Tag Archives: Oral Health

Jun 23 2017

Surprising things that your dentist knows

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Dentist

When your dentist looks inside your mouth, there are a lot of things that they can tell you straight away. For instance, they know that you flossed before your appointment and that is the only time! You cannot fool your dentist, and you can find out what else they can tell about your oral hygiene from looking in your mouth by reading several dental-related articles online. However, the health of your mouth can also tell your dentist about other potential health risks that you may have.

Heart Disease

Believe it or not, your dentist can tell whether you are going to be prone to heart disease by looking at the state of your gums. It is worth your time and effort to see your dentist regularly, and you can find a dentist on the Gold Coast, or anywhere else throughout the country, quickly and with ease when you use the internet. If you have inflamed and red gums and a dry mouth, then there could be a risk of heart disease which your dentist will warn you about and instruct you to see your doctor.

Sleep Apnoea

Sleep Apnoea is often caused by breathing issues while you are asleep, which can prevent you from getting a restful sleep at night. Prolonged sleep deprivation can have a significant effect on your overall health, but there are sometimes things that your dentist can do to assist you. Special equipment which includes lasers and other tools can be used to help keep the airways clear and let you get some restful sleep.

Low Weight Babies

It is often found that women that have poor oral hygiene can also be prone to giving birth to underweight babies. If you are pregnant, you should maintain a high standard of oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly.

Dementia

Dementia is another condition which is often seen in people with poor oral hygiene. Although it may not be a direct cause of the condition, it is a side effect which can be seen and give an indication of their health, especially if their oral health has always been in previously.

Diabetes

If you have excessive weight loss, constantly dry mouth, and unresolved periodontal disease, these can be the symptoms of underlying issues such as diabetes. With regular health checks with your doctor and oral examination by your dentist, you can help to spot the early warning signs and prevent the condition from becoming life threatening.

If you eat a healthy balanced diet, exercise regularly, and also maintain a high level of oral hygiene, you can help to make sure that you are healthy for a long time to come. Regular visits to your dentist will not only give you an indication of the health of your teeth but also your health overall. So if you want to remain healthy and keep your teeth shining and white, take good care f yourself and pay regular visits to your dentist. Prevention is always better than the cure, and with a little effort, you can keep your smile healthy for a long time to come.

 

 

Aug 20 2015

The Love Your Mouth Challenge from GSK

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I received an email recently that was as disgusting as it was intriguing. It was the results from a study conducted by GSK as part of its Love Your Mouth campaign, revealing the oral hygiene habits of some 10,000 UK adults. It made for some gruesome bedtime reading:

45% of those questioned admit to having gone to bed without brushing their teeth

Yep shockingly, thousands of us are regularly skipping a nightly tooth-brushing session. But it gets worse. When asked why they don’t stick to a daily oral healthcare regime, 40% claim to be too tired and a whooping 30% admit they’re simply too lazy. This, despite the fact that 91% of those polled say they are aware that poor oral care can lead to irreversible damage to your smile.

Sensodyne

For me, this makes for frightening reading. I simply can’t imagine going to bed without brushing my teeth, if only to cleanse away pesky bits of dinner from my teeth, and make my breath fresher. I’d be the first to pull away from Craig in bed if I detected even the vaguest whiff of garlic on either of our breath. It doesn’t matter how inebriated or tired I am either - after all I go to bed slightly squiffy most nights and average about 3 hours sleep thanks to my mini-mes. Twice daily tooth-brushing is common sense and that’s all there is to it.

As if it couldn’t get any more disturbing …

… Almost 1 in 5 people surveyed (18%) said they just brush with water without toothpaste, and 14% brush their teeth using a finger!

My God! Do these people not watch Jeremy Kyle?! Right or wrong of me, I can’t help but wince when I’m served by a toothless cashier, or am leered at by some old man with brown gnashers.

Enough.

If you know your oral health leaves a little, or indeed a lot, to be desired, consider this blog post a physical shove. It is time for you to take the Love Your Mouth Challenge.

Despite being a bit of a pin-up girl for oral health (hmm, I mean to say I’m an advocate of, rather than a model), I took this challenge myself recently after a bout of sensitivity. I attribute this entirely to over-brushing my teeth during severe morning sickness in pregnancy, but this doesn’t mean it doesn’t need addressing.

By answering a few questions as part of the challenge, I was recommended Sensodyne’s Repair and Protect, and Complete Protection toothpastes, and have since replaced my old toothpaste with these bad boys.

It isn’t the first time I’ve used Sensodyne, but just like the old adverts, I wound up using a supermarket brand having hastily shoved it in the trolley when dragging two tantrum-prone kiddies along to the weekly shop. Inevitably my sensitivity came back and ice cream was off the menu. Surely this goes to show how important it is to select the toothpaste that is right for you… and stick with it.

Sensitive Teeth

The long and short of it? After just a few days of smearing Sensodyne on my toothbrush again, I’m back eating ice lollies - result!

Visit LoveYourMouth.co.uk to take the “Love Your Mouth Challenge” for yourself and find out how you can improve your oral health. For offers and information about GSK oral health products, visit Tesco and Superdrug online and in-store.

 

 

 

Dec 16 2013

Parents in the UK reveal kids toothbrushing problems

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I was recently sent some research from Aquafresh all about kids toothbrushing. This is something I can definitely empathise with as I struggle with Dexter on a daily basis. As there are so many gaps, I often worry about the amount of pressure I’m applying to his gums. I’m also the first to admit I’ve used some pretty inventive DIY teethers including frozen banana and carrot batons. Well it seems I’m not alone. Here are Aquafresh’s findings and some advice on how to get your children’s teeth off to a healthy start.

  • In total, more than one in ten (12%) parents surveyed spend at least three days a year getting their kids to brush their teeth
  • Two thirds (67%) of parents don’t know when or how to look after their child’s teeth
  • Parents are making DIY teethers out of things they find in the home

Toothbrushing time wasting

One in ten parents are spending at least three days per year trying to get their kids to brush their teeth, and roughly one in 50 are losing almost a week of their time.

The latest survey* of 1,000 parents by the makers of AQUAFRESH reveals almost one in ten (9.8%) feel they’re wasting a lot of time trying to get their child to brush, with a quarter (25%) of parents admitting it’s a difficult and stressful experience for both of them. In fact, one in 15 (6.5%) find it more stressful than putting their kids to bed or getting them to eat fruit and vegetables.

Milk Teeth

Parenting worries

When it comes to their kids, topping the table of parents’ worries is their diet (31%), looking after them (13%) and toothbrushing (12%). 12% worry about toothbrushing more than bathing baby (1%) and getting them to sleep (10%).

Toothbrushing is often the cause of arguments in the family, along with getting their kids dressed (6%), brushing hair (6%) and leaving them with someone who isn’t mum or dad (5%).

One in seven (14%) say their child hates toothbrushing. This could explain why more than one in ten mums (13%) admit to bribing their kids to brush with a variety of rewards.

The survey reveals the areas parents would like more support on, with sleep (21%) and looking after children’s teeth (20%) at the top. In comparison, 9% wanted more support on playing with their child and bathing their little one (1%).

DIY teethers

Over three fifths (62%) of parents find the first year the most stressful in relation to their kids’ first teeth and teething. Many are turning to a variety of weird and wonderful objects to help. Parent’s most used DIY teethers are revealed as:

· Toys (46%)
· Frozen fruit and veg (28%)
· Wash cloths (19%)
· Keys (10%)
· Wooden spoons (9%)
· Mobile phones (5%)

Nearly two thirds (62%) use a specifically designed teether to comfort their child through the tricky teething phase. Now, AQUAFRESH has an answer; in the form of their new AQUAFRESH Milk Teether. It’s the first teether from an oral care brand and has been specially designed with paediatric dentists to soothe and clean teeth during teething.

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More support please

The survey showed more than one in ten (11%) parents don’t feel they have been told the importance of looking after their child’s first teeth and over a quarter (27%) of parents would welcome more support and help on this.

More than a quarter (27%) of parents don’t think they need to start brushing until their little one has between two and five teeth, when in fact, toothbrushing should start as soon as the very first tooth makes an appearance, which is usually between five to seven months.

Dentist, Tina Tanna says: “Milk teeth have 50% thinner enamel than adult teeth, so it’s key that mums and dads start brushing their child’s teeth regularly from the minute they come through, even if it’s just the one tooth. This will not only give their children the best possible oral healthcare start, but also get them into a good routine.”

“Brushing doesn’t have to be a chore and can be made fun. Get your little one familiar with the sensation of a toothbrush by giving them a brush to play with, or bring their favourite toy into the bathroom and brush their teeth too.”

To help and support mums and dads through the first six years of teeth, AQUAFRESH has teamed up with the Netmums community and created ‘Tips for teething tots’ – a practical guide containing handy tips for parents, by mums who have been through it all themselves and lived to tell the tale.

Top five mummy worries in the survey

1. Diet
2. Looking after kids
3. Looking after their teeth
4. Sleep
5. Vaccinations

The AQUAFRESH Milk Teeth range includes products specifically designed for teething and first teeth. Aside from the AQUAFRESH Milk Teether, AQUAFRESH Milk Teeth toothpaste has a baby-friendly mint flavour, which is mild for little mouths and ensures little ones are receiving gentle care to help their adult teeth come through healthy and strong

 

* Research conducted of 1,104 mums in the Netmums community, August 2013

DISCLAIMER: I’m being sent a little gift for sharing this research with you. It’s interesting reading however, and it’s reassuring to discover some of the common anxieties parents share over keeping their children’s teeth healthy.

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