Truth Behind My Smile

Travel friendly toothcare

2010-08-20T18:18:32Z

It’s the height of the holiday season with many of us jetting off to desinations where the sunshine is more reliable. As your attention is turned to last minute holiday shopping and packing, we thought we’d round up the best of the travel friendly dental care products around.

There’s no need to comprimise your oral care routine just because you want to pack light. Boots The Chemist and Superdrug both sell a selection of dental care mini sizes including Listerine Total Care mouthwash in a flight regulation friendly 95ml, and Colgate Total Toothpaste in 25ml, 50ml and 75ml sizes.

The website www.aplaceforeverything.co.uk has the solution for messy spills with their ‘toothpaste tube’ which fits your regular toothbrush and toothpaste in a sealable tube. The Toothbrush Tube is £5.00 and is a good buy for anyone who travels regularly.

3-in-1 travel toothbrush

The Ortho Store sells this handy 3 in 1 Toothbrush – it’s the dental equivilent of a Swiss Army Knife! With a brush, a toothpick and an interdental brush this is particularly handy for anyone who wears braces and is £3.50. They also have a comprehensive little pack called the Orthodontic Travel Kit for £5.00 which contains a multitude of gadgets including floss and floss threaders and a mouth mirror to help you look after your braces on the move.

To keep your mouth fresh whilst you travel, pocket friendly tooth cleaners include the Chewable Tooth Brush, which are ubiquitous in station and airport toilets. We’ve never had the nerve to actually try one of these and would love to hear from anyone who has! We think sugar free chewing gum is also a travel essential and has the multi-function advantage of helping your ears adjust to altitude as well as keeping breath fresh.

For the more adventurous, those travelling to more remote areas where dentists are likely to be scarce may want to consider packing some clever kits for dental emergencies. Dentek has a range of kits to consider. From Temporary Fillings (£4.91) to Crown & Cap Cement (£4.99) and a handy Tooth Ache Kit (£8.29). We don’t recommend DIY dentistry, BUT, these kits could keep you smiling until you can get home. They are available online from Lloyds Pharmacy.

And finally, denture wearers, like cyclists, shouldn’t leave home without a repair kit such as the Dentaire Swiss Denture RepairFix (£19.95). Happy holidays!

10 Reasons to smile on a Monday…

2010-08-09T11:30:24Z

Smiling sets off a chain reaction

1. A smile takes years off

Forget Botox and fancy creams; a big grin lifts the muscles in your face and makes you appear instantly younger. We subconsciously associate happiness with youth so a genuine smile can do more than a cosmetic surgeon, and for a lot less money.

2. Smiling changes our mood

You can trick yourself into feeling more positive by cracking a smile. So if you are feeling down, try turning up the corners of your mouth….you’ll find your mood changes in an instant.

3. Catch a smile and spread the love

Smiling is contagious; it can change the mood of others and set off a chain reaction of happiness and goodwill. Try walking into a room full of serious faces, if you give someone a heartfelt smile it will soon change the mood of those around you.

4. Smiling through the pain.

Smiling releases endorphins and serotonin – our natural, in-built pain relievers. So if you have hurt yourself, try to make a joke of it and send those endorphins soaring!

5. Smiling is good for your blood pressure

The scientific boffins have proven that smiling can lower your blood pressure. So when you feel yourself tensing up and the pressure mounting think of something funny or someone you love – anything to bring a smile to your face – and your blood pressure will start to drop again.

6. You’re gorgeous…. smile!

Picture two people, one who is smiling, the other who looks down in the dumps, who would you be most attracted to? We are attracted to the smiling person because we want to know why they are happy, and we want to join in their good mood. Smiling makes you more attractive to people, particularly if your smile reveals rows of straight and healthy teeth.

7. Smiling is the best medicine

Smiling can help boost your immune system as it forces the body to relax which in turn boosts health. Kick start a positive cycle this winter by staying upbeat and steering clear of colds and coughs.

8. Smiling relieves stress

We hold stress and tension on the inside, but the signs are clear for all to see on our faces. When you are feeling stressed, acknowledge those feelings and take time out to smile, the action of smiling will relax you and you will be better able to cope with your day.

9. Smile for positivity

It’s physically and mentally impossible to be negative whilst smiling. Try to say something bad or think a negative thought whilst smiling – it just can’t be done. Our smile triggers a response that tells the body that ‘everything’s AOK’ and instantly banishes any negativity.

10. Smile for success

Smiling gives you confidence and confidence brings success. It’s that simple.

Who knew teeth could be so rock n roll!

2010-07-26T13:11:12Z

Ozzy Osbourne recently admitted to having dental implants

Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne has confessed to having a mouth full of impants, or as he puts it: “My choppers ain’t real. All my teeth are screwed in.” He blames his drug addictions for losing his teeth as vital nutrients such as calcium are depleted, but the most common reason is gum disease. Ozzy goes on to say: “If I had my real teeth, I’d look like Herman Munster’s ugly brother.” Sound familiar? Well Ozzy’s case sounds pretty drastic but many people can relate to feeling unhappy about a gappy or crooked smile.

Ozzy’s implants are titanium and they are implanted into the jaw bone via surgery. Titanium is well tolerated by the bone which over time grows over the implant to give it extra stability. The implant is effectively a screw that supports the crown or the bridge and together they form a permanent tooth replacement option. Implants can be used to create a full mouth of teeth, or for single teeth replacement, but this route to a happy smile isn’t available on the NHS. Implants will cost between £1,800.00 to £2,500.00 at a top London clinic, although a less expensive solution is to travel overseas to places like Budapest where patients can find prices are reduced by about 50%.

The news that Ozzy chose implants over a denture is hardly surprising. As a celebrity he’ll be under close scrutiny from the press and implants mean he can feel 100% confident speaking or eating with no danger of slipping dentures. A comforting thought not doubt for Ozzy as he can continue to bite heads of bats with total confidence. For the rest of us, just eating an apple or some crusty bread would be proof enough that implants do lead to a more confident smile!

Smiling in the face of fear

2010-07-14T09:29:09Z

Dental phobia can cause long term oral health issues

No one loves going to the dentist. A check up appointment is never met with joyous enthusiasm but while most of us don’t rush there with a happy heart we know it has to be. For some people though, a visit to the dentist is something to truly dread, and this strong, irrational fear can lead to extreme nerves, panic attacks and a total avoidance of the dental chair.

Approximately 5% of the population avoid the dentist because of this extreme fear and almost inevitably this leads to long dental health problems. Dentists recognise three levels of patient apprehension – anxiety, fear and phobia. Many people will confess to having a general dental anxiety, but it won’t stop them booking their regular appointments. Those who fear the dentist will have a harder time making themselves go and may need extra help if treatment is required. Dental phobic’s experience crippling fear that is likely to see them avoiding dental treatment for so long they face serious problems with your teeth.

So what causes this common fear? Obviously bad past experiences with dentists are likely to put us off going the next time; but it’s also the fear of the unknown. We can’t see what’s going on, we’re uncomfortable in the chair, we don’t understand what the dentist is muttering to his assistant and we feel like people are judging us. Pain of course is a big fear trigger and even the pain killing injections can hurt! For many, it starts off with a missed check up or two; fear starts to kick in when we feel guilty about not going, or worry about what treatment might now be needed.

Barry, a sales manager from Solihull talks about how his dental phobia grew because of missed check up appointments: “I’d stopped my dental insurance because of rising costs and started missing check up appointments; before too long I realised I needed serious dental work, but the more I didn’t go the more the fear built up. I was worried about the cost and the embarrassment I knew I’d feel when the dentist looked at my teeth. I work in sales so smiling and feeling positive is a must, my missing teeth caused me to perfect a closed mouth smile. I knew I had to do something but just couldn’t overcome my fear.”

Luckily Barry’s partner spotted an article for an overseas dental service and they booked an appointment for a consultation in London. “I nearly ducked out of the appointment but their treatment plan was so thorough and easy to understand I steeled my nerves and flew to Budapest. I was terrified but the dentist understood my request for a general anaesthetic and it was all no problem. The second visit was so much easier after that and now I have an amazing smile again.”

Phobias can start young and carry on throughout life with potentially serious consequences. Charlotte, a beauty blogger (www.ladyofthelane.com) traces her dental phobia back to an operation she had as a young child. Years later the experience left her terrified of all things medical including the dentist. Childhood injections and simple check ups carried very real anxieties for her. After a sympathetic doctor listened to her fears she was able to get some help, but her phobia of dentists remains. “For me the phobia stems from the unknown, plus the basic fact that going to the dentist does often hurt. I have found a new and very gentle dentist who has really helped me but I still dread every appointment and live in fear of something serious like a root canal.” Explains Charlotte.

We’ve talked to lots of dentists and dental phobic’s to come up with some top tips to help you smile in the face of fear…..

Talk about it….to your friends and most importantly your dentist. Talking about your fears will help straightway because you’ll be relieved you’ve shared the burden, plus your dentist may have practical solutions to suggest. If talking to the dentist worries you too much start by asking the receptionist what she knows the dentist can do to help
Break the chain of phobia – try a new dentist if you can find one, or if you need major treatment consider going abroad where private dentistry is less expensive.
Ask your dentist to be more communicative. At the beginning he should explain what will happen in the appointment and get him to keep talking to you throughout the whole session
Try relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and acupuncture. More serious cases of phobias should try Cognitive Based Therapies which can be accessed via your doctor.
Take a friend and ask them to distract you before and during the appointment with some light hearted chatter
Sedation can be very helpful for treatment, ask your dentist about what they offer in the practice.

An App A Day Keeps the Dentist Away

2010-06-28T20:12:39Z

Having just about resisted the feeding frenzy surrounding the Apple iPad launch last month, I am now seriously tempted by the new iPhone 4 which arrived in the UK last week amid the usual store queues and glowing reviews from the techy community.

Do I lust after it for its new ‘FaceTime’ video calling? Is it the Retina Display with the incredible screen resolution? Or do I just want to make and edit a High Definition video? Nope…..I want it so I can play around with some oh-so-very-essential dental apps.

Who could resist downloading 3D Teeth? Packed with animated 3D graphics of each tooth, it’s a must-have mouth companion which gives you loads of information on…well…teeth! From dental caries to dental implants it’s got the whole mouth covered and is essential reading before you move on to the….Animated Tooth Quiz! Yes, this dental app lets you test your toothsome knowledge with 48 illustrated questions (not including wisdom teeth – did the makers spot the obvious joke here?). Surely this is the ideal distraction to while away time in the waiting room with your fellow patients?

Help in the bathroom is also at hand with a number of apps to help you brush. The iBrush app stands out for having illustrations on brushing techniques and a timer to ensure you spend the right amount of time on each section of the mouth. A little OTT perhaps but actually this could genuinely be a useful way to get poor brushers to improve their skill and ultimately help their oral hygiene and dental health.

There are nearly 100 dental specific apps to choose from, but two more really stood out for me. The first one, Dental Spanish has been designed for English dentists to communicate with their Spanish patients. The large Hispanic community in America must have breathed a sigh of relief when this one launched – at last they can understand what their dentist is saying behind his nose and mouth mask. And finally, our all time favourite – the Little Dental Drug Book – apparently it’s “everyone’s favourite pocket prescription guide.” Obviously the drug guide is aimed at dentists, although I find it worrying that they need to rely on an iPhone app to prescribe correctly, but I think every patient should have one to make that drilling and filling just a little more relaxing!

The recession bites back with teeth grinding on the rise.

2010-06-18T15:02:21Z

New reports reveal that our teeth are the latest victims of the global financial meltdown as teeth grinding, or Bruxism,

Teeth grinding can cause headaches, jaw ache and teeth damage.

is on the rise. Dentists claim they are seeing an increase of between 10 and 20 per cent of patients with symptom that range from ear ache to tooth loss and chronic headaches. The blame has been firmly laid at the door of financial doom, with increased stress and anxiety levels over job threats, interest rate increases and free falling house prices.

It seems beleaguered city workers are hardest hit by the increase, according to the importers of the MouthRight mouth-guard, who have seen a sharp rise in city postcodes on their order books.

Teeth grinding tends to happen at night when it can cause sleep disturbances for the sufferer and their long suffering partner. Many people report subconsciously clenching their jar throughout the day, particularly during stressful periods, often resulting in acute jaw pain and continual headaches.

The consequences for teeth are potentially serious. Continual grinding can wear down enamel and cause teeth to chip or crack. Fillings can become lose and fall out, and where teeth are severely worn down the bite is affected, causing long term problems for the jaw. Other physical side effects are stiff shoulders, exhaustion and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder which, put simply, is inflammation of the joint which connects the mandible to the skull.

So what’s to be done? It’s best to try and treat the symptoms at the same time as looking at the root cause of the problem. Special mouth guards will help reduce the effects of grinding, acting to prevent movement and protecting the teeth from damage. Learning to manage the stress that is causing the problem is essential. Experts recommend cutting back on stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. Facial muscle relaxation exercises, meditation, yoga and deep breathing techniques can all help to reduce the anxiety that in turn leads to teeth grinding.

Botox™ is another treatment under review. The toxin, much loved by celebrities and best known for its use as a cosmetic treatment to ‘freeze foreheads’, is administered as an intramuscular injection and the paralytic effects is thought to last three to six months. Careful research is needed before choosing this route – look for a skilled practitioner with significant experience in lower face injecting and discuss safety issues before making your decision.

If the recession allows, you could take the high tech option with a bio-feedback gadget which teaches muscles to relax. But with prices heading up towards the £1000.00 mark, it’s a steep price to pay. After all if we had money to spare it’s likely all this tension induced grinding wouldn’t be a problem in the first place!

Snack Swop!

2010-06-02T17:11:01Z

Think about making wise snack choices.

In the spirit of National Smile Month’s suggestion that we cut down on sugary snacks and drinks, here is our Snack Swop menu….give it a go and let us know what you think….you may even lose a few pounds in the process….but for sure, your teeth will thank you.

Snacking per se isn’t great for teeth. The more times you introduce sugar forming foods or drinks into your mouth, the more opportunity there is for plaque to form. But making small changes can make a big difference to your oral health. Here’s what Dr Kaman suggests we try for our Snack Swop challenge.

Ditch…sweet biscuits and cookies loaded with sugar.
Try…Brown Rice cakes or oatcakes.
Why? These choices are naturally low in sugar, although do remember that any carbohydrate will breakdown to form acids in the mouth which in turn attacks the enamel. Wholemeal varieties of savoury crackers don’t breakdown in the same way that refined carbohydrates do, so are a step in the right snack direction. Dr Kaman also recommends protein based snacks, which are more tooth friendly and have the added bonus of balancing blood sugar levels. Nuts, a piece of cheese or chicken all make good snack choices.

Ditch…High sugar fruits such as mango, figs, grapes and cherries.
Try…raspberries, strawberries, papaya, and watermelon or cantaloupe melon.
Why? While fruit is perceived to be a healthy snack, some fruits are higher in sugar than others, so you make a more tooth friendly snack by choosing fruit wisely. Dr Kaman adds “Raw vegetables are great alternative to fruit as a snack because of their low sugar and high vitamin C content. Vitamin C is essential for healthy gums! But fruit can be acidic which is bad for enamel, try combining it with something like yoghurt and milk which can cancel out the acidity, so for example it’s good to have sugar free yoghurt with fruit or a raspberry milk shake.”

Ditch…Fizzy drinks, sugary cordials and fruit juices.
Try…Sparkling mineral water, sugar free juice or plain old tap water.
Why? Constantly sipping on sugary drinks is a definite no no, you are constantly introducing plaque enemies into the mouth and this should be avoided at all costs.

Ditch…Chewy sweets, toffees and milk chocolate.
Try…Good quality dark chocolate.
Why? Chewy sweets stick to teeth, keeping the sugar in the mouth for longer, thus giving the sugar more time to do its worst. Whereas dark chocolate is low in sugar and, as previously reported in this blog contains ingredients which may even be good for teeth and gums!

Smile….it’s May….

2010-05-14T16:20:23Z

May 17th sees the start of another National Smile Month where we the nation are encouraged to look after our teeth under the slogan of Teeth 4 Life. Great, a catchy slogan and a month of reading about tooth paste and good brushing habits, just what we need to get the nation’s teeth polished and gleaming. But wait! Surely this message isn’t just for one month out of twelve, isn’t this something that we should be encouraged to do every day of every year?

The answer is obviously yes! Every day, every month, every year we need to take good care of our teeth, because good oral habits isn’t just about avoiding expensive dental work or the dreaded NHS dentures. There is good evidence to support a systemic link between oral health and overall body health. So healthy teeth, healthy body is the message we need to get. Gum disease is linked to diabetes, strokes, premature births and low birth weights, clearly taking control of your dental health won’t just benefit your smile and self confidence.

Dr Attila Kaman suggests: “If there is a nagging dental problem worrying you such as gum disease, poor fitting dentures or missing teeth it is worth seeking a second opinion on what can be done. It isn’t just about your smile; we see lots of patients whose overall health has suffered because of dental issues. Remember that problems with your teeth often lead to a poor diet which is also a major factor in failing health…many people report an improved diet once they have had implants or good quality crowns or bridges fitted”
The Teeth 4 Life campaign is extolling the virtues of brushing twice a day, cutting down on sugary snacks and drinks and visiting your dentists as often as recommended. Assuming you can get to a dentist that can accommodate NHS patients that all sounds very good. May also seems like a good month to think long term and sort out any nagging problems….it’s worth researching alternatives to NHS or private treatment options. Budapest’s reputation for top dentists puts it at the top of the list for overseas treatment options and summer is a popular time to visit the city.

But before you pack your bags, we’ll leave you with one last tip from the Teeth 4 Life campaign…. Apparently, if you lead a healthy and active lifestyle, you are 40% less likely to experience teeth and gum problems, so grab your toothbrush and… your tennis racket, trainers and gym membership….and get a healthier smile all year round!

Making the right chocolate choices

2010-03-31T14:27:07Z

Approximately 80 million Easter eggs will be consumed this weekend….it’s a mind blowing, tooth decaying amount that just shows what a sweet tooth we have in the UK. This got us thinking about making small changes that can make a big difference to our teeth.

Dentists would agree that an occasional chocolate binge isn’t that bad for our teeth – if it’s consumed in one hit, say after dinner, then it’s not too bad…..it’s the constant snacking on sweets that drives dentists to reach for the drill. So that’s the first small change to consider.

The second change is the type of chocolate that you choose. Milk chocolate tends to contain more sugar, as does the cheaper versions. Upscale your choccy choices and going for a dark chocolate is an all round improvement. In fact, some say dark chocolate is actually good for your teeth. A study carried out by research scientists at Osaka University in Japan found that parts of the cocoa bean can help fight bacteria in the mouth. Polyphenolen found in the cocoa bean husk has anti-bacterial properties….there is even speculation this ingredient could be used in mouth washes or other dental care products. Another study, this time by a doctoral candidate at Tulane University, showed that a compound in chocolate called theobromine might help to harden tooth enamel.

Neither ingredient is active enough in dark chocolate to make an improvement to your dental health, but the lower sugar levels alone to make it a good choice.

The other good news is that because chocolate melts away in the mouth its actually a better choice than other sweets such as jellies or toffees which tend to get stuck on teeth and linger in the mouth for longer….so crack the Easter egg but ditch the sweeties inside…..and opt for a dark chocolate egg rather than milk…..best wishes from the Easter Bunny!

To floss … or not to floss…that is the question…

2010-03-26T15:44:26Z

79% of over 35’s suffer from gum disease, it’s surely a statistic that will make you think more about your brushing routine? But however good we are with a brush, brushing alone will only reach 60% of the tooth’s surface. As dentists will tell you it’s flossing that will really make a difference to our gum health.

For many of us dental flossing is not considered an important part of our dental regime and we often put it down to lack of time and busy lifestyles. Yet regular flossing in between teeth is essential in preventing gum disease and tooth decay which has been proven to be one of the main causes of tooth loss in adults. The build up of plaque, a film of damaging bacteria, collects in hard to reach areas such as along gums and in between teeth and can lead to serious problems later on. Although we can’t stop plaque from forming, we can prevent it from getting worse by regular cleaning. Regular flossing breaks up and removes plaque from between teeth and at the gum line, where gum disease often begins.

So there we have it! Regular brushing is simply not enough in our fight to maintain the perfect smile! So here are our top tips for flossing

Tips on flossing:
• Ideally floss after each meal – a pack of floss is much more portable than a toothbrush so is a great way to look after your teeth on the move
• If you are really pushed for time, start by flossing just once a day, it’s best to at night before going to bed
• It’s normal to experience some gum bleeding at first, and this is telling you that you really do need to floss regularly to get your gums more healthy
• For a motivating floss experience try Oral B Indicator Floss – it turns blue to show you it’s working!
• There are different types of dental floss to consider. Choose from: dental tape, waxed floss, woven floss or unwaxed floss. For advice ask your hygienist or dentist to recommend which is most appropriate for you.

A flossing step by step
• Select the type dental floss that you prefer
• Tear off a piece of floss about 18 inches long
• Wrap one end of the floss around either your middle or index finger
• Wrap the other end of the floss around the finger on your opposite hand.
• Grip the floss tightly between your thumb and finger
• Gently insert the dental floss between your teeth. Be careful not to snap the floss or you could damage your gums
• Gently move the floss back and forth against the tooth on both sides and underneath the gum line
• Repeat this process in between all of the upper and lower teeth.
• It is important to floss against the backside of a tooth even if there is no tooth behind it