Tag: dental advice

What To Consider When Looking For A New Dentist.

When choosing a dentist, the deciding factor for a lot of people will be the proximity and convenience. However, when doing this, you need to consider if you are going to be getting the best dental care that you can. We have compiled a list of things you should look out for when trying to find a new dentist.

Check Credentials With The General Dental Council

It is quick an easy to search your dentist on google and make sure that their credentials are up to date. Visit the General Dental Council website where you can search for all dental professionals on the current GDC database.

NHS Or Private

Some dentists may offer a mix of private and NHS patients, whereas others may only offer one type of service. It is important that you understand which type of service your dentist can offer you before you commit to treatment.

Professionalism And Customer Service

It is quite easy to quickly notice the signs of good customer service. This is something that is very important to pick up on as a trip to the dentist can make some people quite wary. A helpful receptionist team and dental professionals are likely to help you feel more comfortable. At Newby Dental Practice are a very friendly team who would be happy to help with any concerns.

Dental Treatments Available

If you are looking for a particular treatment, it would be a good idea to check if it is available before starting with any other treatments. At Newby Dental Practice, we offer a wide range of treatments such as cosmetic treatments including, whitening and invisalign.

Emergency Treatments

Accidents happen and it is always nice to know that if you need assistance, your dentist will be there for you. Check if your dentist offers emergency appointments.

Recommendations

Ask friends and family where they go to the dentist and whether they would recommend it or not. Sometimes hearing from real people about real experiences can be the best way to find out if that dentist is the one for you.

If you are interested in registering with Newby Dental Practice, please call us on 01723 670500.

How To Look After A New Dental Crown

If a filling is no longer sufficient to repair a tooth, a crown may be the next option. A crown may also be required after a root canal procedure to seal the tooth. If your dental crown is effectively cared for, it should cause no problems and last many years.

Although a crown can’t suffer from decay, it is still important that you are caring for it properly to ensure it lasts as long as possible.

Daily Cleaning

Whilst the crown itself will not decay, the tooth it is attached to could, which could put your crown at risk of becoming loose. The underlying tooth may change shape if it becomes decayed, meaning that you may need to have a new crown made.

Gum Disease

It is essential to clean your teeth well, not only to protect your crown, but to prevent gum disease. If you are not using floss or interdental brushes, we would recommend that you start now.Although, when flossing be careful that the floss does not become wedged under the crown as it may dislodge it. In addition to this, we would recommend regular appointments with your hygienist who will provide a scale and polish to help keep your mouth free of gum disease.

If you fail to look after your gums effectively, you could develop periodontitis which is a form of gum disease. It results in bone loss in your mouth, so the structures that support your teeth deteriorate, making them loose. It would be very disappointing to have a new crown placed, only to later lose the tooth due to gum disease!

Small Changes

Along with keeping a strong oral hygiene routine, there are a few other changes you could make to improve the lifetime of your crown:

  • Avoid sticky, chewy foods which could pull off the crown.
  • Try to chew using the other side of your mouth.
  • Avoid hard foods, such as raw vegetables, which could dislodge or break the crown.

The best way to look after your crown is to maintain great oral care and treat your crown as you would your natural teeth, the tooth beneath the crown still needs protection from decay and gum disease. Crowns are still susceptible to cracking and wear and tear so be careful when eating hard foods.

If you are interested in having a crown, please call us on 01723 670500 to book an appointment.

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.

What Is Causing Your Mouth Pain And What Can You Do?

Mouth pain has many possible sources, including injuries, sores and certain diseases. Keep reading to learn the potential causes of your mouth pain.

Injury

You may experience some pain in your mouth if you have had an accident, such as falling over and biting your your lip or tongue. This can cause discomfort and tenderness on the inside of your mouth.

Similarly, you can injure our mouth by biting into food that is too hot. This could result in the roof of your mouth becoming burnt.

Dry Mouth

The salivary glands in your mouth produce saliva that helps to keep your mouth hydrated. If these glands stop producing as much saliva, it causes dry mouth. This can lead to mouth sores or a rough tongue.

In most cases, dry mouth is caused by dehydration but there are other causes, such as certain medications and cancer treatments.

Herpes Simplex Virus

HSV is the virus that causes cold sores

Although cold sores are usually associated with the lips, if you have only recently been infected with the virus, you may develop painful lesions on your tongue, gums and throat.

other symptoms of the virus include:

  • A sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • A fever
  • Muscle aches

Other Infections

As well as HSV, there are other diseases that can cause painful lesions to occur in your mouth:

  • Chickenpox
  • Shingles
  • Hand, foot and mouth disease
  • HIV
  • Infectious mononucleosis

Oral Thrush

Oral thrush is a fungal infection and anyone can get it but you will be more prone to infection if you have a weakened immune system or underlying health conditions.

Oral thrush can appear as cream-coloured lesions in many places within your mouth.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer can affect many areas of the mouth including:

  • Roof of the mouth
  • Insides of the cheeks
  • Back of the mouth
  • Tongue
  • Salivary glands
  • Gums

Some of the most common symptoms include:

  • Painful lesions that won’t heal
  • Lumps or growths
  • White or red patches inside the mouth
  • Pain or difficulty swallowing
  • Numbness in the lower lip, face, neck or chin.

Risk factors include:

  • HPV infection
  • Heavy alcohol consumption
  • A weakened immune system
  • A family history of cancer
  • Being male

Home Remedies For Mouth Pain

  • Take an over the counter painkiller like ibuprofen or paracetamol.
  • Make a saltwater rinse.
  • Apply ice.
  • Avoid spicy, acidic or salty foods.
  • Drink more fluids.
  • Avoid smoking.
  • Brush and floss your teeth gently.

For more information on other causes of mouth pain, click here.

If your mouth pain doesn’t subside with over the counter medication, call us on 01723 670500 for advice.

What To Expect At A Dental Check-Up

Some patients find it difficult to come to the dentist, but by knowing ahead of time what to expect, it can help to calm your nerves.

Arriving At The Practice

When you first arrive at Newby Dental Practice, you will be welcomed by our friendly receptionist team into our relaxing waiting room. You may be asked to fill in a medical form.

During Your Check-Up

Once it’s time for your check up, you’ll be take through to the dental surgery. They will start with a quick chat to answer any questions or concerns you might have. This will allow your dentist to thoroughly check your mouth, whilst keeping a close eye on anything that has been bothering you. You should let your dentist know if you have been experiencing any pain, sensitivity or unusual sensations and they can advise you on any treatment that you might require.

During the check-up, you’ll be asked to lie back comfortably in the chair so that the dentist can begin a thorough check of your teeth, gums and mouth. They are checking for plaque, gum disease, tooth decay and the early signs of mouth cancer. Your dentist may also take an x-ray to check for any underlying problems.

Once the check-up has been completed, your dentist will advise you of any treatment that you might require and let you know when you will need another appointment. Our reception team will then get them booked for you.

If you need to book your next check-up, call us on 01723 670500.

Medications And Oral Health

A common side effect of many medications is dry mouth. Saliva helps to prevent food build up on your teeth and neutralises the acids produced by plaque. The acid can damage the hard coating of your teeth called the enamel. Dry mouth increases your risk of tooth decay.

Medications That Can Cause Dry Mouth

Saliva cleans your mouth but if not enough is produced, it can leave you prone to dental decay and gum disease.

The most common types of medication that cause dry mouth are:

  • Antihistamines
  • Decongestants
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Antidepressants
  • Sedatives
  • Pain killers
  • Antacids

What To Do About Dry Mouth

If your dry mouth is severe as a result of your medication, talk to your doctor and they may be able to recommend an alternative.

Inhalers

People who suffer with asthma will often use an inhaler. Inhaling medication through your mouth can cause an infection called oral thrush. This appears as white spots in your mouth and can be painful. To help prevent this, try rinsing your mouth after you use your inhaler.

Cancer Treatments

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may cause changes to the lining of the mouth and the salivary glands that produce saliva. This can affect the balance of bacteria and could lead to mouth sores, infections and tooth decay.

These are just a few examples of medications but there are many more. Speak to your dentist about any new medications you are taking so that they can provide the best care for you.

7 Frequently Asked Questions About Root Canal Treatment

Having a root canal treatment can sound frightening but understanding what the procedure involves can help to calm your nerves.

1. What Is Root Canal Treatment?

A root canal treatment is a procedure to save a tooth that has become decayed. The infected tissue, known as the pulp, that surrounds the nerves is cleaned out so that there is no further damage to your tooth.

2. Why Is A Root Canal Needed?

The area where the nerve is located is in a narrow passage called the root canal. When it becomes infected, it can cause severe pain. The infection can also spread to other parts of the body.

3. What Happens If I Don’t Have The Procedure?

If your dentist recommends that you have a root canal, but you refuse, you may lose the tooth. The decay and infection are likely to spread and may even cause further decay on other teeth.

Once tooth infection begins to spread, it can travel to other areas in your body. This is why it is important that t is treated straight away.

4. How Long Does The Procedure Take?

Depending on the amount of infection in your tooth, root canal therapy may require one or two appointments. On average, the procedure will take 30 to 60 minutes. If the treatment is on a tooth with multiple roots, it could take up to an hour and a half.

5. What Is The Expected Recovery Process?

After your treatment, you may experience some minor swelling and discomfort. However this should ease after the first 24 hours. Your dentist may send you home with some medications, such as antibiotics and painkillers.

After your appointment, your dentist may schedule a follow-up appointment. If you don’t suffer any complications, you will not need to return until then.

After the procedure, ou will be given a care package that will contain all of the information you will require about any complications.

6. Is The Procedure Painful?

The treatment is no more painful than having a normal filling. The root canal will also help to relieve the pain that the infected tooth has been causing. The area will be numbed during the treatment so you should experience a pain-free procedure.

7. What Are The Alternatives To A Root Canal?

The only way to save a tooth with infected pulp is to remove the pulp through root canal. Fillings and cleaning won’t address the problem. Therefore, the only alternative would be to extract the tooth to prevent the spread of the infection to other teeth. To maintain the mouths function of speech and eating, the tooth would need to be replaced with an implant, bridge or partial denture. Extraction would be a last resort.

If you are in pain, contact our practice on 01723 670500 for advice.

What Are The Most Common Dental Issues And How To Prevent Them? Continued.

Following on from the previous post, here are some more common dental problems that people suffer with and how to treat them.

Cracked Or Broken Teeth

Teeth can crack for many reasons such as:

  • Pressure from grinding your teeth.
  • Large fillings that have weakened the tooth.
  • Chewing or biting hard foods such as ice, nuts, or boiled sweets.
  • Injury.
  • Age.

Treatment depends on the size of the crack, where it is, and your symptoms. Your dentist may recommend one of the following:

  • Bonding: Using a plastic resin to fill the crack.
  • Crown: A dental crown is a cap placed over the damaged tooth.
  • Root canal: When a crack is so large that it extends into your pulp, your dentist may recommend a root canal to remove the damaged pulp. This will help to prevent the tooth from becoming weaker.
  • Extraction: If the tooth, and the nerves below it are so damaged, the only option may be to remove it.
  • No treatment: If the cracked tooth isn’t affecting your appearance and isn’t causing any pain, your dentist may advise leaving it alone.

Receding Gums

Receding gums are a condition in which your gums pull back from your teeth, exposing the root surfaces. They can be caused by a number of factors, including:

  • Aggressive brushing over a long period of time.
  • Build up of hardened plaque.
  • Smoking.
  • Family history of gum disease.
  • Diabetes.
  • HIV.

One of the best ways to prevent receding gums is to visit your dentist regularly. Even if you don’t notice any symptoms, a dentist will be able to see the early signs of gum disease. You can also help to prevent gum problems by practicing good oral hygiene, by brushing twice daily and flossing once a day.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth happens when the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva. This causes a dry feeling in your mouth. It can also cause bad breath, dry throat and cracked lips.

The causes include:

  • Dehydration: This can be caused by not drinking enough water, vomiting, or sweating. When you’re dehydrated your mouth produces less saliva.
  • Medications: Dry mouth could be a side effect of certain medications, including those that treat anxiety, depression, diarrhoea, high blood pressure and asthma. It is important that you don’t stop taking these medications until you have spoken to your doctor.
  • Radiation therapy: Dry mouth is a common side effect of radiation to the head and neck. Radiation causes damage to the salivary glands causing them to produce less saliva.
  • Stress: When you’re anxious, your body makes more cortisol which changes the composition of your saliva.
  • Snoring and mouth breathing: Breathing through your mouth causes saliva to evaporate.
  • Smoking: Smoking can reduce the production of tobacco.

Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is often stress related. It can be caused by:

  • Stress and anxiety.
  • Sleeping problems like snoring and sleep apnoea.
  • Taking certain medications.
  • Smoking, drinking lots of alcohol and caffeine.

To prevent teeth grinding:

  • Find ways to relax. Try breathing exercises or doing something that you enjoy like listening to music or doing exercise.
  • Try to improve your sleep by developing a routine of going to bed at the same time every night.
  • Have regular dental check-ups.
  • Ask your dentist if they think a nightguard would help.

Why Is Snacking Between Meals Bad For Your Teeth?

Research has found that some people prefer to snack throughout the day instead of eating three set meals. Although it may seem harmless, this snacking has a negative impact on your oral health.

Dental Plaque

Plaque is a film of bacteria that covers your teeth. Everyone’s plaque contains bacteria. The bacteria breaks down the sugar in your food to create acid which weakens your enamel that coats your teeth. This means that your mouth becomes more acidic everytime you eat or drink something and it can take upto an hour for the pH to return to normal. The toxins produced by plaque irritate the gums, increasing the risk of gum disease. If you stick to three meals a day then it reduces the number of acid attacks that your teeth face.

Diet

Most people that visit the dentist will be aware of the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day and flossing once daily. However, not everyone realises the role that their diet plays on their oral health. If you are prone to snacking between meals, you might want to try healthier snacks. Resist snacks that are high in sugar or those that are likely to stick to your teeth for long periods of time. For example, sticky sweets like toffees.

Healthier alternatives include crunchy vegetables which contain high amounts of fibre as they will have a slightly cleansing effect on your teeth.

Snacks To Avoid

  • Citrus fruits.
  • Chewy, sticky, sugary sweets.
  • Pickles are low calorie but they are highly acidic.

Snacks To Try

  • Seaweed Snacks.
  • Fresh raw vegetables: carrot and cucumber.
  • Crispy fruits: apple and pear. They’re lower in sugar that other fruits and high in fibre.
  • Nuts like almonds and cashews.

What Are The Most Common Dental Issues And How To Prevent Them?

It can be difficult to know where to start with your oral health so in this post we will outline the most common problems our patients face and the advice we give them to prevent them in the future.

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is caused by the sticky film that forms over your teeth, called plaque. The plaque contains bacteria that breaks down sugar to form acid. The acid then wears down your enamel, causing your teeth to become weaker.

To prevent tooth decay occurring you should:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Clean in between your teeth either using floss or an interdental brush.
  • Visit your dentist regularly.
  • Avoid sugary snacks.

Gum Disease

In the early stage, gum disease is called gingivitis. You will experience swollen, tender, bleeding gums. If it progresses, it develops into periodontitis which causes bone loss, leading to tooth loss. Periodontitis is irreversible. Gum disease is caused by the bacteria in plaque that release toxins, causing the gums to become inflamed.

To prevent gum disease:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day.
  • Clean in between your teeth once a day using floss or interdental brushes.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three months.
  • See your dentist and hygienist for regular check-ups.

Bad Breath

Bad breath, or halitosis, can be caused by multiple things:

  • Bacteria breaks down food particles in the mouth. The decaying food and bacteria can contribute to the bad odour. If you are not practicing good oral hygiene, by brushing and flossing, the food will remain in your mouth for longer.
  • Smoking causes a bad odour and dries out your mouth, making the problem even worse.
  • Saliva helps to keep your mouth clean and reduces odour. If you are suffering with dry mouth, you may notice a problem with bad breath.
  • If you have gum disease, pockets can form between the teeth and the gums. Food and bacteria can collect in these pockets, causing a bad smell.
  • Bad breath could also be a sign of a sinus infection and certain diseases such as diabetes and liver failure. If your bad breath does not go away after treating it yourself for a couple of weeks, it is important that you visit your dentist.

How to prevent bad breath:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day.
  • Floss daily.
  • Use an antimicrobial mouthwash daily (at a different time to brushing).
  • Brush your tongue to remove any leftover food.
  • Stay hydrated. Drinking water helps to wash away any food particles and prevents dry mouth.
  • Clean dentures, mouth guards and retainers daily.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three months.
  • Visit your dentist regularly.

Sensitive Teeth

Tooth sensitivity is pain or discomfort in the teeth caused by certain stimuli. For example, sensitivity to hot and cold or to pressure when eating or brushing your teeth.

Some people naturally have sensitive teeth due to having thinner enamel. It can also be caused by acid reflux which weakens the enamel. Gum recession can leave parts of the tooth exposed and unprotected which can cause sensitivity. Tooth decay, broken or chipped teeth can leave the dentine exposed which can cause localised sensitivity.

How to prevent sensitivity:

  • Don’t brush straight after eating. Some foods can weaken the enamel of your teeth so leave it for an hour before you brush.
  • Reduce the frequency of eating sugary snacks. If you are going to have them, try to eat them at meal times to reduce the number of acid attacks on your teeth.
  • If you grind your teeth, your dentist may recommend that you wear a mouthguard at night.
  • Brush your teeth twice a day. Consider trying a toothpaste made for sensitive teeth.
  • If the problem doesn’t resolve, visit your dentist.