Are you a Snacker or a Grazer?

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If, like so many of us these days, your busy lifestyle means that your eating habits are changing from the traditional three meals a day to more snacking or grazing while you are on-the-go, then now would be a good time to include chewing sugar free gum in your oral hygiene routine.

The definitions for the word ‘grazing' in the dictionary now include ‘eating frequently at irregular intervals' - not quite the same as snacking, but probably more frequent. Either way, it comes down to grabbing something to eat on-the-go when and where we can. Breakfast at the desk, a couple of mid-morning biscuits, sandwiches and crisps for lunch and an afternoon treat to keep us going, with several cups of tea or coffee in between.

The fact is that this is not good news for our teeth which come under sustained attack from the plaque acids that form on teeth and can damage the enamel whilst all this snacking and grazing is going on. Every time we eat or drink the pH balance in the mouth changes, dropping into a danger zone where tooth demineralisation can happen.

The simple and convenient step of chewing sugarfree gum for 20 minutes after eating and drinking is a great addition to twice-a-day brushing because it helps neutralise those plaque acids, wash away food particles and remineralise tooth enamel.

There is plenty of scientific research to support the oral hygiene benefits of chewing sugarfree gum, which are even more relevant now given on average we consume two or three snacks outside of meals every day. The ‘science bit' is simple enough: chewing increases the production of saliva which helps clean the mouth and neutralise plaque acids, so it's a non-disruptive and simple oral care habit when brushing and flossing just isn't possible or convenient.

"Chewing sugarfree gum is a really good and convenient way of looking after your oral health whilst on the go."

To book an appointment with us

Call us at: +912240147049/09321330133
iDent, Idyll Dental Clinic
Email: smileident@gmail.com
Website: www.smileident.com

World Oral Health Day:  Things to be known about the POWER OF A SMILE.

Just take a moment and think about how a simple smile can be one of the most powerful tools at our disposal... and we all have one.

So to help everyone understand the power of a smile these are the favourite facts about smiles:

• Charles Darwin who was one of the first to really look at the power of a smile. He noted that smiling is truly universal, unlike other physical actions such as body language, or verbal communication, which differs from culture-to-culture, we all understand a smile and the feelings behind it.

• Smiles are hugely infectious.  So even if we don't feel much happier straight away, by smiling the people around us are more likely to smile, and that can then improve our mood as well.

• A smile can really have a big effect on our relationships. More than half of the people make a smile one of the first things that people notice about others and one of the most attractive features people can have.

• A smile can also benefit our professional life too. A smile is seen as friendly and trustworthy; interviewers are likely to find candidates far more appealing if they go for a job interview with smile on their face.

• It really is easier to smile too. I am sure you would have heard that it takes less muscles to smile than frown, this really is true 43 to frown and only 17 to smile!

       Looking after our smile should be quite simple, if you make sure you follow these three key messages:

• Brush your teeth last thing at night and on at least one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste.

• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.

• Visit a dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

Try to share a smile, not just on World Oral Health Day but every day, and bring a bit of happiness to those around you.World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on 20 March. It is an international day to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of the issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene to looking after everyone old and young.

To book an appointment with us

Call us at: +912240147049/09321330133
iDent, Idyll Dental Clinic
Email: smileident@gmail.com
Website: www.smileident.com

Why Are My Teeth Yellow Even Though I Have Good Dental Hygiene?

 

Having yellow teeth can be embarrassing, but doesn’t necessarily mean that your teeth are unclean or unhealthy. Rather than worrying about your dental cleaning routine, you should instead focus on the products that you eat, drink and smoke. By making some changes to your diet and lifestyle, you can prevent stains from building up on your teeth.

Smoking causes yellow stains

Smoking is bad for your oral health in many ways, including causing gum disease and raising the risk of mouth cancer. The most obvious effect of smoking on your mouth is a gradual yellowing of the teeth. Although whitening treatments can remove or at least reduce these yellow stains, you will need to quit smoking in order to prevent the staining from coming back again after the treatment.

Watch out for red wine, coffee and tea

Do you enjoy a glass of red wine with dinner? Or do you typically follow meals with a steaming cup of black coffee or tea? These everyday habits could be the reason why your teeth are no longer as white as they once were. Tea, coffee and red wine all contain chemicals called tannins, which cause stains to form on the surfaces of teeth.

Is your enamel wearing thin?

Thin enamel is one possible cause of yellow teeth. Certain illnesses and medications can cause enamel to become thinner than it should be. Acids in foods and drinks can also erode enamel, particularly the highly corrosive acids in cola and other soft drinks.

Hygiene might not be the culprit, but it is important

Cleaning and flossing your teeth is not always enough to keep them perfectly white, but you should still be vigilant about dental hygiene. Keeping teeth clean is the best way to prevent bacteria from growing in the mouth and attacking the teeth to cause cavities and decay.

Your dentist can help

We can offer treatments to restore the whiteness of your teeth, as well as giving advice about how to prevent the yellow colour from returning. Whitening treatments are very safe when they are carried out by a qualified cosmetic dentist, and they are suitable for most people. Stop hiding your smile and book an appointment with us to fix the discolouration of your teeth.

To book an appointment with us

Call us at: +912240147049/09321330133
iDent, Idyll Dental Clinic
Email: smileident@gmail.com
Website: www.smileident.com

11 tips to cut down on sugar: Ending our addiction to sugar

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Fact! Sugar is bad for our teeth. Of course, this comes as no surprise yet sugar-related dental problems are still the most widespread cause of poor oral health and disease. The message is clear and simple though, reducing the amount of sugar which is in our diets will help to reduce the damage it can cause to our teeth, with the added bonus of improving our waistlines along the way.

 We are sometimes guilty of straying from our own advice and over indulging on sugar. That is why it is important to be smart on sugar so that it does not catch us out.

With sugar-related dental problems being one of the most common complaints when visiting the dentist, here are the top tips to help with our ever-growing addiction to sugar:

1.Sugar by any other name is still sugar

When we think of sugar we probably picture the white stuff you pop in our tea. But there are many ‘hidden' sugars in lots of things we would not even think of. Sugar can go by many names and recognising them is the first step to avoiding them. There are too many to list but some to look out for are; sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, molasses, hydrolysed starch and corn syrup.

2.Have a smarter breakfast

 The dangerously high levels of sugar in some breakfast cereals, with some shockingly made up of almost a third of sugar. Switching out for a lower sugar cereal or one with no added sugar, and not adding any yourselves, will have a massive impact on your dental health and your health overall. Filling up at breakfast time is also a great way to avoid those unhealthy snacks throughout the day.

3.Snack happy

It's 10:30 and we get that urge. It's a little too far away from lunch and we need something to tide us over. Don't reach for the biscuit barrel, a handful of nuts will provide that energy boost you need. Remember it's not only about how much sugar we eat when it comes to your teeth it's also about how often, so try opting for a sugar free alternative whenever possible.

4.Fat free is not trouble free

Many products are marketed as a ‘healthy alternative', but those claims on the packaging are only telling part of the story. Often products such as fat free yogurts still contain high  levels of sugars in the form of fructose or refined sugar. A good tip is to look out for the traffic light system when we're doing our shopping.

5.Work out some ground rules

Let's be honest, we don't need a sweet dessert every day! By setting a set of simple ground rules we can make some simple lifestyle changes which can have a huge effect. Simple things like, not eating in the hour before you go to bed, avoiding adding sugar to anything and making sure we avoid dessert a few times a week soon adds up.

6.Get fresh

When it comes to our teeth fresh whole foods are best, this all comes down to stickiness. By smashing up a banana and strawberry into a smoothie it releases the sugars which then are able to coat the whole tooth, even in the tiny gaps, eating them whole helps to avoid this problem. And when it comes to stickiness dried fruit is a big no-no, this stuff can get right in those gaps giving the sugar a huge amount of time to cause problems.

7.Set a quota

When it comes to our teeth it's not only about how much sugar you eat it's how often you have it. It takes an hour for our mouth to return to a neutral state after eating or drinking and every time we have another mouthful that time starts again. Constant grazing can leave us with a toothless grin so if we do need a sugar fix, keep it to mealtimes and give our mouth a break.

8.Hit the hay early

Being a night owl can spell bad news for our mouth and this is all down to routine. People who stay up late are more likely to skip brushing before bed and with the added midnight snacking this could spell disaster for our teeth. We can't snack when were asleep so getting an early night can have a wonderful effect. This comes with the added problem that is......

9.The most important meal of the day

How many of us have skipped breakfast and then yearn for that sugary fix to get us through the day? This comes down again to giving our mouths a break to recover, have a filling and nutritious breakfast is the best way to start your day of right.

10.Drinking like a fish

 Whether it's that pint of cider, glass of prosecco or even a cheeky G&T the sugar in them can have a huge impact on our oral health. Try to moderate the amount of alcoholic drinks you have and also have some water nearby to help wash down your tipple of choice. It helps wash some of the sugar from the mouth and our head will thankyou the next day too.

11.Keep an eye on your coffee order

Our double chocolaty chip crème frappuccino or tiramisu latte with extra whipped cream from our favourite coffee place may be delicious, and fun to say, but let's be honest we know its laden with sugar. If we do need a caffeine fix and have a sweet tooth try to keep it to meal times, or we could just stick with an espresso.

To book an appointment with us

Call us at: +912240147049/09321330133
iDent, Idyll Dental Clinic
Email: smileident@gmail.com
Website: www.smileident.com

After the I do’s

Don't forget your dentist! Proper maintenance of your teeth after your wedding is always necessary to keep your smile beautiful and your mouth healthy. Use the following suggestions as a guideline:

• Floss and brush gently twice daily and use a fluoride toothpaste.

• Visit A dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.

• Teeth whitening may need to be maintained.

• Eat a healthy diet for your oral and general health.

Congratulations — have a good life and smile often!

To book an appointment with us

Call us at: +912240147049/09321330133
iDent, Idyll Dental Clinic
Email: smileident@gmail.com
Website: www.smileident.com

Getting older can be less than fun, but it’s something everyone needs to deal with. As we live longer and fuller lives, dental health becomes all the more important. By and large, dental care doesn’t turn inside out when you reach a certain age, but you will have to do more to keep your smile strong. If working out, stretching, or diet changes are already on the table, why not add more vigilant dental care to the list?

Caring For Your Teeth Before You Reach Retirement

The single most important thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy later is to care for them now. If you’ve been procrastinating on brushing more than once a day, or meaning to floss more than once in a blue moon, now is the time to hop to it. Caring for your teeth now will ensure that they are around to serve you well into your twilight years. Be mindful of damaging your enamel, keeping gum disease in check, and keeping receding gums in check.

• Darkened teeth: Expect changes to dentin and a lifetime of stain-causing food and drink to finally show your teeth’s age.
• Diminished taste: Medications, diseases, and other effects of aging can and will make changes in the way things taste.
• Dry mouth: Reduced saliva can be a factor in certain medical conditions including diabetes and cancer treatments. It’s also normal as you age to see a drop in saliva, which can lead to other dental issues.
• Root decay: Tooth decay isn’t exactly a new problem, but it gets more difficult to manage as you get older. Especially if you don’t take care of your teeth when you’re young.
• Gum disease: Plaque buildup can lead to decay and receding gums. Eventually it will lead to loose teeth which means…
• Tooth loss: If you don’t take care of your teeth, you will lose them – guaranteed.

Visiting A Dentist

As you age, it becomes crucial to visit the dentist regularly to ensure that your healthy teeth stay that way. Every 6 months you will want to schedule a regular cleaning and checkup, and to closely follow your dentist’s advice. This is especially crucial if you have already started losing teeth or are using dentures. The dentist will check for loose teeth, and for bumps or lumps that might lead to oral cancer. They should also check with you about changes to your mouth like diminished taste or changes in colour.

Brushing

When choosing a brush, we recommend a soft bristle brush that is easier on your gums. You should brush after each and every meal and this becomes especially important as you age and your enamel wears away. The right brush for you is one that fits comfortably in your hand. If you are suffering from arthritis or find it difficult to hold a brush for the recommended two to three minute cleaning, try wrapping your brush with something to widen the grip or consider an electric brush that is less difficult to use. When brushing, use a forty-five degree angle and try not to scrub too hard. As you age, brushing too hard can actually cause your gums to recede. So if you’re not sure about how much pressure to use, talk to the dentist about the s

Flossing

Flossing should be done daily. Flossing helps you reach the almost one third of your tooth surface area that you’d otherwise miss. It’s never too late to start flossing, and it only takes a few minutes out of your day. To do it well, use a length of floss as long as your arm and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about two inches in between. Use your index fingers to guide the floss into place. As you move the floss along your teeth, remember to scrape the side of each tooth several times to get all the plaque off. It’s a good idea to leave more floss on one finger so you can unravel one end and tighten the other, using a new section of floss for each tooth. If you are having trouble gripping the floss due to shaking or arthritis, consider dental tape or a flossing aid like a flossing pick. Failing those options, consider a WaterPik as a good backup.

Implants

Implants are an excellent, relatively recent advancement in dentistry, and are used to replace missing teeth. The procedure involves surgery and is more expensive than dentures, but the result is permanent. Implants work by attaching a metal post into the jawbone, and then attaching the dental implant by screwing it into place. Once in place, the implant will be shaded to match your natural teeth, and filed to match your bite. Most people forget they have implants at all. Implants are stronger than some options, but they’re not as strong as your original tooth, so you have to be careful when caring for them. Flossing is just as important between artificial implants, for instance. You need to be extra careful flossing where the implant meets the gum.

Dentures

If all else fails and you find yourself in need of partial or complete dentures, rest assured that the look and feel of false teeth has improved over the years. Removable teeth are custom made to fit your mouth and replicate the look of your original teeth. Partial dentures will fill select spaces of missing teeth, improving your overall appearance and making it easier to chew your food. Full dentures become necessary when partial dentures or implants becomes impractical or ineffective. In this case you may need to remove any remaining teeth through dental surgery. Even without your original teeth, caring for your mouth is very important. For instance, if you have partial dentures and don’t brush your remaining teeth, that can cause gum disease and inflammation which can make wearing dentures uncomfortable or even impossible. Regular visits to the dentist are required as your mouth is always changing. Don’t forget to report any discomfort to the dentist between appointments.

Looking After Others

If you have an elderly person in your care and are trying to help them with looking after their teeth, here are some helpful tips to consider:

1. Speak to the dentist about caring for the person based on their specific needs.
2. Go slowly at first and make sure you are communicating clearly.
3. Be sure the person you are caring for is comfortable and seated on a stool or chair.
4. For real teeth, use a soft or electric brush from behind the patient in front of a mirror and sink.
5. Brush slowly and check to make sure your patient is comfortable.
6. With dentures, check for cracks before scrubbing and rinsing the dentures.
7. After dentures are removed, ask permission to check the patient’s mouth for sores. Use a damp cloth to clean around the gums and check for sores and discoloured areas.
8. Dentures can be soaked in a denture cleanser or in warm water overnight.
9. Have your patient rinse with warm water when you’re done.

Caring for someone else’s teeth or mouth is difficult, but it gets easier as a relationship forms between caregiver and patient. If you are having difficulty, turn to the dentist for help.

To book an appointment with us

Call us at: +912240147049/09321330133
iDent, Idyll Dental Clinic
Email: smileident@gmail.com
Website: www.smileident.com

Happy Christmas :)

   

                           





iDENT
Idyll Dental
www.smileident.com
smileident@gmail.com
022 40147049