Did you know that 40% of all “Healthy” individuals suffer from headaches, facial and neck pain. Headache sufferers can be any age, from teens to seniors. The largest group of sufferers is women.

When individuals experience headaches, facial and neck pain, dentists generally aren’t the first professionals people think about. Headaches are a big problem for many people. Many treatments and medications are available for headaches too, just look at all the ads on TV.

But to treat a headache effectively it is best to know the cause of the headache in the first place. There are dental causes for headaches too. The types of headache dentists can help with are muscle strain or tension headaches, commonly felt in the morning, possibly with neck and jaw pain. This pain is caused by intense contractions of muscles around your jaws. These muscles even extend way up on both sides of your head (called the Temporalis muscles). Many people exhibit involuntary clenching and grinding of their teeth at night that can overload these muscles. This is a reflex action – feedback from the teeth causes even more clenching and pain. Dentists have traditionally fabricated a “nightguard”- an appliance that covers all the teeth on the upper or lower arch (similar to a sports mouthguard). It has a flat biting surface that lets the teeth slide so there is no grinding damage to teeth. But this will not stop the positive feedback cycle, the teeth can sense the jaws clenching, causing more clenching – a reflex remember?

So there is another type of appliance I have used successfully for pain relief called a ‘B Splint’. In short, it’s a nightguard that fits over either the upper or lower but the back teeth don’t touch and there is much reduced chewing muscle action. So these muscles are more relaxed and won’t be painful. And so the ‘B Splint’ may help eliminate the need for pain medication and solve your headache problem.

If you suffer frequently from headaches, facial or neck pain then be sure to mention it to your dentist at your next check up, alternatively get in touch to book a free mini consultation.

Tel- 0116 2891317   Email- info@smileessential.co.uk

Smile Essential is a founder member of the British Dental Association (BDA) Good Practice Scheme and has recently been awarded Gold Membership. We are honoured to be within an elite group of 200 practices nationwide to achieve Gold Membership. Our commitment to excellent patient care and compliant practice management has been audited and approved by the BDA.

Shrik Kotecha has worked as a dentist at the practice for almost 10 years and has seen the practice evolve and grow to ensure that on top of the national regulations and protocols that are expected to be followed by all Healthcare Dental Professionals – including the CQC Guidelines – Smile Essential always goes the extra mile by following the BDA’s Good Scheme Code of Practice.

One question that his Leicester dental patients often ask him when they come to see him at Smile Essential is ‘what does it mean for me?’ A very valid question which Shrik thought would be useful to include in our regular blogs.

Good Practice Scheme members are committed to supporting patients towards achieving and maintaining good oral health. Achieving the best possible outcomes for patients depends upon the skills and professionalism of the whole dental team. Here is a statement that sums up what Good Practice Scheme membership stands for:

1. We will work with you to provide care that meets your needs and wishes. We will explain what we are proposing to do and tell you about any significant risks. We will explain options and cost so that you can make an informed choice about your care and we keep all information about you confidential

2. We look after your general health and safety whilst you are receiving dental care by undertaking risk assessments and managing any potential hazards at our premises. Infection control and cleanliness is also essential for safety and we follow current guidelines on preventing cross infection

3. All our staff are given training in practice procedures, staff members responsibilities are clear and staff take part in continuing professional education to keep their skills and knowledge up to date

4. Our practice working methods are reviewed regularly and we ask patients for their views on our service in order to identify any opportunities for improvement.

1) Book regular appointments with your dentist – You’ll be surprised how many people in Leicester do not have regular dental check ups.

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that destroys the attachment fibres and supporting bone that hold your teeth in your mouth.  Left untreated this disease can lead to tooth loss.  The first signs of gum disease are reddened, swollen or bleeding gums caused by the build up of plaque and known as ‘gingivitis’.  This can be easily prevented by good oral hygiene at home and with the assistance of your dental hygienist. 

Are you at risk?

Some people are genetically predisposed to gum disease so it’s a good idea to check if either of your parents lost teeth as a result of gum disease.

 Smoking can hide the signs of gum disease as well as reduce the positive effects of any treatment. Not to mention all the other harmful effects not related to your gums!

 Stress has been shown to reduce resistance to gum disease meaning people can be susceptible at different times in their lives depending on their lifestyle.

However, regardless of your susceptibility, you and your dentist can keep gum disease in check with good oral hygiene at home combined with regular check ups and the appropriate treatment where necessary.

To book a consultation give one of our friendly team a call on 0116 2891317 or alternatively email info@smileessential.co.uk

Many people may conjure up horrible images when they hear the words root canal, especially if they have a phobia of going to the dentist, but root canal treatment is a very safe procedure that can save a tooth. Root canal treatment is used to treat teeth that are severely decayed or damaged as a result of an accident or injury.

The root canal procedure involves removing decayed pulp tissue from the tooth; the pulp contains all the living tissue in the tooth, including the nerves and blood vessels and if the pulp becomes severely decayed, the tooth effectively dies. Root canal treatment removes all the decayed tissue and cleans the tooth so that a new crown can be placed over the tooth, creating a natural looking tooth that functions in exactly the same way as an original tooth.

If a tooth is severely decayed or damaged and it is left untreated, there is a risk of an abscess developing and the bone surrounding the affected tooth may become damaged; the condition of the tooth can quickly disintegrate and it may have to be extracted, which will create a gap in the teeth. Gaps not only affect the aesthetic of the smile but they also have an effect on the individual’s ability to eat and speak clearly.

Root canal treatment may be a daunting prospect for people who are worried about injections, pain or generally going to the dentist; however, the procedure is carried out under anaesthetic and many dentists now offer specialist services for patients with dental phobia. In the vast majority of cases the rewards of the procedure far outweigh the risks and the treatment can prevent the tooth from being lost. Root canal treatment is usually carried out over two appointments.

The following steps will help prevent bleeding and relieve soreness after a dental extraction

 ON THE DAY OF TREATMENT

• Rest for a few hours, but you do not have to lie down.
• Strenuous exercise is best avoided for a few hours.
• Do not vigorously rinse the mouth for at least 24 hours.
• Avoid HOT fluids, alcohol, hard or chewy foods.  Choose cool drinks and minced or soft foods.
• Should the wound start to bleed, apply a small compress. This can be made from some cotton wool in a clean handkerchief.  Place this on the bleeding point and bite firmly on it for 5-10 minutes, longer if necessary.
• Any pain or soreness can be relieved by taking pain killers advised by your Dentist.
• If prolonged bleeding or pain occurs, contact your Dentist.
• Smoking is best avoided for 24 hours following treatment.

 ON THE DAY FOLLOWING TREATMENT

• It may be beneficial to use an antiseptic rinse or a warm salt water rinse to bathe the wound.  This may be carried out after each meal until healing is complete.  A salt water rinse is made by dissolving a level teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.  The solution should be held in the mouth for two to three minutes to bathe the wound and then discarded.
• Continuing mild pain can be treated by taking pain killers, but not containing any aspirin

 IF IN ANY DOUBT-CALL THE PRACTICE ON 0116 2891317

Brushing your teeth is by far and away the most important way of keeping them clean, healthy and free from decay. Effective brushing is the first line of defence against a whole series of nasty and unpleasant dental health concerns that could cause you a lot of pain, embarrassment and expense throughout your life.

Leicester dentists recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for three minutes. It is recommended to use a soft-bristled brush, unless told otherwise by your dentist for specific reasons, as they are the best at removing plaque and ultimately that is the number one aim of tooth brushing. Plaque is the sticky, filmy substance that coast teeth and releases acids which eventually break down enamel and cause cavities. If left untreated, dental cavities will worsen until the enamel is breached and the sensitive inner part of the tooth including the dental nerve is exposed to bacteria and infection. This can be very unpleasant and the source of severe pain and ultimately tooth loss.

When brushing it is important to angle the brush at 45 degrees to the gums so that they are also gently cleaned. This helps to keep plaque off the gums and prevent gum disease, the number one cause of tooth loss in the UK. Using a small-headed toothbrush is also recommended because it allows easier access to more parts of the mouth.

Although brushing is very important, it is also still a good idea to floss your teeth at least once a day as this helps to remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth. As well as this, it is also highly important to make sure you keep up six-monthly appointments with the dentist as even the most rigorous brushers can still be affected by decay and disease.

Of course they do, unless however your water has bubbles in it. Drinking sparkling mineral water is the same as drinking other non-sugar or diet fizzy drinks. While these drinks do not contain sugar they are acidic and can lead to acid erosion of the tooth surface which in turn can lead to sensitive teeth and excessive tooth surface loss.

If you can’t make the bubbles a complete thing of the past then…

• Drink them through a straw- the acid has less chance to attack the teeth
• Only have fizzy drinks occasionally- children especially should have not have fizzy drinks regularly
• Wait at least half an hour before brushing, to give your teeth a change to break down the acid.

 If your teeth are sensitive you should…

•  Tell your dentist! Acid erosion is not the only cause of sensitivity.
• Limit your intake of acidic drinks and food such as red wine, fizzy drinks, citrus fruits and fruit juices
• Use a desensitising toothpaste to brush your teeth

The dentists at Smile Essential advice that drinking plain (still) water is best!