Category “Prevention”

Toothbrushing

October 25th, 2011

Toothbrushing is a simple task, but lots of people brush their teeth incorrectly, either skipping around the teeth so much that they don’t really clean anything, or rubbing so hard that they actually damage their teeth and gums.
No matter how good you try to brush your teeth, some bacteria will always be left behind. Dental plaque starts to grow again the moment you stop brushing your teeth and remove the toothbrush from your mouth. Patients should try to use a proper tooth brushing technique to minimize the amount of plaque left behind. There are a few tooth brushing techniques around but one of the most popular is called the Bass Technique.
To carry out the Bass Technique you place the toothbrush next to the teeth along the gum margin at a 45 degree angle (see picture below), move the toothbrush towards the edge of the teeth which will move the plaque from the gum line, repeat this action tooth by tooth on the inner and outer surfaces. Now brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth with horizontal moves.

It is good practice to brush your tongue and to floss daily also.
Proper brushing takes at least two minutes. Most adults do not come close to brushing for this length of time.
At Creative Smiles we love to receive pictures and drawings from our young patient’s. Below one we received from Ryan McBride aged 8. Thanks Ryan you are a great artist!!

 

 

BASS TOOTHBRUSHING TECHNIQUE

BASS TOOTHBRUSHING TECHNIQUE

RYANS PICTURE

RYANS PICTURE

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Posted in General Wellbeing, Prevention, Toothbrushing, Toothpaste | Comments Off

Choosing the Right Gum Shield

June 28th, 2011

A gum-shield is an appliance you wear in your mouth if you play a sport that involves contact to the mouth e.g. rugby, soccer, boxing, hockey etc. The first report of gum-shields being worn was in boxing in 1913, even then it was realised that this simple device reduced the incidence of knock-outs following blows to the jaw. Gum-shields are also know as sports-guards or mouth-guards. They are designed to protect the teeth and surrounding tissues from trauma. It does this by absorbing the pressure of the trauma and distributes it evenly over the whole jaw minimising the risk of injury. In addition it will also protect the lips and cheeks from laceration against the teeth.
There are different types of gum shields but the 3 main categories are:

Off the shelf gum-shields which are ready to use, can be used a temporary while waiting for a custom made gum-shield. Unfortunately they are a poor fit as they are designed to fit all mouths which are not all the same! They easily drop out and are sometimes uncomfortable to wear.

Boil to fit gum-shields. These are made of thermoplastic material and can be softened in boiling water then put into the mouth to shape. They are better than off the shelf ones due to the fit, again they can fall out easily and can be a bit fiddly to mould.

Custom made gum-shields are the gold standard gum-shield. They offer the best protection as they are made to fit exactly to the patients teeth. Numerous studies have shown between 80 and 90 percent reduction in dental injuries by wearing a custom made gum-shield. They remain fixed, never wear out and are tough enough to resist the toughest blows. They come in a variety of colours, stripes and checks.
 
Come along to see us at Creative Smiles so our staff can advise which gum-shield is best for you!

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Posted in Creative Smiles, Creative Smiles Services, Creative Smiles Team, General Wellbeing, Gum Shields, Gums, Migraine, Modern Dentistry, Mouth Guards, Oral Health, Preventative Dentistry, Prevention | 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

Why is oral health important in Pregnancy?

April 12th, 2011

We hear it all the time, “I lost all my teeth when I had my children”, “My teeth were never the same” “I lost a tooth for every child” there are a lot of old wives tales about pregnancy and teeth but most are not true! Providing you practice excellent oral hygiene and cut down on sugar your teeth and gums will survive!!

Hormone changes during pregnancy increase the risk of inflammation of the gums, as a result of this the gums will bleed more easily. This condition is known as Pregnancy Gingivitis and it occurs in almost half of all pregnant women. In most cases the gingivitis will resolve after the birth as long as the patient is thorough with their oral hygiene and attends the Dentist/Hygienist on a regular basis so that they can be monitored. This will prevent the gingivitis progressing to a more serious condition known as Periodontitis, which is an advanced and irreversible form of gum disease.

Evidence of a link between poor oral health and how it affects unborn babies is growing stronger. Recent studies have suggested that poor levels of dental health in pregnant women can result in a greater chance of premature births. This is due to high levels of Prostaglandin a lipid compound found in oral bacteria which may induce labour. Pregnant mothers should maintain good oral health and a balanced diet. By snacking on healthy food while pregnant is key to preventing caries, so cutting out sugary snacks and drinks between meals will prevent your teeth from decaying. This will have an overwhelming positive effect on the development of the baby’s bodily health and dental health.

If you suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy you should not immediately brush your teeth as the enamel is weakened by the acid from vomiting. Instead you should rinse your mouth out with some water. It is also a good idea to eat little but often. We would also recommend sensodyne pronamel a daily toothpaste which has been specifically designed to help protect teeth from the effects of acid erosion.

If you have any concerns about your gums or teeth during pregnancy the staff at Creative Smiles would be only too happy to talk to you.

All of this means that now, more than ever, it is vital to look after your teeth during pregnancy!

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Posted in Gingivitis, Gums, Oral Health, Oral Hygiene, Periodontitis, Pregnancy, Preventative Dentistry, Prevention, Toothbrushing | 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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