PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
July 18th 2015
Great dental news for all of us in Turks and Caicos! Some research recently published in the journal of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (UK) has reinforced previous studies in the connection between a lack of sunlight and gum disease. Approximately one billion people globally are estimated to be vitamin D deficient but due to our glorious weather here in TCI we have no excuse not to be getting our full dose.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
July 4th 2015
I’ve been asked by several patients about the practice of ‘Oil Pulling’. ‘Is it effective?’ ‘Do I recommend it?’ ‘Is it better or worse than a regular mouth wash?’ I thought this week I would use my column to consider the pros and cons of oil pulling and try and solve some of the mystery and myths surrounding it.
What is Oil Pulling?
It actually dates back thousands of years and is based in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian system. It involves rinsing or ‘swishing’ oil- typically coconut, sesame or sunflower- around the mouth and teeth for up to 20 minutes before spitting it out with the view being that it removes bacterita and promotes a healthier mouth.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
June 6th 201
Can good dental care save money? The short answer is yes! According to some estimates, regular preventive dental care can reduce overall treatment costs by as much as 10 times! Good oral hygiene and dental care, which includes daily brushing and flossing, and regular checkups at the dentist, means less dental problems (and pain!), less chance of losing your natural teeth and over a lifetime can quite significantly reduce the money you spend on your teeth. Additionally, good oral hygiene is proven to help in the prevention of some systemic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease thereby helping maintain good general health and potentially save you money on your general healthcare costs too.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
May 23rd 2015
Dental pain can be caused by a number of different factors including decay, gum disease, abscesses or trauma. As an immediate measure I would recommend an over-the-counter painkiller and then a visit to the dentist as soon as you can to determine the exact cause of the pain after which the correct treatment can be carried out and the pain relieved.
Toothache is one of the most common causes of dental pain. It can be from a live tooth or one that is dead or dying; in each scenario the cause may be different.
If the toothache is a sudden, acute pain caused by hot or cold temperatures then is likely that the tooth is still vital (live). It is probably the case that there is an area of new decay which has reached through to the dentine inside the tooth and is causing the temperature sensitivity and the pain. This can also occur if decay has occurred under an existing restoration- a crown, bridge or a filling. Even if a tooth is already filled or crowned there is still the chance of further decay- and therefore the potential for toothache- if the teeth are not cared for and a good oral hygiene regime followed. In all of these cases it is likely that a filling or some other type of restoration is required.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
May 9th 2015
When a dentist examines your mouth, they learn a lot about the health of your teeth, gums and other areas of the mouth just by looking. However, what a visual examination does not reveal is what is happening under the gums. Dental X-rays (or radiographs) are able to reveal what is happening inside and between the teeth, and within the bone and so provide the dentist with a fuller picture to faciliate an accurate diagnosis.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY
April 25th 2015
For people living with diabetes, high blood sugar can take a toll on your entire body- including your teeth and gums. Added to this, gum problems can be more common than for other people and the consequences can be potentially worse. The good news is that prevention is in your hands and it does not have to be complicated, significantly different to that followed by a non-diabetes sufferer or expensive.
PRINTED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
April 11th 2015
You may have heard this word used by your dentist or in relation to oral health, but what actually is gingivitis?
Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums (gingiva) and is the most common and mild form of oral disease. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, approximately 15% of adults 21- 50 years old, and 30% of adults over 50 have gum disease. It is characterized by inflammation and bleeding of the gums.
If teeth are not regularly and adequately brushed, plaque is left to build-up on the teeth. This is the soft, sticky, white film that forms on the teeth when starches and sugars react with the bacteria that is naturally present in the mouth. Plaque buildup occurs between the teeth and gums, around faulty fillings, and near poorly cleaned partial dentures, bridges, and braces. If not removed within 72 hours, plaque will harden into calculus or tartar that cannot be removed by brushing or floss.
PUBLISHEDED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
28th March 2015
Good all-round health is vital for a mother to produce a healthy baby and this most definitely extends to the health of the mother’s mouth. The mouth is an obvious portal of entry to the body, and oral health reflects and influences general health and well being. Several studies have proven that maternal oral health has significant implications for birth outcomes and infant oral health.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY NEWS
14th March 2015
With my wife and middle son having just returned from a trip to Rome, Italy, I thought this was an interesting and fun piece of research to report on. According to a study of skulls at the Natural History Museum led by a King’s College London periodontist, the Roman-British population from c. 200-400 AD (so not far off 2000 years ago!) appears to have had far less gum disease than we have today. The surprise findings provide further evidence that modern habits – particularly smoking- can be damaging to oral health.
PUBLISHED IN TCI WEEKLY
28th February 2015
Having watched the Academy Awards last night, do you ever wonder how the actors and actresses achieve such beautiful and perfect smiles? I can guarantee that the vast majority will not have been blessed with naturally straight, white, even teeth and will have had various types of treatment to achieve these gorgeous smiles. Below I have outlined a few of the more common treatments that are available to help you create that Oscar-winning smile!