Get advice on chewing gum benefits from Bristol dentists
There are many things you can do to help ensure continuing good oral hygiene. Of course brushing and flossing in the proper manner is very important and it is crucial that you let your dentist examine your mouth every six months so that harmful condition can be spotted and dealt with. Chewing gum has benefits too that can help your mouth to stay in good health.
Chewing anything stimulates the production of saliva, which is one of your mouth’s natural defences against the buildup of plaque. Plaque needs to be stopped because a sufficient build up will begin to attack the protective enamel on your teeth. Too much plaque will begin to interfere with the nerves in your teeth and cavities might start to form.
You can chew gum after meals, particularly if the food you have eaten contains lots of sugar and starch, both of which aid the formation of plaque. Of course it is better to brush your teeth but if you find yourself in a situation where this is not possible then chewing gum is the next best thing.
An added chewing gum benefit is that it freshens your breath. If you have just eaten food that might make your breath smell, chewing gum will give you a minty, fresh feeling that can increase your confidence.
Most chewing gums are sugar free so you are not doing further damage to your teeth when you are chewing it.
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Your dentist can give you lots more advice about which chewing gum to choose and the benefits it can offer your mouth.
Most people admit they’d like whiter, brighter teeth, but during our day to day lives we notice our teeth becoming discoloured. What causes discolouration and how can you take steps to preserve the natural whiteness of your smile?
What causes discolouration?
Everybody has slightly different enamel and some people have naturally whiter teeth than others. The tooth enamel is naturally slightly off-white and with time, whiteness tends to fade. However, there are certain foods, drinks and lifestyle habits that can accelerate the staining process. Here are some of the most common causes of tooth discolouration:
Diet
Your diet has an important influence on your oral health, but it can also affect the aesthetic of your smile, as some foods and drinks contribute to staining. The worst offenders include coffee, tea, cola, dark juices, blueberries, blackberries, soy sauce, dark or richly coloured sauces and wine. If you want to keep your teeth looking white without changing your diet, drink through a straw and always have a glass of water to hand to rinse your mouth out after eating.
Wear and tear
Ageing brings about general wear and tear and it’s inevitable that over the years, your teeth will lose a little sparkle. In order to slow the ageing process, take good care of your teeth and visit the dentist on a regular basis.
Smoking
Cigarettes contain over 1,000 different chemicals, many of which contribute to teeth staining. Smokers tend to have noticeably worse discolouration than non-smokers and their teeth often look yellow or brown. The only way to prevent these effects is to stop smoking. If you want to try and quit, our dental team will be more than happy to offer help and support.
Oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene can really help to keep your teeth looking bright and healthy, but neglecting your daily regime can soon take its toll. Skipping your daily brush and floss soon contributes to discolouration. In the worst cases, tartar, a hard brown substance, starts to form on the teeth and around the gum lines, making the smile look unhealthy and unattractive.
If you would like to whiten your smile ready for the autumn, we recommend following the simple steps listed above. If you long for a more dramatic result, why not treat yourself to a whitening treatment? We offer in-chair and at-home systems and we can lighten your smile by several shades in a matter of weeks! Call today to arrange an appointment.
We are determined for the people of Bristol to have stunning, radiant smiles and strong, healthy teeth and we are on a mission to fight off dental disease. Oral health education is a priority for us and we want all our patients to be aware of the importance of good oral health and the impact of oral hygiene on general wellbeing.
Why is oral hygiene so important?
Good oral hygiene makes the world of difference when it comes to oral health and ensuring that the teeth and gums and healthy and strong. With a rigorous daily oral hygiene routine in place, you will be drastically reducing your risk of decay, gum disease and bad breath, as well as taking steps to boost your overall health. Numerous studies have found a link between poor oral health and elevated risks of general health issues, including strokes and heart disease, so brushing and flossing are extremely important.
Good oral hygiene also has a positive impact on your looks and confidence, as brushing and flossing help to reduce the risk of staining and crumbling and will help to ensure your teeth look shiny and clean.
Practising good oral hygiene
The importance of good oral hygiene should never be underestimated, and the good news is that it’s actually really simple to stick to a good regime at home. All we ask is for our patients to dedicate just 5 minutes a day to cleaning their teeth and gums. We recommend brushing for 2 minutes each morning and evening and flossing daily. Brushing helps to break up and wash away food debris and polish the teeth, while flossing targets those hard to reach areas that are missed during brushing, including the tiny gaps between the teeth.
If you have any questions about oral hygiene or oral health in general, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
At Clifton Dental Studio we aim to battle decay and gum disease to make sure our patients have beautiful smiles and healthy teeth and gums. Our aim is to help you keep dental disease at bay and to ensure you enjoy good oral health. Fortunately, tackling decay is fairly straightforward and simply sticking to a few simple rules will stand you in good stead. Here are some tips for preventing cavities:
Oral hygiene
Good oral hygiene is the best weapon in the arsenal for preventing tooth decay, as it eliminates the possibility of plaque formation. Plaque forms when saliva, food debris and bacteria join forces, but if you take steps to remove bacteria and leftovers on a regular basis, there will never be a chance for plaque to materialise. We recommend thorough brushing (for at least 2 minutes each time) every morning and evening and we strongly recommend flossing on a daily basis. We advise patients to use fluoride toothpaste for added enamel protection.
Diet
One of the main risk factors for decay is the diet. If you have a diet that is rich in sugary or acidic foods this can be really problematic for the teeth. Acidic foods erode the enamel surface, while sugary foods cause bacteria to release acids, which have a similar impact. Once the enamel is worn down, the tooth is at risk of decay and there is also a high risk of gum disease. If you are planning to eat or drink something sugary, try to stick to mealtimes, drink through a straw and always wait at least an hour before brushing your teeth. When the enamel is under acid attack, it softens temporarily and brushing during this time period can damage it.
Dental sessions
We cannot stress the importance of regular dental checks enough and we advise all our patients to come for a check-up every 6 months. We also highly recommend sessions with our excellent dental hygienists.
Oral hygiene is important for many reasons, not least the prevention of gum disease and decay. However, recent studies have shown that good oral hygiene is so important that it could actually save your life. Numerous studies have now shown that gum disease can increase the risk of life-threatening general health and systemic conditions, meaning that brushing your teeth has never been more important.
Oral hygiene and oral health
Brushing and flossing are effective ways of removing plaque, food debris and bacteria from your mouth and this not only lowers the risk of gum disease, bad breath and tooth decay, but also helps to keep your teeth looking bright and white. Without regular brushing, bacteria would gather inside the mouth and combine with leftover food to form plaque, the main cause of gum disease and cavities.
Oral health and general health
Gum disease and decay are nasty enough, but recent research has revealed that the bacteria responsible for gum disease can also increase the risk of systemic illnesses, including heart disease and strokes. Researchers believe that harmful bacteria can travel from the mouth to other parts of the body, increasing the risk of serious health problems.
Preventing gum disease
Aside from sticking to a diligent daily oral hygiene regime, it is also important to keep an eye on what you eat and drink and to remember to book a check-up with your dentist every 6 months. We also recommend regular oral hygiene sessions, which keep the mouth really clean and free from dangerous bacteria. Smoking is also a major risk factor for gum disease, as it reduces blood flow to the gums; giving up smoking will reduce your risk of gum disease, as well as a whole host of other conditions. If you need help with giving up smoking, we will be happy to offer information and advice.
If you have any questions about gum disease, decay, brushing or even choosing toothbrushes and toothpaste, do not hesitate to ask your dentist or give us a call.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
