Category “Cavity Prevention”

Northern Ireland teenagers tooth decay levels among the worst in Europe

December 8th, 2011

According to a recent study carried out by the BBC, Nothern Ireland teenagers have some of the highest levels of tooth decay in Europe.

Poor diet, social deprivation and a non-flouridated water supply all contribute to this problem. As well as highlighting the standard of oral hygiene the report also found that teenagers in poorer areas were more likey to have extractions.

The main ways to prevent tooth decay are apply fissure sealants on to the adult molar teeth of childen as they erupt to protect them. Improving the diet is another key factor as by cutting down on sugary foods included in the teenagers diet less decay will occur.

Having orthodontic treatment carried out as a teenager can align the teeth into a position that will allow more efficient tooth brushing and interdental cleaning therefore avoiding food stagnating in areas that can be difficult to get at with a toothbrush when tooth crowding is an issue.

Visiting your dentist for 6 monthly examinations and regular xrays is one of the most preventaive measures that can be taken to detect  problem areas before they are allowed to continue and develop into decay. Oral Hygiene Instruction is also provided by the dentist or hygienist giving the teenager confidence to perform optimal toothbrushing.

If you have any concerns about you or your childrens teeth why not contact one of the creative smiles team to arrange an appointment. You can do this by calling 02890 618545 or alternativley emailing info@creativesmiles.co.uk

Posted in Cavity Prevention, Creative Smiles, Oral Hygiene, Tooth Decay | Comments Off

Disclosing Tablets

October 6th, 2011

 

 Disclosing tablets are an excellent, harmless dental product that gives parents peace of mind that their children are effectively brushing their teeth.

 They are small brightly coloured tablets containing vegetable dye that when chewed after brushing reveal any remaining plaque on the tooth surfaces that has been missed with the brush.

 They are ideal for teenagers to use before undergoing orthodontic treatment as the teeth must be kept spotlessly clean once the brace has been fitted. If effective tooth brushing is not maintained during the orthodontic treatment the risk of needing fillings due to tooth decay is much higher.

You can buy disclosing tablets here at Creative Smiles or at most chemists.

 

disclosing tablet

disclosing tablet

stained teeth

stained teeth

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Posted in Cavity Prevention, Creative Smiles, Tooth Decay, Toothbrushing | Comments Off

Hidden Sugars

May 24th, 2011

 

At Creative Smiles we often have patients say that they don’t eat sweets,biscuits or have fizzy drinks yet they have decay occurring. Sugar is a sly creature and turns up in the most unexpected places! So if you want to avoid eating excess amounts you need to be prepared to do some label reading.
A lot of food products disguise sugars under names that are not always familiar. Other foods are savoury and so very often it wouldn’t occur to you to check the label.
Food expects currently state that a high level of sugar means there is more than 15g of it per 100g of the product. Some foods in the UK have a traffic light system on their packaging which flag up these high levels, so look out for these red circles on the packaging. Not all manufacturers follow this system so it is worth checking the ingredients list. When looking at the ingredients list not only should you look for the word sugar you also need to look for ingredients ending in “ose” a term used as a suffix for sugars which include fructose, lactose, sucrose, glucose etc. Sugars can also be listed as carbohydrates. When reading labels remember that no added sugar doesn’t mean that the product is sugar free it simply means that no sugar has been added to it.
To help reduce decay cut down on the amount of sugary foods and drinks you consume and try as best to limit them to meal times.

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Posted in Cavity Prevention, Creative Smiles, Creative Smiles Services, Creative Smiles Team, General Wellbeing, Hidden Sugars, Modern Dentistry, Oral Health, Preventative Dentistry, Prevention, Sugar | Comments Off

Toothpaste: Choosing the right one for YOU!

April 5th, 2011

At Creative smiles the team are often asked which is the best toothpaste to use. The world of toothpastes can seem like a mine field, you only have to look at any supermarket and you will see rows of plaque busting, breath freshening, fluoride and cavity control, sensitivity and whitening toothpastes all with that guarantee of a perfect smile. Each toothpaste sounds like it might be worth trying and most of us will do anything to prevent cavities, gum disease or have the whitest smile!

When patients ask us, the team usually try to determine what the patient wants from the toothpaste. Most recognised toothpastes have the same basic ingredients which include fluoride to help prevent decay, calcium to strengthen teeth, flavouring and foaming agents. Every dentist and hygienist agrees that a toothpaste that follows the basic formula used twice a day should be enough to keep your teeth healthy and decay free. Of course the toothpaste alone is not enough, the patient needs to put in the effort too with at least two minutes brushing twice daily, interdentally cleaning and a good diet.  Above and beyond this, the toothpaste is down to patient needs and personal choice.
Many patients suffer from dentine sensitivity and require a sensitive toothpaste containing strontium or potassium chloride, we find these toothpastes work well but a dental exam would also be recommended to rule out decay or other causes of sensitivity. Some patients like to use whitening toothpastes although here at Creative Smiles we would discourage many patients from using these toothpastes as they can be fairly abrasive. There are also many toothpastes on the market that claim to remove stains caused by smoking, once again these can be abrasive and rather than changing your toothpaste – it might be an idea to try to give up smoking!

Finally there are toothpastes on the market to help combat the problem of dental erosion this is where the teeth are attacked by acidic substances. The source of acid is either intrinsic from within the body, for example acid from the stomach, or from an extrinsic source from outside the body, such as acidic foods, drinks or medicines. Regular checkups at Creative Smiles means any signs of erosion can be detected the source found and the appropriate treatment carried out. This is just a brief summary of toothpastes, at Creative Smiles and we are only too happy to discuss individual needs and recommend a toothpaste suitable for you.

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Posted in Cavity Prevention, Creative Smiles, Creative Smiles Services, Creative Smiles Team, Erosion, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene, Prevention, Sensitivity, Toothbrushing, Toothpaste | Comments Off

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