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

Quit Smoking Forever

Smoking can lead to a wide range of oral health problems, including tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss and in more severe cases mouth cancer.

If you are considering making this year the year you quit smoking forever, we look at 10 top tips to help you quit.

1. Focus on your reason

To help keep you on track no matter how hard things get, consider your reasons for quitting. It may be to protect your family from second-hand smoke, reduce your chances of developing lung cancer, save money or to improve your appearance and health. Make sure that whatever the reason, it is strong enough to outweigh the urge to light up.

2. Put support in place

Smoking is an addiction and like any addiction you are going to need support to help you quit. The brain is hooked on nicotine, so without it you will go into withdrawal. Your doctor will be able to advise you on stop smoking groups, medication, counselling, hypnosis and apps. This will ensure that you are ready for the day you chose to quit.

3. Consider Nicotine Replacement Therapy

When you stop smoking nicotine withdrawal may give you headaches, affect your mood and drain your energy. The craving for just one smoke can be tough, Nicotine Replacement therapy can help to take the edge of your cravings. Studies have shown that nicotine gum, lozenges and patches can help to dramatically increase your chance of succeeding.

4. Take advantage of family and friends

Tell your family and friends that you are trying to quit. They will be able to provide you with support and encourage you to keep going if you are tempted to light up.

5. Relax and Unwind

Many people smoke as a way to relax, once you quit you will need to find other ways to unwind. You could start a new exercise class, join the gym, listen to your favourite music, connect with friends or start a new hobby. Stressful situations can make quitting more difficult so try to stop smoking at a time when you feel relaxed and in control.

6. Avoid triggers

When you drink alcohol it reduces your willpower and so makes it harder to say no to that cigarette. When first quitting it is a good idea to reduce your alcohol intake. If you often smoke when you have your morning coffee, why not swap to tea for a few weeks to help break the association. If you like to have a cigarette after meals find something else to do, go for a walk, speak to a friend or do the dishes.

7. Clean, Clean, Clean

Once you decide to quit get rid of all your cigarettes, lighters and ash trays. Also try to remove anything that smells of smoke. This may mean washing clothes that smell of smoke, cleaning carpets and upholstery and cleaning the car. If you can get rid of the familiar smell of smoke and anything that reminds you of smoking, it can make it much easier to quit.

8. Exercise

Get moving! Being active can help to curb nicotine cravings and ease the withdrawal symptoms. It doesn’t need to be anything dramatic, simply going for a walk can help. The calories you burn can also help to ward of the weight gain that many experience when they quit smoking.

9. Don’t Diet

You need to tackle one issue at a time, trying to cut the cigarettes and calories is a recipe for failure. If you are worried about your food intake focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein.

10. Choose your reward

With all the money you are saving from not buying cigarettes, why not reward yourself by spending some of it on something special.

If you would like more help and advice on how to stop smoking book an appointment online, or call West Wickham Dental Practice today on 0208 776 1188

Fast Orthodontics - The Benefits Of Six Month Smiles

There’s no doubting that modern orthodontics have come a long way since those metallic train track style braces of old. Instead 21stcentury orthodontic treatments now cater for the growing number of adults who are looking to improve the appearance of their teeth. In fact, according to the British Orthodontic Society (BOS), latest figures suggest that 75% of UK orthodontists are seeing a surge in adult orthodontic treatment. One such treatment is Six Month Smiles.

As the name suggests this particular treatment is designed to be completed within six months or less and is part of a growing trend of fast or accelerated orthodontic procedures. It’s designed specifically for older teenagers and adults who have dental crowding, twisting, or spacing issues and offers some befitting advantages over conventional metal style braces.

Firstly, what they can’t do!

Although Six Month Smiles treatment can fix a whole host of dental issues, it isn’t designed to deal with major bite problems. Why? Because like all fast or accelerated orthodontic treatments Six Month Smiles focus their efforts solely on the top and bottom teeth that are visible when you smile. Because of the speedy time scale, it isn’t possible to fix the whole bite or correct tooth root alignment. That said, the vast majority of patients are actually more concerned with how their smile looks rather than how it functions, anyway. In this respect, speedy orthodontic treatments such as this work exceptionally well.

Now we know what they can’t do, let’s turn our attention to their advantages.

They’re discreet

Remember those train-track style braces we talked about at the beginning of this post? Not particularly discreet are they? Many adults are put off from wearing braces for this very reason. After all, who wants to be seen sporting a mouth full of metal every time they crack a smile or talk? On the contrary, Six Month Smiles uses a combination of tooth coloured braces and wiring which blend in with the teeth making their appearance far less obvious.

Utilises low force

A key component of the Six Month Smiles system is the nickel-titanium arch wires. Natural in colour they’re designed to exert a gentle but continual force in order to move the teeth back into the desired position. This means that unlike other brace systems, wearers won’t feel quite so much tenderness in the teeth when force is applied.

Perfect for teeth crowding issues

One of the most common complaints of those seeking orthodontic treatment is overcrowding. The Six Month Smiles system is perfectly made for dealing with this particular issue. This brace system has the ability to round out and develop the constricted arch, thus creating sufficient room to simultaneously align the crowded teeth.

They cost less

Aside from being safe and effective, Six Month Smiles typically costs less than many other orthodontic treatments. Invisalign for example (another discreet brace system) will typically cost up to twice as much. So not only are Six Month Smiles better for your teeth, they’re also better for your bank balance too. What’s more, at West Wickham Dental Practice we allow you to spread the cost of your treatment over a number of months making it an affordable and viable option. See our special offers and Smile Proud!

So there you have it – The benefits of Six Month Smiles orthodontic treatment for adults and how it can help you get straighter, healthier teeth.

If you’d like to find out more about how adult orthodontic treatment can help you, then contact the team here at West Wickham Dental Practice. To book an appointment either call us direct on 0208 776 1188 or visit the online booking form on our website. On behalf of the team, we look forward to helping you restore that great looking smile.