Author: Mary Gill

Why You Should Drink Water To Help Your Teeth

We all know that there are numerous health benefits to drinking water, but did you know that it’s also good for your teeth?

1. Strengthens Your Teeth

Some areas in the Uk have a water supply that naturally contains fluoride and in other areas it is added to the water. So by just drinking tap water, you are helping to strengthen your teeth. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps to keep your teeth strong and prevent tooth decay.

2. Keeps Your Mouth Clean

Throughout the day, as you eat, the sugars get stuck to your teeth. The bacteria in your plaque break down the sugar to form acids which can wear away the enamel on your teeth. To protect your teeth, drink a glass of water after you eat to help wash away any remaining sugar.

3. Keeps Your Mouth Hydrated

Not only does a dry mouth feel horrible, a lack of saliva can leave your teeth vulnerable to acid attacks. Saliva is 99% water so keeping hydrated will ensure that your mouth produces enough saliva. Your saliva washes away left over foods and keeps your teeth strong by washing them with calcium, phosphate and fluoride.

4. Its Sugar Free

Unlike other drinks, water is sugar and calorie free. Even drinks that are advertised as healthy can be full of sugar, so swap these for water to help protect your teeth from acid attacks. Avoid fizzy drinks completely, as even the diet versions contain acid which can erode your enamel, weakening your teeth.

Why Do My Gums Hurt When I Brush My Teeth?

Painful gums are a common problem. It could be due to a number of reasons, from brushing incorrectly or due to gum disease. Read the following article to find out the source of your pain.

Gum Disease

Swollen, tender, bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is caused when plaque builds up on your teeth. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that can build up under your gum line and cause them to become inflamed. In the early stages, it is gingivitis. However, it can progress into periodontitis which results in bone loss, meaning that it is irreversible.

Abscessed Tooth

When you have an infection by the root of your tooth, it forms an abscess. Although they may not always be painful, they can cause the gum to swell, making it painful to brush.

Stress

Although this may seem strange, stress raises your level of cortisol which increases the likelihood of inflammation throughout the body, including your gums.

Tobacco

If you smoke or vape you’re more likely to have gum disease. The tobacco causes the amount of oxygen flowing in the blood to fall, meaning that the gums can’t heal themselves as well. Not only does this make brushing painful but it also leads to cancer.

Brushing Incorrectly

It is important that your brush your teeth twice a day, but to be able to reap the benefits, you need to make sure you are doing it properly. This means using a soft bristled toothbrush, brushing gently with circular motions rather than back and forth.

Regardless of the cause of your pain, pain while brushing your teeth isn’t normal and you should contact us on 01723 670500 to book an appointment with your dentist who will find what is causing the problem.

Caring For Your Oral Health And The Environment

We should only use our toothbrushes for around three months before replacing it with a new one. This means that in the UK around 256 million toothbrushes are bought and discarded every year.

Plastics are a key material in toothbrushes. They are flexible, have good durability and are easy to keep clean. However, they have detrimental impacts on our environment due to manufacturing, transportation, and disposability.

Alternative Plastics

One of the most common types of plastic is recycled plastic, however this is not always appropriate for oral healthcare products as it may contain hazardous materials. For this reason, it is unlikely that recycled plastics in their current for could be used to make toothbrushes. However they could be useful for their packaging.

Oral health is currently shifting towards the use of renewable plastics, in the form of biobased plastics. They are made from plants such as sugar cane and the caster oil plant. This helps to create a smaller carbon footprint as it removes the use of fossil-based plastics.

Reusing Your Toothbrush

Extending the lifespan of our toothbrushes and finding other ways to make them more sustainable is the responsibility of oral health companies. However we can try to make a difference too. Studies from the Oral Health Foundation found that 80% of us use our old toothbrush for an alternative purpose. Try using it to clean your bathroom tiles or kitchen appliances.

What Causes Yellow Teeth?

Yellow teeth can cause you to lose confidence in your smile, but there are some simple lifestyle changes that can help to improve the colour of your teeth.

Smoking

Smokers often complain of the yellowing colour of their teeth and long term smokers even notice that their teeth begin to turn brown. This is caused by the tar and nicotine in cigarettes that quickly stain your teeth. By giving up smoking you will not get any more cigarette related staining. Not only this but you will reduce your risk of gum disease and oral cancers.

Poor Oral Hygiene

It is vital to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. By brushing and flossing, you are helping to remove the build-up of plaque. Plaque can quickly turn into tartar which is yellow in colour and, therefore, leads to your teeth looking more discoloured.

Getting Older

The hard, white coating of your teeth, called enamel, eventually begins to wear away as you age. This, unfortunately, exposes the yellow material underneath called dentine.

Your Diet

Certain foods and drinks can stain your teeth. Foods that have a strong, dark colour, such as curry and coffee contain chemical compounds called chromogens which make your teeth much more likely to stain. Read this article to learn more about which foods can stain your teeth and how some can whiten your teeth.

Genetics

Sometimes, you can inherit tooth colour from your parents.

Dead Tooth

Due to decay or an accident, teeth can die. The blood flow to your tooth will be cut off, resulting in discolouration.

If you want to improve your smile, contact our team on 01723 670500 to discuss the whitening options that we have available.

How To Clean Your Removable Dental Appliance

Your appliance sits inside your mouth and against your teeth so it quickly accumulates bacteria, plaque and calculus. It is important you clean your appliance everyday.

There are several types of appliance which include:

  • Aligners: Clear braces, such as invisalign.
  • Retainers: Worn after orthodontic treatment to ensure that the teeth don’t shift back to their original position.
  • Nightguard: Prevents you from grinding your teeth at night.
  • Snore guard: Reduces snoring during sleep.

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Appliance?

If you don’t clean your appliance regularly, bacteria and plaque will buildup. Overtime it may start to taste and smell funny.

The appliance can harbour dangerous bacteria that can result in gum disease and dental decay.

How To Clean Your Appliance

You should rinse your appliance after every use. Try to do this immediately after it is removed to rinse away any debris before it hardens.

You can also soak your appliance. Check with your dentist which tablets are appropriate for your orthodontic appliance. In most cases you will add a tablet to a cup of lukewarm water and soak your aligner for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse.

8 Mistakes You Make When Cleaning Your Teeth

As long as I brush my teeth twice a day my teeth will be healthy, right? Not necessarily. This is a common misconception. This post will walk you through some of the mistakes people make when brushing their teeth.

1. Not Brushing For Long Enough

It is recommended that you brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, once before going to bed and at least one other time in the day. If you struggle to tell how long you’re brushing, try setting up a timer on your phone.

2. Rinsing Your Mouth After Brushing

When you rinse your teeth, you wash away the fluoride and enamel-protecting properties of the toothpaste. This also means don’t rinse with a mouthwash after brushing. You should use your mouthwash at a different time of day to brushing as it will contain a lower concentration of fluoride.

3. Using The Wrong Toothpaste

Make sure that your toothpaste contains fluoride, and make sure it contains enough. For adults, this is between 1,350 ppm to 1,500 ppm. Fluoride is key in helping prevent tooth decay.

4. Brushing At The Wrong Time

You should always wait at least thirty minutes after eating before you brush your teeth. If you brush your teeth before this, the acid from your food will wear down your enamel, weakening your teeth, and making them more susceptible to decay.

5. Brushing Too Hard

Using the wrong technique when brushing can cause wear on your teeth and could lead to receding gums. A lot of electric toothbrushes have a sensor that will flicker a light if you’re brushing too hard.

You should brush at a slight angle and focus on each tooth, instead of brushing side to side using a scrubbing motion.

6. Using The Wrong Toothbrush

Both electric and manual toothbrushes are effective at removing oral plaque that causes decay and disease. However, electric toothbrushes can be more effective at cleaning the harder to reach areas, such as your wisdom teeth.

You should also consider the toothbrush bristles. They should be soft or medium, instead of hard. This is because you want to clean your teeth gently, without damaging your teeth and gums. The same goes when choosing a toothbrush head size. A larger size isn’t necessary as you want to cover the surface one tooth at a time.

7. Using An Old Toothbrush

Your toothbrush won’t be as effective if the bristles become worn. You should change your toothbrush or toothbrush head every three months. You should also change your toothbrush if you have been ill as bacteria grow on the toothbrush and could cause you to reinfect yourself.

8. Replacing Flossing With Brushing Or Mouthwash

Even if you try to brush in between your teeth, your toothbrush won’t be able to reach those areas effectively. Mouthwash is also not an alternative to flossing as it can’t remove the plaque.

These mistakes are a good starting point to find out how you can improve, however, it’s best to see a hygienist regularly who will be able to give advice and demonstrate techniques. To book an appointment with one of our hygienists, call us on 01723 670500.

5 Reasons To Consider Getting A Dental Implant

Missing, damaged and broken teeth can cause pain and embarrassment. An implant may be the right choice for you.

1. Damaged Teeth

If you struggle with broken or chipped teeth, implants may be the best way to fully restore your teeth. Damaged teeth can be a source of embarrassment as well as causing difficulties eating, and in more severe cases, speech issues. Implant restoration involves removing the damaged teeth and replacing them with new, artificial ones that fit perfectly.

2. Missing Teeth

Missing teeth can also cause eating and speech difficulties, as well as affecting your appearance. There are various reasons why you could be missing your teeth, such as trauma, health issues, or a lack of oral hygiene. Implants will help to resolve these issues by filling in the gaps with natural looking, sturdy artificial teeth.

3. Loose-Fitting Teeth

If you suffer with weak and wobbly teeth implants can help you. If you can easily move one of your teeth around, you might want to talk to your dentist about replacing it with an implant. Similarly to how damaged teeth can affect your lifestyle, unsecure teeth can affect your ability to speak and eat as you normally would.

4. Infected teeth

Tooth decay and gum disease are both very serious issues that may lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis, a form of gum disease, results in bone loss. This means that there aren’t enough supporting structures for your teeth, causing them to become loose and eventually fall out. If left untreated, mouth infections can even spread to other parts of your body. Your dentist will remove the infected tissue and and replace the natural tooth with an artificial one.

5. Shrinking Jawbone

Missing teeth roots from the gum and jawbone can lead to the deterioration of the jawbone. Natural tooth roots transmit the pressures created by chewing into the jawbone, maintaining its form and function. The post portion of the implant acts as an artificial tooth root. It becomes osseointegrated, meaning it grows and fuses with the jawbone and transmits the necessary forces. Quickly replacing any missing teeth with implants helps stimulate the jawbone to continue its natural function.

If implants are something that you are interested in, please give our team a call on 01723 670500 for more information.

How Long Should My Crown Last?

What is A Dental Crown?

A crown is a type of cap that completely covers a real tooth and is fixed in your mouth. They can be fitted where a tooth has broken, decayed, been damaged or to make a tooth look better. The old tooth will need to be drilled down so that the crown can be attached.

A dental crown can last anywhere between fifteen years and a lifetime but it can be determined by a few factors:

Type Of Crown

The material that the crown is made out of can have an impact on the lifespan. Composite crowns, although affordable and tailored to your tooth colour, are limited to their toughness and lifespan. Porcelain crowns can last just about fifteen years, and a gold crown can last a lifetime under the right circumstances.

Health Of Affected Tooth

If the tooth was relatively healthy to begin, with longer roots and healthier surrounding gum and bone levels, both the crown and the tooth are likely to have a longer lifespan.

Injury And Breakage

An injury to the mouth can damage the crown as well as the tooth it sits on. If the damage to the crown is to severe to be repaired it will need to be replaced.

Changes In The Mouth Due To Aging

As we age, the structures in our mouth change. For example, gum recession can affect the fit of a dental crown. If your dental crown begins to not fit properly, your dentist will advise you to get a new one.

Tooth Grinding

Grinding and clenching your teeth, especially at night, can wear down a crown’s surface and threaten its stability.

So, How Long Do They Last?

Depending on the type of crown used, the average lifespan of a crown is around 10-15 years. However, with a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits to the dentist, some crowns can last for decades.

Book an appointment with one of our dentists who will be able to talk you through the options available and which type of crown they think is suitable for you. Call us on 01723 670500 to book an appointment.

How To Deal With Issues With Your Dental Crown

Although issues with dental crowns are rare, they do still occur. You should arrange an appointment with your dentist, but in the meantime there are things that you can do to minimize the discomfort.

Consistently Rinse Your Mouth With Saltwater

One cause of discomfort can be when bacteria finds its way inside the dental crown. This could occur as a result of damage, the crown becoming loose, or a number of other issues. The best way to relieve discomfort until your dental appointment is to keep the crown as clean as possible. Simply use a saltwater rinse several times a day and avoid eating any foods that contain high levels of sugar.

Apply A Cold Compress

Another problem caused by bacteria entering the crown includes swelling of the gums and irritation of the tooth’s root. One way to ease the pain is to apply a cold compress to the affected area. Hold the compress for fifteen to thirty minutes to keep the swelling down.

When Is It Considered An Emergency?

Every instance of a dental crown issue requires punctual care which may include repositioning or replacing the crown. However, the issue becomes a dental emergency when the pain becomes intolerable and treatment can’t wait until the next day. This may be due the the development of an infection.

If you are concerned and your dental crown is causing you discomfort, please call us on 01723 670500 for advice.

6 Fun Ways To Teach Your Child To Brush Their Teeth

You can begin introducing an oral hygiene routine a few days after birth. Use a clean, wet gauze or washcloth to gently wipe their gums after feedings. As soon as their first tooth erupts, it’s time to begin brushing using a small soft toothbrush twice a day. You should brush your child’s teeth until you feel that they can brush on their own. Every child will be ready at a different age but most can brush by the time they are in preschool. At that time, you should supervise to make sure they use the right amount of toothpaste and following up any places they might have missed.

However, It may be difficult to get your child to brush their teeth when they reach the stage of being able to do it themselves. Follow our tips to find out how to make them enjoy implementing an oral hygiene routine.

Make It A Family Activity

Setting an example for you children is one of the best ways to get them to enjoy brushing their teeth. By brushing your teeth at the same time, you are giving your child a fun, family activity to look forward to everyday. Brush and floss at least twice daily with your children, including once before bedtime. This routine will help to form consistency that they will carry with them into their later life.

Find Fun Dental Education Resources

Read age-appropriate books or watch videos about dental hygiene with your child. Your child will enjoy the time spent together but also they might find it interesting to learn about the importance of their oral health, especially if their parents are interested too.

Use A Special Toothbrush

It is likely that your child will enjoy brushing their teeth more if they can use a special toothbrush of their choosing. As adults, it can be easy to forget the effect of incorporating toys into everyday life.

Create A Tooth brushing Competition

To make tooth brushing more fun, make it a game and set a timer for two minutes. The winner must brush their teeth for two minutes without stopping. This will create a friendly competition and encourage your children to brush their teeth properly.

Reward Tooth Brushing

To encourage your children to brush their teeth twice a day, use a simple rewards system. Start with small rewards, such as a gold star, and award it for the basic necessity, brushing twice a day. Then, award a larger reward for every 10 gold stars. This will make your child motivated to brush their teeth.

Make A Trip To The Dentist A Fun Visit

Make sure that your child understands that a trip to the dentist can be a reward for them keeping their teeth clean, and not a negative outcome for not brushing and flossing. Parents can pass on their fear of the dentist to their children by simply talking about it in a negative tone. Try to avoid this. If you are anxious about a trip to the dentist, try to talk about it in a neutral tone.

Creating a fun routine a home from an early age will ensure that your child develops the habit of caring for their teeth.