ipswich dentist Malcolm Harbour, the principal dentist at Harbour Dental Care in Ipswich High Street. The number of people being diagnosed with mouth cancer has grown by around a third in the last decade and it remains one of very few cancers that are predicted to increase further in the coming years.
Although there are risk factors heavily linked to the disease, mouth cancer can affect anyone – that’s why it’s so important that we all know what to look out for.
- Don’t leave a mouth ulcer unattended for more than three weeks.
- Don’t ignore any unusual lumps or swellings or red and white patches in your mouth.
- Early detection could save your life. If you notice any changes in your mouth speak to a dentist or doctor immediately.
Mouth Cancer Action Month is a charity campaign that takes place in November. It aims to raise awareness of mouth cancer and make a difference by saving thousands of lives through early detection and prevention.
How can mouth cancer be detected early?
Mouth cancer can often be spotted in its early stages by your dental team during a thorough mouth examination. If mouth cancer is diagnosed early, then the chances of a cure are good. Many people with mouth cancer go to their dentist or doctor too late.
Mouth cancers are more common in people over 40, particularly men, whether they have their own teeth or not. However, research has shown that mouth cancer is becoming more common in younger patients and in women.
Most cases of mouth cancer are linked to tobacco and alcohol. Alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, and if tobacco and alcohol are taken together the risk is even greater. Over-exposure to sunlight can also increase the risk of cancer of the lips.
Many recent reports have linked mouth cancer to the human papillomavirus. HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer and affects the skin that lines the moist areas of the body. HPV can be spread through oral sex, and research now suggests that it could soon rival smoking and drinking as one of the main causes of mouth cancer.
If in doubt, get checked out. We screen our patients at every dental health examination for signs of mouth cancer. Please get in touch to find out more.
Find us at: 27 High Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 3QH
Call us on: 01473 253599
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