Sugar really isn’t good news for your dental health. Frequent sugary attacks on your teeth cause rapid decay, which leads to cavities and thus increases the likeliness for fillings and other dental treatment.
You’re ‘sweet tooth’ can end up costing you greatly in terms of dental treatment, not to mention the list of other negative consequences of over consumption. An excess of sugar puts strain on your liver increasing the fatty acids in your blood (which may be stored as fat) and it increases the chances of a number of metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes & heart disease). Not to mention it’s impact on your sleep, concentration and energy levels. The list could go on.
The problem with sugar is that it’s not easy to moderate. It’s woven into our daily habits, our social fabric and well, it tastes good!
Look at drinks first
Drinking sugar is often a habit rather than necessity. The sugar in the tea, the fruity drink with lunch or the soft drink when socialising. If going without is particularly tough at first, look to cut down the amount of sugar gradually to allow a natural shift in your taste preference for it. For example, half the teaspoon of sugar going into your tea or use a smaller juice glass in the morning.
Find lower sugar substitutes of your favourite foods
Quite often there can be a big difference in sugar content between brands of the same food. Spending a little time researching and finding the ones that don’t have as much added sugar, shaves off a few grams that can make a difference if you’re eating these products daily.
Be mindful of total sugar (especially fructose)
Although fruits and natural sources of sugar have nutritional benefit and are healthy in many respects, they are still sweet and you’re likely to still experience powerful cravings when excessively consuming them. Fructose, which is found in refined sugar and fruit sources is the more addictive part of sugar that we desire the most. To start managing your cravings, be mindful of the total amount of sweet food in your diet (including fruit), the quantities you’re consuming and how often you’re eating it.
Avoid hidden sugar
It goes without saying, avoid sugar that you don’t know you’re eating. Double check sauces, dressings, cereals, soups etc. Look to make your own where you can and cut back on processed foods as much as possible.
One thing at a time
When you first start looking to cut back on sugar and you realise you’re eating a lot of it, the whole prospect can be somewhat depressing. Start by making one change at a time. A lower sugar topping for your porridge or an effort to make your own salad dressing. Small changes over time are more sustainable than a drastic all or nothing approach.
Consider your use of sugar
It’s very common for people to use sugar as a stress coping mechanism. It’s accessible, cheap, quick and easy. Take note if you’re consuming sugar in response to emotional hunger. Seek to build in other coping mechanisms that don’t involve sweet food e.g. some yoga or a run, something relaxing like a walk or a simple breathing exercise.
Embrace the savoury foods you love
To avoid the doom and gloom feeling of eating less sugar, embrace your favourite savoury foods in all their forms. Try new combinations of them, be more experimental with foods and try to enjoy the process of finding savoury alternatives that you really get excited about.
Work through social challenges
Often it’s the social side of sugar that be particularly challenging. The birthdays, weddings and numerous annual occasions that are closely associated with excessively sugary food. Seek to understand if you’re eating sugar because everyone else is, or if it’s closely tied to the joy you feel at these events and celebrations. Building awareness of your sugar habits in social situations is the first best step to adjusting the
For many parents, a visit to the dentist is not high on their to-do list. Last week Mintel revealed some worrying gaps in oral hygiene care trends among British parents. Mintel’s research finds just half (53%) of Britain’s parents (with children under 12) take their children regularly and only 63% of mothers and 50% of fathers ensured their children brush their teeth every day. No wonder that 30% of children in the UK have had tooth decay by the age of five.
We recommend you bring your child to the dentist from about 18 months old. Our aim is make sure all visits to the dentist are fun for your children and it helps by bringing them from an early age. They get to ride in the magic chair, and walk away with a big smile and a sticker! If their teeth are clean they are also given a star and once they have collected three stars they get a chance to choose a prize out of our prize box.
The advantage of taking them at an early age is that they have pleasant experiences, we can monitor their and your cleaning of their teeth and give advice on brushing and diet. We look for early signs of disease and apply fluoride varnish where necessary along with prevention advice. We will advise you when is the optimal time to see a specialist orthodontist to correct any crowding.
As soon as the child has teeth you should start brushing your child’s teeth. Get them to choose a children’s toothbrush, so they want to use it.
- Use a children’s fluoride toothpaste 1,000 parts per million (ppm) up to age three.
- Above three then a fluoride level of 1,350-1,500ppm.
- Once they get adult teeth (usually from 6) they can start using an adult toothpaste (around 1500 ppm fluoride).
The level of fluoride can be found on the pack. Parents must brush their child’s teeth for the first few years (sitting your child on your lap and brushing from behind is usually the easiest) and should then supervise until the age of seven.
Brushing should be done for two minutes in the morning and evening and children should be shown how to brush (a circular action that starts and finishes in the same place on each tooth) by looking in the mirror, and be taught to spit rather than rinse as this retains the benefits of fluoride.
Eating any foods that contain sugar, not just sweets, will also cause tooth decay so try to get your children into healthy eating habits.
So how often do you need to take your child to the dentist? Your dentist will suggest check-ups between three and twelve months.
The best bit is this is all FREE under the NHS at Woodcock Lane Dental Care until your child is 18 or 19 if still in full time education.
To book your child’s oral health check call 01453 828327 and our friendly reception team will be delighted to help you.
Those of you who know me know that I fulfil several roles at Woodcock Lane Dental Care. Last week I took on another role – I became the patient!
It had been mentioned to me that my teeth were looking a bit stained (due to my very demanding role of chief tea-drinker), so when Jackie K, our dental hygienist, had a cancellation last week I asked if she would give my teeth a scale and polish – you are now able to see a dental hygienist without having a prescriptive visit from a dentist, under relatively new legislation, known as direct access.
Having checked my medical status Jackie started by gently probing my gums to check for any signs of gum disease, such as bleeding and pockets. Explaining each step of treatment along the way, Jackie then carefully used a hand instrument to de-scale my bottom front teeth, following this up by using the ultrasonic scaling machine around my whole mouth. To ensure she had completed de-scaling she flossed between all my teeth and then she used her “bicarbonate of soda” polisher to remove the more difficult tea-stain and finished off with a final professional polish. A rinse out and I was all done – my smile was restored, stain-free. Thank you, Jackie.
Staining doesn’t cause damage to teeth, but can look unsightly. As already mentioned tea will cause staining, as will coffee, tobacco and red wine. If you can’t (or don’t want to!) avoid these then I can highly recommend a visit to our dental hygienist to remove the side-effect of staining – just ask for a “cosmetic” scale and polish.
Tooth erosion is caused by sugar (sucrose) which causes bacteria to multiply and form acids that attack and wear away the protective enamel covering. Teeth take a daily beating from sugar – even healthy fruit drinks are packed with sucrose and contain natural acids that are more corrosive than battery acid.
Manufacturers of sugar-free gums and mints claim to have the solution to help your teeth fight off acid erosion and decay caused by the build-up of bacteria. It is a fact that by generating more saliva in the mouth, the pH is raised to combat the harmful effects of acid bacteria. Nevertheless, using sorbitol and aspartame instead of sugar only goes so far – there is something far more effective at protecting your teeth, and what’s more it is completely natural.
Introducing Xylitol
Xylitol is derived from the fibrous parts of plants – it is a perfectly natural sweetener produced in fruits and vegetables as well as in our own bodies. Not only does Xylitol have none of the harmful effects of sucrose or artificial sweeteners, it also contains 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbs than refined white sugar
Stamp Out Bacteria and Acid Formation in Teeth
As mentioned, the increase of bacteria in the mouth causes acid to form, which seriously damages tooth enamel. Unlike sugar, bacteria cannot digest Xylitol, so it is not encouraged to continue multiplying – bacteria can be reduced by as much as 90% to minimise the resulting acid onslaught significantly. Gum or mints which contain Xylitol will cause extra saliva production, which reduces the formation of acid and plaque even further. In addition, Xylitol helps to prevent bacteria from sticking to the teeth, so that it doesn’t get a chance to cause harmful plaque.
Repair Damaged Tooth Enamel
Research has demonstrated that the use of Xylitol helps to repair enamel damage caused by acid erosion. The saliva in your mouth is nature’s way of protecting your teeth and gums – if it weren’t for the damage caused by the amounts of sugar most of us tend to ingest, saliva would act to repair cavities that start to form. Xylitol is not only sucrose free, it causes your saliva to become more alkaline. An alkaline pH above 7 causes the calcium and phosphate salts in saliva to move into the parts of your teeth enamel which have been weakened, helping these soft, calcium-deficient areas to harden once again. A study reported by the American Dental Association demonstrated that consumption of xylitol-containing chewing gum reduced the cavities in a test group of teenagers by 30% to 60%.
For all of the above reasons, Dr. Nigel Carter of the British Dental Health Foundation quoted: “Xylitol may be the biggest advance against cavities since fluoride”.
Other Health Advantages of Xylitol
Not only does Xylitol pack a powerful punch in the fight against bacteria formation and acid erosion in teeth, studies have shown that it can assist with weight management by helping you to feel full. It also helps to maintain balanced insulin levels in your body, which has an impact on healthy blood pressure, hormones and cholesterol levels. Finally, a higher alkalinity in the body has numerous benefits, including maintaining calcium levels, which in turn helps keep your bones strong as you get older.
Conclusion
At Woodcock Lane Dental Care we are always looking for the best solutions to keep our patients’ teeth in good condition, and Xylitol has proven itself to be highly effective at warding of tooth damage. We now stock a new chewing gum that contains Xylitol and no other artificial sweeteners. So, now you can conveniently keep your teeth protected all day long while on the go.
One of our aims at Woodcock Lane Dental Care is to help you prevent the need for fillings and to keep your teeth and smile for life.
Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar in foods and drinks and produce acid – this acid dissolves the enamel of the tooth. If bacteria (plaque) is not removed from your mouth then the acid will continue to eat into the enamel and form a cavity.
Don’t worry! There are lots of ways to help prevent this from happening.
- Make sure that you brush your teeth twice a day especially along the gum line – as plaque builds up here first
- Clean between your teeth using floss or brushes to make sure that you remove the plaque from in between your teeth.
- Try to limit the frequency of sugary things – mealtimes are the best time to eat/drink sugary things
- Make sure that you have regular checkups so that your dentist can spot any tell tale signs early and give you preventive tips.
- Visit the hygienist for bespoke advice on prevention of decay and gum disease, as well as sparkly teeth!
The life of your teeth
At Woodcock Lane Dental Care in Stonehouse we firmly believe that your teeth should last you a lifetime. First and foremost we are a preventive practice, which means our aim is to preserve your natural teeth (and smiles) for the whole of your lives wherever possible.
Caring for your teeth and gums at every stage of your life can help you to keep all of your natural teeth for a lifetime…
0 to 3 years You should begin brushing your baby’s teeth as soon as the first tooth appears. Use a baby toothbrush with soft bristles and an adult-sized handle, combined with a suitable toothpaste containing the right amount of fluoride for your child’s age
3 to 7 years All baby teeth are usually present by the age of three. Your child should now start seeing the dentist regularly to make sure that any potential problems are identified before they develop. Visiting the dental practice from a young age will also help your child to establish a positive relationship with their dentist and their dental team, and get used to the practice environment. It’s also important to continue using the right toothpaste for your child’s age, and supervise brushing until at least the age of six or seven or until you feel your child is doing it properly.
7 to 12 years By the age of seven, adult teeth will have started to come through. You should still supervise your child’s brushing routine to see that they are doing it properly.
12 to 18 years Children should now be mature enough to take responsibility for keeping their own teeth clean. Teeth in this age group are particularly prone to damage caused by sugary drinks consumed between meals as acids from these drinks attack tooth enamel and can cause it to wear away. Therefore it’s better to wait for half an hour before brushing after eating or drinking, to allow saliva to naturally neutralise the acid which softens the tooth enamel.
18 to 50 years Many adults will suffer from a form of gum disease at some stage of their lives. There are two main types: gingivitis and periodontitis. Of the two, periodontitis is the more serious because it can actually eat away at the jawbone, causing permanent bone loss. The first signs of gum disease are swollen and red gums that bleed easily. Eventually, if left untreated, the gums start to recede and, if you are not careful, you will lose teeth. To reduce the chances of serious gum disease, you should brush and floss your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and see your dentist regularly to monitor your oral health.
50 plus Some teeth may show signs of damage because they have been worn down by general wear, grinding and over-brushing. Continue to avoid sugary sweets and drinks and flossing is even more important from now on.
Following a preventive approach to your oral health, means you are unlikely to need unexpected and potentially costly treatment in the future, keeping your teeth and gums healthy for the rest of your life.
Here at Woodcock Lane Dental Care we know the importance of good, daily brushing of your teeth. Not only is it vital for the health of your mouth but also for your general health and well-being.
These are the 10 most powerful reasons you should brush your teeth:
1. Save money. Prevention is cheaper than cure. Regular daily care of your teeth and gums will prevent problems in the future and leave you with lower dental bills.
2. Fresh Breath. Your mouth will start to smell if you do not clean it regularly. You take the trash waste out every night, clean your mouth out at least once per day.
3. Stay kissable. Who wants to kiss someone with food between their teeth or bad breath? Brushing is the cheapest and most effective way to remove food & bacteria.
4. Prevent gum disease. Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums and the first stage of gum disease) is caused by the plaque build-up around your teeth, leading to swollen gums and teeth that bleed when you brush them. Plaque is an accumulation of food and bacteria which appears in everyone’s mouth.
5. Reduce your chance of a heart attack or stroke. Bacteria from your mouth can make its way into your bloodstream and increase you chance of a heart attack or stroke.
6. Prevent or minimise Diabetes. Any gum disease can make it harder to control your blood glucose. The relationship between serious gum disease and diabetes is two-way. Not only are people with diabetes more susceptible to serious gum disease, but serious gum disease may have the potential to affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes.
7. Have a healthy baby. Gum disease has been shown to increase the chance of premature birth and low birth weight. It can also be one of the many causes of delayed conception and impotence. So get your mouth and gums healthy first.
8. Prevent Dementia. Poor oral health increases your risk of developing dementia by a third.
9. Toothpaste on your brush is the best way to apply fluoride and other desensitizers. Fluoride in toothpastes becomes part of a tooth’s surface, protecting the enamel from the acid released by plaque.
10. Remove stains. There are mild abrasives in toothpaste that remove debris and surface stains. Examples include calcium carbonate, dehydrated silica gels, hydrated aluminium oxides, magnesium carbonate, phosphate salts and silicates.
That 2 minutes brush, twice a day can literately save your life.
At Woodcock Lane Dental Care we are lucky to have Jackie K, our hygienist, and Jackie H, our oral health educator who are both enthusiastic and highly motivated to help you improve and maintain your oral health. If you would like some professional help and advice in a friendly, relaxed manner please contact us on 01453 828327 or call in to see us.
Here, at Woodcock Lane Dental Care, we have always been very passionate about providing quality dental care for the residents of Stonehouse and the surrounding Stroud valleys. As our popularity has increased over the past few years and people from much further afield travel many miles to see us, we felt it was time to put something back into the community.
Over the past few months we have donated a raffle prize to Woodchester Brownies who organised a coffee evening to raise funds for CLIC Sargent and raised funds ourselves for Children In Need.
Our latest foray into supporting the community was instigated by a very thoughtful, generous patient. Having read of the plight of St Roses School, Stroud, in the local newspapers, he suggested that we run a raffle and he would donate the prizes, to raise awareness of the online petition to save St Roses School () and also to raise some much needed funds to support the wonderful facilities St Roses offer to the children.
We raised over £50 with this venture and last week a representative from St Roses School came to our Practice to meet our patient and to be presented with a cheque. We’d like to thank our generous benefactor and all our wonderful patients who supported this good cause. Further details about the excellent work St Roses School does may be found on their website: http://www.stroses.org.uk.
We are delighted to share 3 lots of good news with all our patients, friends and colleagues:
i) Josie, Frank Moran’s dental nurse, and her husband Nathan have announced the safe arrival of their first child, a baby boy. Our congratulations and best wishes to the happy family.
ii) Liz, our practice manager, returned from her summer holiday to inform us that her partner, Pete, had proposed. Congratulations Liz and Pete on your engagement.
iii) The whole Practice team were delighted to receive a good report from the Care Quality Commission, following a recent visit by a CQC inspector.
We are pleased to welcome Amy to our team of dental nurses. Amy has joined us as a student dental nurse to replace Josie whilst she is on maternity leave. With Elaine back from maternity leave, she and Alex, our other student dental nurse are job-sharing the role of nursing for David Lyons and running our sterilising room. Alex is making progress with her course which will lead to qualification and registration.
Whilst we’re still celebrating all this good news we continue to provide quality family dentistry as well as more cosmetic treatments such as orthodontics and dental implant (tooth straightening and replacing missing teeth). We look forward to seeing you soon.
Who’s who at your dental practice? – we are all here to help you have a winning smile :-)
It’s often hard to know who’s who at your dental practice and what their involvement is as part of the team looking after your oral health. So we
at Woodcock Lane Dental Care have put together an easy reference guide to help you get to know your practice team:
Hygienist -Dental hygienists provide clinical and educational care to help you achieve and maintain good oral hygiene. Uniquely qualified to help with the prevention and treatment of oral disease, they focus on preventing gum disease by scaling and polishing teeth and developing plans for you to use at home to maintain your oral health. Hygienists can help to identify those areas where you have difficulty in removing plaque and work with you to modify your brushing technique to ensure effective cleaning.
Oral Health Educator – This is a qualified dental nurse who has achieved a further qualification gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to educate patients on 1:1 basis about their oral health and bring about favourable changes in their oral health behaviour.
Dental Nurse -A dental nurse will work closely with the dentist throughout your visit. They make sure the right instruments and equipment are available, prepare the various materials needed and clean and sterilise used instruments. The dental nurse is often responsible for ensuring there is effective infection control in place, so there is no risk of infection to anyone working in the surgery or coming to the practice for care or treatment. Additional duties may include processing dental x-rays and helping the dentist to record information about your oral health.
Dentist – Dentists are experts in reviewing and advising you on the condition of your oral health. They are also highly skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of problems that affect the mouth and teeth. It takes around five years to train to become a dentist at a British dental school, followed by one year’s Vocational Training at an approved dental practice.
Once qualified, dentists keep up to date through further training and professional development to keep themselves up-to-date with all the new dental techniques, regulations and products. Dentists can also gain further qualifications and training for a more in-depth knowledge of a certain area of dentistry – such as orthodontics or implantology.
Practice Manager – Practice managers supervise the dental team, organise and support dental nurses and receptionists, liaise with dentists and hygienists, and arrange staff meetings and training. They are also responsible for the upkeep of legally required documents and records.
