Month: August 2022

Scarborough & District Minor League Football Sponsors

Newby Dental Practice is proud to announce that we are now supporting Scarborough & District Minor League football. Our sponsorship will help support the league so that they can improve the way that football works for families. They do this using two initiatives:

Firstly, using the Fixture List Planner. This has been rolled out to over 150 youth leagues, generating thousands of pounds for youth football across England and Wales. This has helped to raise the profile of each league in their community.

Secondly, the Pitch Finder Handbook is used by tens of thousands of families each week to find out how to get to their next game.

These initiatives, are not only aimed at tackling problems within youth football leagues, but to help raise the profile of youth football in the community. Football is a large part of community in England and Wales, but the cost of running the clubs is constantly rising, making it more difficult to fund. This is why we are the proud sponsors of Scarborough & District Minor Leagues football. We believe that community is very important in keeping people happy and healthy so we wanted to do our part to help the club keep up their fantastic work!

Why Are Regular Dental Visits Important?

Dental appointments shouldn’t only be made when you are in pain or have a problem. By attending regular appointments, you can prevent problems before they arise. In this article we will outline some of the reasons why you should be attending your dentist regularly.

Check For Mouth Cancer

Your dentist will perform an examination, looking for head, neck and oral cancers that you might not be able to see yourself. In most cases, these checks will find nothing unusual but your dentist is specially trained to look out for these issues and could potentially save your life. Read further about oral cancers in this article.

Prevention

There are lots of things that your dentist is trained to see that may not be visible to you. Many dental problems don’t become visible or cause pain until they are in the more advanced stages. Your dentist can check for the early signs of tooth decay and gum disease to give you advice and prevent the problems from worsening.

Dental Hygienist

Dental hygienists and therapists are vital when it comes to your oral health. Hygienists are mainly concerned with preventative measures and treating gum disease. They will give you advice to ensure that your are effectively caring for your teeth at home. They will also professionally clean your teeth, using a scale and polish, to remove the plaque and tartar.

How Often Should You Go To The Dentist?

It is recommended that you visit the dentist at least once or twice a year, depending on what your dentist suggests. Regular dental visits are essential for the maintenance of a healthy mouth. Even if you take good care of your teeth at home, you still need to see a dentist regularly.

People with a high risk of dental disease might need to visit every three month. This high risk group includes:

  • Smokers
  • Pregnant women
  • Diabetics
  • People who currently have gum disease
  • People with a weak immune system, such as people undergoing chemotherapy
  • People who tend to get cavities or build up plaque.

If you are in need of a dental check-up, please contact us to book an appointment on 01723 670500 or email us at info@newbydental.co.uk

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.

Why It Is Important That Your Child Stops Sucking Their Thumb

Babies have a natural reflex for sucking their thumbs that can even begin before birth. Because it can sometimes help children feel secure and safe, it can often develop into a habit. Most children will stop sucking their thumbs on their own, usually between the age of 2 and 4.

How Can Thumb Sucking Affect Children’s Oral Health?

Thumb sucking doesn’t usually become a problem until a child’s permanent teeth come in. According to the British Orthodontic Society, if the habit stops before the age of seven, the teeth will often correct themselves. However, evidence suggests that one in every eight children between the ages of seven and eleven have an extended habit. If the habit continues once permanent teeth are visible, their position can be permanently affected and self correction is less likely to occur. At this point, thumb sucking might start to affect your child’s palate (roof of their mouth) and how the teeth line up. Problems that can occur include crossbite, an anterior open bite, misshapen palate and difficulty with eating.

What Can I Do to Encourage My Child To Stop Sucking Their Thumb?

Reward your child! Give them praise or offer them small rewards such as a trip to the park or an extra bedtime story. Set them goals such as going a week without sucking their thumb, mark the days off on a calendar using stickers so your child can visualise their achievement.

Identify what is causing them to suck their thumb. Some children will turn to the habit when they are stressed. Recognise the issue and offer them comfort in other ways, such as reassuring words or a hug.

Some children will suck their thumb without thought. Gently remind them to stop but don’t criticise them when doing so.

If you are concerned about your child’s habit and feel that it is negatively affecting their oral health, ask your dentist to speak to them at their next appointment. Some children may appreciate hearing the advice from someone other than their parents, who can offer guidance and explain how it can affect their mouth in a way they can fully understand.

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

Shocking Truth About Baby Food

In a recent article, the British Dental Association are calling for a change to be made to the surprising levels of sugar in some brands of baby food.

Baby food pouches have become very popular among parents as they provide a convenient grab and go approach. However a recent study has found that some popular branded baby pouches contain high levels of sugar, meaning that children could be getting hooked at an age as young as four months old.

Additionally, as the food can be eaten directly from the pouch, the contents are being left in contact with the teeth for even longer.

Research into 109 pouches found that:

  • Over a quarter contained more sugar by volume than Coca Cola. Infants as young as four months are marketed fruit-based pouches that contain the equivalent of upto 150% of the sugar levels of pop.
  • It appears that high end brands have higher levels of sugar than supermarket own brands, with Ella’s Kitchen being criticised.
  • Some products aimed at four month olds were tested and were found to contain upto two thirds of an adults recommended daily allowance.
  • WHO guidance recommends weaning from six months old, so no products should be marketed at four months plus, yet nearly 40% of the products examined were marketed at this age group.
  • Over two thirds of the products examined exceeded the 5g of sugar per 100ml threshold set for the sugar levy applied to drinks.

Experts say the level of sugar in these foods is a concern as it could lead to your child having a preference for sweeter foods throughout their life. This could lead to oral health problems, such as tooth decay, but also obesity.

The Best Food For Babies

Parents should look for single ingredient foods when their children are younger than six months. A child’s taste preferences are formed and solidified during their first year of life. Parents should avoid baby food that contains a mixture of fruits and vegetables as it can teach a child that vegetables only taste good when sweetened.