Don't forget your Toothbrush this Christmas! Some top Christmas tips from Absolute Dental.

With Christmas just around the corner, everyone is ready and geared up for the festivities to get underway. Mince pies, champagne, selection boxes and umpteen bags of sweets will no doubt make their way into our festive diets. It's a thoroughly enjoyable time of year, but spare a thought for your teeth.

Constant snacking, drinking and eating of sugary foods and drinks over Christmas can make the holiday period a miserable time for teeth. The indulgences and tempting treats on Christmas Day and Boxing Day in particular means that teeth are going to be in harm's way for over the 48 hours over the festive period.

Some traditional Christmas foods like Cranberries, the perfect accompaniment for your Turkey, are scientifically proven to be beneficial to overall health, and scientists have also shown they may have the capacity to help prevent both gum disease and tooth decay. However, moderation is important as cranberries are acidic and it is a good idea not to have them too often.

That means it is important to be extra vigilant with your oral health over the Christmas period. Remember, teeth are under attack for up to one hour after eating or drinking, and if you think about how much is consumed, and how often, particularly over Christmas and Boxing Day, your teeth don't really get the chance to recover.

Please forgive the Dental Grinch, and we only tell you this for your benefit, here are five ways to look after your teeth this Christmas and New Year:

1.Beware of the mince pies, Christmas cake and pudding

Mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding may satisfy millions of people after a traditional Christmas dinner, but one thing they do not satisfy is your teeth. They are all laden with dried fruit, which is high in sugar. These kinds of foods stick to teeth and can cause the most damage, particularly if we're gorging on them throughout Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

2.Don't ditch the routine

The worst thing you can do is wrap up your oral hygiene routine on Christmas Eve for a few days. Teeth take a bit of a hammering, what with all of the chocolates, sugary foods and drinks and the alcohol consumed over the festive period. Christmas morning might be an exciting time for children, but if you're a parent make them wait a little longer - it's only two minutes after all! If a post-Christmas snooze on the sofa is more your thing, then do remember to brush your teeth before you head to bed.

3.Say cheese!

Cheese is great for teeth. It helps to return the mouth to its natural acid balance and help reduce the chances of developing tooth decay. That's why cheeseboards after the main meal are a great idea. Even a little piece of cheese can have the same effect. The same can be said for sugar-free chewing gum (although it may not be great table etiquette!).

4.Use the bottle opener

We can all confess to attempting to open a bottle of beer with our teeth at some point in our lives. Although you can't legislate for genuine accidents, please remember your teeth aren't tools. If your party trick is to open a bottle of beer with your teeth, or if you're always biting open the crisp packet, you're actually doing your teeth more harm than good.
If you somehow lose a tooth, the important thing to remember is not to panic. Get to the emergency dentist as soon as possible, as with the right care, the tooth could be successfully put back into the socket. Ideally you should try and put it back in straight away, without handling the root.
The best chance of having your tooth successfully put back in is to keep the tooth in the cheek. If this isn't possible, keep it in some milk until you receive the necessary emergency dental work. The sooner you can do this the better.

5.Moderation

Moderation is definitely the most important thing to remember. In order to ensure you fully enjoy this time of year without having to compromise on what you eat and drink, bear in mind it is not how much sugary food and drink you have, it is how often you have them that causes a perilous situation for oral health. It's ok to say no to that extra sweet as the tin comes round, or have a glass of milk instead of one last glass of fizz.

Written by Karen Coates

DIY Tooth Whitening is NOT the way! Advice from Absolute Dental.

I wonder if anyone saw the article in the Daily Mail yesterday (16/12/14) regarding the concerns of a leading dentist over DIY tooth whitening and also the products used to whiten teeth by non-dental professionals, it made very interesting, but concerning reading.

It is true that tooth whitening is now very popular with people looking to brighten their smile, but it is also true that in these current economic times people are looking for cheaper alternatives where possible - but the warning is, when it comes to tooth whitening, not all treatments are equal!

The promise a perfect smile at a fraction of the price of professional treatments appeals to many. But cheap tooth-whitening methods and DIY remedies can do permanent damage. Some are so harsh they strip away the enamel, leaving healthy young people with dull brown teeth usually only seen in the elderly. Ken Harris, a leading cosmetic dentist, said: ‘You only get so much enamel in your life and once it has gone, you are in serious trouble.’  

 

 

 

There are "old wives tales" that foods such as strawberries or lemon juice can whiten teeth, but these, and many over the counter tooth whitening kits are extremely unlikely to work.

 

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Dr Harris said he has even seen patients go to extreme lengths to cut costs – from scrubbing their teeth with Vim scouring powder to rinsing with Toilet Duck or Domestos! Those doing this are at risk of chemical burns and causing permanent damage to the enamel of their teeth

 

Dr Harris, who studied tooth-whitening for a master’s degree, warned that the budget bleaching sessions are at best useless and at worst dangerous. His research shows that only hydrogen peroxide and derivatives of it, such as carbamide peroxide, whiten teeth.

 

However, some non dental professionals who provide a tooth whitening treatment use chlorine dioxide, which is better known as swimming pool bleach. Martin Fallowfield, of the British Dental Association, called the use of swimming pool bleach as a whitener ‘very scary’.

 

The warning also extends to buying kits online. Some contain five times as much carbamide peroxide as needed.

 

He also said it is illegal for anyone other than a dentist to whiten teeth – but some beauty salons try to get around this by helping customers with the treatment rather than fully carrying it out.

So, our advice is that if you are thinking of brightening or whitening your teeth - speak to trained professionals who are interested in more than simply changing the shade of your teeth, but actually looking our for the long term health of your whole mouth - your dentist! If you would like more advice on our tooth whitening treatments, please call us on 01548 852165 or pop in to the practice today and speak to one of the team.

Making Choices - Our Future is in Our Hands

Having attended a thought proving workshop with the team from Absolute a couple of weeks ago, a couple of key points have stuck out in my mind;

Firstly, I need to take more responsibility for where I find myself in life by being more pro-active and less passive.

Secondly, if my future doesn't look like I want it to, the only one who can change this is me!

So often in life we have choices to make, and many people often find it hard to make decisions - inevitably we all have to make decisions all the time, some are more important than others.
 

Some people put off making decisions by endlessly searching for more information or getting other people to offer their recommendations.  Others resort to decision making by taking a vote, sticking a pin in a list or tossing a coin. Sometimes it is often easier to walk away rather than having to decide - but even that is a decision in itself.

 

So, I have realised that sitting back, thinking "what will be, will be" is no longer good enough for me. If I want to change something, decisions have to be made!

 

On a personal level, I have kicked this off with some hypnotherapy to help me with my fear of flying (about time as I have my first ever long haul flight booked for January 2015!!), and I can honestly say, that even making the decision to change something feels incredibly positive!

 

I wanted to share this with you all as I know many people find themselves in a similar situation, of wanting to change something or alter their path, but don't know where to begin. My advice would be to first of all decide to make that change - this is often the hardest part, but once this is done, momentum is gathered and the rest becomes slightly easier.

 

Whether its losing some weight, improving your smile, looking for a new house, learning to drive or simply reading that book that you've never got around to - stop waiting for everything to happen to you, and go out there and make it happen for you. 2015 could be a great year for you too.

 

Di

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't forget your teeth this festive season!

Over the next month, our bodies are likely to take a battering as we indulge in fatty, sugary, rich foods, our alcohol intake goes up a few notches and late nights become the norm in the run up to Christmas.

 

And while many of us can see the obvious effects of festive season over-indulgence in the form of weight gain and a generally tired appearance, there’s one part of our bodies that we rarely give a second thought to – our teeth.

 

This time of year is particularly troublesome for our teeth and also our breath, but how many of us think about our oral hygiene routine during the festive season?

 

Not only could we be paying the price come January, but at the time of the year when we’re likely to be getting up close and personal in the form of hugs, dancing with friends and family, and kisses under the mistletoe, many of us could be putting people off without a second thought.

Take the office Christmas party for example. Research released by Wrigley shows that nearly a third of adults have romantically kissed a work colleague, with one in six adults seeing their office Christmas party as a good opportunity to make a move on one of their colleagues!

But if your plan is to make a move on the office cutie for a kiss under the mistletoe then be warned; over 70% of people say bad teeth or bad breath would be their biggest turnoff if they were to kiss someone at this year’s work party, with over a quarter ranking fresh breath as the most important factor when preparing for the Christmas bash.

 

So, to be sure your breath is fresh and your teeth are in top form ready for the festive season, visit your dentist or hygienist to ensure everything in your mouth is as healthy as can be, and don't forget to brush and floss as normal over the festive season - even chewing sugar free gum is a great way to remove debris and freshen your breath after your Christmas meal.

 

Call us on 01548 852165 today if you would like a last minute pre-Christmas party season sparkle!

Tooth Whitening at Absolute Dental

Ever thought you would like to see a brighter, lighter smile when you look in the mirror?

Our patients report that they feel younger and healthier following whitening treatment. It can change discoloured teeth stained by smoking red wine and the ravages of time into a smile restored and rejuvenated which still looks like you ....only better! 

If you wish to boost confidence socially and in business, to sparkle on your Wedding Day, Birthday or Anniversary or simply to have a special treat, Absolute Tooth Whitening is the perfect answer. 

At Absolute Dental we are delighted to offer our patients a choice of Tooth Whitening Systems to suit your teeth and lifestyle  The system uses gentle safe gels over several days or nights to give you the very best result. 

A short visit to take an impression is all that stands between you and your new smile. Painless minimally invasive dentistry with great results. A sound investment with great return.

Ask Rhodri, Ruth, or any of the team to learn more. We've all taken the plunge and are enjoying the benefits of a healthier looking smile.

Is Running good for your dental health?

Running

On Sunday Nov 2^nd, I and 2,008 other runners took part in the Plymouth 10k road race. Many spent weeks training for the event and the smiles on the finish line tell all. Running is an accessible, cheap activity to manage your weight, build strength in your bones and relieve stress. It is good for your health, good for your soul!

Is running good for our dental health?

 

Inevitably, when you are running, you need to breathe through your mouth. This dries the mouth, saliva thickens and the cleansing effects are reduced.

·         Sugary food or drink consumed on the go will cause more damage to your teeth than normal.

·         Avoid energy drinks; they cause decay and acid erosion. Acid erosion thins the enamel and causes sensitivity.

·         Frequent intake of sugary food or drink consumed during training causes tooth decay. Untreated advanced decay leads to pain - you may recall earlier in the year Mo Farah withdrew from the Commonwealth games due to an illness linked to his dental health.

So, you’re keen to enjoy the benefits of running and want to keep your mouth healthy?

·         Firstly, stop overestimating the amount of carbohydrates you need to complete runs of less than 90 minutes.

o   Did you know the body has enough glycogen stored in the muscles from our normal diets to run for about 2 hours?

o   The majority of runners do not need to consume energy drinks or energy gels.

o   You will run better and keep your teeth healthy by having a nutritious pre-run snack (such as a glass of water and cream cheese on wholemeal toast) rather than grazing on jelly sweets during the run. More ideas on pre-run snacks can be found on running forums.

For those of you with intensive training schedules (such as marathon training, where frequent intake of sugar is unavoidable on longer runs) in addition to brushing twice daily with fluoride toothpaste (spit out the toothpaste, don’t rinse) you should also use a non-alcohol fluoride mouthwash. Rinse for 1min at a different time of the day to tooth brushing, such as post-run or after lunch.

Happy running everyone, stay visible!

Christina.

Supporting Mouth Cancer Action Month at Absolute Dental

 

 

Mouth Cancer Action Month is a charity campaign which aims to raise awareness of mouth cancer and make a difference by saving thousands of lives through early detection and prevention.

 

Throughout November we will be aiming to get more mouth cancers diagnosed at an early stage by increasing education of the risk factors and signs and symptoms while encouraging everybody to discuss them with their dental professional.

 

As long-time campaigners for mouth cancer, everybody at the British Dental Health Foundation is passionate and committed increasing awareness of the disease and reducing the number of lives lost to it every year.

 

In the UK, more than 6,700 people were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year. The disease has grown by a third in the last decade – and remains one of very few cancers which are predicted to increase further in the coming years – that’s why Mouth Cancer Action Month is so important.

 

Although there are risk factors heavily linked to the disease, mouth cancer can affect anybody – that’s why it’s so important that we all know what to look out for. The campaign is all about taking action. Don’t leave that ulcer unattended for more than three weeks. Don’t ignore that unusual lump or swelling or red and white patches in your mouth. Early detection could save your life.

 

Mouth cancer takes the lives of more than 2,000 people each year in the UK, which is more than testicular and cervical cancer combined. Mouth cancer also takes more lives a year than road traffic accidents. By knowing more about the risk factors, living healthier lifestyles and by learning what to look out we can help reduce our risk and lower the number of lives that mouth cancer effects.

 

This year, we want everybody to help us and getting involved in Mouth Cancer Action Month. Whether you’re on your own or as part of a team, we have lots of ways you can be part of the campaign and really make a difference.