If you’ve got school-aged children who need to take a packed lunch every day, then you’re probably already finding this a bit of a chore even though it’s still relatively early on in the new school year. It can be tricky to choose healthy and tooth friendly foods that your child will actually eat, and which won’t come back with them at the end of the day. However it’s an important task, as a healthy lunch will not only help keep your children’s teeth free from disease, but will also help them to concentrate and to study.

It can help to get your child involved with choosing and preparing their packed lunch. If they’ve had a hand in the process then they are far more likely to eat the results. There are some simple things you can do to make tooth friendly, healthy choices. These include:

• Fruit. Choose fruit that is crunchy and high in fibre and water, and try to stay clear of dried fruit or dried fruit bars as these tend to be low in fibre, high in sugar and have a nasty habit of sticking to teeth.
• Vegetables. Sneak in some vegetable sticks or small, sweet cherry tomatoes along with some of their favourite dip. Try to keep crisps for a special treat, as these are often high in fat and salt, and then also stick to their teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay.
• Cheese is always a tooth friendly snack, and pre-packaged, child sized portions make it fun to eat.
• Milk and yogurt are good for teeth, but try not to choose a brand of yogurt that contains large amounts of sugar.
• If you like baking, or have the time to bake, why not get your child involved in making healthy carrot cake or banana cake? There are quite a few healthy recipes available, and you don’t have to ice or frost these cakes. They make a great treat every so often.
• Vary the kind of bread you use for sandwiches, as the supermarkets are packed full of lots of different varieties that can help keep things interesting. Choose lean meats, hard-boiled eggs or tuna for fillings or you can even try interesting spreads such as hummus.
• Steer clear of so-called healthy cereal bars, as these are often packed with fat and sugar, and they also tend to be quite sticky so are likely to remain on your child’s teeth for the rest of the day.

Our dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare knows it can be a struggle to get children to eat healthily, but if you can it is well worth your time and effort. Your children are far less likely to require filings when they visit Dr David Brown for check-ups, and they should retain their primary teeth until their adult teeth are ready to erupt. Even though there are various things that can be done to help protect your child’s teeth, such as fluoride treatments and dental sealants, there is really is no substitute for proper dental care, both at our Leeds surgery, and at home.

You’ll find all of our dental team are more than willing to offer practical advice on how to care for your children’s teeth, or practical advice on looking after your own teeth! Our Leeds surgery takes preventative dental care very seriously, so please feel free to ask us for help.

Tea is perhaps the most traditional of British drinks, and in spite of the growing popularity of coffee, many of us still begin the day with a cuppa. Now a recent study has found that drinking black tea can help to reduce tooth decay and gum disease, as ingredients in the tea fight two of the bacteria, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans, associated with these diseases. Apparently you do need to drink at least three cups of tea each day in order to obtain maximum benefits, as this will help to reduce the levels of bacteria in the mouth, even if you are in the habit of sugaring your tea. The benefits aren’t just limited to black tea, as green tea is also beneficial and even better it contains ingredients that can help to neutralise the compounds responsible for causing bad breath.

The reason these teas are so good is that they can be useful in reducing the inflammation caused by bacteria, and can help to prevent the bacteria from sticking to your teeth and gums. This is because tea contains certain antioxidants that fight inflammation, which are flavonoids and catechins, and these also have an anti-microbial effect. If you are watching your weight, then choosing green tea could help your diet, as it is thought it could help to speed up the metabolism so you burn fat. However this is something that has yet to be proven and it does require more research.

This is good news for tea drinkers, but drinking more tea can only be beneficial when combined with good oral hygiene, so if you haven’t visited the dentist for a while then why not book a check-up with Dr David Brown or another dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare? We can make sure you do not have any signs of dental diseases, and if we do find anything wrong then treatment will be far easier and less invasive than if the disease progresses. This can save you money, time and potentially your teeth.

We also recommend our patients have regular hygiene appointments, and it is a great idea to book an appointment for before or after your check-up. If you are a regular tea drinker then you might have noticed the tannins stain your teeth. Our hygienist can polish your teeth, helping to lift some of these surface stains. If this doesn’t give the results you’d like, then why not ask us about tooth whitening in Leeds?

Black Tea Does Stain, but We Can Whiten Your Teeth
This dental treatment is most effective when safely carried out under the supervision of a dental professional. Leeds City Dentalcare uses a home whitening system that will get results within just a few days, although if you want a particularly white smile you may need to use it for a couple of weeks. You’ll be provided with comfortable whitening trays that have been specifically made for your use. These fit exactly over your teeth, protecting your gums from the whitening gel. You can wear the trays overnight, or for just a few hours if you’d prefer, and the results of whitening are easily controlled by you. We’ll make sure you know exactly how to use the trays, and will give you full instructions on how often you can whiten. You may want to watch your diet while you are whitening, and might need to switch to drinking less staining green or white tea during this time.

Sports related dental injuries are all too common, and while most will merely chip a tooth, sometimes a tooth can be knocked out completely. Unfortunately this often happens to teeth right in the front of the mouth creating a less-than-perfect smile. If you happen to have a tooth knocked out while playing sports there are various things that can be done straightaway to try to save the tooth, but speed is definitely of the essence as tooth reimplantation is most successful if it takes place within half an hour to an hour after the accident occurring.

If this happens to you or someone nearby then pick up the tooth very carefully, taking care not to touch the roots. You’ll need to rinse off any dirt before trying to reinsert the tooth, making sure it’s facing the right way. Once you’ve done this then support the tooth with a clean finger and make sure you come to Leeds City Dentalcare as soon as you can for emergency treatment. If you can’t face reinserting the tooth yourself then store the tooth in a container with a small amount of milk or water and bring it to us as soon as you can, or alternatively visit your local outpatients for help.

What Happens if the Tooth Cannot Be Saved?

Reimplantation isn’t always successful, and if it fails then you’re probably best off considering having a dental implant. You’ll need a consultation with Dr David Brown to see whether or not you’re suitable. Implant surgery is right for everybody, but it’s ideal for most people who are in good general and oral health. If you decide to go ahead then implant surgery will usually take three months or more to complete, and although this might seem to be quite a while, dental implants are definitely worth the effort.

Dental implants replace the natural root of the tooth with a titanium post, and this is used to support a crown or bridge. One of the massive advantages of choosing an implant is that it will replicate a natural tooth root, and will help to preserve the bone in your jaw. If you are considering dental implants, then it is better to have them as soon as you can, as this will help prevent bone loss. Although it may seem tempting to have a bridge for a while, and to have an implant at a later date, this is not a great option, as the healthy teeth either side of your knocked out tooth will have to be ground down and crowned to support the bridge. Even if you choose to have an implant later on, you will always need to have these teeth crowned.

Preventing Tooth Loss While Playing Sports

If you are keen on playing sports, especially contact sports, then it might well be worth your while investing in a custom made sports mouthguard. This is something that can be made for you by our dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare, and it is a very small price to pay for something that could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds in restorative dental care. A custom made mouthguard will offer far more protection than the ready-made mouthguards that can be purchased from a lot of chemists, and will be far more comfortable to wear.

Dental grills are nothing new as they have been around for decades, but they seem to be enjoying something of resurgencein popularity due to the number of celebrities currently sporting them. It’s all very well for the celebrities as they have plenty of money to make sure they purchase the very best and top quality grills that are professionally made and fitted. This is often not an option for their fans who may want to emulate these celebrities through purchasing lower-cost and lower quality grills. While properly fitted grills may not cause too much damage to teeth it’s a different story with the lower-cost removable grills that can be made from inferior materials.

The grills can be ill-fitting and will rub on the dental enamel, gradually wearing it away, increasing the risk of tooth decay. These types of dental grills can also trap plaque bacteria, and if the bacteria aren’t properly removed in a timely fashion then it’s likely to lead to gum disease. Gum disease is the biggest cause of tooth loss in the world, and while most teeth can be replaced with dental implants it’s not exactly ideal, as it’s always better to keep your natural teeth for as long as you can! Problems caused by dental grills don’t stop there, as some people wearing them for extended length of time may even find their teeth moving out of the correct position, and as a result they may end up needing cosmetic dentistry or orthodontic braces to correct them.

The dental grills can be removable or maybe permanently fixed to the teeth. Obviously most of those worn by celebrities are removable and so there’s less risk of damage. Yet another problem that can be caused to wearing these grills is if they affect the way your teeth meet together. Some are designed to slightly prop open the bite so your teeth do not close together properly. The problem with this is that it can put stress on the joints that move your jaw and could lead to a whole host of unwanted symptoms. For instance putting stress on this joint can cause considerable pain, and is not unusual to suffer headaches. A bulky or ill-fitting grill can also rub on the inside of your lips, or if you accidentally bump your lip then it’s more likely to be damaged if you’re wearing one of these things.

Cosmetic Dentistry at Leeds City Dentalcare Can Give You a Much More Attractive Smile

Hopefully this is just a passing trend and it won’t stick around for too long. It’s possible to get a far more attractive smile through having any number of cosmetic dentistry in Leeds City Dentalcare. Before you even begin treatment you’ll be fully assessed by Dr David Brown or another of our dentist in Leeds to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy prior to work beginning. Many cosmetic dental treatments can also have a beneficial effect on your oral health, as for instance straightening your teeth through having orthodontic treatment will make them easier to clean, in addition to improving their appearance. Veneers can be used to mend small cracks or chips in your teeth, or to disguise teeth that are discoloured or which are too small or oddly shaped.

A new study that was recently published in Cancer Prevention Research looked at the association between oral human papilloma virus (HPV) and oropharyngeal cancers. It found the virus was associated with between 40% and 80% of these cancers, and is the first study to look at the association between these two conditions. There are two different kinds of oral HPV infection, as there is a low risk type that will not cause cancer, but which may cause warts or benign tumours in the mouth, while the other type is associated with oropharyngeal cancers. Researchers carrying out the study found that participants with poor oral health were 56% more likely to have oral HPV infection, and those with gum disease were 51% more likely to have oral HPV infections. Oral HPV was also associated with the number of teeth that had been lost.

This is all pretty grim reading, especially if you’re a man who smokes or who uses marijuana as your risk is increased. However the good news is that good oral hygiene habits can lessen the risk of HPV infection, and will help prevent HPV related cancers. This is because it’s thought that HPV needs an entry point in the mouth to enter the body, and this is something that can be provided by the presence of anything that creates open wounds such as ulcers or gum disease.

Protect Your Oral Health with Regular Check-ups at Leeds City DentalCare

Dr David Brown and dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare carry out oral cancer screenings as standard, so when you attend our Leeds surgery for a check-up your oral tissues will be examined for any early signs of this disease. This is an essential check and could even save your life as oral cancer affects more than 6,500 people in the UK.

In addition, attending our surgery for regular check-ups will enable us to detect any signs of other diseases such as gum disease or tooth decay, or anything that could create openings in your mouth, increasing the risk of contracting oral HPV infections. Even if you’re not at risk then a healthy mouth is still important for a healthy body.

Don’t Forget to Book a Dental Hygiene Appointment

We always recommend you visit our dental hygienist at regular intervals for preventative dental care. Our hygienist in Leeds will gently remove hardened plaque bacteria or tartar from your mouth in a process called scaling, before polishing your teeth which can also remove some of the surface stains.

Dental hygiene appointments are important, as leaving tartar on your teeth increases the risk of gum disease as the bacteria in the tartar will infect your gums causing them to become inflamed and to bleed. Ultimately you run the risk of losing your teeth. You’ll find our hygienists are extremely gentle, and they are also a valuable wealth of knowledge on how to care for your teeth at home. If you have any questions and be sure to ask them as they are always only too happy to help patients achieve a higher level of oral hygiene and will hopefully send you home with a smile on your face due to your fresh breath and clean teeth.

It’s estimated that gum disease affects approximately 15% to 20% of the world’s population, but in the UK this figure is thought to be much higher by the NHS. In fact it’s estimated that half the adult population have some form of gum disease, and is something that most people will experience during their lifetime.

It’s something we’re extremely concerned about at Leeds City Dental care, and is one of the main reasons why we ask patients to come in at regular intervals for check-ups and hygiene appointments. We would far rather prevent this disease from occurring in the first place and have to treat the consequences.

One of the main problems with gum disease is that the early signs can often be virtually undetectable. If you notice your gums look more swollen than before, or that they feel sore or bleed when you brush your teeth, then it’s definitely time to book an appointment with Dr David Brown or any of our dentist in Leeds as you may have gingivitis or early gum disease. Another symptom is having persistent bad breath that isn’t simply due to eating something highly flavoured.

Early Gingivitis Is Easy to Reverse so Don’t Delay that Appointment!

At this stage it can easily be treated in our surgery, as having your teeth scaled and polished will help remove the bacteria that cause the inflammation and infection. Afterwards ask our hygienists for advice on how to look after your teeth at home, and how you can improve your brushing and flossing regime. The reason for this is that gum disease is almost always due to a lack of oral hygiene, and it could well be that even though you think your brushing your teeth properly, you’re missing out large areas of your mouth due to being stuck in a rut with the way you brush your teeth. If you stick to a good regime then you should see real results within just a few weeks as your gums gradually become healthier.

What Happens If I Don’t Seek Treatment?

If you fail to seek treatment then your gum disease will develop into something more serious, a condition called periodontal disease. The NHS estimates that between 10 and 15% of adults has severe periodontal disease or periodontitis, and that many more have less serious forms of this condition. Periodontitis affects not only the gums, but all the other structures surrounding your teeth, including the bone and ligaments that hold them in place. If periodontitis isn’t treated then the bone will gradually be destroyed, loosening your teeth so eventually they will fall out. If you lose your teeth then all the cosmetic dentistry in Leeds cannot make them look pretty, and you’ll be faced with having to make the decision of how to replace them.

Severe periodontitis is much more complicated street than gingivitis and does require quite specialized treatment. It could be that your condition is chronic, and you may need to attend Leeds City Dental care for regular appointments simply to control the condition.

If you’re currently overdue for a check-up, then booking this appointment could help save your teeth and gums from this common disease. Preventative dental care is cheaper, far less invasive and far less time-consuming than trying to treat a well-developed dental disease.

Recent figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Center show that more than 1.6 million people were admitted to hospital due to problems caused by smoking, and cancer accounted for 11% of this total. Apparently the number of young people smoking is now higher than the number of adults who still smoke at 23% compared to 20%. Even though the number of smokers has fallen over in recent years, the incidences of mouth cancer have risen considerably over the last decade, by almost 50%. This recent increase in the number of people being admitted to hospital due to problems created by smoking seems to indicate that this upward trend is set to continue for at least the near future. Some 18 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer each day in the UK, and it now affects more than 6500 people. The condition is often caused by smoking and tobacco use. The figures are even more worrying if you happen to smoke and drink to excess, as you are up to 30 times more likely to develop mouth cancer.

Mouth Cancer Action Month takes place this November

We’re coming up to Mouth Cancer Action Month which takes place in November, and if you’re thinking about quitting then now could be a good time to plan to do so, as is estimated two out of three smokers would prefer to kick the habit. If you’re not quite ready to do so, then don’t forget to have regular checkups at Leeds City Dental care as screening for mouth cancer is an important part of your preventative dental care regime, and is something that carried out as standard. Dr David Brown or another dentist in Leeds will carefully check all your oral tissues, and this includes your tongue, the inside of your cheek, underneath your tongue, and the roof of your mouth. In addition, you can help yourself by checking these tissues once a month for any signs of abnormalities. This could be a change in the colour of the tissues, or noticing you has a sore spot that fails to heal within a couple of weeks, or that an area feels slightly rough or thickened to the touch.

Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease through Quitting Smoking

In fact smoking does nothing for your oral health; as well as increasing the risk of oral cancer, it also increases the likelihood that you’ll develop gum disease or at the very least your teeth will become stained with nicotine. If you have already lost teeth and are thinking about having dental implants in Leeds, then you’ll almost certainly be told you need to quit smoking before and. This is because the habit affects the way your gum tissues heal, as your body is less able to deliver essential nutrients and vitamins to the damaged tissues because smoking constricts the blood vessels. There’s very little to recommend smoking when you think about it, as is also well known for causing bad breath, and as there are so few places where you can actually smoke these days you might find it easier just to give up completely. If you’re finding it difficult, then sit down and do a few quick calculations as to how much you spent each week, month or year as it might surprise you. It could be enough to pay for that dream holiday, or maybe a quick smile makeover Leeds City Dental care to help rejuvenate your newly healthy mouth.

Just about everyone knows it’s necessary to brush your teeth twice a day, as this helps to remove the plaque bio film that builds up, and which would otherwise increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Most of us also brush our teeth before going out for a big night, or when we’re planning to meet up with someone special. Many of us continue using the same brand of toothpaste without giving it much thought. But what’s exactly in it, and what do all the ingredients do to help keep your mouth clean and healthy?

In fact toothpastes can really be quite complicated these days, as they can claim to do a number of different things such as reduce the prevalence of tartar, reduce tooth sensitivity, or even to whiten your teeth.

Don’t Choose Toothpaste That Is Too Abrasive
Many types of toothpaste contain abrasives, as this helps to make the mechanical action of brushing more effective. This is something that has been going on for thousands of years, as the ancient Egyptians used an unpleasant mixture of burnt eggshells, pumice and ashes from ox hooves. We were little better, as it was only back in the 18th century that Britons were using brick dust as one of the ingredients in toothpaste recipes.

Nowadays toothpastes are much kinder to teeth as we now understand the importance of cleaning our teeth while still preserving tooth enamel, and they tend to contain ingredients such as silica or alumina. In fact toothpastes are tested to see exactly how abrasive they are, and are given a RDA (radioactive dentine abrasion) figure, although this can be quite difficult to find out. It’s well worth choosing one with a low RDA of less than 100, as some of the whitening toothpastes can be quite abrasive.

Do Whitening Toothpastes Work?
Whitening toothpaste can help to lift the shade of your teeth by a certain amount, but most will only contain mild abrasives and will not whiten your teeth beyond their natural shade. If whitening your teeth is important to you, then ask our Dentist in Leeds how to do it safely and effectively.

Do Pick One for Sensitive Teeth, If This Is a Problem for You
If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, then it can be well worth choosing toothpaste designed to help alleviate this problem. These toothpastes can be quite effective, but you do need to make sure you use them consistently for several weeks for the full effects to materialise. This is because they tend to work by blocking up the tiny tubules in your dentine. Your dentine can be exposed if your tooth enamel is particularly thin, or if it has worn away in certain areas of your teeth. It increases sensitivity as the tubules in the dentine lead directly to the pulp which is the central part of the tooth containing the nerves.

If you do have to sensitivity and haven’t had a check-up in a while, then it’s well worth booking an appointment to see Dr David Brown or another dentist in Leeds City Dental care. This is just to make sure that you do not have any areas of decay, or any signs of gum recession that could indicate disease. If you do then these might require treatment, and it’s much more effective to get it done as soon as possible.

Did you floss your teeth last night? Unfortunately we know the answer for many people will still be no, and this is in spite of numerous studies that have shown the importance of doing so. Flossing is vital for removing plaque and food particles that can become trapped in between your teeth, and it’s really the only way to reach these areas that are inaccessible by a toothbrush. We know it’s not fun, and it can seem like a real chore at the end of the day, but it is worthwhile doing so as otherwise you’re much more at risk of developing gum disease.

Gum disease has been linked to numerous other diseases, and just recently to independent studies carried out in the US has revealed that a certain type of bacteria associated with gum disease could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. This is the second most common form of cancer in the world, and it’s more prevalent in developed countries. In the past scientists have studied mice, and found that bacteria in the gut, which can include species found in the mouth, could promote the development of colon cancer. Over the past two years studies have looked at biopsies from human colons, and have found that a particular microbe called Fusobacterium in healthy tissue right next to colorectal cancer. This particular bacterium begins life in the mouth, and is often associated with gum disease. However these early investigations didn’t discover any evidence of this bacterium in the tumours. As a result scientists carried out new studies to look at earlier indications of colon cancer, and interestingly they found the bacterium in the beginnings of tumours. Although these tumours may start off as benign, they are often a precursor of colorectal cancer and can become malignant.

Research is now on-going to prevent Fusobacterium from growing, and this could help treatments for oral diseases and for colon cancer. In the meantime it is necessary to floss daily, even if you hate doing it. This is something that we can help you with, so if you find flossing painful or even merely uncomfortable then ask our dentist in Leeds City Dentalcare for help.

Hate Flossing? It’s Worth Persevering

We have lots of techniques to make this job easier and far more effective, and if you really can’t get on with dental floss then think about trying an alternative method of cleaning in between your teeth. Next time you’re in your local chemists take a look in the oral care section, and you’ll probably see a variety of different interdental brushes that come in different widths, and some have angled handles. These are designed to fit in between your teeth, and can clean these areas extremely effectively. Alternatively you may want to think about splashing out on your dental care with the purchase of an electric air or water flosser. This device is perfect if you have limited use of your hands, or if you don’t have too much manual dexterity. These devices can also get the job done relatively quickly and very effectively.

Some people think it’s not worth flossing, and that simply brushing your teeth is enough. This fails to take into account that the contact areas in between your teeth represent approximately one third of all your tooth surfaces. In addition, Dr David Brown and all the dentists in our Leeds surgery can always tell the people who floss and the people who don’t, as their gums are likely to be significantly healthier.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once a day is always going to be vital for healthy teeth and gums, as are regular dental visits to Leeds City Dentalcare. But your dental health is also influenced by your food choices. So what are the best foods for your teeth and gums?

• High fibre vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits that contain large amounts of fibre have a naturally cleansing effect on your teeth, helping to scrub them a little cleaner. They are also harder to chew, and chewing helps to stimulate the flow of saliva, washing away excess food particles, and reducing the acidity in the mouth. Crunchy fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apples also have high water content, helping to dilute the natural sugars while still being enjoyable to eat.
• Dairy products that do not have any added sugar are also good for dental health. Cheese can help to stimulate the flow of saliva, while other dairy products such as milk are valuable sources of calcium and phosphates.
• Green and black tea. That morning cuppa contains substances called polyphenols that help to fight bacteria that cause tooth decay, preventing them from multiplying. If you’re a coffee lover, then this tasty drink also contains polyphenols. It has also been shown that cocoa contains substances that can fight these bacteria, just so long as it isn’t sweetened!
• Snacking on nuts is already known to be beneficial to general health, but these crunchy treats also contain minerals and vitamins that are good for your teeth. Peanuts are high in calcium and in vitamin D, while almonds also contain calcium. Walnuts contain thiamine, magnesium, iron, niacin, vitamin E potassium, zinc, and vitamin B6. One thing to bear in mind is that your teeth do need to be in good condition to eat nuts, as any decay could lead to the tooth crumbling when it comes into contact with something hard.
• Products containing xylitol, for example chewing gum or sweets, can be beneficial to teeth, as xylitol is a type of natural sweetener that is extracted from plants, and which will work against the bacteria responsible for causing tooth decay.
• Water is essential to all forms of life, and making sure you drink plenty of it will help to keep your mouth clean. Saliva largely consists of water, so it is important to make sure you are always well hydrated.

It is pretty easy to make the right food choices for healthy teeth, as you are looking to include foods that are high in vitamins and minerals, but low in sugars and carbohydrates that could stick to the teeth. Foods that contain vitamins A, C, and D as well as phosphorus and calcium are good, but generally it is all about eating a balanced diet, that includes lean protein, fish, fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and fortified cereals.

If you do want to eat something naughty, then try to have it as part of a larger meal, and try to clean your teeth soon afterwards. Sticky sweets such as toffees and other foods such as crisps, biscuits and cakes are especially bad for teeth as they are so difficult to remove other than through brushing. Making healthy food choices will help to limit the amount of treatment needed by our dentist in Leeds, and will help ensure you need to spend less time in the dental chair being treated by Dr David Brown. Of course all this will also save money!