Archive for October, 2009

Brits 'should not ignore sensitive teeth'

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Britons who have sensitive teeth should not ignore the problem and instead should book a check-up with an emergency dentist to assess the issue.

A survey conducted by the Academy of General Dentistry revealed sensitive teeth can be a sign of enamel erosion or indicate receding gums, both problems which people should talk to their dentist about in order to resolve the issue.

In addition, individuals suffering from a dry mouth might also want to consult their dentist.

Dr Gigi Meinecke commented: "This is a problem because these oral conditions can lead to serious consequences."

Meanwhile, a study was recently carried out at the University of Gothenburg which showed that foods with a high alkaline content could be damaging to the organic parts of the teeth. As a result, researchers noted that those who eat alkaline-rich foods are more likely to develop sensitive teeth and see erosion of their tooth enamel.
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Growing gap between good and poor oral health

Friday, October 30th, 2009

There is a growing gap between those with good and poor oral health in the UK, it has been revealed.

Research carried out by the British Dental Association (BDA) has shown that in the poorest areas of Britain, 60 per cent of five-year-olds and 70 per cent of eight-year-olds have signs of decay in their baby teeth.

This is compared to 40 per cent and 55 per cent respectively in more affluent areas, highlighting a noticeable gap in oral health standards.

Professor Damien Walmsley, scientific adviser to the BDA, said: "There has been a significant improvement in the nation’s overall oral health over the last 30 years, but despite that we still see a huge disparity that is all-too-often related to social deprivation."

Meanwhile, the American Academy of Periodontology recently noted that regular flossing could help people improve their overall health by removing bacteria and foods in the mouth, which, if left unchecked, could cause problems if bacteria seeped into the bloodstream.

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Kids urged to hand in candy

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Children across the US have been urged to wrap up their sweet and hand them in to their dentist.

Local US newspaper the Macon reported Sheila Shah, a dentist, has said that as Halloween approaches a lot of children are going to be receiving a mountain of sweets and eating all this sugar could have a harmful effect on their long-term oral health.

Ms Shah noted: "Halloween marks the beginning of the sweet-tooth season.

"It’s followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter. That’s six months of sweets."

Elsewhere, dentists across the US are taking part in a scheme to send leftover sweets from Halloween to troops serving overseas.

Dr Steven Johnson of Johnson Family Dental Offices in Santa Barbara is offering £2 per pound of unopened sweets handed in by children following Halloween. He hopes more children will be inspired to cash in their candy, rather than eat it and risk their oral health.
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London emergency dentists helps kids in India

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Two London-based doctors have taken emergency dentistry treatments to the Indian sub-continent to help provide dental care for children in the Vadaj region.

According to Chai Samosa, Dr Jay and Dr Rupa Patel have each travelled thousands of miles from their London dental practice to give emergency dental treatments.

So far, the pair have examined more than 130 children in the area and carried out a range of procedures to help local kids get better oral health.

"Most of the [children] don’t have bad teeth, mainly because they use ground water rich in fluoride. However, most of them have bad gums which will cause trouble in future," commented Dr Jay Patel.

Elsewhere, the Jakarta Post recently reported oral health expert Armasastra Bahar advised parents to ensure they clean their children’s teeth properly every day and to help them build up an oral health routine that will stick with them for the rest of their lives.
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US Tooth Taxi 'helps protect baby teeth'

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Children in the US are being treated to free emergency dentist treatments by a service known as the Tooth Taxi.

The Tooth Taxi allows dental professionals to come into schools across the country and offer free check-ups and treatments to children who are in need of access to dental care, but who otherwise might not be able to afford to have treatments carried out.

Tooth Taxi dentist Weston Heringer commented: "It’s so important to take care of baby teeth. Tooth decay is a preventable disease. You just got to stay on it."

He noted that parents should brush and floss their children’s teeth up to the age of eight years old.

Last year, Dr Heringer carried out more than $46,000 (£27,765) worth of free dentistry work on kids.

Elsewhere, US newspaper the Richmond Register recently noted that 40 per cent of children in Kentucky have never visited a dentist.

The publication claimed "such statistics are unacceptable", but as yet there are too few dentists currently operating in the state to effectively bring this figure down.
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Bad breath 'can be tackled'

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Anyone who suffers from halitosis should not fret as there are a number of ways to tackle the problem, it has been argued.

Cosmetic dentist Elisa Mello told WCBS there are a number of remedies which people can take up to tackle bad breath.

"We all have bacteria in our mouth. The problem is that when one bacteria or a few of different strains become more dominant, they can cause decay in you mouth," she said.

Therefore, Dr Mello noted that making sure a person stays well hydrated is key as this enables enough saliva to be produced in the mouth. Also, chewing gum could be beneficial as this too promotes saliva production.

Elsewhere, AsiaOne recently reported that Brits should brush their teeth regularly to ensure they maintain a good standard of oral health throughout their lives.

Dr Chung Kong Mun, president of the Society of Periodontology, noted regular check-ups and setting up an oral health profile with a dental professional are also recommended for healthy teeth and gums.
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Cosmetic dentistry will help bride to smile on wedding day

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

cosmetic dentistryOne woman has opted for cosmetic dentistry is now sure she will be happy with her appearance on her wedding day.

Elaine Hutcheson told the Sun of her decision to have plastic surgery on her nose in addition to “smile reconstruction” procedures.

She explained that, contrary to her now-fiance’s protestations, she decided to have the work done to her face and teeth.

Ms Hutcheson said she did not like to smile before she had the treatment, but now she will surely be showing off her pearly whites at the ceremony.

Commenting on her decision, she said: “Some people might think it’s over the top.

“But now I have no reservations about how I look.”

Ms Hutcheson was one of the 46 per cent of people in the UK who are unhappy with their teeth.

This is according to an Align Technology survey, which also showed that 32 per cent of people are most likely to notice a potential partner’s smile first.
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Teeth whitening tips for Brits

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

teeth whiteningPeople hoping to achieve a pearly white smile may be interested in a series of tips for teeth whitening.

Drawing on expert advice, the editors of Good Housekeeping published advice on making a smile brighter on msn.com.

Firstly, people must determine whether they are suitable for the treatment. Those who should not have teeth whitening include people whose teeth are painfully sensitive to cold, those with crowns or fillings in their front teeth and people with grey, rather than yellow enamel.

Dr Jeff Golub-Evans, practitioner of cosmetic dentistry in New York advised getting the green light from a dentist before attempting the process at home.

He said when holding a piece of printer paper next to the teeth, if the colouration appears yellow, they are suitable for bleaching.

But those that appear grey may have discolouration inside the teeth themselves and therefore the treatment may not help.

Furthermore, the article advised using trays and strips in order to get the most dramatic whitening effect, while toothpastes and brushes brighten by a shade or two.

The British Dental Foundation recently advised against having teeth whitening procedures done at beauty salons and instead encouraged people to go to a dentist.
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Oral health 'continues to improve'

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

The level of oral health is continuously improving, it has been asserted.

According to Chris Ide, an occupation physician writing for the Safety and Health Practitioner, there has been a marked difference in the number of people with problems with their teeth in recent years.

He noted research that showed certain people were more likely to have decayed, missing or filled teeth – pointing out a study from Finland that showed confectionary employees are more at risk.

Other workplaces that involve exposure to vapours, such as acid vapours and mists, as well as jobs that see people work with fertilisers or batteries, which can contain damaging substances, were highlighted as having employees with high instances of dental health issues.

However, Mr Ide pointed out that the amount of decay declined as he studied later research, demonstrating that the standard of oral health has increased.

I’ve been examining patients and employees for about 40 years and one of the most striking changes I’ve noticed during this time has been the general improvement in dental health," he remarked.

According to the Dental Health Site, drinking more water, chewing gum and using a straw to drink potential teeth staining drinks can all help maintain good oral hygiene.
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Tooth loss 'a greater stigma'

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

dental implantDental implants could potentially be the solution to the embarrassment of losing teeth, it has been suggested.

Kevin Ekene, wrote in to the Nigerian Guardian concerning the potential for emotional disturbances that can be associated with tooth loss.

He said cosmetic dentistry can play an important role in a person’s state of mind, since those who undergo surgery can be left "with more psychological trauma and embarrassment than the pain that sent them to the dental clinic in the first place".

Mr Ekene advocated the use of treatment that will replace the natural tissue that has been lost, which can perform both functional and aesthetic roles.

He concluded by saying that provision for such treatment should be integrated into broader health care solutions in the country.

According to a study by Align Technology, some 46 per cent of people feel embarrassed about their teeth.

Furthermore, 60 per cent of respondents said they thought straight, even teeth make for a great smile.
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