Ice Bucket Challenge - Absolute Dental

With everyone taking part in the infamous "Ice Bucket Challenge" at the moment to raise funds for charity (and yes, most of us here at Absolute have done ours!) I wonder if it has highlighted any tooth sensitivity issues  that you weren't previously aware of? If you now dread sweet or acidic drinks, ice cream or even avoid hot tea or coffee you are not alone.

What Causes Sensitive Teeth?

One in seven adults experiences tooth hypersensitivity when they eat, drink or even take a breath of cold air. It can be an early warning sign of more serious dental problems. Fortunately there are many simple and effective treatments for this uncomfortable condition.

The most common cause of tooth sensitivity is when the dentine of the root of the tooth becomes exposed when gums recede. Acidic foods & drinks, gum infections and aggressive tooth-brushing are common causative factors. Grinding your teeth can also wear them leading to sensitivity.

What can you do at home?

• Use a sensitive toothpaste twice a day to brush your teeth. You can also rub it onto the sensitive areas. These toothpastes can take anything from a few days to a couple of weeks to work, so persevere. Remember to spit out any excess toothpaste, do not rinse your mouth after brushing as this washes the toothpaste and its effective elements away.
• Avoiding hot, cold, sweet or acidic drinks, or foods like ice cream can help. If you have sensitivity when brushing your teeth with cold water from the tap, use warm water instead. Not brushing your teeth regularly could make the problem worse.
• If you have tried these remedies for a few weeks and have had no improvement then book an appointment with Absolute Dental. Something more serious could be going on.

What can Absolute Dental do to help?

Fluoride gels, rinses or varnishes can be applied to sensitive teeth. These can be painted onto the teeth at regular appointments one or two weeks apart, to help build up protection. Other protective barriers may also be suitable. If in doubt, ask! Our team of dentists, hygienists and therapists are here to help you.

 

Gum Disease in Dogs can have Serious Consequences

At Absolute Dental we are a practice of dog lovers - and we all like to look after our dogs in the best possible way. Not many people know that dogs can suffer with dental problems too.

It may be surprising to hear that dental disease is the most common ailment to affect our pets, with 80% of dogs and cats over the age of 3 suffering from this to some degree. It is often something we as owners do not view as important – how many times have you heard the phrase “normal doggy breath”? But in actual fact, there is more to gum disease than simply smelly breath. It can be behind a multitude of problems, some of which can be very serious.

Doggy Dentistry

Ever wondered why puppies have a penchant for chewing, especially things like shoes and hands?
It’s because they are teething! Just like humans, dogs also have a first set of baby teeth. These milk teeth are smaller and sharp in comparison to adult teeth. From 12 weeks to 6 months the milk teeth are lost with the adult teeth constantly erupting to replace them.

To give their gums relief, puppies gnaw, just like human babies! It is an essential behaviour, with pups needing suitable aids to encourage this natural gnawing action. Special teething toys can be bought for this purpose and pups should be encouraged to use these, instead of hands or shoes, to relieve their tender gums.



If by the age of 6 months some baby teeth remain (usually canines), then you should speak to your vet. Your pet may need these teeth to be removed as, if left, they can lead to dental problems in later life.

Dental Disease

Plaque builds up every day on the surface of teeth. If left to accumulate it can form a yellow discolouration. This plaque acts as a scaffold on which hard, brown tartar can then form. It is a self-perpetuating cycle, with the tartar now acting as a great place for plaque to again accumulate.

After time, the plaque and tartar will start to build up underneath the gum line too, acting to separate the gums from the teeth. This creates pockets in the gums which are brilliant places for bacteria to multiply. This gum separation, along with build-up of infection within the pockets, leads to inflammation and pain – gingivitis.

As dogs have a classically higher pain threshold and tend to think with their stomachs, gingivitis often will not put them off their food in the early stages. However, this is actually a very painful condition; just think how much we complain when we have a simple tooth ache! It should therefore not be ignored.

Eventually if left, dental disease will lead to gum recession and in the worst cases, tooth loss. At this stage disruption in diet is often seen, with the dog refusing to eat hard foods, choosing only to eat soft morsels. To manage to put a dog off its food is a strong sign of how severely painful dental disease can become in the later stages.

Dental disease can also have serious consequences elsewhere in the body. To a veterinarian – an unclean mouth means an unhealthy animal.

As bacteria build up in the gum pockets they start to gradually release toxins. These toxins, as well as the bacteria themselves, can enter directly into the animal’s blood stream through the inflamed gums. Once in the blood, they have an easy route straight to the heart where they can cause very serious complications such as infected valves, septic emboli and severe heart disease. Side effects can also been seen in the kidneys, intestines and joints as well.

Good news however, gum disease is completely preventable!

Symptoms of Gum Disease in Dogs

The symptoms of dental disease can be varied and sometimes quite subtle. The main ones to look out for are:

• Bad breath
• Increased drooling
• Chattering of mouth when drinking or eating
• Dropping of food from the mouth, or a reluctance to eat hard food
• Plaque discolouration of teeth (Yellow)
• Tartar build up on teeth (Hard brown material)
• Redness or bleeding of the gums
• White debris sitting around the gum line
• Exposed tooth roots. An obvious bulge at the bottom of a tooth should not be visible. The white surface should have an almost uniform colour with no change towards cream at the gum line. There should also be no holes or deep ridges at the bottom of a tooth.

If any of these signs are seen, you should discuss them with your vet to see if action is needed.

Prevention and Treatment of Gum Disease in Dogs

It is never too early to start a good dental care regime. In young pups it is important to encourage them to get used to having their teeth checked and their mouths touched. You can do this by gently lifting their gums all around the mouth and running your fingers along the gum lines as much as possible, getting them used to this action. This will make for an adult dog who is very tolerant of dental care.

Once adult molar teeth have erupted, you can progress from gentle rubbing of the gums to using a “finger brush” once or twice daily. This is a thimble made of rubber with soft bristles which acts as a gentle tooth brush. Start doing this around the large molar teeth first before eventually also brushing around the front incisors where the gums are a little more sensitive. A small amount of doggy toothpaste can also be used from this stage. Most are meat flavoured and what’s more, most dogs love it! If dental care is encouraged from a young age, many pooches actually see tooth brushing as a tasty treat. It is important to always use doggy toothpaste and not human versions as, unlike us, dogs will not spit out the excess which can lead to upset stomachs.

As a dog approaches adulthood, you can progress to using a proper toothbrush with your doggy toothpaste. This has an excellent mechanical cleaning action alongside the benefits of the toothpaste, giving the best results.




The daily build-up of plaque on teeth can be removed well by daily brushing. This forms the gold standard of dental care that all veterinarians will recommend. Hard tartar is more cemented to the teeth and, once formed, can be difficult to remove without veterinary intervention. Therefore, prevention is always better than cure!

Daily dental chews and special teeth cleaning diets, along with oral gels and mouthwashes can also help in the fight against dental disease. These are not as good as tooth brushing, but can be used alongside or as an alternative in pets who really won’t tolerate the brush.
If dental disease is severe or tartar build up is significant, your vet may suggest a dental procedure be performed to help clean the teeth. This involves scaling to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar both above and below the gum line, polishing to make the surface of the teeth smooth and shiny so plaque can not easily stick, alongside removal of any diseased teeth. This is typically performed under a general anaesthetic to ensure your pet keeps their mouth nice and open during the procedure. It also protects them from injury from the dental instruments used. After any dental procedure, you now have a nice clean slate on which to build your doggy dental care regime.

And always remember, a healthy mouth equals a healthier pet!

Author - Jasmine Kleine via www.dogteeth.co.uk

Celebrity Smiles in the Public Eye - Can Absolute Dental help broaden your Smile?

First impressions and peoples perceptions are very much influenced by our teeth and smile.

No one is more aware of this than celebrities, as they are alway under the scrutiny of the public and the press. Many more than you think have had their natural smile enhanced by dental treatments.

As you can see from these pictures, they all now have beautiful smiles and very successful careers.

 

 

 

Some of the transformations are quite incredible and you can see they are not afraid to smile wide and are more confident in front of the camera!

If you think you could smile wider please come and see one of our lovely team at Absolute Dental , call 01548 852165 today to book a complimentary consultation.

Things that make us smile (but me in particular!), at Absolute Dental

In the outside world:

• A fabulous article in the Sunday paper reinforcing the message that research regularly suggests that a winning smile makes us more dateable, employable and charming!
• What about all the smiles and sometimes grimaces on the faces of the commonwealth athletes- Glasgows' grinning games!
• New toothpastes on the market Colgate's new sugar acid neuraliser toothpaste- tastes great and a more aniseedy than minty taste.
• Kolibree toothbrushes for the tech savvy come with an app that helps show you where you are missing and has games to help children brush better too.
• New head for Oral B electric toothbrushes called the cross action - this feels great and I think patients who use the trizone head will love this one too!

Closer to home:

• At work, enjoying recording the improvement in our patients oral hygiene, our smiles improving their smiles!
• Seeing the difference we have made not only to patients oral health but to their outlook and confidence!
• The wonderful get well cards and flowers I received from patients in the winter last year.
• Embracing technology and still being able to communicate without having to write! Especially our facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/absolutedentalcentre1
• Seeing all the wonderful pictures of Ambers' smile at the end of orthodontic treatment!
• My favourite toothpaste being available in my local Lidl store - big smile for that!
• Last but not least - a proper summer!!!!!

Maureen

Absolute Dental - Helping to Commemorate WWI - ‘Lights Out’

On this day, August 4^th 1914 at 10pm, Britain entered the First World War.

A century to the day we are all invited to go ‘lights out’ from 10-11pm, leaving on a single light or candle at the window for a shared moment of reflection.

 

This idea stems from a reference to the famous remark by Sir Edward Grey, foreign secretary on the eve of war that “the lamps were going out across Europe”.

During the First World War access to dental care was limited and very unlike the strict oral health soldiers today must obtain before they are allowed to serve. Most of us are familiar with ‘Trench Foot’, but have you heard of ‘Trench Mouth’? During both WWI & WWII ‘Trench Mouth’ was a common oral disease associated with the men serving in the trenches because they were exposed to the risk factors for the condition; a diet low in nutrients, smoking, stress, lack of rest and poor oral hygiene.

‘Trench Mouth’ is a painful gum condition known as Acute Ulcerative Necrotising Gingivitis causing bleeding, ulceration, sloughing of the gum membranes and distinct unpleasant bad breath. The pain experienced made eating, talking and swallowing difficult and, left untreated, resulted in tooth loss.

Imagine brushing your mouth with this (very large) bone & bristle toothbrush and the accompanying carbolic tooth powder.

We are very fortunate that we now have access to plentiful food and good dental care. Cases of ANUG are now rare, but would you believe, do still occur. You will avoid this painful condition by brushing effectively twice a day, not smoking, eating a balanced varied diet and avoiding stress.

We will always remember those who suffered and sacrificed their lives for us. Tonight we are going ‘lights out’ to commemorate the Centenary with Britain, are you?

If you would like to commemorate this moment in company The Royal British Legion in Kingsbridge are holding a candle-lit vigil. Please take along your own candle; all are welcome, at RBL Mill Club, Western Backway, Kingsbridge (just off lower Fore Street) at 10pm.

Christina.

Holiday Dental Emergencies - Advice from Absolute Dental

The holiday season is well and truly upon us, and many of us are planning our holidays, or having visitors to stay over the next few weeks. Lets hope the sun stays for a little while longer!

When we think about our summer holidays we plan everything down to the last detail with clothing, sun cream, books and medicines. But have you ever wondered what to do in case of a dental emergency for you or one of your visitors?

Here is some practical advice from the team at Absolute Dental:

Any dental emergency like an injury to the teeth or gums can be potentially serious and should not be ignored. Ignoring a dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive and expensive treatment later on.

• Toothache. First, thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to gently remove any lodged food that could be causing the problem. If your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Never put aspirin or any other painkiller against the gums near the aching tooth because it may burn the gum tissue. Normal analgesics (as used for a headache) and be taken as required. Contact a dentist as soon as possible.
• Chipped or broken teeth. Rinse your mouth gently with warm water to remove any tooth fragments. If there's bleeding, apply a clean handkerchief to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. Apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to keep any swelling down and relieve pain. Normal analgesics (as used for a headache) and be taken as required. Contact a dentist as soon as possible.
• Knocked-out tooth. Retrieve the tooth, hold it by the crown (the part that is usually exposed in the mouth), and rinse off the tooth root with water if it's dirty. Do not scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If possible, try to put the tooth back in place. Make sure it's facing the right way. Never force it into the socket. If it's not possible to reinsert the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small container of milk (or cup of water that contains a pinch of table salt, if milk is not available). In all cases, see a dentist as quickly as possible. Knocked out teeth with the highest chances of being saved are those seen by the dentist and returned to their socket within 1 hour of being knocked out.
• Extruded (partially dislodged) tooth. See a dentist right away. Until you reach a dental practice, to relieve pain, apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area.
• Objects caught between teeth. First, try using dental floss to very gently and carefully remove the object. If you can't get the object out, see your dentist. Never use a pin, tweezers or other sharp object to poke at the stuck object. These instruments can cut your gums or scratch your tooth surface.
• Lost filling. As a temporary measure, stick a piece of sugar free gum into the cavity  or use an over-the-counter temporary dental filling material. See your dentist as soon as possible.
• Lost crown. If the crown falls off, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible and bring the crown with you. If possible, slip the crown back over the tooth. Before doing so, coat the inner surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive, to help hold the crown in place. Do not use super glue!
• Broken braces and wires. If a wire breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band and is poking your cheek, tongue, or gum, try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire into a more comfortable position. If you can't reposition the wire, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball, or piece of gauze until you can get to see your orthodontist. Never cut the wire yourself!
• Abscess. Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the space between the teeth and gums. Abscesses are a serious condition that can damage tissue and surrounding teeth, with the infection possibly spreading to other parts of the body if left untreated.
  
  Because of the serious oral health and general health problems that can result from an abscess, see your dentist as soon as possible if you discover a white head like swelling on your gum that usually is painful. In the meantime, to ease the pain and draw the pus toward the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a hot salt water mouth wash (1-2 teaspoon of table salt in a cup of boiled water from the kettle, allow this to cool to avoid burning) several times a day.
• Soft-tissue injuries. Injuries to the soft tissues, which include the tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can result in bleeding. To control the bleeding, follow these tips:
  1. Rinse your mouth with a hot salt water mouth was (see above).
  2. Use a moistened piece of gauze apply pressure to the bleeding site. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. To both control bleeding and relieve pain, hold a cold compress to the outside of the mouth or cheek in the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes.
  4. If the bleeding doesn't stop, see your dentist right away or go to a hospital emergency department. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until you can be seen and treated.

We hope this practical advice can just be kept for reference, but you never know when it might come in handy.

For more advice on management of dental injuries in children, please ask for one of our reference sheets when you are next in the practice.

Di

Absolute Dental Raises over £900 for St Lukes Hospice in the Midnight Walk

As some of you may have heard the ladies here at Absolute Dental took part in the St Luke’s Hospice Midnight Walk on Saturday 19th July, walking 15 miles around Plymouth, starting at the University of St Mark & St John at 10pm.  

We all made an effort with fancy dress of tutus, tiaras and glitter, on arrival there was merchandise to purchase to further add to your fancy dress. The only rule seemed to be that it HAD to be pink! Diane made an incredible effort topping her outfit off with flashing noodle hair!

The atmosphere at the University was great with opportunities to have your photo taken with a cuddly character or your face painted and hair styled. Music was playing and room buzzed with excitement as 1200 ladies prepared for the 15 mile challenge.

Soon it was time for our safety briefing and warm up before setting out from the start line, the glorious sunshine and warmth of the day made a lovely warm, dry evening which was perfect for walking. Our route took us all over Plymouth with wonderful marshals helping us along by directing, assisting, encouraging, handing out bottles of water and most importantly sweets! The walk most definitely wouldn’t be possible without these wonderful people.
We crossed the finish line at 2.20am finishing our walk in 4 hours 20 minutes, again the atmosphere at the finish line was fantastic, marshals and organisers who had now been standing outside for hours welcomed us in with cheers and celebrations, we were each awarded with a medal and better still a ticket for a slice of pizza which Dominoes had kindly donated for each participant.

The evening was enjoyed by all, 2451 ladies took part in the various walk distances (there was a 7 or 3 mile option too) and an amazing £200,000 is estimated to have been raised in total. Here at the practice we raised over £900 for the charity so a huge thank you goes to all our friends, family and lovely patients who sponsored us and also to the organisers of the event for doing such a fantastic job making the evening enjoyable for all and raising a tremendous amount of money for the charity.