ACHIEVE A BRIGHTER, WHITER SMILE WITH DARTFORD ROAD DENTAL CENTRE’S PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING

By Dartford Road Dental Centre

A noticeably whiter, brighter smile can really boost your confidence and make you want to show it off again. Teeth can lose their natural whiteness over time, but whitening offers an easy and safe way to lighten the colour of your teeth in a short amount of time.

Here at Dartford Road Dental Centre in Kent, tooth whitening is one of our most popular cosmetic dentistry treatments available and can transform your smile in a matter of weeks. If you’re feeling embarrassed or self-conscious about your yellowing teeth, whitening may be the simple answer for you.

whitening. It will only work on your natural teeth.

How does tooth whitening work?

The whitening gel contains hydrogen peroxide. The gel when used correctly, gently lifts out the traces of old food, drinks, and tobacco that have become stained in the pores of your tooth enamel. Hydrogen peroxide is a dental safe product that cleans, disinfects and whitens teeth.

The more you whiten your teeth, the lighter and brighter the result will be. Achieving your desired shade is easily manageable as you are in control of how bright you want your final result. If you want your smile brighter, continue to wear the whitening trays as per your dentists’ instructions.

What is the procedure?

Is whitening suitable for everyone?

Tooth whitening may not be suitable for you if you fall within one or more of the following categories:

- You have severely sensitive teeth

- You have receding gums

- You have cavities

- You are under 18 years of age

- You are pregnant or breastfeeding

- You have visible fillings, crowns, veneers, implants, bridges, inlays, onlays

If you have had previous dental work done such as fillings, crowns, veneers, implants, bridges, inlays, onlays, it is important to note that the dental material used during these procedures is not affected by the bleaching agent, meaning the material will remain the same colour during

After an initial dental exam to ensure whitening is suitable for you, we take impressions of your teeth in the surgery to make you your bespoke whitening trays. At home, you fill them with our take-home whitening gel and wear them every day or evening for the recommended time as prescribed by your dentist.

How long until I can expect a dazzling white smile?

Whitening to your desired shade on average takes around 2 weeks but can take up to 3-4 weeks depending on how often you are wearing the trays and how many shades lighter you want your smile to be. For example, a patient that wishes to have a more natural shade may wear the trays for a shorter length of time than a patient that wanted a dazzling white TV star smile.

Extra whitening gels are available to purchase from the practice and whitening can be easily topped up if you wish to brighten up your smile.

TALES FROM THE RIVERBANK: WALK THROUGH HISTORY ALONG THE DARENT VALLEY (PART ONE)

By Clair Humphries

Summer is the perfect time for an adventure, so why not head out of Dartford and follow the Darent Valley trail? There are lots of official guides to choose from, both paper-based and online – I’d recommend visiting www.explorekent.org.uk or www.kentramblers.org.uk as a starting point. The waymarked path is nineteen miles long, running between Dartford and Sevenoaks, but don’t panic! If you’re not up to that, let’s walk together and look at some of the highlights along this (very historic) well-trodden route…

Did You Know?

The name ‘Darent’ comes from the Celtic word ‘deva’ which means oak. Oak trees are a familiar sight throughout the valley.

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of settlements in the Darent Valley dating back to the Neolithic period (Dartford Museum holds numerous artefacts from these excavations). Farming tools, pottery and jewellery have all been found, giving a fascinating insight into life during this time, as well as the Bronze age, Iron age and beyond. Rural life would have been tough, with chalk soil and marshland to contend with, but farmsteads and communities were established – particularly when the Romans showed up!

You may have visited Lullingstone Villa (now owned by English Heritage), the most notable Roman residence in the valley and the best preserved. But did you know that villas once existed all along the river, sometimes only two miles apart? At their peak, during the 2nd and 3rd centuries, it is estimated that there were thirteen villas in total. The Romans were pretty sophisticated when it came to domestic engineering – they even developed an early system of underfloor heating at Lullingstone and similar sites (such as Crofton in nearby Orpington).

True or False?

Lullingstone is the only castle on the Darent valley route?

False – there are actually two castles: Lullingstone and the remains of Eynsford castle, dating back to the Norman period.

Villages sprang up around the river, which was used for transporting grain and other goods. Sutton-at-Hone and Lullingstone are derived from Saxon names while William de Eynsford made his mark on the area from the 1080s, when Eynsford Castle originates. Lullingstone castle is mentioned in the Doomsday book and was the Lord Mayor of London’s residence from around 1279. Strictly speaking, it is more of a manor house than castle but remains a grade two listed building. Another notable 13th century site on the route is St John’s Jerusalem, the chapel (now owned by the National Trust) on a moated island in Sutton at Hone. Originally a monastery, the chapel and surrounding gardens are still accessible to the public on certain days.

The 15th century saw the first pedestrian bridge erected over the river at Dartford, which had grown into a thriving market town. The river became central to local industry, particularly as a resource for local mills. Flour, cotton and gunpowder mills were established between the Dartford-Farningham section of the Darent and at one point there were thirty eight paper mills in existence!

‘The still Darent, in whose waters cleare, ten thousand fishes play and decke his pleasant stream.’ Edmund Spenser, 1596.

Royal visitors to the area have included Henry VIII and Queen Anne, who both stayed at Lullingstone Castle. King Henry also spent time at Otford Palace, built in 1514 by William Warham, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Apparently the design was inspired by Lullingstone’s architecture, especially its gatehouse, although only part of a tower remains today (and is a scheduled monument). Henry enjoyed deer hunting in the local countryside, which remained largely rural despite the impact of mills and growing industry. Valley dwellers, generally farmers and labourers, liked to enjoy their free time too – often in public houses, which still exist today. You might want to visit one or two on your tour – Farningham alone has two pubs dating back to the 16th / 17th century: the Lion and the Pied Bull, originally a coaching inn and terminus for carriages to London.

Next month we’ll explore the Darent’s history further, looking at how the industrial revolution made its mark on the valley and surrounding villages. There are wartime stories too, with Darent valley residents playing their part in the war effort – both on land and in the skies above! And, being July, one particular (rather profitable) crop gets a mention. You’ll be sure to spot it if you’re heading Shoreham way this summer (Clue: it’s purple and has a very distinctive scent…) www.clairhumphries.com

Clair Humphries is a Script Consultant for ATS Heritage.

Twitter: @clairhumphries

Instagram: clair_humphries