Talking Xylitol and the Absolute Dental "Taste Challenge"

It is no secret that dental caries (tooth decay) is caused in a large part by refined carbohydrates (sugars). The main culprit amongst these sugars is sucrose - and this is the table sugar you might put in your tea, coffee & cooking two or three times a day. It is these regular "sugar baths" that lead to caries.

 

Here at Absolute Dental we are constantly trying to ensure your mouths are as healthy as can be, and one of our constant messages is the reduction of sugar in our diets - easier said than done when much of the processed foods we can buy in our supermarkets are full of sugar and even the "low fat" options are pumped full of sugar to improve the taste.

 

There is increasing research which shows that the use of Xylitol (a naturally occurring, sweet carbohydrate found in virtually all fruits, but produced commercially from birch bark) in place of sugar can not only help to reduce the incidence of caries, but can also make the mouth a healthier place by:

• making it a less acidic environment
• reducing the number of harmful bacteria sticking to the surface of the teeth
• encouraging the uptake of minerals in our saliva into the tooth structure to repair damage 

Xylitol can be found in chewing gum, some sugar free sweets and also increasing, in dental products, because of its known anti-caries properties.

 

So, as we at Absolute Dental prepare to take part in the Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on September 28th - are you ready for the "Xylitol Taste Challenge"....???

 

Are you ABSOLUTELY ready for your date? Or is your smile a big let down?

According to a new survey, yellow teeth are  bigger turn-off on a first date spotty skin or bad table manners.

 

Although 86% of women, and 74% of men, would turn down a second date because of bad breath, women spend more time applying make up every day than they do brushing their teeth Almost half of men surveyed spend less than FIVE minutes each day brushing their teeth, with 1% admitting they do not brush at all.

 

The study also found that 85% of people would turn down a kiss on a first date because of bad breath.

 

Inman Aligner Treatment at Absolute Dental

We've been seeing some great results with the Inman Aligner treatments that we've carried out here at Absolute Dental, and wanted to share with you some before and after pictures from a recent case.

This lovely patient had received orthodontic treatment when they were younger, but was concerned that her upper front teeth had drifted since she completed the treatment and was no longer happy with their appearance - this is a very common reason for people attending the practice for an Inman Aligner consultation with either Rhodri or Ruth.

Following only 4 months of treatment with the Inman Aligner, during which the patient attended the practice for regular appointments, the results were remarkable, and the patient was fitted with a retainer to hold the teeth in their new position.





If you would like to know more about the Inman Aligner, or to see if you are suitable for the treatment, please call our team on 01548 852165. Or you can listen to this patients own testimonial on our website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqE-qzDqxhU&feature=player_embedded

Interdental cleaning- Why? what with? how? where and when!

In today's market place, we are faced with a huge range of interdental cleaning aids. Over the last few years we have seen a move forward from conventional aids such as floss and interdental wood sticks to more effective and easy to use solutions.


Why clean in between? When we examine the structure of the gum tissue under the microscope, we can see that gum is constructed of many layers and in between the teeth in an area we refer to as the interdental col, the top layer of gum is naturally absent. This gives harmful plaque bacteria easy access to get underneath the gum and cause gingivitis, and in some cases periodontitis. If we were making similar comparisons with skin, it would be like comparing the very soft, almost translucent skin on the underside of the wrist to the thicker skin on the palm of the hand.

Due to the nature of this weakness, it becomes just as important if not more, to remove the plaque thoroughly from in between teeth every day. Manual toothbrushes generally only remove approximately 60 % of plaque between teeth so removing the other 40% is just as important for good dental health!
At absolute dental, we know that there is no " One size fits all" strategy to finding out what suits our patients as individuals.

Different shapes of teeth also need different methods of cleaning and this can also be made more challenging by the different positions of teeth and the fact that there is a certain amount of "give" in the fibres of the periodontal ligament, which means that one size of interdental brush on one appointment, may change due to the movement of a tooth and a different size required at the next visit.

What to clean with and where:

Here are a few of the range of interdental aids which are now available on the market and their suitability.

Dental floss:

There are several types of floss available and include unwaxed, waxed, dental tapes, ultra floss and superfloss which was designed particularly for use around bridges.

Floss works best in between anterior teeth where the sides of the teeth are generally uniform in structure, and particularly helpful where there is very little room between teeth.

As we look at the areas in between posterior teeth, there are slight concavities in the natural shape of teeth which means that floss does not easily remove all dental plaque.

Floss works very well at removing plaque from underneath the gum margin in these areas and can often be made more comfortable to use by tying the floss in a small loop, and using the fingers as a frame. Floss holders or floss picks can also make flossing much easier.
Interdental brushes:

This is an area which has expanded considerably in the last few years, with the advent of Tepe brushes. These are based around the concept of a variety of diffentent lenghts of bristles on a plastic coated wire, colour coded for easy use. They are very effective at removing plaque from in between pre molar and molar teeth but do need careful attention so that the wire doesn't bend and loses its shape. These type of brushes are mainly used above the gum margin and only get 2-3mm underneath the gum margin. They also some in a range which has a longer handle, making it easier to reach the areas towards the back of the mouth.

Denti brushes are a new range of rubber interdental brushes, which are tapered and some makes also contain fluoride. These work well throughout the mouth and can be particularly helpful where there are different sizes of space in between teeth and they also reach 2-3mm under the gum margin.
Single tufted brushes:

These brushes are designed to be used anywhere in the mouth but are particularly helpful for patients who have periodontal pockets, crowded teeth and those who have orthodontic appliances. They can be used with or without toothpaste and if held in a pen grasp, give the best flexibility and control of the brush to the user.
Interdental heads for electric toothbrushes:

Oral b Braun have an interdental brush head, which is very helpful in particular for molar areas and also lingual areas next to the tongue which collect plaque more readily. The fit onto most makes of Oral B Braun electric brush handles and if you are unsure if it will fit onto the model you have, we can try this for you at Absolute Dental, particularly as these brush heads are only sold in single units through dental practices.
Dental woodsticks:

These still have a place in plaque removal and removal of food debris but are not as effective as other forms of interdental cleaning due to their rigidity and shape. There is also a possible risk of innoculation.

Air floss:

This is a very new device made by philips within their sonicare range. It works by the use of a very fine and powerful spray of air and water to the interdental areas. It resembles an electric toothbrush in that it has a handle and charging unit and it is most suitable for patients who have a slight space interdentally. The air flosser is used from the outside of the teeth inwards which makes positioning easy.
Water Piks:

These work on a similar principal to the air flosser and can be used and the aim of both is to disrupt the plaque on the tooth surface so that it is unable to settle and release the harmful substances which can cause gingivitis. Many of the water piks can be used throughout the insides and outsides of the dental arch.

When and how often should you clean in between?

At least once daily and generally before you brush. This allows you to remove the harmful plaque and food debris first, and then your toothpaste will have a clearer channel to get much further between your teeth.

Brace yourself

Looking at me you would think I have a very normal, healthy smile. My teeth are fairly straight & I take every opportunity to give a smile.

So it may be a surprise to many of you that I will be having fixed orthodontic braces placed in a few months time.

You may be thinking why would someone with fairly straight teeth need a brace? Well, for me its all about the bite! For a few years I have suffered with a clicky jaw & discomfort when eating on the left hand side.

It wasn’t until I started my career in dentistry that I discovered I had a very abnormal bite with only minimal contact between my upper & lower teeth. This was causing me all sorts of problems such as severe ache, being unable to close my teeth in a comfortable position, not  to mention how this was wearing some of my teeth away!

Thanks to Ruthie, who made me more aware of the problem, I was referred to a specialist orthodontist who has started my treatment to achieve a much healthier bite. So, next time you see me I will most probably be wearing my fixed braces to help me gain a healthier bite. I can’t wait!

Orthodontic treatment doesn't always mean the use of fixed braces and there are many different ways to correct occlusal problems - so if you have any concerns regarding the way your teeth look or come together, please call in and see us for more information on the ways in which we may be able to help you.

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