Month: September 2014

Tooth Decay in Young Children

The rise of sugary drinks and their effect on children’s teeth.

The rise in consumption of sports drinks has seen an increase in tooth decay in dental practices throughout the country.  Despite being sold as beneficial to health, most of these contain high quantities of sugar or derivatives.

Even those with less sugar contain high amounts of fruit extract which also contains sugars which, although natural, are still damaging to our teeth.

One of the most worrying rises in tooth decay though, has been in young children.

Drink Consumption

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Tooth Coloured Fillings – Not Just For Your Looks?

Aesthetically pleasing alternatives to amalgam fillings from your local Bristol dentist

We are all fortunate indeed if we manage to go through life without so much as a single filling. In fact, most of us will have had several fillings by the time we reach middle age.

The vast majority of these fillings will be of the amalgam variety, which, although offering a good level of strength, unfortunately are likely to detract from our appearance when we smile or laugh.

As well as the unappealing appearance of amalgam fillings though, a number of people have expressed concerns about potential health issues. This has been a debate that has been going on for a number of years, but it is generally recognised that, because amalgam fillings contain mercury, a highly toxic material, their use should be phased out over a period of time as suitable alternatives are found. However, it is only fair to add that currently, UK legislation still considers that amalgam fillings are safe to use, despite the growing concerns elsewhere.

Toxicity concerns

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Eight Ways to Damage Your Teeth

A quick list of things you should NOT do if you want strong and healthy teeth.

There are many lists on the internet of things to do to keep your teeth clean and healthy. Few of these though cover the things that a surprising amount of people do on a regular basis which make a large contribution to the poor health of their teeth.

Although some of these may appear light hearted; the fact is that the damage that can be done to your teeth by these things is certainly no laughing matter. Sadly, we have seen the result of some of these at our very own Bristol dental practice!

1. Neglect cleaning your teeth

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Staying Healthy with Good Oral Health Care

How the condition of your teeth and gums can also affect your overall health.

It is a little known fact that the quality of our oral health can also have a major effect on the rest of our body. Poor oral health can even lead to some fairly serious, and potentially life threatening problems.

Most of these problems are more likely to occur when gum disease is present. Although most of us brush our teeth; too many, unfortunately, do not do so for long enough or use a brush that is too worn to be fit for purpose. If your gums are red and sore or there is blood in your saliva when you clean your teeth, there is a strong possibility that you have gum disease and you should arrange to have this checked at our dental practice in Bristol as soon as possible.

Heart Problems

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