Tag: Oral hygiene

What Are The Worst Foods For Your Teeth?

Most people are aware that exercise plays an important role in keeping them healthy, but did you know that your diet is vital due to the impact on your general well being and your dental health? Here are the foods that are the worst for your teeth.

1. Sugary Sweets

When you eat sugar, the bacteria in your plaque starts to breakdown the sugar into acid. This acid is harmful to your enamel and starts to dissolve it, creating cavities in your teeth. Sweets that stay in your mouth for a long time, such as hard boiled sweets, make it harder for your saliva to wash away the sugar.

2. Soft Drinks

Soft drinks, whether they are fizzy or not, contain acid, which is harmful to the enamel on your teeth. The enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth. Try drinking water instead to help protect your teeth from decay.

3. Wine

Red and white wine contains acid which softens your enamel, causing your teeth to look yellow. Red wine contains compounds that stain your teeth. Risks associated with drinking wine, including risks to your health, can be minimized by drinking it in moderation. To help minimize the risks try drinking water after your wine to neutralise the acid.

4. Citrus Fruits

Fruits are an important part of a well balanced diet. However, when you eat a lot of citrus fruits, the citric acid can wear down your enamel, leaving your teeth vulnerable to decay. Examples of citrus fruits include limes, lemons, grapefruit and oranges. When drinking fruit juices, try to use a straw to reduce the contact with your teeth.

5. Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are harmful to your teeth due to their high sugar content and acidity. The acid causes your enamel to become weakened making the teeth more susceptible to decay. The high sugar content encourages bacterial growth on your teeth, further promoting cavities.

6. Dried Fruits

Dried fruits such as raisins and apricots contain highly concentrated sugar and consuming them regularly can lead to tooth decay. Instead try snacking on tooth friendly foods, such as nuts, cheeses and non acidic fruits and vegetables.

If you need any further advice, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@newbydental.co.uk.

Hidden Sugar Found In Everyday Food

Every time we eat something sugary, the plaque on our teeth interacts with the sugar, creating acid which is harmful to your teeth, causing tooth decay.

Here are some foods that we eat often that contain more sugar than you would expect.

Salad Dressing

Getting your greens from a salad is essential for diet and nutrition but you should be careful of the salad dressings you are using. Sweet French dressings can have up to seven grams of sugar in one serving. Look out for ingredients such as dextrose, honey, glucose, and maltose which are just variations of sugar.

Soups And Sauces

Although they are savoury foods, many store bought pasta sauces have between 6 and 12 grams of sugar per serving.

Vegetable soups and pasta sauces that contain tomatoes can also be acid and lead to enamel erosion and dental decay when consumed regularly. It is recommended that you rinse your mouth out with water after eating to reduce the damage.

Breakfast Smoothies

Fruit’s natural sugar, fructose, is a common cause of cavities as the bacteria in the mouth feed on it. Fruit and vegetable juices also tend to be extremely acidic which can cause severe damage to the enamel on your teeth. Although fruit and vegetables are considered as healthy, this is when they are considered whole and not as a concentrated juice. Adding milk to your smoothies can help to counteract the acid damage to the teeth. It is also advisable to drink through a straw.

Breakfast Bars And Yoghurts

Although they can be a quick and easy breakfast option, processed foods contain a lot of sugar. Plain yoghurts contain naturally occurring sugars, but often the fruity ones add lots of sugar to enhance and sweeten the flavour.

Energy and granola bars can be very deceiving as to the amount of sugar they contain. They are often advertised as the healthy option when this is not always the case.

Bread

Depending on the type of bread you buy, it can contain a lot of sugar. White bread contains the most sugar which is why we advise you to eat brown or wholemeal.

Bread has a gummy consistency when chewed, meaning that small particles can get trapped between teeth, making it difficult to remove them.

Alcohol

The excessive amount of sugar that is present in alcoholic drinks is often overlooked. However, not only is it damaging to your liver, but also your oral health.

The large amount of sugar in alcohol erodes your tooth enamel, leading to tooth decay.

When eating these types of foods, make sure you are checking the sugar content to ensure that you are not falling for the hidden sugars.

How Much Sugar Is Really In Your Cereal

When you’re eating your cereal in the morning, you might just pick up the first box you see as you’re running out the door. However, if you knew how much sugar was in your cereal, you might take a bit more time considering how to start your day.

This table shows you the guidelines we use to categorise foods into different sugar levels.

High Sugar Cereals

Sadly, lots of family favourites fall into this category. When visiting the supermarket, try to read the nutritional values to choose the healthiest option for you and your family.

Moderate Sugar Cereals

This category of cereals show the cereals that are ok to eat sometimes, but not everyday.

Low Sugar Cereals

These cereals are low in sugar so they are ok to eat everyday. These are the cereals you should be encouraging your children to eat so that they get into the habit of staring off their days with a healthy meal.

The main aim of this post is to try and show you the ways that you are consuming high quantities of sugar without realising it. Although some of the high sugar cereals might seem more appealing, they are much worse for your health in the long term, not only because of the impact they have on your teeth but also on the rest of your body.

Everything You Need To Know About Tooth Grinding

Tooth grinding (bruxism) is a condition where you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you suffer with bruxism you may unconsciously grind your teeth during the day or when you’re asleep.

Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep related movement disorder. People who suffer with sleep bruxism are more likely to experience other sleep disorders such as snoring or sleep apnea.

Mild bruxism may not require treatment, but people with more severe symptoms can experience jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other issues.

Symptoms

You may notice these symptoms that are a sign of bruxism:

  • Teeth grinding or clenching
  • Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose
  • Worn tooth enamel. exposing deeper layers of your tooth.
  • Increased tooth pain or sensitivity
  • Tired or tight jaw muscles
  • Pain that feels like earache
  • Dull headache in the temples
  • Damage from chewing the inside of your cheek
  • Sleep disruption.

Treatment

First, your dentist will try to determine the cause of your bruxism. They will ask questions about your general dental health, daily routines, medications and sleeping habits.

In many cases, treatment isn’t necessary. However, if the problem is severe, options include certain dental approaches, therapies and medications to prevent more tooth damage.

There are options to try to prevent bruxism, including splints and mouth guards. These are designed to keep the teeth separate to avoid the damage caused by grinding and clenching. These can be worn at night to prevent night bruxism.

Other Approaches

There are other methods you can use:

  • Stress or anxiety management: If your tooth grinding is caused by stress, it may be a good idea to consider some stress relieving strategies to help promote relaxation.
  • Behaviour change: Once you are told that you have bruxism, you may be able to change the position of your jaw to the proper position. Ask your dentist to show you the right position.

Lifestyle And Home Remedies

  • Reduce stress: Listen to relaxing music, taking a long bath or exercising can help you relax and could reduce your chances of developing bruxism.
  • Avoid stimulating substances in the evening: Don’t drink coffee or caffeinated tea after your evening meal and avoid alcohol during the evening.
  • Practice good sleeping habits: Getting a good nights sleep may help to reduce the symptoms of bruxism.
  • Schedule regular dental exams: Dental exams are the best way to identify bruxism. Your dentist can spot signs of bruxism.

If you are concerned about tooth grinding or clenching, or think that a mouthguard would be beneficial please contact us at info@newbydental.co.uk or call us on 01723 670500.

What Is Gum Recession And What Causes It?

What Is Gum Recession?

Gum recession is a form of gum disease that happens when your gums start to pull away from your tooth, exposing the roots underneath. This also makes your teeth more susceptible to cavities as well as making them more sensitive when brushing and eating.

Who Does Gum Recession Affect?

Gum recession can affect people of all ages but it is most common in people over 65. There are some risk factors that will make it more likely that you will develop recession:

  • If you have periodontal disease.
  • If you had braces or other orthodontic treatment.
  • If you use chewing tobacco.
  • If you have a lip or tongue piercing.
  • If you brush your teeth aggressively.

Symptoms Of Gum Recession

The most obvious sign is the exposure of tooth roots but there are other warning signs:

  • Pain or discomfort near your gum line.
  • Sensitivity to heat, cold and sweets.
  • Sensitivity when brushing and flossing your teeth.
  • Sensitivity during dental cleanings.

If left untreated, gum recession can lead to other serious oral health problems such as bone loss or tooth loss. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned, you should book an appointment with your dentist.

What Causes Recession?

There are a number of reasons that your gums may recede:

  • Brushing too hard or aggressively.
  • Dental plaque or build up of tartar.
  • Periodontal disease.
  • Trauma or injury to the gum tissue.
  • Abnormal tooth positioning.
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco.
  • Lip and tongue piercings.

A lot of the time, poor oral hygiene contributes to gum recession but it isn’t always the case. Some people have a genetic predisposition to recession.

How Is Gum Recession Diagnosed?

Your dentist will be able to diagnose gum recession during a routine check-up appointment. They will use a periodontal probe to measure the amount of gum recession on each tooth.

Management And Treatment

Unfortunately, gums can’t grow back, but there are things you can do to stop it from worsening. Mild cases of recession can be treated with nonsurgical treatments such as topical antibiotics, dental bonding or orthodontics.

During gum recession surgery, a gum graft is used to replace your missing gum tissue. The graft would usually be taken from the roof of your mouth but can occasionally come from sterilised human donor tissue.

What To Do About Wisdom Tooth Pain?

Wisdom tooth pain affects many people and it can range from quite mild to severe symptoms. Pain can be felt at the back of the mouth where the teeth erupt but it may also make the surrounding teeth painful too.

What Causes The Pain

Your wisdom teeth will erupt during your late teens and early twenties so there may be growing pains as they come in. This should fully subside once they have fully formed. However, if there is not enough space for the tooth to emerge, your wisdom tooth may become impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth can result in:

  • Tooth Decay: As it is more difficult to clean, they are more vulnerable to tooth decay.
  • Infection: If you have an impacted wisdom tooth you may develop an abscess more easily which can lead to an infection in your mouth.
  • Gum Disease: Similarly to tooth decay, it is more difficult to clean your wisdom teeth when the become impacted to the likelihood of developing gum disease increases.

An impacted wisdom tooth may partially emerge so that some of the crown is visible, or it may never break through the gums. The tooth may:

  • Grow at an angle towards the next tooth.
  • Grow at an angle towards the back of the mouth.
  • Grow at a right angle to the other teeth.
  • Grow straight up or down but stay trapped in the jawbone.

Symptoms

Impacted teeth don’t always develop symptoms but if it becomes infected or damages other teeth, there are some symptoms you might notice:

  • Red or swollen gums
  • Tender or bleeding gums
  • Jaw pain
  • Swelling around the jaw
  • Bad breath
  • An unpleasant taste in your mouth
  • Difficulty opening your mouth

How To Ease The Pain

  • Saltwater rinse: Rinsing your gums with warm water and salt helps promote healthy gums and kit harmful bacteria.
  • Painkillers: ibuprofen is an over the counter medication with anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Visit your dentist: If you are concerned with the pain and think that your tooth might be impacted, call your dentist as it may need to be extracted.

What To Do Following A Tooth Extraction

Immediately after you have had a tooth removed, you should take it easy for the rest of the day. Do as little exercise as possible and keep your head up to avoid any bleeding.

What Precautions Should I Take?

Avoid hot foods and drinks until the anaesthetic wears off. This is because when you are under anaesthesia you will not be able to feel if you are burning your mouth and this could result in serious injury. Also, be careful not to chew your cheek.

Should I Rinse My Mouth Out?

Do not rinse the area for the first 24 hours. It is vital that the socket heals, and you must be careful not to damage the blood clot that is forming. This means that you should try to eat on the other side of your mouth and try not to let your tongue disturb it. If it is disturbed, it can allow infection into the socket which will affect the healing process.

Are There Any Foods Or Drinks I Should Avoid?

Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours as this can encourage bleeding which would delay the healing process. Eat and drink lukewarm food as normal but try to avoid eating on that side of your mouth.

When Should I Brush?

It is vital that your mouth is kept clean after an extraction to prevent infection. However, be careful around the extraction site as the clot could become dislodged.

What Should I Do If It Bleeds?

It is important to remember that there is likely to be some bleeding for the first day or so. However, if you do notice bleeding, do not rinse out, instead apply pressure to the socket. Bite down on folded piece of clean material, such as a handkerchief for at least 15 minutes. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after an hour or two, contact your dentist.

How Long Until I Can I Have A Cigarette?

It is important that you don’t do anything that can raise your blood pressure, as this can cause further bleeding. It is recommended that you avoid smoking for as long as possible after an extraction, but this should be for at least the rest of the day after your extraction.

What Should I Do To Help My Mouth Heal?

Different people will heal at different rates. You should keep your mouth and the extraction site as clean as possible, free of debris and food. Don’t rinse for the first 24 hours as this can delay the healing process. After this time, use a salt water mouthwash, which will help to heal the socket. Add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and gently rinse around the socket twice a day.

What Should I Do If I Am In Pain?

There will usually be some pain in the area for the first few days, and normally some simple pain relief is enough to ease the discomfort. Do not take aspirin as this will make your mouth bleed.

If you are still in pain, it could be due to an infection that has entered the socket. This is called a dry socket. If this is the case it is important to see your dentist, who may place a dressing and prescribe some antibiotics.

If, after reading this post, you still have an unanswered question, please call us on 01723 670500 for advice.

Mouth Cancer Action Month

Mouth Cancer Action Month is a charity campaign to help raise awareness for oral cancer. The campaign takes place throughout November and thousands of people help to raise awareness in their community.

The number of people being diagnosed with mouth cancer is on the rise so it is important that you know how to spot it early and what to do if you notice something unusual. This will help us learn more about cancer so we have a better chance of beating it.

Although there are many risk factors related to the disease, mouth cancer can affect anyone, which is why it is so important that we know what to look out for.

How Can You Take Part?

This November, we need your support. There are lots of ways you can take part:

  • Knowing how to spot mouth cancer early and regularly checking for unusual changes in the mouth.
  • Understanding what is likely to cause mouth cancer and reducing your risk.
  • Acting quickly when you see something out of the ordinary by visiting your dentist.

Fundraising

Fundraising is a great way to raise awareness whilst raising funds. These donations help the Oral Health Foundation continue their important work in learning more about oral cancer and how we can beat it.

For more information about the campaign, visit the Oral Health Foundation website and for more information about oral cancer, please click here to read our blog.

Are Dental X-Rays Safe?

During your visit to the dentist you may need to have x-rays done so that your dentist can get an overall view of your mouth. Many patients feel anxious when having x-rays done as it is unfamiliar to them.

Why Would I Need An X-Ray?

Tooth decay in the early stages may not show any visible signs and it may not initially cause you pain. Sometimes your tooth might look healthy but the x-ray may show something different. From an x-ray, your dental team will be able to see if you have any decay under the enamel, any infections in the root, or any bone loss around the tooth. X-rays can also help the dental team see between your teeth or under the edge of your filling. By finding dental diseases at an early stage, you will be able to treat them before they progress into something more serious.

How Often Should I Have X-Rays?

If you are visiting the dentist as a new patient, the dental team will most likely suggest that you have x-rays. This will help them to identify any issues that need to be taken into account during your treatment. After that, x-rays may be recommended every 6-24 months, depending on the person, their age and the condition of their oral health.

Are X-Rays Dangerous?

While dental x-rays do involve radiation, the exposure levels are so low that they are considered safe to use on children and adults. There are multiple sources of background radiation that you are exposed to daily that give off higher levels of radiation over a year than a dental x-ray. The only circumstance where it may not be considered safe for an x-ray is if you are pregnant. You should inform your dental team if this is the case and they will decide the appropriate course of action.

Why Does My Dentist Leave The Room During An X-Ray

The dental team might take hundreds of x-rays every week. It is important that staff limit their exposure to radiation by moving away from the x-ray beam.

Types Of X-Ray

There are several different types of x-rays which record images at different angles in your mouth. The most common are:

  • Bitewing – This shows the crowns of your teeth ( the part that is visible above your gum).
  • Occlusal – This x-ray shows the entire arch of teeth in either the top or bottom jaw.
  • Panoramic – Used to show the entire mouth on a single image.
  • Periapical – This x-ray focusses on two complete teeth from root to crown.

To summarise, dental x-rays are very safe as they only expose you to minimal levels of radiation. It is important that if your dentist recommends that you have x-rays taken that you follow their advice as without all of the information they will not be able to meet all of your treatment needs.

What Are Your Tooth Whitening Options?

Whitening Toothpastes

The idea of whitening toothpastes has been around for over 50 years, but the science involved has improved drastically. Previously they were extremely abrasive and harmful to your teeth as they removed stain and enamel layers. Modern versions are much more tooth friendly and can help to maintain whiter teeth if used regularly. However, they rarely whiten to a huge degree.

Whitening toothpastes contain detergents and a mild abrasives to gently scrub the staining from the surface of the enamel.

Internal whitening

Teeth can darken for a variety of reasons, such as external trauma. When a tooth experiences trauma, the pulp becomes nectrotic (dead). Blood is released as a result of the inflammation and tubules in the teeth become stained black. Non-vital teeth usually respond well to external bleaching, however it is sometimes necessary to whiten the tooth from within the root canal.

Supervised Home Whitening

Dentist-supervised home whitening is the safest, most popular, well researched whitening procedure. The first step is an assessment and diagnosis, coupled with good quality photographs showing the closest matching shade tab.

This method requires the manufacture of custom made trays by a laboratory.

In Office Whitening

The dentist will apply a fine layer of the bleaching gel and leave it for a period of time before using the suction to remove it and repeating the process.

To further speed up the process, the dentist may shine a special light at your teeth once the gel has been applied. This procedure takes less than an hour and can brighten your smile by upto 6-7 shades.