Wisdom teeth are always the last teeth to erupt, usually around the age of between 17 and 25.  Adults can have 32 teeth in total which all come through during the first 20 years or so of their life.  That’s a lot of teeth to fit in a mouth!  Not all mouths are the same size, usually 28 teeth are the most we can fit in our mouth which is why when the wisdom teeth decide to appear problems usually follow.

Wisdom teeth erupt at the back of the mouth where there is usually no space for them to come through.  For some the teeth are a welcome addition to their mouth along with their normal teeth causing no issues, whereas for others they experience pain, inflammation and jaw tenderness.

What are the problems likely to occur?

The problems commonly associated with wisdom teeth are:

Impacted Wisdom teeth – this is when there is no space for the teeth to come through and the teeth get stuck at an angle against the tooth beside it.

Periocorontitis – happens when the tooth has partially erupted but part of the tooth is still covered by the gum.  The gum becomes inflamed and sore.  Bacteria and food can get under the gum making the problem worse.  Mouthwashes, antibiotics and special cleaning tools can help with this but if the problem persists it may be best to remove the tooth.

Overcrowding – as the wisdom teeth come through pressure can be put onto the existing teeth pushing them along to make space for the wisdom teeth causing the teeth to become crowded or misaligned.

What can I do to stop the pain caused by wisdom teeth?

Usually pain or discomfort caused by wisdom teeth isn’t continuous, it flares up every now and again.  If you are experiencing soreness and inflammation around the wisdom area rinse your mouth with salt water several times a day.  Alternatively use a special mouthwash containing chlorhexidine.  This is an antibacterial mouthwash and is available from your dentist or local pharmacy.  Combining either of these mouth rinses with anti-inflammatory tablets such as ibuprofen should help reduce the inflammation and ease the pain.

Sometimes wisdom teeth can cause tenderness around the jaw and you may find it difficult to open your mouth.  It is recommended you see a dentist at this stage as you may need antibiotics and the dentist may also clean around the area thoroughly.  Any continued problems the dentist may suggest to have the tooth removed.  Blue Sky Dental are a team of Specialist Dentists, one of which is an Oral Surgeon.  You may be referred to one of these dentists should the tooth be deemed difficult to remove http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/treatments/oral-surgery-essex.

Should you really remove wisdom teeth?

If the teeth are healthy and causing no problems then leave them alone.  Wisdom teeth are only removed if they are causing problems such as:

1. If they are erupting at an angle causing pain and also causing problems to the existing teeth.
2. If they are partially erupted and the part of the tooth exposed is decayed.  This can happen due to the location of the tooth.  Being at the far back of the mouth can make cleaning difficult.
3. If they are causing continuous pain and discomfort.

Can my dentist remove wisdom teeth?

The dentist will take x-rays to determine the position of the tooth and to check the root.  Upper wisdom teeth are often easier to remove than lower teeth.  As with any treatment there are some risks involved and by using the x-rays the dentist will determine if it is safe for him to remove the tooth or refer you to a Specialist Dentist or a hospital.  No matter who removes the tooth, it will be completely painless as a local anaesthetic is used or if you are referred to hospital they generally prefer to use a general anaesthetic.

Whether you have a removable brace or a fixed brace certain care needs to be taken of your mouth.  Depending on the type of brace, you could expect to wear the brace for between 6 months to a few years.  If you don’t take care of your teeth and gums during this time, when the treatment is finished you could end up needing gum treatment or restorative treatment.  Blue Sky Dental talks about what you can expect from Orthodontic treatment, how to speed up the process and what you can do to help.

1. There are many different braces available now, but all with the same principal – to straighten your teeth.  No matter the type you choose regular review appointments are required by the dentist.  This is to check the progress of treatment, make any necessary adjustments and to check on your oral health.  Always attend these appointments.  These appointments are necessary and non attendance may delay the treatment.
2. Once the brace has been fitted and after review appointments you may experience some soreness and your mouth may feel uncomfortable.  This is because the brace puts pressure on the teeth to move and the adjustments made during review appointments applies more pressure.  This usually eases a few days after the appointment.  Taking paracetamol or ibuprofen can help ease the discomfort.  You may also feel the brackets rubbing on your lips.  The dentist can give you some orthodontic wax which is pliable like chewing gum.  This can be spread over the brackets to stop them causing sore spots.  Any continual soreness then you should visit your dentist.
3. Initially your speech may be affected after the brace has been fitted.  It can take a few days for your mouth to get used to the brace and you may find that you have more saliva in your mouth.  You will adapt and your speech will return to normal after a day or two.
4. The brace is easily damaged so be aware of the foods you are eating.  Avoid biting into baguettes, having chewy, sticky or sugary foods, don’t bite into apples or carrots and avoid chewing gum.  Drinks to avoid include fizzy drinks and fruit juices.  These are high in sugar and are acidic and can cause tooth decay.  The safest drinks for your mouth are water and milk.  If you have to drink fizzy drinks and fruit juices use a straw.
5. If you have a removable brace, keep it in the case provided when not wearing.  If not provided by your dentist these cases are available at most pharmacies.  Many a time has a patient put the brace in their pocket or in a tissue and it has been lost or thrown away.

How do I clean my teeth?

Fixed brace – Clean your teeth and brace every time you eat.  Never do this straight after eating as certain foods can make the enamel soft.  Leave for an hour before brushing.  Pay attention to the gum line as this area is often forgotten and can become inflamed due to plaque build up.  Use interdental brushes to clean between the teeth and an interspace brush to clean around the brackets and hard to reach areas.  Use a fluoride toothpaste to help protect your teeth from decay and use a disclosing tablet weekly to see the areas you are missing when cleaning.

Removable brace – Clean your teeth as normal using a fluoride toothpaste and in between your teeth with dental floss or interdental brushes.  Never try to eat or drink whilst wearing the brace.

For more advice regarding braces contact Blue Sky Dental http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/treatments/invisible-braces.  Alternatively if you need advice regarding any treatment give us a call.  We have a team of Specialist Dentists waiting to help you.

Fluoride is a natural mineral found in foods and water. Its main benefit to teeth is it helps to strengthen the tooth enamel making it more resistant to tooth enamel.  Many Councils add fluoride to the water supply as not many areas have enough fluoride in the water to actually benefit the teeth.  Other countries prefer to add fluoride to certain foods and drinks, such as table salt and milk.  Adding fluoride to the water supply has been thoroughly researched for over 60 years monitoring the actual benefits and possible side effects.  Research shows that the addition of fluoride helps reduce decay by between 40 – 60%.  Research also shows that those areas who haven’t had fluoride added to the water, children have 5 times more decay than those who have water fluoridation.

What else is Fluoride added to?

The most recognisable item fluoride is added to is toothpaste.  This is the best way for people to get fluoride due to the direct contact to the teeth.  As mentioned above fluoride helps to strengthen the tooth enamel thus reducing the risk of decay.  By only spitting and not rinsing when brushing our teeth we are keeping the presence of fluoride on our teeth for as long as possible.

The recommended amount of fluoride to actually provide protection is 0.7 to 1.2 parts of fluoride to every million parts of water.  This is the amount you will find in your water supply.  For exact amounts your water supplier can help you.

Are there any possible side effects of fluoride?

Having the right amount of fluoride protects your teeth whereas too much can harm the teeth.  Fluorosis is caused by having too much fluoride whilst the teeth are developing.  This can be caused by an overdose of fluoride (drinking fluoridated water as well as having fluoride gel or varnish applications to the teeth by a dentist or taking fluoride supplements).  Swallowing toothpaste can also do this.

Fluorosis has an effect on the appearance of the teeth, causing them to have fine white lines or flecks on the surfaces.  More severe forms of Fluorosis results in the enamel being pitted and discoloured.

Is fluoride actually safe?

After years of speculation about whether fluoride is actually safe enough to be added to food and drinks, the scientific conclusion is yes, providing it is used correctly.  Millions of people use fluoride toothpastes regularly and over 300 million people worldwide drink fluoridated water with no side effects but instead have improved levels of dental health.

If your not sure about how fluoride will effect your dental health, speak to your dentist or hygienist.  These experts are the best people to advise you about this subject.  If you are not registered with a dentist then call Blue Sky Dental for advice on 01245 211070 or visit our website http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/.

Which foods can cause problems with teeth?

Having a diet high in sugar means your teeth are high at risk of decay.  When we eat or drink anything containing sugar, the sugar reacts with the bacteria found in plaque.  This then creates acid which attacks your teeth.  Continued acid attack breaks the enamel down causing decay.  To keep the attack to a minimum only have sugary foods and drinks at mealtimes.  This limits the time your mouth is at risk. Sugary foods and drinks are not the only problem for teeth, acidic foods and drink are too.  Acid, such as citric and phosperic acid, can dissolve the enamel, the protective layer, on teeth exposing the dentine.  This is the softer part of the tooth which when exposed can cause sensitivity. It is important to maintain a diet rich in vitamins, minerals with plenty of fruit and vegetables, but even foods that are healthy for your body can be bad for your teeth.

Foods which are bad for your teeth

• Sugary sweets such as lolly pops and boiled sweets
• Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes and oranges
• Sticky dried fruit such as raisons

The problem with these foods are not the amount of sugar present in them but how long the sugar is exposed to the teeth.  This is what causes the problems.  Save these foods and drinks for mealtimes only.  If you must have sweets or sugary drinks opt for sugar free varieties.  Don’t be fooled by the ‘no sugar added’ varieties.  These still contain sugar but have not had anymore added.

Drinks that are bad for your teeth

• Fizzy drinks such as Coke and Lemonade
• Sports drinks
• Tea and coffee which have sugar added
• Alcohol
• Fruit juices

Switch fizzy drinks and sports drinks to still water or milk.  These drinks are much better for your body as well as your teeth.  If you have to drink fizzy drinks try drinking them through a straw.  This way you are limiting how much sugar comes into contact with your teeth.  If you drink fruit juices try diluting them a little with water first.  Or use sugar free diluted drinks instead, diluting them by at least 10 parts water to 1 part juice.

Should you brush your teeth directly after contact with sugar?

Some tend to think that by brushing your teeth directly after having sugary drinks and foods, you are limiting any possible effects it may have on the teeth.  This is in fact not true.  The sugar and acids present in foods and drinks cause the enamel to become soft.  If you brush your teeth when the enamel is soft you risk literally brushing the enamel away.  It is best just to rinse your mouth with water and then brush your teeth an hour later.  Alternatively you can chew sugar free gum.  Chewing increases saliva which help protects against tooth decay.

For more information regarding your diet and the effects on teeth speak to your dentist.  Alternatively call us, Blue Sky Dental, on 01245 211070 or visit our website http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/.

As prevention is a key part to avoiding dental problems, it is important that we look at all of the factors that contribute to this.

Commonly mentioned are cleaning the teeth, brushing and regular dental check ups at our Chelmsford dental practice, as well as being careful about what we eat and drink.

These are very important points and will go a long way to ensuring good oral health.

One factor that sometimes gets overlooked though is hydration.

Water

Most of us will drink when we feel thirsty. Unfortunately, all too often this is a sports drink or fizzy drink, both of which will contribute to dental decay, even with the best oral care regime in the world.

With the wide availability of bottled water though, thankfully there is nearly always a ready supply that we can access. This will both hydrate you and quench your thirst.

Hydration

But why is hydration so important from the point of our whole mouth health?

Water plays two keys roles here; firstly, by staying hydrated, we salivate more. This, in turn helps to remove food debris that has been stuck between the teeth as well as excessive mouth bacteria.

Conversely, being dehydrated means that we have a dry mouth. This not only does not wash away the bacteria that can eventually lead to gum disease, but also provides the perfect breeding ground for them, making gum disease more likely.

Cigarettes and alcohol

Even if we drink sufficient water to stay hydrated though, there are times when our lifestyle can make this even more important.

Those who smoke and/or drink alcohol are at an increased risk of gum disease, caused, to a large degree, by the dry mouth that is almost inevitable.

By stopping, or at least reducing the amount of cigarettes smoked, or the units of alcohol drunk, we can reduce this problem significantly.

Naturally, many of us do drink, at least on a social basis, and, after a night out, it is advisable to ensure that you drink plenty of water before you go to bed. This will help to reduce the dehydration and dry mouth that you would otherwise feel in the morning.

If you suffer from a dry mouth or would like more information about gum disease, please call Blue Sky Dental of Chelmsford, Essex on 01245 211070.

Just because you are of a certain age, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are about to lose your teeth. Maintaining good oral hygiene throughout your life ensures you keep your teeth for life. No matter what your age, Gum Disease and tooth decay are completely avoidable but unfortunately with age certain things do start to happen within your mouth.

Many older people think its unnecessary to see a Dentist at their time of life but it is just as important to see a Dentist regularly, as there is nothing better than your own teeth and the Dentist can show you ways to keep your teeth clean and your mouth healthy.

What factors can affect good oral hygiene with older people?

Unfortunately when we age certain parts of our body can deteriorate.  Our eyesight can fail, our joints can become stiff and painful making tooth brushing very difficult.  Your Dentist can suggest ways on how to make this easier for you, such as using an electric toothbrush.  Using this requires less movement of the arm and wrist.

Also certain ailments require continuous medication which can have an effect on the mouth.  Some medications can cause dry mouth.  Saliva helps to protect your teeth from decay as well as moistening the food you eat and making swallowing easier. Products are available over the counter to assist with this.

Most of us find, with age, our gums tend to recede making our teeth become more sensitive.  This is because the roots become exposed.  The dentine on the roots are not protected by the enamel like the parts of the tooth we normally see.  The dentine is softer and therefore is more open to sensitivity.

Many older people have lost teeth throughout their life and have something to replace these teeth, such as dentures or a bridge.  Just because these are ‘false teeth’ it doesn’t mean that they don’t need taking care of.  These still need to be cleaned as incorrect care can result in problems with your own teeth and mouth.

What about those who are housebound?

Some Dentists provide home visits.  Depending on the treatment needed, if any, this can usually be carried out in your home.  The Dentist will usually bring his Nurse with him to assist.

What is the best way to care for your teeth?

The advice is always the same no matter what your age.

• Use a small headed toothbrush (unless advised otherwise), with a soft to medium texture.
• Use a fluoride toothpaste to help protect your teeth.  Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Use floss or interdental brushes to clean in between the teeth.  Adaptors are available to help those who find using these difficult.
• Use a mouthwash to protect your teeth and gums and keep your breath fresh.
• If you have dentures, remove them at night.

If you are unsure on how to keep your mouth healthy, contact Blue Sky Dental.  We can advise and help keep your mouth healthy, providing continuing maintenance and care.  More information is provided on our website http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/ or call 01245 211070.

Plaque is the white sticky substance that builds up on your teeth. It is formed by a combination of the foods we eat and the bacteria naturally present in our mouth.  Every one has plaque because everyone has bacteria in their mouth and every time we eat foods containing sugars and starch, the bacteria continues to produce plaque.

We need to remove the plaque from our teeth daily which is why Dentists recommend you brush your teeth twice a day.  If left the acid found in the plaque will start to break down the enamel and cause cavities.  Cavities are completely avoidable and having good oral hygiene and limiting the amounts of sugary foods will help avoid unnecessary treatment.

Plaque also causes Gum Disease.  When plaque is not removed it turns to calculus, a hardened form of plaque, which can only be removed professionally.  This irritates the gums causing them to become red and swollen and bleed when brushed.  If Gum Disease is not treated plaque continues to form causing the gum to recede exposing the bone.  The bone that supports the teeth is eaten away causing the teeth to become loose.  This is called Periodontal Disease.

How can I prevent unnecessary treatment?

Prevention is better than cure so if you follow these top tips, this should ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy.

1. Brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove traces of plaque from your teeth.
2. Floss or use interdental brushes to remove plaque from in between your teeth.
3. Reduce the amount of sugary foods and drinks you have.  Foods such as cakes, sweets, raisons etc and drinks such as fizzy drinks and fruit juices.
4. Make sure you have regular appointments with a dentist and regular hygiene appointments.  The Hygienist will clean your teeth and remove the plaque and calculus before it has a chance to damage your teeth and gums.

Most dental practices have hygiene facilities but Blue Sky Dental has a Fresh Breath Centre http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/.  Advice, treatment and continued maintenance appointments are carried out by our Dental Hygienist, Vicky.  A combination of treatment at the practice with her and the continued hygiene treatment you do at home will ensure your mouth stays healthy.

Dental veneers, as we know, are an excellent method of improving the appearance of a person’s teeth in cases where they have become severely discoloured or cracked.

By replacing a thin layer of the enamel from the front of the teeth with a fine layer of porcelain which is shaped and polished, we are able to give the appearance of a natural tooth.

The veneers themselves should last for between ten and fifteen years, depending on the individual and may then need to be replaced.

Taking care of the veneers will help to ensure their longevity, but it is also important not to forget the natural tooth it is attached to as well.

Oral care

At Blue Sky Dental, we try to make sure that all of our dental patients from the Chelmsford area are fully informed about any aftercare related to the procedure they are about to have.

However much we put our many years of training into practice to provide the best care that we can; if the veneers are neglected afterwards, the patient will not get the best from them.

Because the veneer itself is made from porcelain which does not stain easily and can’t decay, it can be easy to look at your teeth and think that they don’t need cleaning as well as regular teeth.

This would be a very bad assumption to make however. Although this may be true about the actual veneer, the tooth that it is attached to can still decay or break. In cases where this does occur, it may no longer be possible for the veneer to remain attached.

To avoid this happening, the teeth with the attached veneers should be cleaned in the same manner as you would your natural teeth.

Careful flossing too should not be ignored as this is an excellent method of gum disease prevention.

Decay

If a tooth with an attached veneer suffers from decay, it may be necessary to remove the veneer in order to treat the tooth. In cases where the decay is significant and a large filling needed, it may prove more difficult to reattach the veneer in a way that ensures it is as strong as before.

In rare cases, it may even be that the decay is so severe that a veneer would be no longer viable. Depending on the damage, a crown made in the same shade as your veneer could be used to build up the tooth, or, alternatively, the tooth could be extracted and methods to replace it, e.g. an implant, investigated.

Hopefully, this is not a conversation that we will need to have with our patients too often but we have unfortunately seen cases of fairly bad neglect. However, you can always be sure of our help and advice to make the right decision about your treatment.

Above all though, do remember that a good oral care regime will help to prevent this problem from occurring in the first instance.

If you have any questions about dental veneers, we are happy to help. Simply call Blue Sky Dental Care of Chelmsford, Essex on 01245 211070.

We all have our own little habits but if you knew they were possibly ruining your teeth would you still do them? Even things you would consider part of your everyday life, that you do continuously, can have an effect.

Listed below are the most common habits we do that can wreck our teeth:

1. Smoking – badly stains your teeth and causes gum disease which can make you loose teeth.  Causes Cancer of the mouth, lip and tongue as well as contributing to other Cancers throughout the body.
2. Alcohol – the acid in wine can weaken your teeth and eat away at your tooth enamel.  Whether its red or white wine, your teeth are more susceptible to staining as the teeth are made porous by the acid, which allows any staining to stick to the teeth.
3.  Fizzy Drinks and Energy Drinks – some fizzy drinks contain as much as 11 teaspoons of sugar whilst energy drinks contain more than 18!  Like wine, they also contain phosphoric and citric acids which eat away at the tooth enamel.  The acid combined with the amount of sugar makes these drinks a nightmare for your teeth.
4. Fruit Juices and Smoothies – you may think you are being healthy opting for fruit juices and smoothies but they are in fact full of sugar.  Try to choose a juice that has no added sugar or dilute the juice with a little water.
5. Coffee – drank in high quantities your teeth are likely to stain a yellow colour.  This is easily removed by whitening your teeth.
6. Tongue Piercings – can cause gum recession and chipped and broken teeth.
7. Contact Sport – without some form of protection for your teeth, contact sports can be dangerous for your teeth with the strong possibility of loosing teeth.  Wearing a mouth guard will help prevent damage from occurring.
8. Grinding – not always something we know we are doing, as many people do this in their sleep.  By grinding you risk chipping and breaking your teeth as well as wearing them away.  Your dentist can provide you with a Night Guard to protect the teeth.
9. Removing lids with your teeth – bottle lids and tearing at packets can damage and chip teeth.  Teeth should only be used for eating, not opening items.
10. Chewing on pencils or pen lids – can cause the teeth to crack or chip.

How can you prevent damaging your teeth?

Regular appointments with your Dentist and Hygienist will ensure the health of your teeth and help prevent problems, that may happen due to these habits, from escalating.  Prevention is always the key so to avoid costly dental treatments be aware of what you may be doing to your teeth.

We have all experienced at one time or another a clicky jaw. Whether its when eating or yawning its bound to happen at some point. For some people its one of those things that rarely happen, not enough to cause a problem. But for some its a constant problem that can end up causing pain and discomfort.  A clicky jaw is a type of joint dysfunction.  Grating is another type of Jaw Joint Dysfunction.

Symptoms of Jaw Joint Dysfunction include:

• Mild to severe discomfort/pain around the jaw joint.  You may also experience pain around the cheek and ear and even the neck area.
• Lock jaw.
• Restriction on opening and closing.
• Difficulty when eating.
• A change in your bite – how your teeth meet together.

The correct name for the jaw joint is Temporomandibular joint (the TMJ).  The TMJ allows us to open and close our mouth, move the jaw from side to side and backwards and forwards.  It is attached to several muscles and ligaments which helps the jaw perform all these movements.

When we experience problems with the jaw joint diagnoses isn’t easy.  Unfortunately there is no set test a Dentist can do to determine the exact cause.  The jaw is very complex, determining the cause of problems can be difficult but they can advise on how to relax your jaw and ease the discomfort you are experiencing.

As well as taking anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers, there are other things you can do to help.

Tips to help Jaw Joint Dysfunction

• Try to avoid hard foods that require lots of chewing
• Avoid habits that require constant use of the jaw opening and closing such as chewing gum, nail biting
• Apply a hot water bottle to the area (make sure the bottle is wrapped in cloth as not to burn yourself) or alternatively apply a hot towel to the area to ease discomfort.  The heat encourages blood flow which should improve the movement of the jaw.
• Easy as it sounds try to avoid clenching and grinding your teeth.  Most of the time we don’t realise we are doing it.  Clenching and grinding is linked to stress so try to relax by having a massage or join a yoga class.
• Ask your dentist to make you a night guard if you grind your teeth.  This will help ease the pressure you are putting on your jaw by doing so.

There are exercises a dentist can show you which will improve the symptoms you may be experiencing. An appointment with the dentist will allow him the chance to assess what’s going on, if he can fix the problem or at least control it.  There really is no need to suffer, the dentist is there to help.  Contact us for more advice regarding TMJ Dysfunction or any other dental treatment on 01245 211070 or visit our website http://www.blueskydental.co.uk/.