What we do
Explain dental care in plain words: what each topic involves, what usually happens at a visit, what it may cost and which questions are worth asking.
A plain map of dental care, for the person in the chair
- Freeto read, with nothing to buy
- Eightdental topics explained
- Sixstages of a visit, mapped
What we do not do
Examine, diagnose or treat anyone, book appointments, recommend practices or take money from any of them. Those stay between you and your dentist.
Why Smilewise exists
People nod along in the chair, agree to plans they only half followed and look the words up later. The looking-up turns up practice adverts, forum threads and pages written to rank rather than to explain.
Smilewise is the other way round: the reading comes first. Every page is arranged around the questions people have before a visit, and every page ends by sending you back to your own dentist for anything about your own mouth.
- Written in plain English, and checked for jargon
- No adverts and no sponsored pages
- Updated as patient guidance changes
What we keep in mind
Plain words
Every page is written for the person in the chair, not for another dentist.
Your own pace
Read before you book, between visits, or the night before. Nothing here expires.
Nothing to sell
No treatment, no products and no practice to send you to.
Ask your dentist
We give you better questions. The answers about your own teeth come from them.
Teeth through a lifetime
Baby teeth
The first teeth come through in infancy, and the first dental visit is often suggested around the first birthday. Baby teeth hold space for the permanent ones, so decay in them still matters.
School years
Permanent molars arrive in the early school years. Sealants on those back teeth, and help with brushing until a child can manage alone, are common topics at this age.
Teens
Bite and alignment are often assessed, sports guards come up, and wisdom teeth may be watched on X-rays.
Working years
Busy years are when check-ups slip. Gum health, worn fillings and grinding are frequent subjects.
Pregnancy
Hormones can make gums swell and bleed more easily. Routine care is generally considered safe during pregnancy; tell the practice you are pregnant.
Later life
Medicines can dry the mouth, older work may need replacing, and dentures or implants come into the conversation.
