Giving up smoking has many benefits for our teeth and gums.

Although an increasing proportion of the UK no longer smokes, there are still a significant number who do. The general health risks of smoking are well known, and include the likes of lung cancer and heart disease. These are not the only health issues that smoking can cause though, and our mouths are especially vulnerable to a number of them.

In addition to serious health issues, smoking can also have a profound effect on the appearance of our smile, as we will see.

Yellow teeth

Before we look at the health implications, it is worth noting that smoking any tobacco product will almost guarantee that your teeth will discolour. Unlike gradual natural discolouration, this can leave the teeth a very dark yellow or even brown colour. Although this can be rectified either using a teeth whitening treatment or dental veneers, stopping smoking is the best way to prevent this and will also be beneficial for your health.

Smoking and oral health

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Helping Teddington residents with a healthier and more tooth friendly diet

If you ask almost anyone what causes tooth decay, they will tell you ‘sugar’. Whilst the reality is a little more complicated than that, it is certainly true that sugar consumption plays a very significant role in a number of dental problems. That, plus other health issues such as obesity and diabetes, also linked to sugar consumption, should hopefully provide a significant motivation to reduce the amount of sugar in your diet.

In today’s Elmfield House Dental Practice blog, we offer a few suggestions to help our Teddington patients do just that, and help them to have a healthy and attractive smile.

Watch out for ‘hidden’ sugars

By this we mean not only sugar that appears in foods you might not expect it to, such as a lot of savoury foods, but also, sugars that are divided into their specific types, which often don’t mention the word ‘sugar’ directly. These include fructose, lactose, glucose, corn syrup, maltose and even hydrolysed starch.

A healthy start

Don’t start your day with a high sugar cereal or chocolate spread (however nice they might taste). These can provide immediate gratification and a quick energy boost. This boost fades quickly though and you would be much better off substituting these with no sugar cereals, yoghurts and fruit.

Mind the snacking

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Why ignoring potential dental problems is never a good idea.

Especially if you are nervous about seeing a dentist, it can be tempting to ignore relatively minor discomfort or suspicions that all may not be well with your teeth. A small piece chipped from a tooth may be ignored and slightly sore gums may not be high on your list of concerns.

Whilst these, and other relatively ‘minor’ problems can easily be ignored without too much suffering, they are also signs that much worse could be to come if you do not have them checked. Even a toothache which is a well known and understood sign that you may have tooth decay, can sometimes be ignored in the hope that it will go away.

Seeking professional advice

At the Elmfield House Dental Practice, we recommend that any of our Teddington patients who have even minor symptoms have them checked as soon as possible.There are very few, if any, dental problems that will simply resolve themselves. Even if your discomfort is manageable now, this is unlikely to last and will only get worse. Similarly, what may start off as a small chip from a tooth is likely to weaken the tooth and lead to further breakages that require more extensive treatment than if you had it treated in its early stages.

Treatments

Specific treatments will vary from case to case, but the following are a few of the possible treatments for common ‘minor’ dental issues.

Chipped tooth – If deemed to be cosmetic damage only, a composite may be used to restore the appearance of the tooth. Where the structure of the tooth has been compromised though, a filling or crown may be used to provide the extra strength required.

Toothache – If, following an examination, it is found that you have tooth decay, a filling is the most likely outcome. Where the damage is significant, a dental crown may be used instead to restore the tooth. We may also x ray the tooth to determine if there are any root canal or other issues that need treatment.

Sore gums

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Big sporting events can be exciting, but your teeth can suffer if you don’t take care!

With England now qualifying for the knockout stages in this year’s World Cup Football tournament, we can perhaps relax a little; but when the going gets tense, it is worth keeping an eye out to make sure our teeth and gum care doesn’t slip.

Biting nails and teeth grinding

You can imagine the scenario. England are facing penalties to win the game and avoid being knocked out … we probably don’t need to say more?! These are the kind of moments when we find ourselves biting hard on our fingernails, or perhaps even grinding our teeth together and both of these can cause damage to our teeth. Biting our nails can cause them to chip, or even, in rare circumstances, to break. If you wear dental veneers, there is also a small risk that this may cause them to become loose or to ‘pop off’ altogether.

Grinding our teeth is potentially even more damaging, with teeth wearing down, cracking or even breaking. This habit, also known as bruxism, can also occur at night when we sleep, especially if we are stressed.

Alcohol

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Make better use of this readily available resource to help keep your teeth and gums healthy

In the Western world, water is in such plentiful supply that we probably think little about it at all.

When it comes to our oral health, most of us probably only associate water with when we brush our teeth in the morning and evening.

Despite this, water can be really useful in the front line against common dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease. Your local Teddington dentists explains why.

Hydration

One of the biggest threats to our teeth and gums is gum disease, and periodontitis in particular. This attacks the bone that hold our teeth in position and can lead to tooth loss. We can help to prevent gum disease, not only by brushing, flossing and having a scale and polish at Elmfield House Dental Practice every six months, but also by staying well hydrated.

The bacteria which contribute to gum disease thrive and grow in a warm and dry environment. When we are dehydrated, our mouths can become dry, allowing the bacteria to grow. Where our mouths are dry for long periods of time, such as if we have been drinking alcohol and go to sleep without drinking sufficient water, this can significantly increase the risks.

No sugar refreshment

Water is often the best option when it comes to feeling refreshed. It will also help to eliminate, or at least reduce, the consumption of soft drinks that are very high in sugar. These have been widely linked with much of the rise of tooth decay in children, and ensuring that children drink water or dilute juices instead, will help them to keep their teeth healthier. This also applies to adults too of course.

Food removal

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