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.

Don’t Forget Your Oral Health This Pancake Day

Effect of pancake day on dental health in scarborough malton bridlington

As pancake day approaches, spare a thought for your teeth and oral hygiene before tucking in to your sweet treats!

Pancake day is often seen as a day of indulgence, before giving up something for lent. So why not spare a thought for your teeth and oral hygiene, before indulging on those sweet delights.

Wondering which toppings are best for you and your teeth? Here is some food for thought and alternative topping ideas for you;


Lemon and Sugar

The nation’s favourite topping seems to be lemon and sugar. However, unfortunately it is also the most harmful choice to make for your teeth. Lemon is highly acidic and will erode the enamel of your teeth. Adding that to its partner in crime being sugar, which is the key culprit for causing that dreaded tooth decay, you are setting your teeth up for two attacks in one! A good alternative would be some fruit and a sprinkle of cinnamon… and also just as yummy.

Honey/Syrups

Being another popular topping honey and syrups are also full of sugar… and very very sticky, meaning it can be more difficult to remove from your teeth! Why not swap these for a high protein butter or a peanut butter.

Ice cream

We all love to add a dollop of ice cream on top of our pancakes, so why not swap this for a natural greek yoghurt. Making this small swap could half your sugar intake by at least half!

Nutella/Chocolate Spread

Nutella and chocolate spread are another popular choice. They may seem a good choice, with the high dairy content, but did you know that half a jar of nutella is just pure sugar?? Infact, at 56% sugar it is one of the worst toppings you could choose for your pancakes. Try swapping these chocolate spreads for a raw cacao to still get your chocolate fix. Or even a sugar free, high protein chocolate spread.

Alternatively, you could try topping your pancakes with savoury instead. Such as ham, cheese, spinach or vegetables like peppers or mushrooms. Any meats or cheeses would work. And not only would they be kinder on your teeth, they most certainly will contain less calories.

If you struggle to resist the sugary toppings, try to limit how many pancakes you eat and always wait an hour after consuming them before giving your teeth a thorough brush. If you brush your teeth too soon after eating something sweet and sugary, you could damage your enamel further. Remember your enamel will already have been softened by the sugar attacks and the acid from your toppings. So be sure to leave the correct amount of time between eating and brushing.

How Can I Protect my Teeth From Sugar?

Eating large amounts of sugar is bad for your health, and can result in obesity, heart disease, diabetes and tooth decay. The coating that covers your teeth is called plaque and it contains lots of bacteria that breakdown the sugar in your food into acid, damaging the hard, protective coating on your teeth called enamel.

Here are five ways to help protect your teeth:

Limit Your Sugar Intake

This seems like the most obvious option, but switching out sugary foods in your diet for healthier ones, such as swapping out a slice of cake everyday for a bowl of yoghurt with fruit, can make a big difference. Other changes could include cutting out that teaspoon of sugar in your cup of tea or having a glass of water at meal times instead of a fizzy drink.

However, there will be times when you fancy a treat! To help protect your teeth, try to eat the sugary snack at mealtimes to reduce the number or acid attacks on your teeth.

Drink Through Paper Straws

When you are drinking sugary drinks, such as fruit juices and fizzy drinks, try to use a straw to limit the contact between the sugar and your teeth.

Keep On Top of Your Oral Health

Make sure you keep up with your oral health routine. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes and floss to reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. However, do not brush your teeth straight after eating as this can cause more damage by brushing acid into your teeth.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum After Eating

Saliva helps to defend against acids causing demineralisation. Chewing gum helps to stimulate your salivary glands to produce more saliva. However, make sure that the gum is sugar-free, otherwise it could be causing more harm than good.

Visit Your Dentist For Regular Check Ups

Your dentist will be able to spot the signs of decay before they worsen and provide any advice to improve your oral hygiene routine. Call us on 01723 670500 to book your appointment now!

Do I Need To Brush My Tongue?

You may notice that when you eat a strongly coloured food, your tongue will turn that colour too. Your tongue attracts bacteria just as much as your teeth, even though it can’t develop cavities.

Why Do I Need To Brush My Tongue?

Your tongue is not a smooth surface. It contains lots of crevices, such as those created by your tastebuds, where bacteria can hide. Just simply rinsing your mouth with water or mouthwash will not remove the buildup. This buildup is a biofilm, a group of microorganisms, that stick together. When using mouthwash, only the bacteria on the outer surface of the film are removed. The bacteria that remains can lead to bad breath or even tooth decay. This is why it is vital to physically remove the bacteria by brushing your tongue. If the bacteria isn’t removed, it can harden into tartar, which can only be professionally removed by a dentist.

How To Clean Your Tongue

The easiest way to clean your tongue is to use a soft bristled toothbrush:

  • Place a small amount of toothpaste onto the toothbrush.
  • Start at the back of your tongue, brushing your way forward.
  • Use gentle but firm pressure in back-and-forth motions.
  • Try not to press to hard as this could damage the skin on your tongue.

How Often Should I Clean My Tongue?

Bacteria grow fast, so you should try to brush your tongue twice daily after you brush your teeth. This will also help to improve your oral hygiene routine.

Bad Breath?

Cleaning your tongue should help to eliminate bad breath but if it remains it may be a sign that there are other problems. If this is the case, please call us on 01723 670500 to book an appointment and your dentist will check to see if there are any issues.

What Is Gum Disease And How Does It Affect Me?

Gum disease is swelling of the gums and the structures that support your teeth. There are two main forms of gum disease, gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis

Gingivitis is the swelling and redness of the part of your gum at the base of your teeth. Symptoms include bleeding gums when you brush, swollen gums, bad breath and receding gums.

Periodontitis

Periodontitis can develop if gingivitis progresses without intervention. It damages the soft tissue and can destroy the bone that supports your teeth, resulting it tooth loss. Periodontitis is irreversible once it has resulted in bone loss so it is important that good oral hygiene is maintained to reduce the risk.

What Causes Gum Disease

Plaque forms on your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that forms over the surface of your teeth composed mainly of bacteria. Plaque that isn’t removed through daily brushing remains on your teeth and hardens into tartar (calculus), which collects bacteria. Tartar makes plaque more difficult to remove and causes irritation along the gum line. You will need to visit your dentist to remove the tartar. The plaque and tartar irritate your gum line, causing inflammation and bleeding. This is gingivitis, and if not treated, will progress into periodontitis which causes bone loss.

Preventing Gum Disease

  • Brush your teeth twice a day, spit after brushing, do not rinse.
  • Clean in between your teeth everyday using floss or interdental brushes.
  • See a dentist and dental hygienist for regular appointments.

If you require any further information or you would like to book a check-up with us to check for any symptoms of gum disease please call us on 01723 670500 or email us at info@newbydental.co.uk.

5 Bad Brushing Habits To Avoid

How To Brush Your Teeth Effectively

Regular visits to the dentist are important to maintain a healthy smile, but good oral hygiene starts at home. Although brushing your teeth may seem like a simple task, there are some mistakes you should avoid to ensure that your dental health is in excellent condition.

1. Not Brushing For Long Enough

Most people will know that it is important to brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice daily, but many fall short of that. To make it easier, divide your mouth into 4 sections and spend 30 seconds on each quarter.

2. Brushing Straight After Eating

The food we eat contains acid which weakens our enamel. Therefore, if you brush straight after eating, you’re helping to erode the enamel away. Make sure to wait at least 40 minutes after eating.

3. Don’t Forget the Gums and Tongue

Your tongue and gums can harbour bacteria which can lead to gum disease and bad breath.

4. Not Flossing

Although flossing might not be considered a ‘bad brushing habit’, it is still vital that you use dental floss daily. Only using a toothbrush will not effectively clean all areas of your mouth. Using dental floss or interdental brushes will help to disturb the bacteria in between your teeth, preventing the build up of harmful plaque that can lead to gum disease.

5. Keeping Your Toothbrush for too Long

It is Important that you change your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every 3-4 months. If not changed frequently, the bristles begin to breakdown meaning that the toothbrush isn’t effectively cleaning your teeth anymore.

Following this advice will help to guide you in the right direction to a healthy mouth. If you would like any extra information please ring the practice on 01723 670500 or email us on info@newbydental.co.uk

Why You Should Visit the Hygienist

Routine Dental Hygiene Appointment

Regular visits to your dental hygienist are important in the upkeep of your oral health. At Newby Dental Practice, our therapist Holly, and hygienists Mandy and Helen, will help provide treatment and advice to ensure that your dental health is in the best condition.

What Does a Dental Hygienist Do?

When visiting your dentist, they may suggest to book an appointment with a hygienist. Your hygienist will prevent, identify and treat gum disease. Gum disease is caused by the buildup of plaque on your teeth and gums, which can cause irritation and bleeding. Your helpful hygienist will remove the plaque in those hard to reach areas and provide advice on how to effectively clean your teeth as well as your gums. They will also give lifestyle advice to help prevent gum disease.

Advice to Improve Your Oral Health

Brushing your teeth twice a day will help to combat gum disease as well as brushing in between your teeth using either floss or interdental brushes. Creating a routine involving these steps will help to embed them into your oral hygiene regimen, benefitting your dental health.

Smoking is the number one cause of gum disease as it restricts the flow of oxygen in the blood flow, preventing the infected gums from healing. As a smoker it is likely that your gum disease will worsen more quickly leading to tooth loss. You will also find that treatment may be more difficult to stabilize your gum disease. Quitting smoking will help to prevent gum disease.

A balanced diet will also help to improve your oral health, so whilst it is important to eat healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables, it is also vital to reduce your intake of sugary items, such as fizzy drinks. Not only do fizzy drinks contain high volumes of sugar which can cause dental decay, but they also consist of acid which can erode the strong enamel that protects your teeth. Improving your diet will also help to have a positive effect on your general health which is an added bonus!

If you are interested in any extra advice or you would like to book an appointment with one of our hygienists, give our friendly team a call on 01723 670500 and they will be happy to help with any inquiries.

Win A Electric Toothbrush

Is your current electric toothbrush starting to fade, or maybe you’ve not had chance to pick one up yet nevertheless here’s your chance to grab one for free!

All you have to do is like and share our Facebook page along with tagging two friends to be in with a chance of winning.

Winner will be picked at random on the 23rd of August 2022

must be collected within 30 days

If you’ve never used a burst toothbrush before here are the specs:-


Whitening Charcoal PBT Nylon Bristles are super soft and naturally antimicrobial
At 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute, we’re blasting plaque with one of the strongest brush motors
The 700mAh Lithium Ion battery in our brush can give you 4 weeks of brushing on a single charge
3 Brushing Modes for all your needs: whitening, sensitive and massage
Brush for the dentist-approved 2 minutes with a movement reminder every 30 seconds
Details: The BURST Sonic Toothbrush will give you whiter teeth and make you feel proud of your smile.

Should I Use Mouthwash?

One of the most common questions we get asked by our patients, is whether they should incorporate mouthwash into their daily oral hygiene routine.

Mouthwash has always been advertised as a key item in any oral hygiene routine… take TV adverts for example….

Brush, rinse, mouthwash = healthy teeth and gums.

….right?

Don’t believe everything you see on TV.

Don’t get me wrong, mouthwash is a fantastic agent to an oral hygiene routine if used correctly. However, it needs to be used correctly.

So when should I use mouthwash?

Mouthwash should only ever be used at a separate time of day from brushing. And at least 1 hour after brushing.

Why?

So when we brush our teeth with a fluoride toothpaste, we are adding that protective fluoride to our mouths and creating a lovely protective coating for our teeth. By using mouthwash straight after brushing, you are rinsing that protective fluoride straight down the drain (literally!).

Mouthwash is also fantastic for aiding gum health in patients that suffer with gum disease. Your hygienist can then recommend a suitable, alcohol free mouthwash that contains fluoride to suit you.

It is worth noting that chlorhexidine mouthwash can cause staining if used too frequently.

Therefore if mouthwash is something you think you could benefit from, just ask your hygienist for some advice! They will let you know if this is something you really require, or if your oral hygiene can be maintained with just your regular toothbrushing and interdental cleaning instead.

Is It Sugar Free?

Numerous times you will come across drinks claiming to be ‘sugar free’….but are they really?

The immediate presumption would be that ‘sugar free’ or ‘diet’ really means sugar free, however this isn’t always the case. Most people are aware of high sugar intake causing tooth decay, but there is also the need to be careful of the acidity too. Diet drinks, fruit juices and other no added sugar drinks can have a higher acidity, meaning a higher risk of tooth erosion due to the lower pH.

Studies carried out by the Oral Health CRC on sugar-free drinks, sugar-free confectionery, and sports drinks found that “many of these products contained multiple acids and had low pH values.” Essentially, many people think that switching from regular to diet soda will keep their teeth healthy. Unfortunately, although they often contain no sugar, diet sodas usually cause about the same amount of dental erosion as regular sodas and can harm your teeth.

In addition to this, diet or sugar-free drinks also contain phosphoric acid which is also found in regular fizzy drinks. Citric and tartaric acids are just a couple of the added ingredients in diet drinks and fruit juices that can cause harm to your teeth. This happens by the frequent acid attacks occurring to your teeth whilst you drink, therefore weakening the tooth enamel, and causing decay over time.

But what should I drink that won’t harm my teeth?

Of course we still need something to drink! Sugary and sugar-free drinks should only be consumed with a meal, in order to minimise harmful attacks on the teeth.

In between meals, the drinks of choice should be water, plain sparkling water (no flavourings!) and milk.

After any acidic meals or drinks, you should rinse your mouth with water, drink milk or even snack on a little bit of cheese. Dairy and other calcium-rich foods can help neutralize acids. It’s also good to limit snacking between meals, so your saliva has time to rebalance its pH.

Cutting down on sugar is the perfect lifestyle choice to make. However remember to be mindful of what replacements you choose, and to take optimal care of your oral hygiene!

If you would like any further tips and advice on your oral hygiene and diet, our fantastic oral health educator, Beth, could help you. Just get in touch with us to make an appointment!