Bedford dentist, Dr David Nolte looks at the options available when a tooth is chipped.

However well we look after our teeth, there is always a risk that they can suffer some damage, however minor. The better we look after our teeth though, the stronger they are likely to be.

However strong they are though, minor damage can still occur and one of the most common types of damage that we see is when a tooth becomes chipped.

If this happens to a patient and their next regular appointment at The Dental Centre Bedford is some time away, it can leave the patient with a bit of a dilemma; whether to simply leave the chip or make an additional appointment to have it looked at.

Always play it safe

The first piece of advice that I would give a patient who this has happened to is to be on the safe side and have it looked at by a professional. Although it may appear to you that just a tiny piece of tooth has been lost; with closer examination, it is possible that more of the enamel may have cracked with it. If left untreated, this could allow bacteria to enter the tooth through the cracked enamel and lead to infection and decay. Catching problems like this at an early stage will mean that you are less likely to need more extensive treatment later on.

Treating a chipped tooth

There are a number of options available to restore a chipped tooth. We take a look at some of these below, starting with the least invasive; no treatment at all.

Leave the chip

If the chip in the tooth is very tiny and has not compromised the enamel to any significant degree, it may be perfectly possible to leave the chip as it is. This will depend on a number of factors though, such as does it have a sharp edge that is causing discomfort and whether it weakens the structure of the tooth.

Smoothing the enamel

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Reports suggest that this generation is failing to brush their teeth as well as they should.

‘Millennials’ is a word that seems to be bandied around quite a lot these days. For those who don’t know, it means those born from 1981 to 1996 (or who are now 22-37 years old). Life, it is claimed, is going to be harder for this generation, whilst others ‘mock’ them for expecting things to simply fall into place.

We are not going to look at those aspects of a millenial’s life however, but address another concern that has been raised following research carried out in Germany. It should be said, of course, that the same results may not be found in the UK, but working on the assumption that similar results might be expected, here is what it had to say. Of course, this won’t apply to everyone one, but on average, the research does suggest that the millenial generation hasn’t quite got it right when it comes to personal oral care.

A random sample of around  100 people of this generation were asked to perform their daily oral health cleaning in front of a camera so that they could be recorded. The results were then studied to see how well they actually cleaned their teeth on a daily basis. Although this group seems to have taken on board the 2 minute rule and brushed their teeth for longer than a previous study of a similar age group in 1992, both groups tended to ‘scrub’ their teeth rather than use the gentle circular action which is now widely recommended. It was also noted that both groups tended to brush the front surfaces of their teeth, neglecting, or only giving a cursory brushing, to the rear of their teeth.

What can millennials expect?

Whether front, back or side, the enamel surface of our teeth is always vulnerable to attack from acids and plaque that builds up on the surface. Wherever it is, if not cleaned properly, it is more than likely that tooth decay will soon set in. It would seem that this age group are storing up problems by not cleaning their teeth correctly.

This is also a generation that possibly consumes more convenience food, drinks more and also possibly smokes more too. Combined, the prospect for their oral health does not look too good.

Investing in the future

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Colds, flu and other winter viruses can have an adverse effect on our teeth.

Despite the fact that winters seem to be generally milder than in the past, cold spells are still quite possible. In addition to the cold weather, this is also a time of the year when many of us will be struck down with colds, or even worse, with the flu.

There are a number of ways that you can reduce the risk of these, including the flu vaccination and making sure that you wash your hands regularly. Even then though, the risk of colds and flu are still ever present.

There is no doubt that we feel rotten when we are ill with these viruses, and even our teeth can be affected by them. In today’s blog, our Bedford dentists look at how you can avoid the worst effects of both colds and flu on your teeth.

Stay hydrated

They old saying used to be that you should drink plenty of water to help ‘flush away’ the virus. Whilst this has since been challenged, it is still a wise and valid point when it comes to your teeth. Illnesses can make us dehydrated and lethargic. We have mentioned before that water is great for helping to avoid gum disease and for flushing food debris from the mouth. Given that you may be more easily dehydrated when you are ill, and your oral bacteria probably also affected, drinking plenty of water is definitely a helpful thing to do.

Sensitivity and discomfort

It isn’t unusual to feel a little discomfort in your teeth when you are ill. This can lead some patients to suspect that they have a cavity, an abscess or other dental problem. Whilst this may sometimes be the case, it is often due to pressure building in the sinus cavity, or inflammation. As a general rule of thumb, a tooth cavity usually leads to a throbbing kind of discomfort, whilst discomfort caused by sinus cavity inflammation is likely to be a constant level of discomfort. If the discomfort persists after you have recovered from your illness, you should have the issue checked at The Dental Centre Bedford.

Throw away your toothbrush

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How we look after this everyday piece of personal care equipment could make a real difference to the health of our teeth and gums.

The humble toothbrush; a fairly ‘boring’ piece of equipment that we (hopefully) use twice a day to clean our teeth. Even after the initial appeal of electric toothbrushes, we doubt that many of our Bedford patients give them a second thought very often, or even at all.

Despite this, the humble toothbrush is the patient’s main weapon in the fight against tooth decay and gum disease. Even those of us who avoid sugar as far as possible will still be at risk if we don’t clean our teeth and gums properly.

We have discussed your options about whether to buy a manual or electric toothbrush in a previous blog. Whichever you choose though, it is important that you look after it well to ensure the best cleaning experience possible.

Keep it clean

What do you do once you have brushed your teeth? The chances are that most patients of The Dental Centre Bedford will simply rinse the head of the brush, give it a shake and put it back where it came from. This is unlikely to kill bacteria that has collected on the bristles and whilst some may die naturally when exposed to an external environment, this may not be the case with them all. We would recommend that you clean the brush head by immersing it in boiling water for a few minutes or soaking it in antibacterial mouthwash periodically. This is especially important if you have had a cold or flu virus. In that situation, you may prefer to throw it away and replace it instead.

Storage

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Dr David Nolte takes a look at some common oral health issues.

As dentists, we not only see problems with the teeth, such as decay or breakages, but also with the rest of your mouth, as we examine you. This offers an excellent opportunity to monitor your overall oral health and offer advice where any problems are noted.

Whilst there are some potentially very serious oral health issues that can be detected in this way, there are also others which may still need to be treated, albeit less serious.

Even non serious conditions in the mouth can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. They can also make everyday tasks such as eating, very difficult and often uncomfortable. They may even cause us to stop brushing our teeth completely if the discomfort is too significant and as our Bedford patients will know from our previous blogs, this could be a recipe for disaster!

In today’s blog, we take a look at some of the other more common oral health problems that we come across from time to time at The Dental Centre Bedford.

Tooth decay

Yes, tooth decay, or dental caries, is actually caused by bacterial infection. As the bacteria multiply, often due to poor oral care, they produce acidic bi-products which then start to damage the tooth, leading to cavities which will need to be cleaned and filled. For anyone interested, the bacteria which is a main contributor to this problem, is called Streptococcus mutans.

Gingivitis

We have touched on this a few times before, but essentially, gingivitis is the earlier stage of gum disease. It is caused by a number of different bacteria which, when not removed, accumulate in the hard to reach spots in the mouth, such as just below the gum line. They then produce substances which cause the gums to become inflamed and sore. There is an ever growing school of thought that some of these bacteria can enter the bloodstream and may contribute towards other illnesses, not just problems in the mouth.

Periodontitis

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‘Street drugs’ are known to cause many health issues, but did you know that they can also be harmful to your teeth and gums?

Firstly, we want to say that, as oral health professionals, we certainly do not condone illegal drug use!

Even some regulated medical drugs can have a negative effect on your teeth and gums, but those that are unregulated and can be variable in potency, are particularly dangerous for both your general health and your oral health.

A study, carried out earlier this year showed, amongst other things, that around 8.5% of adults between the ages of 16-59 in England and Wales had taken an illegal drug within the last year. Whilst this figure may include a number who do so very irregularly or maybe even just the once, it does indicate a higher number of drug users than many of us may like to believe. There are, of course, a number of arguments as to the best approach to take to reduce this usage, but in the meantime, health professionals and users families have to deal with the consequences.

We obviously encourage our Bedford patients not to risk their teeth and gums by using illegal substances and to help indicate the serious health risks involved, below we take a look at some of the risks of some of the more common substances.

Cannabis (Marijuana)

Perhaps one of the most widely used illegal drugs in the UK. It is sometimes considered to be non addictive and relatively harmless by some users. Although not strictly ‘addictive’, dependency is common and long term heavy usage has been widely linked to psychosis issues. From an oral health angle, cannabis is usually smoked, often combined with tobacco. This will often lead to a very dry mouth, with the associated heightened risk of gum disease. Studies have indicated that heavy cannabis smokers are around 60% more likely to have gum disease than those who don’t.

Cocaine

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Fundamental oral care guidance from your local Bedford dentist.

Given a choice, no doubt we would all like to have nice looking teeth.

Hopefully our parents gave us a good start and we arrived in adult life with healthy teeth; but even if not, then it’s not too late to correct this, as we will see later.

By and large, how we look after our teeth on a daily basis will help to determine how nice and attractive, or otherwise, they are. In today’s blog, we take a look at how what we do day-to-day, contributes to maintaining our oral health and smile.

Keep them clean!

The most essential thing that you can do for your smile is to make sure that both your teeth and gums are healthy. This can only be done through a combination of a tooth friendly diet, regular brushing and flossing, along with ongoing monitoring during check ups at our Bedford dental practice. This everyday groundwork will lay the foundation for you to have healthy and attractive teeth over the longer term.

Remember too, that decay often starts in the most hard to reach areas. Make sure to take time to brush those areas well. Dental floss should always be used between the teeth, an area that is often affected by tooth decay. Although we do offer almost invisible tooth coloured fillings, it is far better to avoid the need for them in the first instance!

Don’t smoke

If you want to have teeth that stay naturally white for as long as possible, then don’t smoke and guidance to help quit starts here at the NHS website. If you have previously been a smoker, there are ways to rectify that which we will discuss later. Smoking is bad for your teeth in so many different ways, as well as for your general health; for example, not only does it increase the risk of gum disease but will heavily stain your teeth too. Our teeth are not as smooth on the surface as you may think, and tar and other staining substances in tobacco smoke will soon find their way into the tiny spaces on our teeth surface, leaving a discolouration that is very difficult to remove.

Reduce staining food and drinks

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