Shaping Your Smile with Implants

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Restorative Dentistry and Dental Implants in 2017

Start the new year by thinking about what changes you can make to boost the health of your teeth. Here at Midland Smiles Centres, we offer you a range of treatment types for restorative dentistry as well as dental implants in Birmingham. Take the time to think about how you would like to improve your teeth and see how we can help you start your 2017 with the perfect smile.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are a way of replacing missing teeth. Compared to other treatment options, dental implants are generally believed to be the best and most versatile form of treatment for replacement teeth. At Midland Smiles Centres, you can expect our treatment to include the no scalpel-highlight dental implant technique. In this procedure, X-ray imaging is used by the dentist to locate precisely where the titanium tooth implant is to be placed. Then, the implant is inserted into the gum directly and is done without an incision created by a scalpel.

This approach will mean reduced pain, bleeding and swelling for the patient. It also means that healing time will be reduced, and in as little as three months, with only two visits, the entire procedure can be complete. The benefits of having dental implants are a renewed pleasure of eating and an improved smile. To undergo this treatment it is advisable to first seek a dentist with experience of performing successful dental implant procedures. You will be happy to learn that at MSC, some of our dentists have over 25 years of performing successful dental implant procedures.

Bridges

Also at MSC, we can provide you with restorative dentistry in the form of bridges, crowns and dentures. Dental bridges are artificial teeth or a tooth that are permanently fixed to the natural teeth neighbouring the gap in the teeth. Or they can be fixed to the natural tooth on the one side of the gap. Bridges are suitable for use in instances where only a few teeth have been lost, and they can also be a preferable alternative to dentures.

Crowns

Dental crowns are an artificial restoration that can be very beneficial to the recipient. They are placed over the remaining section of a prepared tooth and give the tooth strength as well as the shape that a natural tooth has. Also referred to as a cap, crowns are available from MSC in a number of types, one of example of these being a natural-looking white crown placed onto back molars to bring a youthful and natural appearance to the patient’s mouth.

Dentures

The other option for restorative dentistry available at Midland Smile Centres is dental dentures. Dentures are made using either acrylic (plastic) or a metal and plastic mixture. Retaining clips can also be used in both of these types of dentures. These retaining clips keep the dentures in the right position inside of the patient’s mouth. The advantage of having dentures is that by replacing the lost or missing teeth you may have, you can take pleasure in having a better diet and enjoy an improved smile.

There are various ways in which the appearance and overall health of your teeth can be changed through the types of treatment we at MSC can offer you. Our dental implants and restorative dentistry treatment have unique benefits for our patients, so it is a good idea to take the time now to consider which treatment is best for you. Get in touch with MSC and start your journey towards the smile you want in 2017.

Running and your Oral Health

Running is a popular way to stay in shape, especially when you can join running clubs or groups so you can add a more social side to your exercise. Of course, there’s also marathons and sponsored runs that you can take part in to add a more competitive element to it.

However, have you considered your dental health when planning your training? It’s not a surprise if you think that these subjects are unrelated, read on to find out why they’re not.

The Risks

While your body may be in excellent shape, this could come at the cost of your oral health. Studies have shown that there are two specific areas where oral health problems are likely to occur for athletes: having a dry mouth and the effects of sport-related nutrition.

Dry Mouth

If you’re keen on your sports and exercise, think about how your mouth feels during such activities. It’s likely that you’ll be breathing through your mouth, and because of this your mouth will dry up. In addition to this, you’re unlikely to be able to recover from a dry mouth as quickly as you would normally, due to a higher susceptibility to dehydration.

A dry mouth is a bigger problem than you might think. The risk of having gum disease increases, as well as tooth decay. Saliva is a great way of protecting your mouth, as it limits bacteria growth and helps clean any food debris and plaque in your mouth. Other problems relating to tasting and digesting foods also arise.

Nutrition

Properly planning your nutrition and hydration for your sports and exercise it a good way to make sure you get the energy you need without putting your oral health at risk. As most people who are into their fitness know, carbohydrates are your main source of energy. However, over-consumption of ‘bad’ carbohydrates can be detrimental to your oral health.

Sports drinks are quite popular however they too can be bad for your teeth. Although they can be helpful when recovering from long and strenuous activities, they are also acidic. This is a problem for the enamel on your teeth, as it can dissolve when exposed to too much acid. These drinks are also very sugary, which can cause tooth decay and other problems.

DON’T stop running

We’re not trying to scare you into not running. It’s likely that if you stop exercising you’ll run into other health problems, but there are ways you can enjoy your running and maintain a healthy smile. 

As long as you drink plenty of water before, during and after your exercise you can help mitigate a lot of the problems that can occur. It’s also important that you drink water before you get dehydrated instead of after. Of course, regular brushing and visits to your dentist can also help reduce a number of the problems that might occur.  

Long Term Problems

Sometimes these things don’t seem like an issue until you’re faced with cavities and gum disease yourself. If left untreated, these problems can develop into serious complications, including loss of teeth. Midlands Smile Centres does offer a number oftreatments to help rejuvenate your smile, including dental implants, bridges, crowns and dentures (including denture implants).

If you have any problems or questions regarding your oral health, you should arrange a check-up to see your local Midlands Smile Centres dentist so they can talk you through your queries. 

The Importance of Diet In Dental Health

One of the most important factors in our dental health, is our diet. What and when you eat and drink can make a huge difference in the health of your mouth. By maintaining a healthy diet, you can really make a difference to your smile. Here, we will cover why a healthy diet plays a role in your dental health, what foods and drinks are good or bad for your mouth, why you should limit your sugary food intake to just mealtimes and more.

The Importance of a Healthy Diet

Some foods and drinks contain more sugar than others. Whenever you ingest sugary items, they begin attacking your teeth, due to the sugar in the item reacting with the bacteria in the plaque on your teeth. This reaction produces acids, which begins damaging your teeth, destroying the enamel, which can eventually cause a cavity in your teeth. This process is called decay, and can eventually lead to needing fillings or extractions. You can help prevent the risk of tooth decay by limiting your sugar intake to only mealtimes.

Your diet can also help you with other oral problems. Gum disease is a problem that is caused due to poor dental hygiene. It occurs when plaque has built up after a long time, causing it to harden into a substance called tartar, which can’t be cleaned via normal brushing. The build-up of plaque and tartar can cause inflammation of the gums, leading to gum disease. You can help prevent gum disease with your diet. By eating items containing lots of vitamins and minerals, and things such as fruit or vegetables, you can help your body against gum disease. Without treatment, gum disease can cause bad breath, and eventually tooth loss.

If you ever do need an extraction or lose your teeth, there are treatments available that can restore your smile. Have a look at some of Midlands Smile Centres treatments, such as Dental Implants, Bridges, Crowns or Dentures.

So What Can I Eat?

It’s important to know what items can cause decay to your teeth. You should always read the label on your food and drink, so you know exactly what you’re putting into your body. All sugars can cause decay, so it’s important to choose items with a smaller amount of sugar if you are able. Another important note, is that the phrase ‘No-added sugar’ does not mean it is sugar free. For example, fruit juice with no-added sugar, will still have the sugar from the fruit.

Snacking is a habit that is easy to fall into, but it can actually be very bad for your dental health. You should try and have 3 regular meals a day, and limit your snacking in between these meals as much as possible. If you do snack between meals, try and eat food that doesn't contain sugar. Savoury snacks such as cheese, nuts and breadsticks are generally better than most other snack food, including fruit.

One of the main points to remember in regards to your dental health is to limit your sugar intake to mealtimes. This allows your body to properly combat the sugar with the saliva that is produced when you eat. Multiple sugary snacks a day reduce the effectiveness of your saliva. It’s important to realise, that sugary foods can also cause other health problems, such as heart disease and obesity.

Your fluid intake is very important for your dental health. Keeping yourself hydrated keeps saliva levels high, reducing the risk of damage to your teeth due to sugar. The best drinks for your mouth are still water and milk. Fruit juice should be limited to mealtimes, as this does contain sugar. If you are going to have fruit juice in-between meals, try diluting it with water. Fizzy drinks can cause a lot of dental problems. The sugar can cause tooth decay, and the acid in the drink can dissolve the enamel on your teeth. These risks increase if you have your fizzy drink between meals.

Other Ways to Protect Your Mouth

Brushing your teeth twice a day is by far one of the best ways to protect your mouth. However, you should avoid brushing your teeth for at least half an hour after you've eaten, otherwise you could brush away the softened enamel on your teeth. If you only have time to brush your teeth once a day, try and brush your teeth before bed. At night, your flow of saliva slows down, meaning your teeth become vulnerable. Brushing your teeth before bed protects them during the night.

After you've eaten, you could try sugar free chewing gum. This can help cancel out the acid in your mouth after eating or drinking. However, it is important to make sure you use sugar free gum, as otherwise it could cause more damage to your teeth. It’s been proven that sugar free chewing gum can help prevent tooth decay.

Keep Your Smile Bright

If you have any questions or concerns about your dental health, or you're looking to brighten your smile, please contact your local Midlands Smile Centres branch, and book a check-up. 

Ten Ways to Improve Your Smile

People who smile are perceived as more youthful and attractive. Many people also know the importance of good dental health, which impacts on many other parts of physical health. Here we have listed 10 ways that you can improve your smile, and your dental health:

1.     Brush Twice a Day

We all know we should, but many people don't. Sometime its tiredness, sometimes forgetfulness and other times we can't be bothered. Whatever the reason, only 3 in 4 adults brush their teeth twice a day. There is no easier and more effective way to keep your teeth looking good than good old brushing. So if you’re not brushing, now is always a good time to start.

2.     Chew Sugarless Gum

Chewing sugarless gum after every meal is a great way to lower oral acid levels! It helps the mouth produce more saliva to combat the acid produced whilst eating. The best part is that sugarless gum is easy, cheap and effective!

3.     Floss and use an Interdental Brush

You can help break down the build-up of plaque and prevent gum disease by flossing and using interdental brushes. These remove food and plaque from between your teeth that is missed during regular brushing.

4.     Mouth Wash

You can find two type of mouth wash: one that strengthens your enamel, and one that kills bacteria. Bad breath is caused by bacteria, so using a bacteria killing mouth wash can help reduce bad breath, and can help you feel fresher.

5.     See a Hygienist

Dental hygienists can help you with correct home dental care and can show you how to keep healthy teeth. They can also perform a scale and polish to remove plaque and tartar.

6.     Quit Smoking

Smoking can be very bad for your oral hygiene. It can cause gum disease and teeth loss, and in more severe cases it can cause mouth cancer. Quitting smoking can improve your oral health significantly.

7.     Careful Diet

Certain drinks can be bad for your teeth, therefore it is good for your dental hygiene to reduce the intake of things such as coffee, tea and red wine which stains your teeth.

Drinking plenty of water is not only good for your general health, it’s also good for your dental health. Drinking water keeps the amount of saliva in your mouth high, which helps to defend your mouth against tooth decay.

8.     Cosmetics

Cosmetic enhancers such as lipstick and fake tan can actually do more to improve the brightness of your smile than using off-the-shelf tooth whitening toothpaste.

9.     Tooth Whitening

You can majorly improve your smile by having tooth whitening done. This involves bleaching your teeth, which makes them lighter. This should only be performed by a dentist or regulated dental professional. We do not recommend using home whitening kits before talking to your dentist.

Other services that Midlands Smile Centres offers to improve your smile include dental implants, bridges and dentures.

10. Visit the dentist

The most important way you can improve your dental health and smile is by making regular visits to your dentist. Your dentist can help prevent small issues from becoming any more serious, and can advise you on the best ways to help both your oral hygiene and your smile.

Find a local Midlands Smile Centres' Birmingham dental practice here.