Wednesday March 14th - National No Smoking Day

If you are one of the estimated 9 million smokers in the UK, and you visit Absolute Dental, we will always try to give you our help and support to quit smoking because of the benefits this will have on your health and well being. We know that quitting smoking isn't easy, but when you see the drastic improvements to your life and health it is really motivating. Here are some statistics and food for thought that might help motivate you this No Smoking Day, courtesy of the "Smokefree" website.

The damage that smoking causes to your body is horrible, and your secondhand smoke can also cause problems for everybody else too.

Smoking is unattractive and costs you loads of money. A 20 a day smoker will spend approximately £900 per year on cigarettes. Just imagine yourself being smoke free. Feeling great and having that extra money in your pocket!

Improve your health:

• Reduce your risk of illness, disability or death caused by cancer (including Oral Cancer), heart disease and lung diseases.



• Protect the health of the people you care about by not making them breathe your secondhand smoke.



• Reduce the chances of your children suffering from asthma or glue ear.



• Improve your fertility and your chance of a healthy pregnancy and baby.



• Improve your breathing and general fitness.



• Enjoy the taste of food more - the difference is noticeable within 48 hours of quitting.



• The effects of quitting are almost instant - within 20 minutes your blood pressure and pulse return to normal and within 24 hours carbon monoxide will be eliminated from the body; lungs start to clear out mucus and other smoking debris - and those are just the benefits within the first day!



• 5 Years after quitting, the risk of heart attacks falls to about half compared to a person who is still smoking



• 10 years after quitting, the risk of lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker and the risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.
  

Feel attractive and confident

• Get rid of that stale tobacco smell from your hair, skin and clothes.



• Look attractive with healthy, glowing skin, no tobacco stains on your teeth and fewer wrinkles.



• Feel more confident in public places because you won't be polluting the air or making other people breathe your secondhand smoke.



• Smoking is a big turn off to potential partners, so when you go smoke free, you might be surprised by the new attention you receive.



• Have a fresh, attractive home without nicotine stains on the walls and reduce your risk of starting a house fire or burning your clothes.

National No Smoking Day

Wednesday March 14th 2012 is No Smoking Day and if you are one of the 9 million smokers in the UK, it’s fair to say that you’ve probably tried to quit unsuccessfully, or want to quit. This year the campaign has joined with the British Heart Foundation to make it bigger and better, and hopefully the campaign will be the incentive needed for any smokers out there to “Take the Leap” (the campaign is aptly named for this years’ leap year!), and start a more healthy, smoke free lifestyle.

While it’s a well-known fact that smoking poses a significant hazard to your health (health consequences of smoking include cancers, heart attack, stroke, heart disease, lung disease,
and miscarriage to name a few) the effect that smoking has on dental health is not so well known.
The mouth is, obviously, the primary recipient of the smoke and the first area in the body to come in contact with the smoke and the cocktail of toxic chemicals it contains. The relatively short period of time in which the cigarette smoke is in direct contact with the mouth is enough for it to have the damaging effects listed below:

1. Tooth discoloration: Nicotine and tar present in cigarette smoke form deposits on tooth surface and cause discoloration of teeth. The discoloration can range from yellow to black. While most smokers are aware of this discoloration many find it difficult to remove with tooth brushing.

2. Smoker’s breath: Every smoker has probably been told at least once that their breath stinks. Smokers become immune to this odour – but trust us, the bad breath is obvious to other people.

3. Dry Mouth: Cigarette smoking causes the uncomfortable condition known as dry mouth. This decrease in saliva (with its natural antibacterial, antacid and buffering properties) can lead to a range of problems including bad breath and cavities.

4. Tooth decay: The deposits caused by smoking cause more plaque to build up in the mouth, this plaque is the ideal breeding ground for the bacteria responsible for causing tooth decay.

5. Dental work: Smoking affects dental work and reduces the success rates of procedures such as periodontal surgery and dental implants. Dental implants can be a an excellent way to replace a missing tooth, but require an investment of time and money. They can restore a smile but smoking can render the dental implant procedure a waste of time.

6. Gum disease: A study published in journal of periodontology highlights that smokers are 4 times more likely to suffer from advanced gum disease – which can lead to tooth loss and has other health consequences too.

7. Oral cancer: 90% of patients with oral cancer are smokers, a clear illustration of the role that smoking plays in oral cancers. 3000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer every year, half of these people will die from the disease.

Some other dental hazards of smoking include:
· Sinusitis
· Altered sense of taste and smell
· Hairy tongue
· Delayed wound healing
· Smoker’s lip

The bottom line is that smoking poses a significant threat to your health including your dental health. Being aware of these threats will hopefully deter non-smokers from ever taking up the habit as well as serve as the incentive others need to finally quit smoking.

National No Smoking Day comes once a year and helps to raise awareness of the effects of smoking on health. Here at Absolute Dental, our commitment to improving your dental health is not a one off event. Our clinicians carry out checks to the lining of your mouths at every visit to check for oral cancers; we give smoking cessation advice to every smoker and try to educate or patients on the warning signs to look out for in their mouths that require further investigation.

Turn the tap off!

There are stories all over the news currently concerned with the water shortage in South Eat England after two dry winters in a row left reservoirs dangerously low and fish dying in rivers.

The Anglia region was already in drought, meaning more than half of the population of the UK faces hosepipe bans in a matter of weeks.

There could even be restrictions in London - part of the South East region - where thousands of litres more water will be needed because of the Olympics.

It is expected that most of the Midlands, including the area around Birmingham, could be declared in drought within the next few weeks.

Water consumption in the UK is up 30 per cent per person since 1970 and it is feared that if the trend isn’t reversed there will come a time when the demand just won’t be able to be met.

This will have a devastating effect on the UK’s rivers, lakes and stream levels, animal and plant life so this year for the first time the National Smile Month Campaign is promoting responsible water use.

The campaign aims to encourage adults and children to turn off the tap when brushing their teeth and save up to 12 litres of water, every time. So far Save Water Save Money and 19 of the UK’s Water Companies have joined forces to encourage water efficiency, by raising awareness of the high levels of water wasted in the bathroom.

Currently, 25 per cent of household energy is spent heating up water and according to Waterwise, if every adult in England and Wales turned off the tap when brushing their teeth, it could save enough water to supply nearly 500,000 homes or fill 180 Olympic swimming pools – every day!

Happy Valenties Day!

Valentines Day is here once again - how do you plan to celebrate? A meal out, flowers for your loved one, jewellery, chocolates or a night away? We've been spoilt for choice with shops and supermarkets competing for our attention with attractively packaged goods for those we love, some trying to attract our attention as soon as Christmas was over! So, no excuses, I hope you're all prepared with gifts and cards at the ready...??

Do your preparations include spending time on preparing yourself? Is your smile as bright and white as you'd like? Is your breath as fresh as you'd like? Nothing is guaranteed to spoil that romantic moment more than bad breath - so don't let it stop you getting close to that special someone today!

An Oral B Healthier Teeth survey in 2011 revealed that 66% of people surveyed would never go on a date with someone with bad breath; and 58% said they would never go on a date with someone with visible dental problems such as tooth decay or swollen gums. So, dental problems could be a real passion killer in some cases....but don't despair, most of these common problems can be solved.

First we must understand what is causing such dental problems, and then we can begin to work on a solution. Bad breath or halitosis can have many causes. While bad breath is commonly caused by dental problems such as infection, poorly placed fillings or ill fitting dentures, there are other common causes such as; gum disease; a diet rich in certain foods, e.g., garlic & spices; poor oral hygiene – which means food particles are allowed to collect between teeth and around the gums; these deposits attract the bad breath causing bacteria; a lack of saliva (or "Dry Mouth") which can be caused by certain medications and hormonal changes; and finally, smoking.

There are other less common causes such as diabetes and digestive system problems, but your dentist and hygienist can help you with the more common causes listed above.

Causes are looked at on an individual basis, but if the cause is found to be crowded teeth causing food to become trapped, then it may be wise to consider orthodontic treatment to remove these "stagnation areas".

However, the simplest, easiest and most cost effective way would be to adopt a thorough, sound, effective oral hygiene routine, based on trying to remove all of the plaque, from every surface of every tooth, every day. This would involve brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing all the areas between the teeth. Our hygienists will be able to help with the skills and techniques that you require to be able to do this. This will also lead to a reduction in the likelihood of tooth decay and can also brighten your smile. Once you have mastered your new oral hygiene regime, it might be time to consider tooth whitening to brighten your smile even further.

With regular, thorough Dental Health Assessments, it is possible to maintain the health of your mouth together with identifying the cause of bad breath and treating the problem accordingly.

Say Cheese

I was reading in my running magazine this month (sometimes it's as close as I like to get to actually running!) that cheese is less unhealthy for you than butter when it comes to heart health. Apparently the University of Michigan carried out a study in which a group of people had a daily serving of cheese for 6 weeks. After 6 weeks they were tested and their cholesterol levels were lower than when they had spent a comparable time eating a comparable amount of butter. So, it would appear that a little bit of something "bad" really could be good for you!!!

We already know that there are strong links between heart health and dental health, and indeed, we know that cheese can also be good for our dental health. A small amount of cheese to end a meal can neutralise the harmful plaque acids that can lead to tooth decay; this is because of the milk proteins that cheese contains.

In fact, these milk proteins can be so beneficial that they are contained in a product called Tooth Mousse which is particularly beneficial for patients whose own saliva naturally lacks bicarbonate of soda meaning that their saliva does not have the same buffering action to cleanse and protect our teeth.

Our team of dentists and hygienists are more than happy to discuss "Healthy Snacks" with you and will always recommend any aids to your oral hygiene routine that will benefit your dental health - just ask one of the team next time your in!

Diane

Absolute bullying

A new study shows that there is a clear link between being bullied and the presence of "sticking out teeth" or malocclusion.
A team of hospital based clinicians who primarily treat children with malocclusion have conducted a UK based study investigating the relationship between being bullied and the presence of malocclusion, and its effects on an individual's self-esteem and "oral health related quality of life". Three hundred and thirty six adolescents aged between 10-14 years of age took part in this study.
13% of adolescents aged between 10-14 years examined for orthodontic treatment had been bullied; being bullied is significantly associated with "sticking out teeth".

A website has been created to provide advice for both parents and adolescents who are being bullied https://sites.google.com/site/bullyingandorthodontics

Saliva Testing

This was one of the most informative and interactive workshops I have ever had and I found out a lot more about my saliva and what it can tell us.
The test looked at several aspects of saliva.
1. How fast saliva is produced.
2. The texture of saliva, is it frothy, does it form a pool in the mouth or is it very sticky.
3. What the pH of saliva is. Is it acidic, neutral or alkaline.
4. We also tested the composition of saliva to find out what the percentage of calcium, phosphate and bicarbonate of soda was as this affects the buffering capacity from acidity (where decay and erosion can occur) to alkaline.
The aspects of the speed and texture all relate to our normal saliva output and could be an indication of dehydration. This can also be caused by the side effects of some medication. When saliva is reduced, plaque accumulation increases and there is less chance of saliva washing away food particles, therefore, increasing risk of caries
The composition and pH relate to the constituents of saliva and having good buffering against acids. This becomes particularly important for patients who naturally have a low pH as they may be at risk from acid erosion as well as decay. The good news is that many of our toothpastes now contain bicarbonate of soda and this helps to address the balance of the mouth back to neutral or alkaline.
One of the most valuable food substances we have to help combat them is Xylitol. This is derived from the bark of birch trees and is used as an artificial sweetener. One of the amazing features of this is that when the bacteria ingest the xylitol, they cannot digest it and release acid and it kills them off by using up their energy store !!! Brilliant!!! and it also blocks the messages from the fibrils so the bacteria slide off the tooth surface.
In wound healing, particularly large surface ulcers, research has shown that a combination of xylitol and lactoferrin are particularly effective and even large skin wounds have healed within 6 weeks of treatment of a spray with these two constituents. This regime has also been used to effectively treat ear problems.

Xylitol can be found in a multitude of products particularly in chewing gums and in granulated form to be used instead of sugar. There are also nasal sprays to help patients combat sinusitis.

Research has shown that 5 exposures to Xylitol per day is particularly effective in plaque control and also provides us with an excellent vehicle for stimulating the production of saliva.

Saliva testing can also identify early or mature plaque presence so this can also provide us with another excellent chairside assessment. You can find more information about the links between your general health and your dental health on our current Newsletter and we all look forward to helping keep you healthy in 2012!!

Maureen