The BBC reported yesterday that the government have recently released a TV advertising campaign promoting healthier eating habits throughout the UK. These adverts are due to be released later on in 2013.

Change4Life

These adverts are in conjunction with the Change4Life program which is an NHS initiative to stimulate a change in behaviour around food in order to help an increasingly unhealthy nation. The Change4Life website offers a free meal mixer app along with a recipe planner and meal find. They also talk about hidden sugar in foods and this is where we would like to pick up as it has a direct link with your oral health.

Were you aware that after you have consumed food which has sugar your teeth will decay for around 45 min afterward? Even if you brush your teeth afterwards it can take from six hours for your natural saliva to naturally repair any of his damage done. So what can you do?

Limit snacking between meals.

We strongly recommend that you limit, and possibly eliminate, snacking in between meals. When you snack between meals not only does this increase the chance of putting on weight, but it also subjects your teeth to this attack by any sugar more times in a day. If the only time you eat sugar is at mealtimes then the sugary attack on your teeth is limited to probably three times per day, if you snack two or three times between males then the attack on your teeth is actually increased many times over.

Naturally repairing decay in teeth.

Your natural saliva is quite capable of repairing the early signs of dental decay, and this natural repairing ability is enhanced and speeded up by the presence of fluoride. However the decay that can be naturally repaired is only very minor, if you can see holes or experience pain then the decay has gone too far for the saliva to repair naturally and you will need to see a dentist.

How much sugar is in drinks?

One of the big problems with many fizzy drinks is the amount of sugar that they contain. Quite often people drink fizzy drinks as it can fill them up and so they eat less, however the sugar content of these drinks can have a serious impact on your dental health.

Consider also the amount of time it takes to drink. If what we said earlier about the attack on teeth lasting 45 min after we have finished eating is true, then this starts from the first moment you drink the fizzy drink. If it takes you half an hour to drink a can, then this sugary attack on your teeth is then increased to 75 min.

How to drink fizzy drinks.

One of the ways around this is to use a straw. Whilst this doesn’t prevent the dental problem arising it greatly reduces it as the drink is not washed all over your teeth as you drink from the can or glass. It is worth mentioning however that drinking through a straw doesn’t reduce the amount of calories that the drink contains!

Keeping your teeth clean.

Proper cleaning of your teeth will also help to keep this dental decay down. We recommend cleaning your teeth at least twice per day for 2 min each time focusing on each quadrant for 30 seconds as follows:

1. Clean your teeth in the upper right quadrant for 30 seconds
2. Clean your teeth in the upper left quadrant for 30 seconds
3. Clean your teeth in the lower right quadrant for 30 seconds
4. Clean your teeth in the lower left quadrant for 30 seconds

Remember that your teeth also have three sides that you are able to clean:

1. The tongue side
2. The cheek side
3. The biting surfaces

You should ensure that you focus your brushing technique on each of the four quadrants and on each of the three sides to those teeth.

What type of toothbrush do we recommend?

Whilst it is perfectly possible to clean your teeth adequately using a conventional tooth brush most dentists now recommend the use of an electric toothbrush. These electric toothbrushes often have a built-in timer to ensure you brush with the correct amount of time, and a pressure sensor which ensures that your not pressing too hard and damaging the delicate gums around your teeth.

Our personal recommendation for the best electric toothbrush is the  Sonicare Tooth Brush.

What other implications does eating healthily have on your teeth?

It has recently been proved that there is a link between gum disease and heart disease, this is not necessarily a causal link however there is a link nonetheless. Your body works as a complete system and looking after it as a complete system is the best way to ensure that you have total bodily health which includes your mouth.

In this candid interview the actress Whoopi Goldberg talks about her experiences with gum disease, we do recommend you take a few moments to watch it as it is quite inspiring and motivating.

What are you going to do about all this?

Now that you know more about a healthy mouth, healthy life, healthy eating and the effects of sugar in your diet what are you going to do about it? It’s all very well reading a blog post and not taking action, however if you want to ensure that your mouth and body stay healthy you need to look seriously at your diet and ask yourself if you’re eating too much sugar and if you are, what you can do to reduce this.

Who are St James Dental Practice?

St James Dental Practice are a local dentist in East Grinstead, West Sussex. They provide a range of cosmetic dentistry options for the local people as well as a healthy mouth plan which is tailored to each patient to ensure that their teeth and overall health remain in perfect condition.

It didn’t seem to take too long for the winner of X factor 2012, James Arthur, to start talking about having a dental makeover. After doing a Google search we found many websites now reporting on the winners smile. In the Huffington Post James comments.

“If I get one comment saying I need my teeth sorted out, I can’t forget it. I might not look like the happiest guy but I just don’t smile because I’ve got s**t teeth!

“But I’m not going Joey Essex or Cowell, I just want them straightened and maybe whitened a bit.”

So even though his winning single ‘Impossible’ sold over 187,000 downloads during its first 24 hours on sale James Arthur is still concerned about having his teeth corrected. So we thought it would be a good idea to write a blog post about what his options could possibly be.

A possible smile makeover for James Arthur

As you can see from the image his 2 front teeth are crooked, especially the front tooth on the left as we look at the photograph. Probably the best solution for this could be to use some form of invisible orthodontics to move the teeth back into correct alignment.

The options

Another possibility could be to move a few of the teeth with orthodontics and then to use instant veneers on the teeth which are set back in order to build them out. Instant veneers are a great way to enhance a smile very quickly, and involve your dentist applying a composite tooth coloured material to your existing teeth. This is bonded with a special bonding agent to ensure that it adheres very well to your natural teeth. Instant veneers can have a tendency to stain with time, and so regular visits to the dentist to ensure they stay bright are recommended.

An alternative

An alternative to instant veneers are to use ceramic dental veneers. In James Arthur’s case a ceramic veneer on the tooth number two on the left hand side of the photograph as you look at it could be used to bring this tooth out into alignment.

One interesting thing to notice is if a tooth is set back, like this tooth is, notice how much darker it looks. This is often an effect of rotated teeth that the ones which are set back look slightly darker.

Another thing to notice on James’s teeth is the line of the gum. Generally speaking a more even smile will have all of the gum margins in line. It could be that which ever dentist James decides to visit may want to do a small amount of gum surgery to align the tops of the teeth.

…and finally

Of course without actually seeing James as a patient it is impossible to say exactly what treatment is required, this blog post is simply a discussion about the possibilities so that you can identify with some of the concerns that James might have about his teeth.

St James dental practice in East Grinstead, West Sussex wish James Arthur all the very best with both his career and dental makeover.

There are many times when people are looking on the Internet for information about dentists in the local area, perhaps you may be wanting to know which dentist is best, what a dentist can offer and perhaps find out more information about complaints at the dentist and who regulates the dental industry.

This article is dedicated to talking about the industry of dentistry and how, if you live in the West Sussex area, you can find the best dentist and no that you have the resources you need.

The General Dental Council

This is the first stop for most dental practices, all dentists in the UK must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) and it is the council’s remit to protect patients and regulate the dental team. Not only are all dentist registered with the GDC, but any dental health professional must also be registered. This includes dental hygienists, dental nurses dental technicians and therapists.

On the GDC website it is also possible to search for any specific dentist to gain more information about where they are registered and if they have any specialist interests within dentistry.

More information about the General Dental Council can be found here.

Information on NHS dentists in West Sussex.

At St James Practice in East Grinstead, West Sussex we do not offer NHS dentistry,  and all our patients pay a fee dependent upon the treatment which is required. We do however offer a plan which provides affordable and Private dentistry for you and your family.

More information about NHS dentists can be found here.

Information on various dental treatments

Generally speaking dentistry is broken down into a series of disciplines which look at oral health, gums, the roots of teeth, the moving of teeth, children’s dentistry and restoring teeth with crowns and bridges. However to the general public these categories may have some confusing elements to them, so here is our information on dental treatments and an easier way to think about them.

Crooked teeth.

Crooked teeth treatments fall into three primary categories

1. moving teeth with orthodontics
2. adding dental veneers to restore crooked teeth
3. adding tooth coloured composite bonding material to restore crooked teeth

Missing teeth.

Treatments for missing teeth again fall into three primary categories

1. dental bridges, which involve attaching the new false tooth to the healthy teeth either side
2. dental implants, which involves placing a new false tooth into the space
3. dentures, which provides a removable alternative to filling gaps between teeth

Mis-shapen or dark teeth.

Treatments for Miss shape and or dark take fall into a few categories

1. teeth whitening, this is useful if the truth is not misshapen in anyway and is simply too dark
2. dental veneers, these can be fitted over misshapen, dark and crooked teeth
3. dental bonding, in some cases it is possible to bond a composite material directly to the tooth surface in the dental practice

Looking after your teeth.

This is where the dentist works in unison with a dental hygienist to provide a health plan for your teeth and gums to ensure that you keep your teeth for life. As part of this you also benefit by keeping the cost of visiting the dentist as low as possible, always a good thing!

We hope you find our categorisation around the information for dental treatments a more useful way than talking about them in terms of their specialist interests, most people know the problems they have and simply want to know the best ways to solve them… Without getting into the technical details of which special interest this falls under.

St James Dental Practice is a full service dentist in East Grinstead, West Sussex with a keen interest in preventive and holistic treatments to enable you to maintain your oral health.

What exactly is oral cancer?

Oral cavity cancers is caused by an abnormal and also uncontrolled growth of tissues. This is a cancer growth that can happen in any kind of mouth from young to old. The Two most widespread symptoms of mouth cancer are usually:

• a n ulcer that won’t get better
• regular discomfort or pain with your oral cavity
Various other symptoms can include:
• white or red areas inside your mouth
• a new mass in your lip, throat or neck
• smelly breath
• unexplained hemorrhage within your mouth
• feeling numb with your mouth
• modifications in your voice – it appears husky as well as silent or else you may possibly slur what you are saying
• weight loss due to issues eating

Who’s most in danger from mouth cancer?

Risk Factors

What to do next

Cosmetic dentistry is usually used to reference any dentistry work that will improve the visual appeal (though not really the function) of an individuals teeth, gums and/or bite.

When ever you decide to go for cosmetic dentistry we recommend that you ask your dentist for testimonials and photographs of before and after treatment from patients that they have seen themselves. This will set your mind at rest that the dentist you are visiting is able to solve your particular dental problem.

There are a range of dental treatments and services which match the cosmetic dental work category, such as:

Porcelain Dental veneers

The procedure normally requires at least two visits. At the very first appointment, many of us shape your teeth as cautiously and minimally as possible as well as take the smallest amount off the tooth to be veneered. Hand made temporary or provisional veneers are next placed on your teeth whilst the dental technician makes the definitive veneers. This enables you to ‘trial’ your new smile so that you can see how your brand new smile will be you can also show your new smile to friends and family to gauge their feedback. If you want just about any changes with the shape or size at this time, we are able to make any adjustments so that you’re completely satisfied. The shape and design of the temporary or provisional veneers can then easily be transferred to the dental technician so that he can make the definitive or final veneers exactly the same way.

Teeth Whitening

Tooth bleaching  or whitening is not a modern day invention. Historic Romans, for example, applied urine and also goat milk like products to make and keep his or her teeth white – we don’t recommend you try this particular technique! In modern dentistry, you’ll be glad to hear, we use advanced bleaching agents which are carefully monitored to lighten your teeth to the required shade.

Tissue gum Reshaping

Gummy smiles can be easily fixed with a easy procedure referred to as cosmetic gum lifting or gum dental contouring. This is a surgical procedure and is great if the gum line in your smile is not even, gum tissue reshaping will restore this cemetery to your smile and mean that everything looks nice and even.

Porcelain Caps or Crowns

This modern day technique offers a metal-free choice, which can provide the strength of the metal bonded crown and the appearance of a metal free crown. So it is suitable for application in all areas in the mouth, especially the aesthetic zone at the front. Porcelain dental crowns are used to restore badly broken down teeth which have either been restored in the past or have been badly affected by decay, or possibly from a traumatic episode.

Cosmetic dentistry is also not always related to just one of these treatments. Frequently cosmetic dentistry involves the use of various dental remedies in order to achieve the last result. Very often a patient may have crooked teeth, these can then be sorted with orthodontics, lightened altogether with teeth whitening plus any teeth with an odd shape can be remedied with tooth veneers or a small amount of dental bonding.

Cosmetic dentistry’s popularity has tremendously increased recently due to television programs and also celebrities obtaining whiter smiles. Any dentist will always advice that you think extensively about having cosmetic dental work, as in a lot of situations once you decide to go ahead it is not very easy to undo what’s already been carried out.

St James Practice is a West Sussex dentist with a keen interest in cosmetic dentistry and helping the local people of East Grinstead look after their smile.

The treating of gum disease for the people of West Sussex

What are the signs of gum disease?

How to prevent gum disease.

What to do if you think you have gum disease.

Many people ask what is the difference between zoom teeth whitening and home tooth whitening, in this blog post we will explain the various teeth whitening options, how they differ and exactly how each of these methods compares.

Zoom tooth whitening.

Zoom whitening is one of the most modern forms of teeth whitening. It involves the application of a tooth whitening, or bleaching, gel to the surface of your teeth. We then apply a high intensity activation light which speeds up the whitening process. Zoom teeth whitening is always performed in a dental practice under the guidance of a dentist.

Zoom tooth whitening advantages.

• Rapid teeth whitening procedure.
• An amazing white result.
• Convenience allowing you to book appointments in a lunch break.
• Emergency whitening, perhaps for an unexpected event.

Disadvantages of zoom tooth whitening.

• Slightly more difficult to regulate the exact colour, because the whitening happens so fast you are not able to stop the treatment once you have reached your preferred white tooth colour.

Home teeth whitening

This works on the same bleaching principle as the zoom whitening, but as the name suggests it is done in the comfort of your own home. The treatment involves the application of a bleaching gel to the inside of a close fitting clear plastic tray. This tray fits neatly over your teeth with a small space on the front into which you put the bleaching gel. You will need to wear the whitening trays for a period of days, normally for a few hours per day, depending upon the exact concentration of the bleaching gel your dentist uses.

Home teeth whitening advantages.

• An amazing white result.
• Convenience, allowing you to enjoy teeth whitening at your own time in your own home.
• Predictability, as your teeth whitening slowly you are able to stop once your teeth have reached the desired white colour.
• Typically less expensive than zoom tooth whitening.
• If your teeth become sensitive, then you can instantly stop treatment at a time that is right and convenient for you.

Disadvantages of home teeth whitening.

• It is not as rapid as zoom whitening, and so needs more planning.
• You need to wear the whitening trays over a period of days, if you have a busy life this can be more inconvenient.

Our local dental practice in East Grinstead offers a range of dental treatments to complement the standard home teeth whitening procedures. Teeth whitening should always be undertaken by a trained dental health professional to ensure that your oral health is maintained and that adequate cross infection controls are performed.

Bleeding gums are a fairly common problem and have many contributory factors  which include:

1. Genetics.
2. Your overall health.
3. Your diet.
4. Smoking habits.

If your gums bleed when you brush floss then this is a sign that you have gum disease, it is also a sign that it is time to visit your dentist!

What happens if bleeding gums are left untreated?

If gum disease and bleeding gums are left untreated then the situation can get worse and the inflammation can turn into periodontal disease. This is far worse than gum disease and may mean that your bone around the tooth resorts resulting in loose teeth and ultimately lost teeth.

How to treat bleeding gums.

The first place to start is to look at treating your bleeding gums at home. If your overall health is poor then your ability to fight any infection may be lowered, also if you smoke then your mouth’s ability to heal is reduced, this can result in you becoming more susceptible to gum disease and bleeding gums.

Prevention is better than cure.

The best way to treat gum disease is to not get it in the first place. Bleeding gums are a result of an inflammation which is caused by a buildup of plaque or calculus at the tooth/gum border. This buildup irritates the gum which then becomes inflamed, if this is not noticed or treated then the gum disease progresses and your gums may start to bleed during flossing or brushing. The way to prevent this is to stop the buildup of plaque in the first place which is done by good oral hygiene and maintaining a healthy diet.

How can this East Grinstead dentist help?

St James dental practice can help by showing you the best way to keep your teeth clean by visiting our dental hygienist. A hygienist is specially trained as a dental health educator and this is the best way to avoid gum disease and bleeding gums.

To book an appointment with our dental hygienist please give us a call.

Cosmetic dentistry has grown over recent years and has become part of routine treatment in most dental practices. The range of treatments that are available within cosmetic dentistry is extensive and includes, but is not exclusive to:

1. Dental veneers.
2. Dental bonding, or instant veneers.
3. Dental ceramic and metal free crowns.
4. Teeth whitening.
5. White fillings.

Also, with the advent of TV programmes such as Extreme Makeover and the Swan, more and more people have become focused around the look of their teeth. This fascination with looking good has driven the cosmetic surgery industry and is now having a big impact upon the cosmetic dental practices too.

At St James practice in East Grinstead, West Sussex we don’t believe that cosmetic dentistry is a separate entity to regular dentistry. After all doesn’t every patient deserved to have a beautiful smile? Many practices considered cosmetic dentistry to be a separate part of what they do, the way we believe dentistry should be carried out is that everything we do should look beautiful and have a cosmetic element to it.

Always the most beautiful

So if a patient needs a filling then we would always opt to have the most beautiful looking feeling possible, in order to ensure that patients smile looks natural and happy. Why would any dentist want to put something into a patient’s mouth that was not cosmetic? Having said this, sometimes functionality is also extremely important, and in a few cases it is more important that what we do is functional rather than cosmetic-this is why we may sometimes use amalgam fillings, as they are the most functional choice even though they may not be the most cosmetic option.

Isn’t all dentistry, cosmetic dentistry?

Yes, this is absolutely our belief. Everything we do must look good and have a cosmetic consideration.

You will find that our practice is relaxing and an enjoyable place to visit for your cosmetic dental options. So if you are looking for a convenient cosmetic dentist in West Sussex all the East Grinstead area, then please do give St James practice call on (01342) 321094.

Having whiter teeth it is almost part of looking and feeling good today, similar to wearing nice jewellery and nice clothes. So many people have decided that whiter teeth would help them feel more confident in their lives, but how do they go about this, and where does Zoom tooth whitening fit in?

How does tooth whitening work?

Generally speaking teeth are whitened with a special bleaching gel, this special bleach is applied to the teeth and left in contact with the teeth for a number of hours, inside a special tray that has been custom-made to fit precisely over your teeth. This process takes a number of days to achieve the correct and desired white to colour. The bleach reacts with the surface of the tooth to remove the darker areas and lighten them, you may also find that your teeth are much smoother after they have been whitened and many of our patients comment that this is the case.

What is so special about zoom whitening?

Zoom tooth whitening works in exactly the same way as conventional whitening described above, however with the addition of a high powered light and some light sensitive ingredient within the bleaching gel it is possible to speed up this process. Zoom whitening therefore whitens teeth much faster than conventional home tooth whitening does. This means that it literally is possible to have your teeth whitened during your lunch break from work!

One of the reasons that many people like Zoom tooth whitening is the fact that they want white teeth for a special occasion, but forget to go to the dentist to have their teeth whitened insufficient time. The rapid whitening process that is possible with zoom allows these people to come to the dentist, and leave an hour later with whiter teeth… All ready for that special occasion!

Who can have Zoom teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is one of the few treatments within dentistry that is almost completely elective, this means that almost anyone can have their teeth whitened. So long as your teeth are fit and healthy then they can be whitened. The other thing to bear in mind is that teeth whitening only works on natural teeth, so if you have dental veneers, crowns, bridges or dental implants then these will not be affected by the whitening. This means that teeth whitening should be built into a full treatment plan for each patient, taking into account what the overall aim of whitening process is. If there are existing restorations, then it will be necessary to replace these as well… Thereby adding quite significantly to the teeth whitening cost.

The best way to find out if you are suitable for the Zoom teeth whitening in an hour process is to call the practice on (01342) 321094 and book in for a cosmetic consultation. St James dental practice is a cosmetic dentist working in the heart of West Sussex in the town of East Grinstead.