Why You Should Drink Water To Help Your Teeth 24 May 202326 July 2022We all know that there are numerous health benefits to drinking water, but did you know that it’s also good for your teeth?1. Strengthens Your TeethSome areas in the Uk have a water supply that naturally contains fluoride and in other areas it is added to the water. So by just drinking tap water, you are helping to strengthen your teeth. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps to keep your teeth strong and prevent tooth decay.2. Keeps Your Mouth CleanThroughout the day, as you eat, the sugars get stuck to your teeth. The bacteria in your plaque break down the sugar to form acids which can wear away the enamel on your teeth. To protect your teeth, drink a glass of water after you eat to help wash away any remaining sugar.3. Keeps Your Mouth HydratedNot only does a dry mouth feel horrible, a lack of saliva can leave your teeth vulnerable to acid attacks. Saliva is 99% water so keeping hydrated will ensure that your mouth produces enough saliva. Your saliva washes away left over foods and keeps your teeth strong by washing them with calcium, phosphate and fluoride.4. Its Sugar FreeUnlike other drinks, water is sugar and calorie free. Even drinks that are advertised as healthy can be full of sugar, so swap these for water to help protect your teeth from acid attacks. Avoid fizzy drinks completely, as even the diet versions contain acid which can erode your enamel, weakening your teeth.
Why Do My Gums Hurt When I Brush My Teeth? 17 May 202326 July 2022Painful gums are a common problem. It could be due to a number of reasons, from brushing incorrectly or due to gum disease. Read the following article to find out the source of your pain.Gum DiseaseSwollen, tender, bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease is caused when plaque builds up on your teeth. Plaque contains harmful bacteria that can build up under your gum line and cause them to become inflamed. In the early stages, it is gingivitis. However, it can progress into periodontitis which results in bone loss, meaning that it is irreversible.Abscessed ToothWhen you have an infection by the root of your tooth, it forms an abscess. Although they may not always be painful, they can cause the gum to swell, making it painful to brush.StressAlthough this may seem strange, stress raises your level of cortisol which increases the likelihood of inflammation throughout the body, including your gums.TobaccoIf you smoke or vape you’re more likely to have gum disease. The tobacco causes the amount of oxygen flowing in the blood to fall, meaning that the gums can’t heal themselves as well. Not only does this make brushing painful but it also leads to cancer.Brushing IncorrectlyIt is important that your brush your teeth twice a day, but to be able to reap the benefits, you need to make sure you are doing it properly. This means using a soft bristled toothbrush, brushing gently with circular motions rather than back and forth.Regardless of the cause of your pain, pain while brushing your teeth isn’t normal and you should contact us on 01723 670500 to book an appointment with your dentist who will find what is causing the problem.
Caring For Your Oral Health And The Environment 10 May 202326 July 2022We should only use our toothbrushes for around three months before replacing it with a new one. This means that in the UK around 256 million toothbrushes are bought and discarded every year.Plastics are a key material in toothbrushes. They are flexible, have good durability and are easy to keep clean. However, they have detrimental impacts on our environment due to manufacturing, transportation, and disposability.Alternative PlasticsOne of the most common types of plastic is recycled plastic, however this is not always appropriate for oral healthcare products as it may contain hazardous materials. For this reason, it is unlikely that recycled plastics in their current for could be used to make toothbrushes. However they could be useful for their packaging.Oral health is currently shifting towards the use of renewable plastics, in the form of biobased plastics. They are made from plants such as sugar cane and the caster oil plant. This helps to create a smaller carbon footprint as it removes the use of fossil-based plastics.Reusing Your ToothbrushExtending the lifespan of our toothbrushes and finding other ways to make them more sustainable is the responsibility of oral health companies. However we can try to make a difference too. Studies from the Oral Health Foundation found that 80% of us use our old toothbrush for an alternative purpose. Try using it to clean your bathroom tiles or kitchen appliances.
How To Clean Your Removable Dental Appliance 26 April 202312 July 2022Your appliance sits inside your mouth and against your teeth so it quickly accumulates bacteria, plaque and calculus. It is important you clean your appliance everyday.There are several types of appliance which include:Aligners: Clear braces, such as invisalign.Retainers: Worn after orthodontic treatment to ensure that the teeth don’t shift back to their original position.Nightguard: Prevents you from grinding your teeth at night.Snore guard: Reduces snoring during sleep.What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Appliance?If you don’t clean your appliance regularly, bacteria and plaque will buildup. Overtime it may start to taste and smell funny.The appliance can harbour dangerous bacteria that can result in gum disease and dental decay.How To Clean Your ApplianceYou should rinse your appliance after every use. Try to do this immediately after it is removed to rinse away any debris before it hardens.You can also soak your appliance. Check with your dentist which tablets are appropriate for your orthodontic appliance. In most cases you will add a tablet to a cup of lukewarm water and soak your aligner for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse.
5 Reasons To Consider Getting A Dental Implant 12 April 202312 July 2022Missing, damaged and broken teeth can cause pain and embarrassment. An implant may be the right choice for you.1. Damaged TeethIf you struggle with broken or chipped teeth, implants may be the best way to fully restore your teeth. Damaged teeth can be a source of embarrassment as well as causing difficulties eating, and in more severe cases, speech issues. Implant restoration involves removing the damaged teeth and replacing them with new, artificial ones that fit perfectly.2. Missing TeethMissing teeth can also cause eating and speech difficulties, as well as affecting your appearance. There are various reasons why you could be missing your teeth, such as trauma, health issues, or a lack of oral hygiene. Implants will help to resolve these issues by filling in the gaps with natural looking, sturdy artificial teeth.3. Loose-Fitting TeethIf you suffer with weak and wobbly teeth implants can help you. If you can easily move one of your teeth around, you might want to talk to your dentist about replacing it with an implant. Similarly to how damaged teeth can affect your lifestyle, unsecure teeth can affect your ability to speak and eat as you normally would.4. Infected teethTooth decay and gum disease are both very serious issues that may lead to tooth loss. Periodontitis, a form of gum disease, results in bone loss. This means that there aren’t enough supporting structures for your teeth, causing them to become loose and eventually fall out. If left untreated, mouth infections can even spread to other parts of your body. Your dentist will remove the infected tissue and and replace the natural tooth with an artificial one.5. Shrinking JawboneMissing teeth roots from the gum and jawbone can lead to the deterioration of the jawbone. Natural tooth roots transmit the pressures created by chewing into the jawbone, maintaining its form and function. The post portion of the implant acts as an artificial tooth root. It becomes osseointegrated, meaning it grows and fuses with the jawbone and transmits the necessary forces. Quickly replacing any missing teeth with implants helps stimulate the jawbone to continue its natural function.If implants are something that you are interested in, please give our team a call on 01723 670500 for more information.
6 Fun Ways To Teach Your Child To Brush Their Teeth 22 March 202312 July 2022You can begin introducing an oral hygiene routine a few days after birth. Use a clean, wet gauze or washcloth to gently wipe their gums after feedings. As soon as their first tooth erupts, it’s time to begin brushing using a small soft toothbrush twice a day. You should brush your child’s teeth until you feel that they can brush on their own. Every child will be ready at a different age but most can brush by the time they are in preschool. At that time, you should supervise to make sure they use the right amount of toothpaste and following up any places they might have missed.However, It may be difficult to get your child to brush their teeth when they reach the stage of being able to do it themselves. Follow our tips to find out how to make them enjoy implementing an oral hygiene routine.Make It A Family ActivitySetting an example for you children is one of the best ways to get them to enjoy brushing their teeth. By brushing your teeth at the same time, you are giving your child a fun, family activity to look forward to everyday. Brush and floss at least twice daily with your children, including once before bedtime. This routine will help to form consistency that they will carry with them into their later life.Find Fun Dental Education ResourcesRead age-appropriate books or watch videos about dental hygiene with your child. Your child will enjoy the time spent together but also they might find it interesting to learn about the importance of their oral health, especially if their parents are interested too.Use A Special ToothbrushIt is likely that your child will enjoy brushing their teeth more if they can use a special toothbrush of their choosing. As adults, it can be easy to forget the effect of incorporating toys into everyday life.Create A Tooth brushing CompetitionTo make tooth brushing more fun, make it a game and set a timer for two minutes. The winner must brush their teeth for two minutes without stopping. This will create a friendly competition and encourage your children to brush their teeth properly.Reward Tooth BrushingTo encourage your children to brush their teeth twice a day, use a simple rewards system. Start with small rewards, such as a gold star, and award it for the basic necessity, brushing twice a day. Then, award a larger reward for every 10 gold stars. This will make your child motivated to brush their teeth.Make A Trip To The Dentist A Fun VisitMake sure that your child understands that a trip to the dentist can be a reward for them keeping their teeth clean, and not a negative outcome for not brushing and flossing. Parents can pass on their fear of the dentist to their children by simply talking about it in a negative tone. Try to avoid this. If you are anxious about a trip to the dentist, try to talk about it in a neutral tone.Creating a fun routine a home from an early age will ensure that your child develops the habit of caring for their teeth.
How To Prepare For A Dental Crown 15 March 202312 July 2022There are lots of different reasons why you might require a dental crown, such as a covering a decayed tooth, covering a discoloured or misshapen tooth or protecting a tooth that has undergone a root canal.ProcedureThe dental crown procedure will usually take place over two appointments.First appointment: Your dentist will examine the tooth and prepare it for a crown. They will take x-rays of the tooth and surrounding bone and file down the tooth. The amount of filing required will depend on the type of crown used, metal crowns do not need as much tooth removed as porcelain crowns.Once the tooth is filed, your dentist will take an impression of the tooth that requires the crown. They will also take an impression of the teeth above the crown so that it can fit properly with your bite. The impressions are sent to the lab to create the crown which will take about two to three weeks. Your dentist will give you a temporary crown to protect your tooth.Second appointment: Now your dentist will fit your new crown. They will check the colour, shape, and the fit of your new crown. They will permanently cement it in place.Same Day CrownsSome dentists may offer a same day crown placement using computer-aided-design (CAD). In this case a scanning device takes images of your tooth and the software uses the images to make a 3D image of your mouth. The software then sends the model to a machine that carves the crown out of ceramic in about 15 minutes.Recovery ProcessThe recovery time should be relatively short as you will mostly be dealing with irritation and inflammation. Your dentist will provide you with after care tips. Your bite might feel slightly strange to begin with as your tooth may not be exactly the same shape as it was. Your bite should return to normal after a few days.How To Care For Your CrownOnce your crown has been placed, the best way to look after it is to maintain great oral care and treat your crown as if it were a natural tooth. The tooth beneath the crown still needs to be protected against gum disease and decay. Brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and use either interdental brushes or floss to clean in between your teeth. Crowns can be susceptible to cracking and wear and tear, depending on the material they are made from. Avoid biting hard surfaces.If you think that a crown may be suitable for you, please call us on 01723 670500 for more information.
Why You Should Wear A Mouthguard During Contact Sports 8 March 20235 July 2022Mouthguards 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 SportsSports 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 MouthguardsThere 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 MouthguardRinse 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’ 1 March 20235 July 2022The 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 fillerinjectables 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 theappearance 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, andyou’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 agreat ‘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.
How To Care For Your Teething Baby 1 February 20235 July 2022Teething 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.SymptomsAlong with difficulty sleeping, teething symptoms can include:ChewingIrritability/fussinessExcessive droolingIf 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 RingA 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 TreatOnce 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 GumsMake 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 WaterIf 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 DribbleOne 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 BabyTry taking your child’s mind off their pain by singing or encouraging them to play their favourite games.Caring For Your Baby’s New TeethOnce 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.