Top tips to enjoy your ice cream this summer

Summer might be taking its time, but we all hope that sooner or later the sun will appear. There is nothing nicer when the sun is beating down, than an ice cream with friends and family, but what if you suffer with sensitive teeth.

Here at West Wickham Dental Practice  we have come up with 5 top tips to treat sensitivity, allowing you to enjoy your fill of ice cream this summer.

1. Use sensitive toothpaste and don’t brush too hard

There are a variety of different sensitive toothpastes available which if used routinely can help to improve sensitivity. You should brush your teeth twice and day, using small, circular movements and a soft bristled toothbrush. Brushing too hard will wear the enamel away and lead to sensitivity, by using a soft toothbrush you can help to prevent this.  You should be advised that if you stop using the sensitive toothpaste the sensitivity is likely to return.

2. Wait an hour after eating before brushing

Each time you eat the enamel on your teeth softens, if you brush your teeth straight after eating you will brush away tiny particles of the enamel. Over time this can lead to the dentine being exposed which can cause sensitivity. By waiting an hour, you give the enamel time to reharden.

3. Reduce how often you have sugary and acidic foods and drinks

Sugary and acidic food and drink can wear away the enamel. Where ever possible try to limit sugary and acidic foods to mealtimes as this reduces the number of attacks your teeth must contend with every day.

4. Consider wearing a mouth guard

If you grind your teeth, discuss with the dentist whether it would be worth having a mouth guard to wear at night. This will help to protect the teeth from further damage. Any areas where the teeth have been severely worn, exposing the dentine and causing sensitivity, can be treated by building the teeth up using a white filling material.

5. Visit your dental team regularly

It is important that you attend for regular dental appointments as this will ensure that any problems are identified early and can be treated without the need for extensive and expensive restorations.

If you would like further advice on treatment for sensitive teeth do not hesitate to call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book a consultation.

Benefits of joining West Wickham Dental Plans

West Wickham Dental Practice aims to reward its loyal patients by offering exclusive, affordable preventative maintenance plans tailored to optimise your oral health and save you money. Our Dental Plans are open to all our patients, regardless of their past dental history and current oral health and aim to help you smile proud.

Benefits of joining West Wickham Dental Plans

• Spread the cost of your dental care

West Wickham Dental Plans, help to spread the cost of your routine, preventative treatment across the year into 12 manageable monthly payments. For a fixed monthly fee, you can cover your examinations, hygienist appointments and x-rays. You will also receive 10% off any additional treatment.

• Reduce the risk of expensive dental treatment

By attending for your routine dental appointments, the dentist will be able to identify any problems early, reducing the need for expensive, extensive treatment. You have already paid for them, so be sure to attend!

• Oral health advice

The focus of West Wickham Dental Plans is preventing problems before they occur. This means that the dentist and hygienist will work closely together to ensure that you are provided with the latest oral hygiene advice, to ensure that you can keep your teeth in the best possible condition in between appointments. Enabling you to keep your natural teeth healthy, strong and in your mouth where they belong, for as long as possible.

• UK and Worldwide dental accident and emergency insurance

Whether at home or abroad, you have the peace of mind of knowing that you will be covered in the event of a dental accident or emergency. This means you can always be sure of getting to see a dentist no matter where in the world you might be.

If you would like to join one of West Wickham Dental Plans call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 and speak to one of our team or download a sign up form from our website.

Top tips for good children’s oral hygiene

By ensuring that you teach your children the fundamentals of good oral hygiene you can ensure that they have the skills to maintain their teeth and gums for years to come.

Here at West Wickham Dental Practice we have some top tips to ensure you can set your children up for a lifetime of good oral health

Make brushing fun

There is nothing worse than a daily battle to get your children to brush their teeth. Avoid the conflict by making brushing fun. Allow your children to pick their own toothbrush, many now include their favourite TV and film characters. You can also brush along to a favourite song or download apps that will display pictures as they brush for two minutes. By getting them involved and excited by the process, children will want to brush their teeth.

• Set an example

If you children see you taking care of your oral health, they will begin to understand the importance of oral hygiene. By brushing along with them or allowing them to help you brush your teeth you can make tooth brushing a fun family time. You can also use disclosing tablets to show areas that have been missed while brushing, by including yourself in this you will able to show that everyone misses sometimes, but with proper brushing techniques it is possible to minimise the risk of decay.

• Attend for regular dental appointments

It is important that children start attending for appointments with their parents as soon as their teeth come through. This will allow them to get used to the unfamiliar sights, smells and sounds in the dental practice. By attending from a young age, it helps to reduce the fear so often associated with the dentist.

Technique for Tooth brushing

• Brush twice a day – once in the morning and once before bedtime
• Use a small headed, soft brush
• Apply only a smear of toothpaste
• Create a habit – always brush teeth in the same order to ensure that no tooth is forgotten
• Remember the gum line
• Be gentle – brush using only a slight pressure

If you would like to start your children on the path to a lifetime of good oral hygiene call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book a consultation.

Dental implants – is it time you take the plunge?

Have you got a missing tooth or teeth? Unsure how you want to replace it? Dental implants may provide just the solution you are looking for.

A dental implant is a titanium screw that can be placed into the jaw to replace the root of a tooth. It can then be used to support a crown, bridge or denture, replacing one or several missing teeth.

Here at West Wickham Dental Practice we have put together some of the benefits to choosing dental implants over other tooth replacement treatments:

1. Next best thing to healthy, natural teeth – Strong and stable, a dental implant restores a lost tooth so that it looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth. Other options can lead to bone deterioration, and may interfere with eating, smiling, speaking and other activities of everyday life.

2. Enjoy life without worrying about your teeth! – Teeth restored with dental implants are teeth that let you, not your teeth, lead your life.

3. Retain your natural face shape, and smile – A face without teeth can sag and appear sunken and sad. Dental implants allow you to maintain the natural shape of your face and smile.

4. Protect healthy bone – Dental implants are the only dental restoration option that preserves and stimulates natural bone.

5. Keep your teeth in your mouth – not in a cup – Dental implants allow you to keep your teeth where they belong – in your mouth. Brush, floss and care for teeth that have been replaced using implants exactly the way you would natural teeth.

6. More predictable than other repair and restoration methods – Dental implants have a track record of reliable, long-term successful outcomes and if cared for properly they should last for many years.

If you would like to find out if dental implants are the right treatment to replace your missing teeth call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book a consultation.

No Smoking Day

This year’s No Smoking Day fell on Thursday 8th March, will you be one of the thousands of smokers who take the leap and stop smoking for good. You will be able to feel the benefits of stopping smoking from day one.

It is not only about saving money. You will also drastically improve your overall health and reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer.

Smoking and your oral health

Most people are unaware that smoking can have a detrimental effect on your mouth, teeth and gums. Smoking can lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and in severe cases mouth cancer.

• Tooth Staining – staining on your teeth is due to the nicotine and tar in the tobacco. Your teeth may appear yellow in a very short time and after years of smoking can turn almost brown.
• Gum Disease – smoking increase the levels of plaque in your mouth, which can lead to gum disease. Smoking also prevents infected gums from healing, due to a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream. Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the UK.
• Mouth Cancer – mouth cancer is one of the few cancers that is set to rise in the coming year and smoking is a major risk factor for developing the disease.

Quitting Smoking

Quitting is the best thing you will ever do.                                                    

• For you

You could save around £1,700.00 a year

Your sense of taste will return

Your breathing and general fitness will improve

You’ll be more confident

• For family and friends

You will protect those around you by not exposing them to second hand smoke 

You will reduce the chances of your children suffering from bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, meningitis and ear infections

For information and help on quitting sign up on the NHS Smokefree website and take the leap and quit for good.

Concerned about your oral health? Call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book a consultation with our dentist or hygienist who will be able to give you help and advice on taking the best possible care for your teeth. They will also be able to scale and polish teeth, removing staining caused by smoking.

Top Tips For A Kissable Smile This Valentine’s Day

With Valentine’s day, just around the corner whether you are in a long-term relationship or just starting something new we have some top tips to ensure that your smile is totally kissable.

Maintain a good oral hygiene routine

It is important to ensure that you brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and clean interdentally once a day. It is often food particles that get trapped between teeth and start to decay that are the number one cause of bad breath. By keeping your mouth free from trapped food, you can help to improve the appearance of your smile and reduce the risk of developing bad breath.

Ensure you are cleaning your whole mouth

It is important to ensure that you brush your tongue, floss and exfoliate and moisturise your lips as well. For fresh breath and soft kissable lips, it’s important to pay attention to your entire mouth.

Avoid stains

Certain foods, drinks and lifestyle habits are notoriously bad for staining the teeth. Avoid drinking tea, coffee, red wine and avoid eating dark sauces and berries. Essentially anything that can stain a t-shirt or a tablecloth has the ability to stain your teeth. Smoking is another top culprit for staining teeth, the only way to stop this however is to quit the cigarettes!

Come and see us at West Wickham Dental Practice

Keep up with your regular dental appointments to ensure that your teeth are as healthy as possible. At each appointment, the dentist will check for the early signs and symptoms of any dental issue to ensure they are treated early. You can also have appointments with the hygienist who will be able to scale and polish your teeth removing plaque and calculus which if left can cause staining and in the long-term gum disease and tooth decay

Consider cosmetic dentistry

You might not have time to get anything extensive done before Valentine’s day, but you could get booked in ready for the summer, so you have something to be excited about, even if you can’t smile about it yet. Alternatively, there may still be time to get teeth whitening ready for date night.

Want a kissable smile? Call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book your appointment to discuss cosmetic dentistry or to book an appointment with the hygienist for a deep clean.

6 Ways To Make Your Teeth Sparkle This New Year

Recent surveys have shown that a bright, white smile can help to make someone appear younger and more attractive. Your smile is often the first thing a new person will notice when they meet you, so why not make 2017 the year you ensure that your teeth are in the best possible condition.

1. Hygienist appointments

The dental hygienist specialises in preventative dentistry, in particular the treatment of gum disease and other periodontal conditions. The hygienist will thoroughly scale and polish your teeth to give your smile a lift.

Advantages

• The hygienist will be able to polish your teeth to remove food and drink stains
• Regular scaling and polishing helps to keep your teeth and gums health by removing plaque and calculus that can build up and cause gum disease.
• Demonstrations on effective tooth brushing can help you to remove plaque without causing tooth wear and receding gums keeping your teeth bright in between appointments

2. White Fillings

White fillings can now be used in nearly any tooth in your mouth. A white or composite filling is made up of a mixture of glass particles, synthetic resin and a setting ingredient.

Advantages

• Once in your mouth, no one will be able to notice white fillings as they blend seamlessly with your natural teeth.
• White fillings are usually light cured, which is where a bright light is used to harden the composite mixture and set it. This means that you will be able to eat and drink as normal as soon as the anaesthetic wears off.
• White fillings can be bonded to your tooth and this means once applied the tooth will often be stronger than they were before.

3. Dental Implants

Dental implants can help to restore your smile, replacing gaps caused by missing teeth. Dental implants can be used to support either crowns, bridges or dentures depending on the number of teeth to be replaced.

Advantages

• Dental implants are the next best thing to healthy natural teeth. Restoring a lost tooth so it looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth.
• Teeth restored with dental implants are teeth that let you, not your teeth, lead your life
• A face without teeth can sag and appear sunken and sad. Dental implants allow you to maintain the natural shape of your face and smile.

4. Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening is an effective and affordable way to enhance the appearance of your smile. Teeth Whitening can help to give your teeth back their sparkle by removing stains caused by food, drink, smoking, ageing and medications.

Advantages

• Teeth Whitening is an excellent way to improve your appearance. Having a beautiful smile is now within the reach of anybody who wants it.
• A whiter smile tends to minimise the appearance of facial wrinkles, giving way to a more youthful and energetic appearance.
• Teeth Whitening can help to boost a person’s self-confidence

5. Teeth Straightening

Teeth straightening can have a dramatic impact on the appearance of your teeth and smile, no matter what your age is. There are a wide range of teeth straightening procedures available and your dentist will be able to advise on the best one to suit your needs.

Advantages

• Teeth straightening can help to improve your confidence and self-esteem, allowing you to achieve things you never thought were possible.
• Teeth straightening helps your gums to fit more securely around your teeth and in the long term this can help to reduce the risk of teeth loss.
• Teeth straightening and properly aligning the bite, reduces discomfort and wear caused to your mouth and jaw.

6. Smile Makeover

A smile makeover uses a number of different cosmetic dental treatment to completely change the appearance of your teeth and smile. A smile makeover takes into account your facial appearance, skin tine, hair colour, teeth, gums and lips to develop your ideal smile.

 Advantages

• Patients have confidence in their new smile which spills over into social and work related situations.
• It is possible for dramatic results to be achieved in relatively few appointments, so a smile makeover can be a great way to prepare for an important event.
• Teeth that have been straightened, repaired and replaced are easier to keep clean. By maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, you can help to keep your teeth looking their best for years to come.

What are you waiting for? Call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188 to book your consultation and start your journey to a sparkling smile.

Top Dental Emergency Questions Answered

No matter how careful you are, dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time. In this blog we look at some top questions, to ensure you know what to do should you have a dental emergency.

What is classed as a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies can be split into two main groups.

Visible damage to teeth – teeth can be chipped, cracked or knocked out, crowns can fall out and fillings can be lost. It can happen while you are playing sport, in a trip or fall or by biting down on something hard such as a nut or something sticky such as a toffee.

Pain – dental pain may be caused by an infection in the tooth or gum or by a cavity or decay exposing the sensitive dentine of the tooth.

How do I treat a toothache?

If you are suffering with a toothache, rinse your mouth out with warm water. Using interdental cleaning aids, cleanbetween your teeth to remove any trapped food. A cold compress placed on the cheek at the side of the toothache can help to reduce the pain as can over the counter pain killers.

What do I do if I knock a tooth out?

If a permanent tooth is knocked out by force, with a trip or a fall, it is important that it is replaced into the socket as soon as possible. If the tooth cannot be replaced, keep it within a container of body temperature milk until dental help can be sought. It is important that you get to a dentist as quickly as possible, the best results are seen when a tooth is replaced into the socket within an hour of the accident.

What do I do if I crack or chip a tooth or lose a filling?

If you crack or chip a tooth, rinse your mouth to remove any remaining loose fragments of teeth preventing you from swallowing them. It is possible to use sugar free chewing gum to fill the gap caused by a lost filling or chipped tooth as a temporary measure until you can get to an appointment with your dentist.

What do I do if I have a dental emergency over the festive period?

West Wickham Dental Practice is open 10am until 3pm on the week leading up to Christmas. If you have a dental emergency in the days preceding Christmas, please contact the surgery on 0208 776 1188 and we will endeavour to book you in for treatment as quickly as possible.Over the Festive period, we will be closed Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th December and Monday 2nd January should you have a dental emergency over the festive period please ring the surgery on 0208 776 1188 and the answerphone message will give you details on how to access emergency treatment. We will be open 10 am – 5 pm Wednesday 28th December and 10 am – 3 pm Thursday 29th, Friday 30th and Saturday 31st December.

All the team at West Wickham Dental Practice would like to wish our patients a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to seeing you all in 2017.

Risk Factors for Mouth Cancer

Mouth cancer is a cancer that can affect anyone. With over 7,000 people diagnosed with the disease last year and this figure set to increase further over the coming years, it is very important you are aware of any factors that can increase your risk of developing the disease.

91% of all diagnoses are linked to lifestyle factors which means that by amending certain lifestyle choices it is possible to drastically reduce your risk of developing moth cancer. There are four main factors to consider, including:

o   Tobacco

We all know about the risks associated with tobacco and developing lung cancer, but not many people know it is also a major risk factor in developing mouth cancer. Each cigarette contains thousands of chemicals all of which enter the body through the mouth. Over time the saliva in your mouth is transformed by these chemicals, damaging cells and potentially turning them cancerous.

Smokers are three times more likely to develop mouth cancer than non-smokers and seven times more likely to be diagnosed with throat cancer. However, it is never too late to reduce your risk! Research has shown that by quitting smoking you can reduce your risk of developing mouth cancer by more than a third. So why not use this as the impetus you need to kick the cigarettes for good!

o   Alcohol

Drinking large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis is another major risk factor linked with mouth cancer – with links to around 30% of all mouth cancer diagnoses. The key to this is regularly drinking large quantities, an occasional glass of wine or night out is not a problem!

o   Tobacco and Alcohol

If you combine the two, your risks dramatically increase, by potentially as much as thirty times. If you smoke and drink it is especially important that you attend the dentist for routine appointments so that they can continually monitor the health of your mouth, teeth and gums.

o   The Human papillomavirus

Many experts believe that the Human papillomavirus (HPV), transmitted through oral sex, will overtake tobacco use as the main cause of mouth cancer within the next ten years. HPV is very common and almost every sexually active person will get HPV at some point in their lives. 90% of infections go away within two years, but sometimes the infection can persist causing several different problems, including:

• Abnormal tissue growth which can cause cancer
• Genital warts

In order to reduce your risk, you should practice safe sex. There is also now an HPV immunisation programme in place, with all 12 and 13-year-old girls routinely vaccinated.

o   Diet

50% off all mouth cancer cases are due in some part to a poor diet. It is important to ensure that you have a diet rich in fruit and vegetables to keep your body healthy. Certain food can help to reduce your mouth cancer risk – including vitamin C and calcium supplements, green tea and coffee.

If you would like more help and advice on how to reduce your risks of developing mouth cancer or are concerned about any changes in your mouth book an appointment online, or call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188. If in doubt get it checked out!

10 Things To Avoid To reduce Tooth Staining

We all want to ensure that our teeth stay as white as possible so in this blog we look at 10 things you should avoid to help reduce the amount of staining on your teeth.

Wine – Red and white wine are acidic drinks that contains tannins, most commonly thought of as being in tea. This gives the drink the potential to cause a large amount of staining on your teeth.

Wherever possible try to intersperse glasses of water in between the wine, not only will this help to reduce any potential hangover the following day, it will also help to reduce the level of staining of your teeth.

Tea – Like wine, ordinary tea is rich in stain promoting tannins. Many dentists say that staining from tea can be an even bigger problem than staining from coffee which is low in tannins.

If you can’t bear the thought of giving up your morning brew why not consider switching to an herbal, green or white tea which have all been shown to have much less staining capacity.

Fizzy Drinks – Not only do you need to be concerned with the dark coloured fizzy drinks which have the ability to stain your teeth, lighter coloured drinks are sufficiently acidic that they promote the staining of teeth by other foods and drinks that you may have at the same time. Also fizzy drinks are often drunk cold and this has the effect of causing teeth to contract, making them more porous and easier to stain.

When enjoying a fizzy drink try to use a straw as this reduces the amount of drink that comes into contact with your teeth.

Pasta Sauces – Due to their acidity and bright red hue, the tomatoes in most pasta sauces can leave your teeth vulnerable to staining.

Eating dark green vegetables such as broccoli, kale and spinach beforehand creates a protective film over the teeth and reduces the tomatoes staining effect. Why not opt for a green salad as a starter?

Balsamic vinegar – Balsamic vinegar although a healthy salad dressing, can darken your teeth. This is due to its natural dark colour and the fact that it will stick to teeth.

Whenever you have a salad with balsamic vinegar, be sure to include a crunchy lettuce; chewing the lettuce will help clean the staining balsamic vinegar from your teeth as you eat.

Dark Berries – Blueberries, Blackberries, Cranberries, Cherries and other intensely coloured fruit also have the potential to cause stains. This is true no matter what form they come in whether juices, smoothies, pies or cakes.

Curry – curry’s deep pigmentation can yellow teeth over time.

Whenever you have curry, try to mix in fresh fruits and vegetables that prevent stains such as apples, carrots, cauliflower and celery.

Smoking – Smoking tobacco can cause teeth to become discoloured.

The only way to ensure that you reduce this form of staining is to quit smoking.

Certain Medication – Some medication can cause staining to your teeth over time.

If this is something you are concerned about talk to your doctor, they may be able to recommend alternatives that do have the staining ability.

Poor Oral Hygiene – The key to keep your teeth stain free is to ensure that you have a good oral hygiene routine.

Brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and clean your teeth inter-dentally daily. You should always wait to brush your teeth until one hour after eating otherwise you may brush away tiny particles of the softened tooth enamel, which in the long term can expose the dentine below which is a yellow colour, which will add to any staining present.

Treatment for teeth staining

Here at West Wickham Dental Practice if you are worried about staining why not book an appointment with one of our highly trained dentist or hygienists. They are able to perform deep cleanings to remove any staining present on your teeth. They will also be able to advise you on the best oral hygiene products to ensure that your teeth stay pearly white in between visits.

If you would like more help and advice on how our hygienist can help to remove the staining present on your teeth book an appointment online, or call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188