Dental News

Christmas is a time when normal eating habits go straight out of the window. Nobody will bat an eyelid at cracking open a bottle of Prosecco first thing in the morning or even think twice about having a mince pie for breakfast. In fact, Christmas is such a joyous occasion that people are even prepared to eat Brussel sprouts (eurgh!)

However – and I’m sure hundreds of thousands of people across Stoke-on-Trent will agree with me here – one of the best parts of Christmas is digging into your stocking and tucking in to your sweets and selection boxes throughout the day. My mouth is just salivating at the prospect of breaking open that delicious bar of milk chocolate!

Yes, as Andy Williams famously sang, It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. Children will have smiles on their faces wider than the River Mersey as they frantically unwrap their gifts from Santa and revel in the chance to devour a Fredo before 10am. It’s a chance to meet up with family and friends and lavish loved ones with gifts and treats.

Our message is clear. Have fun and be merry but, here comes The Grinch from Grosvenor Dental Practice, please do not go overboard with the sweets.

A recent report found nearly a quarter of children are starting school with rotten teeth. Worse than that, a record 42,911 children under the age of 18 had to have multiple teeth removed by NHS surgeons – a figure which has been steadily rising over the past five years.

This is a shocking statistic because tooth decay is totally preventable. As a nation we have access to a range of efficient toothpastes and effective toothbrushes. We also have the knowledge of what is good and what is bad for our dental health. Plus it only takes two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night to keep your child’s teeth nice and clean.

Poor dental hygiene can have a huge impact on the early foundations of a child’s life, affecting their confidence, their ability to eat, play and communicate properly.

Eating too many sweets and drinking far too much fizzy drinks have been blamed for the alarming rise in child tooth decay. The Government hopes to combat this with the recent introduction of the sugar tax as child tooth decay is costing the NHS more than £36 million a year in removing severely damaged teeth.

Unfortunately it looks as though children are following in the footsteps of their parents. A recent poll found a third of adults don’t brush their teeth twice a day and 37% never floss. More alarmingly is the two per cent who claim to never brush their teeth at all!

We don’t want to be party poopers, after all everything is ok in moderation. But if you are going to treat your little ones to a mountain of sweets this Christmas please make sure they brush their teeth properly twice a day.

We understand that brushing teeth doesn’t come close to playing with the latest must-have toy or watching PJ Masks, but, done regularly, brushing teeth will ensure you have a healthy mouth and gums for years to come.

If your child does find brushing their teeth boring, we recommend downloading the FREE Aquafresh Brush Time app >> https://goo.gl/LEprzP << Captain Aquafresh and his friends show kids how to brush their teeth correctly in a fun and friendly fashion. Children can create their own brush time session, selecting their own characters, sceneries and songs, with more unlocked the more you use it.

So we wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope to see you in the New Year with you and your children’s pearly whites all intact!

Did you know 8,300 Brits were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year? That’s an astonishing rise of 50 per cent compared to a decade ago. But what’s even more alarming is the severe lack of awareness most adults have regarding the disease.

A recent survey found eight out of 10 adults didn’t know where mouth cancer appears and three quarters revealed they didn’t even know what the symptoms were.

The startling revelations have been released to coincide with November’s Mouth Cancer Action Month, which aims to shine a light on the condition and educate people on the subject.

Mouth cancer has traditionally been associated with older men who had a history of heavy drinking and smoking. But the disease is now becoming more prevalent among women thanks to the ladette culture of the 90s and more and more people in their 30s and 40s are now developing the disease.

Cheap booze and chain smoking may be the most prevalent causes of mouth cancer but the explosion of social sites like Tinder, which make it easier for people to hook up for sex, and poor diets have also been linked to the alarming rise in cases.

What are the symptoms of mouth cancer?

There are numerous symptoms of mouth cancer to look out for. These include:

A change in your speech, such as a lisp

Red or white patches on the lining of the mouth or on the tongue

Mouth ulcers that refuse to heal within a reasonable time frame

Unexplained lumps that fail to disappear

Lumps in the neck

Pain with your jaw

Loose teeth

Difficulty or painful chewing

If you experience any of those symptoms it is crucial that you visit your dentist immediately. If detected early, relatively minor surgery can be used to extract the cancer which has a very high rate of success. Even in advanced stages there is a 50 per cent survival rate thanks to the vast improvements in surgery and medication.

Dr Nigel Carter, the chief executive of the Oral Health Foundation, said he was shocked to hear of the survey’s findings.

“It is extremely concerning to see the lack of basic knowledge about the disease, especially as it continues to affect more people every year.

“For so long mouth cancer seems to have gone under the radar. It is now time for us to take notice and learn what we need to, so we can help protect ourselves and others around us.

“It is so important to understand what is most likely to put us at risk, how we can spot mouth cancer and where we can go if we see anything out of the ordinary.”

Dr Catherine Rutland, head of professional support services at Simplyhealth Professionals, added that regular dental visits were crucial to spotting the signs early.

“It is important to know how and where mouth cancer can appear and to be alert to any changes in and around the mouth. Regular dental visits remain crucial to spotting mouth cancer early, as your dentist will examine you for mouth cancer during every routine appointment. However, being vigilant in between appointments and checking your own mouth will also help to find any early signs and symptoms.

“Mouth cancer is beatable, but we have to act quickly. An early diagnosis is vital and can not only save a life but can also improve quality of life.”

If you have any symptoms, want to speak to us about dental hygiene, oral surgery or are concerned about mouth cancer, call us today on 01782 848708.

Why You Should Avoid Charcoal Toothpaste At All Costs

Charcoal toothpaste is the latest fad that everyone is being led to believe will give them the dazzling white teeth they have always craved.

Well, I’m sorry to break it to you but using charcoal toothpaste to brush your teeth is one of the worst things you can ever do.

Don’t get me wrong, charcoal toothpaste will give you the whiteness you’ve always wanted, but it will come at a damaging cost by totally scrubbing off the top layer of your enamel.

So while you will have clean, white teeth, they will ultimately be thinner and weaker and more likely to develop cavities or even break than if you used traditional toothpaste.

Although your enamel is incredibly tough, it has been found that excessive force while simply brushing your teeth can eventually erode it. If you are one of those types of people then throwing charcoal toothpaste in the melting pot could be immensely dangerous.

You see most charcoal toothpaste doesn’t even contain fluoride, which is essential for teeth especially in areas like Stoke-on-Trent and Glasgow where the water companies do not include fluoride in the water.

Charcoal does in fact have many health benefits. It can help delay the effects of premature ageing. It can also be used to reduce the swelling from insects and eradicate oily skin. Just do not put it in your mouth!

It just goes to show how desperate we are as a society to look good. It also demonstrates exactly how much influence social media and marketing managers have over us.

The health and beauty industry has been rife with dietary fads and beauty “tips” for years as they know people will do anything to look slimmer, stay younger and reinvigorate their skin. Unfortunately, these campaigns are playing on our emotions and making us believe that they have found the miracle cure. In reality all they have done is tap into your psyche and convince you to part with your money.

People have died from taking unlicensed slimming pills they have bought on the internet due to the power of the words and images firms have used to market these products. We have also seen celebrities with huge influence on their social media following endorsing beauty products that have turned out to have no or very little value.

Teenagers especially nowadays are more likely to be influenced by what they see on social media and the internet than the traditional and regulated Press. And because they are more likely to be swayed by impressive before and after pictures and video testimonials of happy customers, they are more likely to believe that than actually reading the cold hard facts from the professionals for themselves.

So next time you are walking down the shopping aisle and need some new toothpaste, please do not be tempted to pick up a tube of charcoal toothpaste. Not only is it expensive, it will also do more damage than good to your pearly whites.

If you do want dazzling white teeth then please contact our professional team of dentists and hygienists today. We offer a professional teeth whitening service that will dazzle your friends, keep your teeth in tip top condition and which won’t break the bank. Call our team at Grosvenor Dental Practice on 01782 848708 today.

A few words from our new dentist Teddy Ruscheva

Hello, My name is Teodora, but everyone calls me Teddy. I graduated from the Medical University in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 2006. Since then I have passionately practiced the profession and I continuously update my skills and knowledge. I have a special interest in Cosmetic Dentistry and perfection is my main driving force. I listen to my patients’ needs and concerns and always give my best to achieve the most suitable outcome for everyone. My motto is “if there’s a will, there’s a way”. I have been practising in England for over seven years and have lived in Stoke-on-Trent for almost six years.

I am a communicative and open person. I like spending time with my family and friends. I have two girls (3 and 10) and they occupy most of my time at home. I like reading books, watching sports and outdoor activities.

Introducing our Treatment Coordinator

Do you want to make changes to your smile but not sure of your options?

We at Grosvenor dental practice want to give our patients the opportunity to understand all treatment options available to them. With this in mind we now have a Treatment Coordinator. The treatment coordinator, Louise, is available to discuss any treatment that you may wish to have or to go over any treatment that you are currently about to undergo.

All appointments with Louise are offered free of charge to all registered patients. We have a designated treatment coordination lounge where you can chat over coffee in a relaxed non-clinical environment.

Please ask at reception if you would like to book an appointment with Louise.

DIRECT HYGIENE

We are now able to offer appointments with our hygienist, Lisa, without the need to see a dentist first. This is ideal for anyone who would like an extra visit in between appointments to get that bright white smile for the Summer.