A study carried out at the University of Central Lancashire suggests that dirty teeth could be linked to Alzheimer’s disease. A study of brain samples from deceased patients with dementia showed an unusually high level of porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacteria commonly associated with gum disease.
Gum disease is aggravated by plaque biofilm being left on teeth and gums instead of being brushed away on a daily basis with a good tooth brushing technique. As the diseased gums bleed the experts from the University believe the bacteria enter the blood stream which transports the bacteria to the brain. Bacteria transported this way is also responsible for causing infections in people with heart problems. Links have been demonstrated over a period of years between poor oral hygiene and diabetes and a range of other systemic diseases.
Bleeding gums is one of the most usual signs of gum disease which can lead to early tooth loss as the jaw bone is also affected by this common disease. If your gums bleed when you brush your teeth a natural reaction is to stop brushing – DON’T – this will only make matters worse. Continue brushing and make an appointment to your dentist or hygienist for further advice and treatment. We can provide instruction in improving your tooth brushing technique as well as making sure you know how to use other appropriate adjutants.
A healthy mouth is a good start to a healthy life.
Sensitive matters
As the weather gets warmer this summer, we tend to consume more cold foods and drinks, such as ice cream, lollies, frozen desserts, and icy drinks – and you may notice more sensitivity in your teeth.
Sensitivity can occur when enamel – the hard outer layer of our teeth – is lost or worn away, and the softer dentine layer underneath is exposed. It can also happen where the tooth and the gum line meet, as the enamel layer is much thinner here and more easily worn down.
Sensitive teeth can affect anyone, and can be caused by:
- Toothbrush abrasion – brushing too hard (or with a brush that’s too firm)
- Dental erosion – caused by frequent consumption of acidic food and drinks
- Gum recession – gums may naturally shrink back over time and the roots (which don’t have an enamel layer to protect them) will become exposed
- Gum disease – a build-up of plaque or tartar can cause the gum to recede down the tooth and even destroy the bony support of the tooth
- Teeth grinding – clenching and grinding the teeth together can cause enamel to be worn away
- A cracked tooth or filling
- Teeth whitening – some patients may notice mild sensitivity for a short time after bleaching
There are lots of anti-sensitivity toothpastes on the market which can alleviate symptoms – especially if you rub the toothpaste directly onto sensitive areas with your finger. Different pastes work in different ways: you may need to try out alternatives. We often have samples of these available at Woodcock Lane Dental Care.
Your dentist can also help you with tooth sensitivity by recommending a toothpaste, or by using fluoride gels, rinses or varnishes, or by sealing the neck of a tooth to cover any exposed dentine. They can also check to make sure you don’t have gum disease, defective fillings, or decay.
If you’re suffering from ongoing sensitive teeth, we can help – speak to one of our dentists, David Lyons or Frank Moran, to discuss your options.
One of the earliest uses of dental implants was to secure loose dentures, usually full plastic dentures, making them almost like real teeth.
Over the years there have been some problems with the ball locators traditionally used.
The two main problems have been that the feel and retention of the dentures is not as firm and natural as is often expected, and that the dentures fracture in areas where the ball housings are located, due to the large size of the housings within the denture.
Recently we have moved away from the ball locators towards the new o-ring locator system.
The locators come in different strengths to suit every person’s personal preference and needs.
Because these locators are more squat and precise than the older ball locators, they give better comfort, stability and cause fewer fractures than before. They can often also be used to stabilise an existing denture, thus reducing the costs too.
If you would like more information about using implants with dentures or simply to replace individual missing teeth, please feel free to contact us for a free implant consultation.
Here at Woodcock Lane Dental Care we are delighted to be supporting National Smile Month. This is the UK’s biggest oral health campaign led by the The British Dental Health Foundation. The month-long spotlight on oral health starts on Monday 20th May and finishes on 20th June, with as many people as possible urged to take a moment to consider how they can do something to improve their oral health.
This year’s campaign aims to inspire more people to take on board the three key messages for good oral health:-
• Brush for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down on how often you eat sugary foods and drinks
• Visit the dentist regularly, as often as they recommend
The team at Woodcock Lane Dental Care firmly believe that prevention is better than cure and while regular visits to the dentist are an essential part of dental care, it’s important to keep up the good work at home. We are able to introduce patients to some of the new, innovative products available, helping you to take better care of your teeth and gums at home and find out what works best.
We are also dedicated to helping everyone achieve a healthy, attractive smile for life. We are delighted to be able to provide our patients with a full range of orthodontic (teeth straightening) treatments and bleaching treatments that ensure your smile is always dazzling.
If you would like to learn more about better oral health for you and your family, or are interested in any of our smile enhancing treatments, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 01453 828327 or email us from our website contact us page.
Having provided braces to straighten teeth for over 24 years now, I thought I’d write a few words about the history of the provision of braces here at Woodcock Lane Dental Care.
The workhorse of most orthodontic treatment used to be the upper removable appliance, but this rarely produced very good results and the fixed or “traintrack” steel braces were recognised to be far superior in producing a perfect result. Originally we used bands around the teeth, but then moved to the more hygienic and aesthetic bracket based steel fixed appliances.
Allied to the fixed braces, are the removable “functional” braces, used almost exclusively for children who are in the growing phase of life, typically aged about 11 to 13 years old. These appliances can produce near miraculous results, often enabling a great smile and occlusion (the way the teeth all bite together) to be produced, often without the need to remove teeth.
Over the past 10 years or so, there has been an increasing interest in decreasing the visibility of braces, especially from adult patients who are keen to achieve straight teeth and a great smile but don’t want to show a mouth full of metal!
Now available are four basic types of so called invisible brace:
Once again, here at Woodcock Lane Dental Care we are supporting the British Heart Foundation’s No Smoking Day, on Wednesday, 13th March.
Smoking can increase your risk of developing many cancers, including oral/mouth cancer. This is one reason for ensuring you have a dental check-up regularly. Should you notice any unusual mouth ulcers, lumps, bumps or “funny” patches in your mouth, lips or cheeks that take longer than 2-3 weeks to heal you really should get these checked out by your dentist.
Smoking can also mask the symptoms of gum disease. This can lead to the jaw bone becoming diseased which can mean your teeth may become loose and even fall out. Gum disease can be treated by a hygienist and prevention advice can be given.
Smoking can also cause bad breath. Brushing your cheeks and tongue may help, as well as using the well-advertised mouthwash CB12.
Smoking can also stain teeth. Staining can be removed by visiting our hygieinist for a polish using her “bicarbonate of soda” polisher. Janina toothpaste and a sonic toothbrush may help to prevent staining re-occuring so quickly. If you stop smoking you may wish to get your teeth professionally whitened under the supervision of one of our dentists.
For more details about dental problems relating to smoking please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone or email, or call into Stonehouse to see us.
For more help and support to stop smoking please visit http://www.nosmokingday.org.uk
A talented patient shows his appreciation by putting pen to paper and writing us a poem:-
The girls down at the dentists are all lovely or so it would seem,
But I’m not quite sure their comments are what they really mean.
The smile with which they greet you as you enter in the door,
Is enough to stop you in your tracks, and fixate you to the floor.
You are instructed then to take a seat in a lovely cosy room,
And with their radiant smiles you sit and wait the outcome of your doom.
It’s not long before the nurse appears from a room across the way,
And comments on the weather…….isn’t it a lovely day.
The dozen steps across that room is more like twenty miles,
And the girls all seated at their desks watch you go all full of smiles.
When the treatment’s done and over, you stagger out on shaky pins,
And the smiles are there to greet you…….or should I say the grins.
They know the way you’re feeling, yet still portray a smiling face,
When the last thing one could manage is that of style and grace.
From then the action of these ladies is like the dentist’s drill,
Still smiling……full of beauty……they hand to you the bill!!
It is always with some trepidation that we welcome a new dentist to the practice!
The good news is that in Dr Frank Moran we seem to have found a very likeable, friendly and competent new dentist. Having been with us now for two months we have heard nothing but positive comments from everyone, including in our currently on-going patient questionnaire responses.
We look forward to many happy years with Frank as our ground floor dentist and it seems that Bishops Cleeve’s loss is our gain! Smiles all round at Woodcock Lane Dental Care.
Stuck for that last minute Christmas present for that difficult person? We have 3 models of the Oral B Braun electric toothbrushes in stock, suitable for all family members. Gift vouchers are also available, which can be redeemed against treatments, including tooth whitening or against the purchase of oral hygiene products, such as electric toothbrushes!
Also, just in time for Christmas, we have back in stock the cute animal “automatic” toothbrush holders. These make ideal stocking fillers at the very reasonable price of £3.95. They are hugely popular with children and can also be used to protect your toothbrush whilst travelling. We also have a few children’s Wisdom toothbrushes left for the a price of £1. Children also love our “bubble-up” two minute toothbrushing timers, which are also priced at just £1.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a MERRY NEW YEAR!
We at Woodcock Lane Dental Care, Stonehouse, are pleased to be participating in the Tepe draw to win £2,500 of holiday vouchers.
When you purchase 2 packets of Tepe Interdental Brushes from us, we will provide you with a scratch card. All you need to do to be in with a chance to win the holiday vouchers, is to enter the code from your scratch card online, along with the details where you purchased the Tepe Interdental brushes from. For an initial investment of £6.40 (£3.20 per pack) and a few minutes online the prize of £2,500 of holiday vouchers seems very attractive (unfortunately staff aren’t allowed to enter!) and you will be helping to keep your teeth and smile for life when you use them too.
You don’t need to be a regular patient of ours to participate in this draw. Just call in to see us to buy your Tepes and just in case you’ve forgotten our details they are: Woodcock Lane Dental Care, 2 Woodcock Lane, STONEHOUSE, Glos. GL10 2EE. Wouldn’t it be great if someone from the Stonehouse/Stroud area won this draw?
What’s a Tepe Interdental Brush? It is a small “bottle brush” attached to a plastic handle, designed to clean effectively between the teeth. They remove the plaque/bacteria from between the teeth (similar to floss, but very easy to use) thus helping to keep gums healthy and can also help prevent tooth decay. They come in a wide range of sizes to fit all the gaps between your teeth and over the last several years have proved to be one of our most popular products.
