Why You Should Wear A Mouthguard During Contact Sports

Mouthguards prevent injuries to the face and mouth. They are made of soft plastic or laminate and prevent injuries incurred when you receive contact to the face or mouth. As well as your teeth, they also protect your mouth, gums, cheeks and jaw.

How Do They Protect?

Although a mouthguard won’t stop you from being hit in the first place, they can reduce the damage. They spread the impact out, reducing it across each area. They also absorb some of the force as they are made from a soft material.

Using Mouthguards In Sports

Sports injuries account for 1/3 of all injuries to the mouth and face. A direct blow to your face can result in a lot of tooth trauma. Not only can your teeth be completely knocked out, but they can become dislodged, cracked, chipped or loosened. A mouthguard acts as a cushion to reduce the blow and reduce the risk of fractures and bone damage to both the lower jaw and neck.

Types Of Mouthguards

There are three types:

  • Stock: comes in a range of premade shapes and sizes. They are the cheapest but they don’t offer a comfortable fit or a high level of protection because they are one-size-fits-all.
  • Boil-and-bite: They are the middle ground between premade and custom fit in terms of cost and function. The process involves placing them in boiled water before biting into them to leave an impression of your teeth.
  • Custom-made: offer the best protection and it is often worth the higher cost. A dentist will take an impression of your teeth and orders a guard personalised to your bite.

Taking Care Of Your Mouthguard

  • Rinse with cold water and clean with toothpaste and a toothbrush to remove plaque.
  • Avoid hot water, hot surfaces and directly sunlight as they can lead to warping.
  • soak in non-alcoholic mouth rinse before cleaning with water.

Here at Newby Dental Practice your dentist can make you a mouthguard in as little as 3 days. Call us now on 01723 670500 to book your appointment.

Top Trending ‘Tweakment’

The nonsurgical trend that will improve how your skin looks – not only instantly – but also accumulating with longer term results!

The days of having to go under the scalpel to give your face a youth boost are over. We’re now living in the era of injectable ‘tweakments’. Ok, there’s nothing new about using wrinkle reducing and dermal filler
injectables to reduce wrinkles and add volume to your cheeks, but now there’s a NEW injectable that will moisturise from the inside out, boosting hydration and remodelling ageing and sagging skin… say hello to Profhilo®.

  • Profhilo® has opened up a new injectable category called, bioremodeling. It is not a dermal filler or biorevitaliser.
  • Profhilo® is the first BDDE-free stabilised injectable hyaluronic acid-based product for treating skin laxity.
  • Profhilo® has one of the highest concentrations of hyaluronic acid on the market (64mg / 2ml) which boosts and hydrates the skin, but also remodels ageing and sagging tissue.
  • Profhilo® delivers great results as a treatment on its own or in combination with other aesthetics treatments currently on offer.

What’s The Buzz On Profhilo?

The first of its kind, Profhilo® is a revolutionary beneath the skin, hyaluronic acid moisturising treatment. It’s unique formulation of high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid is one of the highest concentrations on the market. When injected into skin it stimulates the skin cell receptors to counteract skin laxity and improve and restore firmness of the skin.

How Does It Work?

Ultra-pure hyaluronic acid is precisely injected into the area being treated. Then, unlike wrinkle reducing and dermal filler treatments, Profhilo® stimulates collagen and elastin, improving hydration in the deeper layers of the skin. As a stabilised product, Profhilo® has a prolonged action in the skin. During this time the stimulation of 4 different types of collagen and elastin takes place by slow release of hyaluronic acid. Results include the improvement of the skin’s texture, firmness and radiance in addition to reducing the
appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Tell Us About The ‘Tweakment’

Profhilo® can be used by patients of all ages and is the perfect solution if you’re looking for youth boost for your skin but don’t want dermal fillers or wrinkle relaxing treatment. The injections are strategically placed at key points to rejuvenate the skin’s own collagen-making abilities. It can be used on numerous areas such as the face, hands, neck, and chest and it can be used on its own or in combination with other aesthetics treatments currently on offer. Two treatments are recommended, spaced four weeks apart, and
you’ll see the benefits from six-nine months.

What Are The Results?

The powerful moisturising properties and hyaluronic acid combat the signs of fine lines and wrinkles whilst deeply hydrating the skin and restoring a youthful glow. The stimulation (after having the Profhilo® treatment) results in significant tissue improvement. Which means we cannot say that Profhilo® is a skin booster as it also has a significant tightening and lifting effect on the tissue. It is a
great ‘first step’ treatment as it acts directly on skin laxity and can also improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, pores and dull pigmented skin as part of a bespoke skin programme.

5 Things Every Parent Should Know About Baby Teeth

As your baby’s first teeth start to appear, it can be very exciting. With so many changes at this age, it can be easy to forget about the importance of their oral hygiene.

1. Start Brushing As Soon As The First Tooth Appears

Decay can begin as soon as your child’s first tooth appears so it is important to implement an oral hygiene routine early on. You should brush their teeth twice a day, and continue to do so until you are confident that they can do it themselves.

2. First Dental Visit

It is important that you take your child to see the dentist when their first tooth appears. Their dentist will be able to advise you on the best oral hygiene routine to follow and to provide any necessary treatment.

3. Baby Teeth Are More Sensitive To Decay

Baby teeth have a thinner layer of enamel, making them more susceptible to decay. A fluoride toothpaste will help to protect their teeth.

4. Be Careful With Dummies

It is common for babies to suck their thumb or use a dummy but prolonged use can change the position of their teeth. This can make it hard for them to chew and speak and can cause adult teeth to be in the wrong position too. Dummies should be removed by the age of three to prevent any oral damage.

5. Baby Teeth Are Just As Important As Adult Teeth

As baby teeth aren’t permanent, many parents don’t understand the importance of their maintenance. Baby teeth affect the development, alignment, and position of their adult teeth as well as their speech and eating abilities.

How Can I Protect my Teeth From Sugar?

Eating large amounts of sugar is bad for your health, and can result in obesity, heart disease, diabetes and tooth decay. The coating that covers your teeth is called plaque and it contains lots of bacteria that breakdown the sugar in your food into acid, damaging the hard, protective coating on your teeth called enamel.

Here are five ways to help protect your teeth:

Limit Your Sugar Intake

This seems like the most obvious option, but switching out sugary foods in your diet for healthier ones, such as swapping out a slice of cake everyday for a bowl of yoghurt with fruit, can make a big difference. Other changes could include cutting out that teaspoon of sugar in your cup of tea or having a glass of water at meal times instead of a fizzy drink.

However, there will be times when you fancy a treat! To help protect your teeth, try to eat the sugary snack at mealtimes to reduce the number or acid attacks on your teeth.

Drink Through Paper Straws

When you are drinking sugary drinks, such as fruit juices and fizzy drinks, try to use a straw to limit the contact between the sugar and your teeth.

Keep On Top of Your Oral Health

Make sure you keep up with your oral health routine. Brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes and floss to reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. However, do not brush your teeth straight after eating as this can cause more damage by brushing acid into your teeth.

Chew Sugar-Free Gum After Eating

Saliva helps to defend against acids causing demineralisation. Chewing gum helps to stimulate your salivary glands to produce more saliva. However, make sure that the gum is sugar-free, otherwise it could be causing more harm than good.

Visit Your Dentist For Regular Check Ups

Your dentist will be able to spot the signs of decay before they worsen and provide any advice to improve your oral hygiene routine. Call us on 01723 670500 to book your appointment now!

How To Care For Your Teething Baby

Teething is an inevitable part of your baby’s growth, but that doesn’t make it any easier to watch them struggle as the first few teeth come through. Most babies begin teething somewhere between 4 and 7 months. However, this can vary to earlier or later than this window.

Symptoms

Along with difficulty sleeping, teething symptoms can include:

  • Chewing
  • Irritability/fussiness
  • Excessive drooling

If your baby is experiencing a rash or fever, there may be something other than teething causing the problem, in which case you should contact your child’s doctor.

Chilled Teething Ring

A teething ring is a great option when your child starts to chew things. Some can even be chilled for more relief. Never put a teething ring in the freezer as this can damage your baby’s soft gums. Don’t forget to clean and sterilise the ring regularly.

Use A Crunchy Healthy Treat

Once your child has been introduced to solid foods, try to soothe their gums using raw carrot or apple sticks. Even breadsticks could help relieve their symptoms.

Avoid sugary snacks which can quickly lead to tooth decay, even if they currently have very few teeth. Rusks and teething biscuits should be avoided too as they contain sugar.

Massage Your Baby’s Gums

Make sure your hands are clean before you put them in your baby’s mouth. Use your fingers to apply gentle pressure. Sometimes this simple action of rubbing their gums will be able to provide your baby some relief.

Offer Them A Drink Of Cold Water

If your baby has already started drinking plain water, it could offer them comfort. It is one of the most natural teething remedies.

Wipe Away Any Dribble

One of the signs of teething is the constant dribbling. This could result in an uncomfortable rash around your baby’s mouth. Gently wipe it away to prevent any further discomfort.

Distract Your Baby

Try taking your child’s mind off their pain by singing or encouraging them to play their favourite games.

Caring For Your Baby’s New Teeth

Once your child’s teeth start to come through, you’ll need to register them with a dentist. Contact us on 01723 670500 to book their first appointment.

Start brushing with a fluoride toothpaste as soon as their first tooth breaks through.

How To Overcome Your Fear Of The Dentist

Dental anxiety is fear, anxiety or stress associated with a dental setting. Having dental anxiety can cause delayed appointments and avoiding treatment. Attending the dentist is vital to ensure you are checked for mouth cancer, gum disease and dental decay.

A fear of the dentist is very common for patients in the UK. Newby Dental Practice is here to provide tips to help you feel better when attending the dentist.

Signs Of Dental Anxiety

People with dental anxiety may experience:

  • Sweating
  • increased heart rate
  • Dry mouth
  • Stomach pain

What Causes Dental Anxiety?

Dental anxiety can often be attributed to a fear of pain. This often derives from a previous experience that has resulted in pain or hearing ‘horror stories’ from friends and family. However, thanks to the latest developments in technology, appointments for patients are much more comfortable and often painless.

Some patients may be embarrassed by the appearance of their mouth and self conscious about possible mouth odour. This can result in dental anxiety and prevent patients coming to the dentist. Fortunately, our experienced dentists are trained to treat all types of dental health concerns and will be able to help.

How To Ease Dental Anxiety

Ask your dentist to play some music or talk to you about other subjects to take your mind off your treatment. This will give you something else to focus on and help to keep you calm.

Bring support to your appointment. Ask your dentist if you can bring a friend or family member to the appointment as having a familiar face nearby will help to ease your nerves.

Patients who suffer with more severe dental anxiety can be offered forms of sedation to help them relax. Our friendly team are available to give any advice if you are concerned about your visit. Please call us on 01723 670500 or email us at info@newbydental.co.uk

Is Chewing Gum Good For Your Teeth?

Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production, which helps to clear away food, rinse away bacteria, strengthen the enamel on your teeth and reduce acid in your mouth that can dissolve the enamel.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural sweetener which can be effective at preventing cavities. Sugar-free gum often contains xylitol and it has been shown to reduce the amount of cavity causing bacteria in plaque. It also helps to neutralise acids made by bacteria, strengthening tooth enamel.

Can Gum Strengthen My Teeth?

Some chewing gums contain a substance called phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP). It has been shown to remineralize or slow down tooth decay.

What Gum Should I Use?

Make sure that you are chewing sugar-free gum. If you use gum that contains sugar, your teeth will be constantly surrounded by a sugary environment until you dispose of the gum. This would be very harmful to your teeth.

Do I Still Need To Brush My Teeth?

Yes. Chewing gum is not an alternative to brushing your teeth. It is helpful to use between meals to neutralise the acd left behind but is it not a substitute to brushing and flossing.

How Does My Dental Health Affect My General Health?

You are probably aware of the impact of your oral hygiene on your teeth and gums, but did you know that poor oral hygiene can have adverse effects on your general health?

What Problems Could My Dental Health Cause?

  • Heart disease
  • Respiratory disease
  • Strokes
  • Diabetes

Heart Disease

People with gum disease are twice as likely to suffer with heart disease than those who don’t have gum disease. Bacteria from the mouth can travel in the bloodstream. The bacteria produce protein which causes the platelets in the blood to stick together in the blood vessels. This makes blood clots more likely, reducing normal blood flow so the heart doesn’t get all the nutrients and oxygen it requires. If affected badly, this could lead to a heart attack.

Strokes

Researchers have discovered that when our gums bleed and become inflamed, it causes changes in how blood and oxygen flows to the brain. Gum disease is associated with inflammation which plays a role in atherosclerosis (hardening of the blood vessels).

Diabetes

People with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease. It is likely that this is because people with diabetes are more likely to get infections in general. If you have diabetes, it is important that any gum disease is diagnosed as it can increase your blood sugar, putting you at risk of complications.

Respiratory Disease

It is thought that bacterial chest infections are caused by breathing in droplets from the throat and mouth into the lungs. This can cause pneumonia or make an existing condition worse. People with gum disease have more bacteria in their mouths which is why they may be more likely to develop a respiratory disease. This is particularly the case for elderly people, which is why it is important that they maintain a good oral hygiene routine.

What Should I Look Out For?

  • Inflammation of the gums.
  • Bleeding gums.
  • Bad taste in your mouth.
  • Bad breath.
  • Loose teeth.
  • Regular mouth infections.

If you are concerned you may have gum disease, call us on 01723 670500 to book an appointment.

Energy Drinks And Your Teeth

There are many people that believe that energy drinks are not as harmful as sugar-filled fizzy drinks, however, this may not be the case.

Even if the energy drinks that you are consuming are sugar free, they still contain acid. The acid in the drinks causes the pH of the mouth to lower considerably. It takes around 30 minutes for the saliva to neutralise this acid and return the pH back to normal. For those 30 minutes your teeth are essentially being bathed in an acidic environment.

The hyperactive energy produced by the drinks can also cause people to grind their teeth. This can cause tooth breakage and damage.

Energy Drinks And Gums

As the enamel breaks down, it can’t protect the softer parts of the teeth or prevent the bacteria from causing damage. As the enamel wears down, the gums become more susceptible to damage. They can start to recede and expose the tooth roots which can cause the gums to bleed and become inflamed, showing early signs of gum disease.

How Can I Reduce The Damage Caused?

Although it is not recommended to drink energy drinks regularly, if you are going to drink them from time to time, it would be a good idea to try drinking through a straw to minimise your teeth’s exposure.

Another way to reduce the effect would be to rinse your mouth out with water after finishing your drink to try to neutralise the acidity in your mouth.

Try not to sip your drink. The longer it takes you to drink your energy drink, the less time your teeth have to repair themselves from the acid attack.

Alternative Ways To Boost Your Energy

A few simple lifestyle changes could help to boost your energy.

  • Engage in regular physical activity.
  • Drink at least 2 litres of water a day.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep.
  • Include lots of fruit and vegetables in your diet.

New Year, New You: Dental Health Resolutions

Most New Year’s resolutions involve trying to improve physical well being, but why not try something new this year? By making a dental resolution you will be helping to improve your oral health, which will also have an impact on your general health.

Take Charge Of Your Oral Hygiene Routine

  • Brush for two minutes twice daily.
  • Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle to your gum line.
  • Use a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Thoroughly clean between your teeth once a day using floss or an interdental brush.
  • Rinse with a mouthwash at another time other than brushing.

Healthy Diet Choices

What you eat contributes to cavities and gum disease so it is important that you are eating healthily.

  • Limit consumption of sugary or acidic foods and drinks.
  • Try to avoid snacking between meals.
  • Rinse with water after eating.
  • Try to eat fruits, vegetables and other foods full of nutrients.

Restorations And Orthodontics

A new year is the perfect time to start considering any dental work that you have been thinking about. This could be a filling, a damaged tooth or even braces. Talk to your dentist about anything you are considering and they would be happy to provide any advice that you need.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is bad for your dental health and your overall health. Smoking causes staining as well as gum disease. This is a good time to set a goal for yourself to stop smoking. Speak to a medical professional who will help you finally quit smoking!

Routine Dental Visits

It is important that you visit your dentist at least once or twice a year, depending on what has been recommended for you. By visiting regularly, you can help to prevent problems arising as your dentist will be able to see the early signs, ensuring that they are stopped in their tracks. Book an appointment with us now to check that your mouth is in the best condition to start your resolution.

Making a New Year’s resolution to take better care of your dental health is a step in the right direction. However, if you face a setback, don’t be too hard on yourself. Our team are available to call on 01723 670500 if you require any advice.