BETR Blog and Podcast

We reported on a news article which speculated that dental Xrays can lead to tumours some time ago, and of course that news has got plenty of people worried.

Several researchers have come out this week to criticise that research, saying that the data that was used to reach the conclusion was highly flawed. They say that there absolutely no cause and effect link was actually established by the study, and its only effect was to frighten the public needlessly.

One of the biggest problems with the data is the way that it was collected. Instead of examining actual dental records, they simply placed phone calls to patients with tumours and asked them to recall how many dental Xrays that they had been given. On the face of it, this does seem to be a pretty irresponsible way to the collect the data for a study that draws such a startling conclusion.

The link between poor oral health and heart disease has long been speculated, but it’s easy to get confused with all the different views, opinons and information flying around. There is all sorts of contradictory advice out there about this link; some people say that poor oral health does have a link to heart disease, and some say not.

It seems the the American Heart Association has now conducted an extensive review of the literature currently available on the subject, and have concluded that there is indeed a link.

Whether or not there is a link is, of course, something we’re interested in. However, simply following recommended oral health practices make it a moot point. If you’re maintaining excellent oral health, then you simply don’t need to worry about this link, whether it’s real or not! Simply brushing for two minutes twice a day, flossing, using a fluoridated mouthwash, and making a trip the dentist every 6 months will ensure that your teeth are spick and span!

You think that dress sense, good looks and wit would be top of the list when it comes to what people look for in potential partners. However, a recent study has found that straight teeth are a lot more important that you might think!

In fact, 29% of Americans said that the teeth are the very first that they notice when meeting someone for the first time. Those with straight teeth are over 50% more likely to get a date than those with crooked teeth!

Dental care is essential, but at the same time rather expensive. In these times of austerity, care of the teeth is getting buried at the bottom of lots of people’s budgets. In fact, the number of people who are putting off dental treatment until severe problems and pain drive them to the hospital emergency room is on the rise. It doesn’t have to be this way though, the basic tools you need to take care of your teeth cost around £5 a month.

In Santa Barbara, people in need of dental assistance have been given access to a free clinic. It’s a great idea, and one that would be very welcome over here in the UK! The days when finding an NHS dentist was easy are long gone!

Tears at tooth brushing time – it’s a common problem, and one that most parents are sure to have experienced at one point or another. I just came across this thread on Mumsnet discussing the problem. Lots of great tips to help out!

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/behaviour_development/a1454668-Toddler-wont-brush-his-teeth

One of the things that people constantly complain about is the amount of marketing hype and bluster surrounding electric toothbrushes. There are so many different models, features, and gimmicks to choose from that it can be really hard to shop for a new toothbrush!

One question that we commonly get asked is: what is the difference between an normal electric toothbrush and a sonic electric toothbrush?

Sonic electric toothbrushes were first introduced to the world some time ago now. The premise with these brushes was they simply brush really, really fast! The idea was that these high speeds would cause the saliva surrounding your teeth could be whipped up and whooshed around and in-between them. Since plaque and food particles linger in the nooks and crannies between your teeth (where toothbrush heads can’t go), the saliva is intended to deal with these.

So, the main difference between a sonic brush and a normal electric toothbrush is speed.

Does it work? It depends who you listen to! Of course, manufacturers say that the sonic brush has been shown to remove a huge amount more plaque bacteria, however no independent studies have confirmed this.

Having said that, you don’t actually need to worry about whether to buy a sonic brush or a normal electric one! The fact is that the vast majority of toothbrushes on the market today are high speed, delivering over 30,000 brush strokes per minute. This means that almost all electric toothbrushes are now sonic brushes, whether they are advertised as such or not.

Bleeding gums while brushing is a lot more common than you might think, but pinpointing the exact cause of the problem on your own is difficult. This is simply because there are so many things that can cause it to happen that it’s almost impossible for anyone but a dentist to zero in on the reason it’s happening.

Possible causes include:
• Poor oral hygiene routines
• Inconsistent brushing and flossing
• Lack of professional cleaning by a dental hygienist (should be done every 6 months)
• Diseases such as diabetes or cancer
• Some medications such as medication for high blood pressure
• Caps, crowns or fillings that are not well fit and trap bacteria
• Misalignment or overcrowded teeth
• Periodontal infections
• Fractured tooth

What Should I Do?

First of all, let’s take a look at your brush. Is it old or too harsh?

If you haven’t already, try using a soft bristled toothbrush. If your brush is old and worn (with bristles sticking out at all angles), throw it away and get a new one.

Next, make sure that you’re brushing twice a day and for two minutes each time. You should also floss once a day, before brushing.

Bleeding gums, whatever the root cause, almost always have something to do with food and plaque bacteria causing problems so getting into the recommended oral hygiene routines in order to remove it is absolutely essential.

Visit Your Dentist

None of particularly enjoy a visit to the dentist, but if your gums have been bleeding on a regular basis and you see no improvement in the situation, then you must make an appointment. Only the dentist that find the cause of the problem and give you advice on how to overcome it.

In all likelihood, there won’t be anything serious wrong, but if there is a problem then the longer you leave it, the worse it will get. So get on the phone and make an appointment, and you’ll soon have your bleeding gums whipped into shape!

Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/dental-health-specialist/bleeding-gums.aspx

These days, most dentists now recommend an electric toothbrush for brushing. However, with so many different models on shop shelves it can be difficult to know which is the best to buy. That’s before you’ve started taking in all the marketing bluster, which makes things even more confusing!

We’re here to cut through all that confusion, and direct you straight to the worthwhile models. So which is the best electric toothbrush? There’s no single answer to that question, it depends on your goals.

For Removing Plaque, You Can’t Beat Oral B

If you’re simply looking for the best all-round dental hygiene, this means removing as much plaque as possible. Not all brushes are created equal when it comes to removing plaque though.

A recent study at a British university showed that toothbrushes that rotate offer superior plaque removal to those that don’t, getting rid of 10% more plaque. If you want this added boost, you’ll need to go for an Oral B toothbrush. Their toothbrushes are to only ones around that provide the necessary rotating motion; just look out for their “3D Cleaning” logo on the box.

So, which model to to go for? It depends how much you have to spend.

The best of the best is the Triumph 5000 model. As well as that all important rotating action, this brush comes with a unique wireless SmartGuide. This is a little LCD display which wirelessly connects to your toothbrush whilst you’re brushing, and gives you dentist-inspired feedback on how you can improve your brushing!

All that technology comes at a price though, so if you’re looking for something more affordable you might want to take a look at the Professional Care 1000 model. This simple workhorse brush is available for around £30, and contains the exact same brushing technology as the 5000. This means you’re getting the same great brushing that the best toothbrush on the market will give you, but at a fraction of the price!

If It’s Whitening You Want, Sonicare Is The Way To Go

Oral B brushes might have a slight edge when it comes to general oral hygiene, but Sonicare brushes are generally better at removing stains. So if whitening is what you’re looking for, then a Sonicare is the way to go. People who enjoy a glass of red wine or a cup of coffee should look no further!

The top of line brush in the Sonicare range is the DiamondClean.

There are several things that make this brush special. First off all, the bristles on its brush head have a special diamond shape. This means that 30% more bristles can be squeezed onto the brush head, and this is only going to make the sonic action more efficient at getting rid of stains.

Another cool feature of the DiamondClean, is its charger. It doesn’t come with one of those ugly plastic boxes that were used to charging our toothbrushes on. It comes with an elegant glass cup! Simply toss your brush into the cup when you’re done, and the contactless technology will charge it up through the glass!

Again, these features mean that this top of the line brush isn’t particularly cheap. If you want to whiten your teeth without breaking the bank, then the Sonicare HX6731 HealthyWhite Deluxe could be for you. This brush packs a punch of 33,000 brush strokes per minute, and is available for around £50 to £60 online.

The one thing to bear in mind with Sonicare, is that their brushes don’t have that rotating action that we talked about earlier. That means that, whilst they remove as much plaque as a manual brush, an Oral B brush removes 10% more.

It’s Not All About The Brush, It’s How You Use It Too

Whichever electric toothbrush you go for, just remember one thing. Even the best electric toothbrush in the world isn’t going to perform miracles! Even if you’re using the all-singing-all-dancing top-of-the-line Triumph 5000, you still need to brush twice a day, and for two minutes each time!

Show me somebody who actually enjoys visiting the dentist, and I’ll show you a liar! Let’s face it, the dentists’ chair might look comfortable, but it’s certainly not a walk in the park sitting in it. However, for some people, visiting the dentist is one of their biggest fears.

It’s not an uncommon fear either. The Worcestershire News say that, in their area, around 12% of people suffer with dental phobia. As you can see, if you have a fear of the dentist, you’re far from alone. But what can you do about it?

Your first port of call should be Dental Fear Central. This is a not-for-profit online community of people giving and seeking advice about dental phobia. There is a bumper amount of information about dental fear and how to overcome it on their site, as well as an active forum where you can chat with other people who’ve been in a similar situation.

One of the most important things to do if you’re scared of dental work, is to find a dentist that you feel comfortable with. As we’ve seen, dental phobia is so common that every dentist will have treated a person who suffers with it.

Dental Fear Central has a great page of dos and don’ts when it comes to finding a dentist.

One of the best things to do is ask around. Talk to friends and family, or drop by the Dental Fear Central forum and see if anyone with similar fears can recommend a good dentist in your area.

When you’ve found your dentist, there are all sorts of things that you can do to make your visit less stressful.

• Talk the visit over with your dentist beforehand. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect and the dentist will know what things make you uncomfortable.
• Relaxing music played through an iPod or mp3 player is a great distraction which a lot of people have found effective.
• Organise a signal with your dentist before starting. That way you can signal to them to ask them to stop and leave your personal space when you feel too uncomfortable.

I recently read an article (ok, I’ll admit it was a gossip column) which said that Martha Stewart’s recent Tweets were done on a smartphone at the dentist. It occurred to me that in our always connected work, support is always close at hand. You could easily arrange to have a friend or family member at the other end of the phone while you’re waiting for your appointment, or monitoring Twitter or Facebook. All support is good support!

These are just a few of the things that you can do to help yourself cope with your fear of the dentist. It might be a gradual process, but it’s something that you can overcome with help, support and advice from others. Why not head over to Dental Fear Central right now, and have a look at the great advice there. Perhaps have a first browse of the forum there too to see what people are talking about. You can do it!

Nobody likes being ill, and when we’re better our toothbrushes are probably the last thing on our minds. Of course, getting out the house and having some fun (or getting some work done) are going to take priority once you’ve recovered from your illness. However, dentists recommend getting rid of the toothbrush that you were using whilst you were ill, and getting a brand new one.

The problem with toothbrushes is that they’re a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. When you’re ill, all that nasty bacteria is going to find its way onto your toothbrush when you brush your teeth, and then multiply by the thousand within the bristles.

That means every time your brush your teeth, you’re putting all that nasty bacteria (and more) back into your mouth where they can harm your health, and your teeth.

Yes, you could sterilise your brush in order to get rid of the bacteria, but since the cost of a new toothbrush is minimal it’s probably not worth the bother. Simply throw out that brush, and get yourself a brand new squeaky-clean one.