Archive for the “News” Category
The Role of a Dental Hygienist
Dental hygienists carry out a very important role in preventing oral health problems and promoting good oral hygiene. Dental hygienists are trained dental professionals; they can work in a variety of different settings, including different primary care settings but usually work alongside the dental team at a dental practice.
Preventative dental treatment is based on the old adage, prevention is better than cure; preventative treatments are designed to try and prevent dental health problems, rather than waiting for conditions to develop and then treating them. Examples of preventative treatments include fluoride varnish, sealant treatments and cleaning treatments.
Cleaning treatments are very popular; most of us notice the difference a dentist’s clean can make compared to normal brushing; the teeth feel much smoother and look glossy and sparkly. Intense cleaning treatments remove plaque, bacteria and tartar and therefore reduce the risk of conditions such as decay and gum disease.
Fluoride varnish treatments are commonly given to children; fluoride helps to strengthen the enamel surfaces of the teeth and therefore protects against oral health problems. Fluoride can be found in many oral hygiene products and is added to the water supply in some areas of the country.
Oral hygiene is key for good oral health and hygienists help to promote good oral hygiene and encourage people to adopt a good oral hygiene routine. A good daily routine should include brushing the teeth for two minutes twice a day and using mouthwash and dental floss on a regular basis; electric toothbrushes are generally more effective than manual brushes.
Posted in: Dental Health, News
Tags: Dental Hygiene, dental hygienists, Fluoride varnish treatments, oral health
| May 15, 2011 at 10:34 am | No comment
National No smoking Day: Is It time for you to quit ?
Once a year No Smoking Day provides smokers with that extra little nudge to kick the habit for good. On the 9th March this year campaigners, supporters and health organisations rallied round once more in a bid to encourage more and more smokers to quit.
There cannot be many of us left that aren’t very aware of the killer diseases that smoking causes: cancer, heart disease and strokes are the big names in the Government’s attempt to scare the ciggie out of our hands. Whilst these are some scary words though it is often the case that smokers brush it off with the ‘it’ll never happen to me’ attitude.
What consequences does smoking have?
Something that may be more relatable however is the negative effects smoking most definitely has on your looks: the tired-looking skin; those few extra wrinkles; the drab hair; the nicotine-tinged fingers and the unsightly stained smile. These are the things that will greet you every morning in the mirror. A perfect white smile will most definitely be the first thing to which a smoker says farewell.
Smoking has massive effects on your mouth due to the constant fuelling of toxic chemicals it has to withstand. A smoker’s oral health will always be jeopardised even if they are lucky enough to escape any of the other health problems associated with their bad habit. Smoking not only stains your smile but also makes the mouth more susceptible to gum disease; gum erosion and tooth loss not to mention complicating the healing process of any dental treatment you receive.
No pressure
However, again warning smokers of the dangers, the risks and the drawbacks is never going to be enough to satisfy that nicotine craving when trying to give up. No Smoking Day recognises the fact that pressurising people into quitting is not the right way to go; quitting because you want to is the only way to be successful. For this reason No Smoking Day doesn’t just preach about the risks and drawbacks of smoking but concentrates on raising awareness about the help, support and advice available to quitters whenever they decide the time is right to stop smoking.
No Smoking Day is a highly successful campaign and to date has supported a massive 1.5 million smokers in the UK through their fight with the fags. Taking a non-judgmental approach is probably one of the main reasons that No Smoking Day is so successful – people know that smoking is not good for your health; they know that smoking kills; they know it smells and stains your teeth; they know it is a preventable drain on the bank balance; but none of these facts are useful when you are helplessly addicted to your nicotine fix.
Figures show that a massive 20% of the UK population are smokers – even more bewildering is the fact that of these nicotine addicts a whopping 63% would like to kick the habit. National No Smoking Day gives all of those thousands of people the opportunity, the guidance, the support and the gentle encouragement that is needed to kick the habit and restore their health; their bank balance and their beauty for good.
Posted in: Dental Health, News
Tags: gum disease, oral health, smoking, teeth staining
| May 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm | No comment
Brits Opt for ‘London Smile Makeovers’
Britain isn’t exactly know as place where beautiful smiles are common place and Americans often take great pleasure in ridiculing the supposedly bad teeth of British people. In reality the proportion of people in Britain with bad teeth is probably similar to anywhere else in world; however the stereotype of bad teeth seems to stick nevertheless. (more…)
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry News, News
| November 19, 2010 at 4:34 pm | No comment
Snap-on Smiles: The Road to a Perfect Smile?
Plenty of people are unhappy with their smiles. You only have to look the statistics to see there has been a significant surge in the number of people undergoing cosmetic dental treatments. If you’re one of those people who’d like to change something about their smile then the thought of cosmetic dentistry has almost certainly crossed your mind. (more…)
Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, News
| November 16, 2010 at 5:22 pm | No comment
More Halloween Dental Horrors
It is thought by many dentists that childhood tooth decay is a good indicator of oral disease and problems in later life, which is why the Halloween season has raised concerns to many dentists throughout America as we reported yesterday. (more…)
Posted in: Dental Health, News
| October 27, 2010 at 12:28 pm | No comment
Halloween Sweet Hauls Give US Dentists a Fright
Halloween, a popular annual event in the USA is slowly creeping into the UK with more people every year dressing up, putting on parties and encouraging their children to go trick or treating. However, dentists in America are concerned that the national holiday encourages children to go on sweet eating binges, which obviously can have an impact on oral health. (more…)
Posted in: Dental Health, News
| October 26, 2010 at 10:55 am | No comment
A Gap in Your Teeth – The Latest Trend?
Many people associate America with glistening, white and perfectly aligned teeth. However, a new trend is emerging inspired by various a-list celebrities that doesn’t exactly fit in with the stereotypical image of Americans with immaculate teeth. (more…)
Posted in: News
| October 25, 2010 at 12:24 pm | No comment
Rap Star has Mouthful of Diamonds
Some of our regular readers may remember last month’s blog about dental jewellery, small gemstones fixed to the tooth with a special type of dental glue. Well, international singing sensation Kanye West has taken it one step further… (more…)
Posted in: News
| October 20, 2010 at 3:54 pm | No comment
Concerns About Tricolsan
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety has revealed that there could be a causal connection between the ingredients of certain toothpastes and the spread of superbugs. (more…)
Posted in: News
| October 18, 2010 at 2:56 pm | No comment
Cosmetic Dental Conference a Huge Success
Last weekend saw The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry play host to leading cosmetic dental experts from around the world as they flocked to London for “Esthetics Meets Aesthetics”, the very first cosmetic dental conference which was a resounding success. (more…)
Posted in: News
| September 30, 2010 at 3:38 pm | No comment
