Patient Information

National Smile Month May 15th – June 15th 2011

A ‘smile’ has topped a poll of the most important physical features when it comes to attraction between men and women. A smile was rated highly by 56 per cent of respondents, closely followed by faces (53 per cent) and eyes (51 per cent). Dress sense, body shape, hair and height were also measured, with the latter bringing up the rear on 25 per cent. Interestingly, it was a non-physical attribute – personality – which was the clear winner of the survey. Ninety per cent of respondents rated this human attribute most important when it comes to attraction.The results have been published as part of the British Dental Health Foundation’s annual campaign – National Smile Month – now in its 35th year.

This year the theme is ‘The Smile Factor’, which aims to remind people that their mouth, teeth and smile is fundamental to all aspects of their life – whether career, personality, relationships, attraction or all-round good health. Despite the importance of smiles and teeth to everyday life, many people appear to have a poor image of the nation’s ‘Smile Factor’. The survey reveals that only 23 per cent believed that the nation had ‘good teeth’, and approaching half the population were not happy with their smile or teeth – stained or yellow teeth being the most common concern (37 per cent).

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said: “As a nation we probably spend more time and money looking after our hair and the clothes we wear, rather than caring for our teeth. The survey is a great reminder that we should be giving greater attention to our teeth – not just because it improves oral health – but because it gives us the confidence to smile, which makes a major difference to our relationships, careers and overall image.“During National Smile Month, we hope everyone will consider what they can do to improve their Smile Factor. Hundreds of dental practices across the UK will be supporting the campaign and it’s an excellent time to seek their help and advice.“It’s really important to get the basics right at home as well. We recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks, and visiting your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend. Adopting this good oral health regime can make a huge difference to a confident smile and many aspects of everyday life”, advised Dr Carter.

What to do following a dental extraction

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

Avoid costly dental treatment with regular check ups at Leicester Dentists

Looking after the health of your teeth is fundamental to avoiding dental problems occurring in the future. When it comes to the health of your teeth it really is prevention that plays the biggest part in keeping them healthy. As well as brushing and flossing as part of a complete and thorough home dental hygiene routine, it is also very important that you keep up regular six-month dental appointments with your dentist.

Leicester dentists recommend six-months as the maximum time you should go without having a check up. In some cases it will need to be shorter but your dentist will keep you fully informed. Six-months is the maximum time because this will give you the best chance of avoiding any dental problems that can arise. Even if you start to succumb to dental decay or gum disease, as long as you visit a dentist within six-months it will usually be enough time to catch the problem before it gets too serious. Treating decay and disease at their earliest stages will give you the best chance of beating the condition and avoiding the need for more serious, costly and painful dental treatment. It will also help to keep your teeth in the best condition possible.

There is also a more serious reason why check ups are important. With one in three adults in the UK suffering from cancer at some point it is crucial we do all we can to be aware of the disease. Oral cancer is a very nasty form of cancer that occurs on the soft tissue of the mouth. A dentist will carry out a thorough check for cancer as part of a routine check up which could just save your life.

Ten Reasons to Smile

At Smile Essential, we are mid-way through our series of special events at the practice as part of National Smile Month 2010 and wanted to share our 10 good reasons to smile with you.

We all know that it feels great to smile. We smile when we feel happy and are enjoying life, but did you know that smiling is actually good for our health?

There are so many reasons why smiling is good for us, so now we have another reason to smile. It is good for us! Here are some reasons to keep smiling today!

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away — but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don’t go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day — you’ll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It’s hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that “Life is Good!” Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

Please pass it on and tell all your friends

If you have found this blog helpful please pass it on to your friends, colleagues, schools and nurseries and help us help more people SMILE!

Dentist Lina Kotecha with some of her younger patients attending the practice during National smile Month 2010

Smile Essential gears up for Race for Life 2010

The team at Smile Essential are all gearing up to participate in the Race for Life on Sunday 13th June 2010 in Loughborough.  The charity is close to all our hearts and we are excited to be able to offer our support, to help Cancer Research UK carry on the amazing work they do.

Race for Life started in 1994 with just one event in Battersea Park in London and has gone from strength to strength. The 2009 series was the biggest yet with over 730,000 women taking part. This year on its 16th birthday, the charity hopes that thousands more women will come together to walk, jog or run the 5k course to help raise over £60 million to fund Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work into all types of cancer

Lina, Dawn, Adele, Donna, Emilia and Karen are all busy in training for the big race and some of the team have gone a step further by changing their diets and lifestyles to help with their general well-being not just for the race day.  “I’m so proud to be part of something so special and looking forwards to the big day.  It gives me a sense of personal achievement knowing that we are all going to be helping to fund raise for such a worthy cause and having lots of fun along the way!” commented Dawn Massey.

Please help us to help millions of people, affected by Cancer everyday, if you can help us however big or small the amount then please go online to www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/linakotecha or make a donation in person at the practice.

Look out for future blog posts to see all the highlights from the day.

 

1st Dental Practice in Leicester to achieve ‘Silver’ status

High standards of care at Smile Essential have been recognised by the British Dental Association BDA Good Practice Scheme. We have been a member of the scheme since 2003 and Smile Essential has now gained the top prestigious Silver Member Status. As yet there is no ‘Gold’!  Smile Essential has been included on a new national list of dentists noted for their good practice. Launched in 2001, the BDA Good Practice Scheme is based on nationally agreed standards of good practice.

Dentists Lina and Shrik Kotecha acknowledge that the BDA Silver Good Practice Award, along with the ‘Investor in People’ Award, is an accolade to the high standards achieved within the practice and has benefited both patients and staff. They said: The ‘Patient Journey’, from entering the front door to leaving after completion of treatment, has been analysed thoroughly. A large sample of patients have been asked to fill in a satisfaction questionnaire covering all aspects of the practice, from opening times and décor to staff attitudes and the clinical experience. The results were comprehensively analysed and alterations made, resulting in happier patients and staff.

The practice has been awarded the prestigious Silver Award of the BDA Good Practice Scheme. These awards are just a small part of our team’s commitment to providing you with the highest standard of dental care.

 

Protect you teeth with toothbrushing says Leicester dentist

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.

Leicester dentist helps patients beat bad breathe

Bad breath can be an embarrassing hygiene problem that unfortunately affects others probably more than it affects you.  In fact it is often very difficult to know that you have bad breath unless someone tells you, which can in itself be very embarrassing, especially if is happening on a regular basis.

The fear of bad breath can often lead people to take action in an effort to stop it but in doing so they may not be addressing the cause of the problem, and in certain cases even making it worse.  Using mouthwash, breath sprays or gum can temporarily cover the smell of bad breath but it will not stop it and at best will only mask it for a few hours.  Furthermore, mouthwashes can disrupt the regulation of bacteria in the mouth and result in bad breath coming back time and time again. This happens because it kills bacteria in the mouth and changes the saliva production levels.  Saliva is the body’s natural defence against oral bacteria and regulates it to keep it at a healthy level.

The only real way to beat bad breath for good is to improve your general standard of oral hygiene.  Improved brushing and flossing can help to remove bacteria, plaque and food debris that stick to teeth causing decay and the breakdown of particles which cause bad breath.  It is also recommended by dentists to use a tongue cleaner to remove bacteria form the grooved surface of the tongue.

Our Leicester dentists can give you further advice on the most successful ways to improve cleaning and beat bad breath.  By following their advice and sticking to a through cleaning routine, you should be able to leave the anxiety of bad breath behind once and for all.

Brushing and Flossing Techniques

It is very important to invest in a good toothbrush to help maintain effective brushing and prevent gum disease. There are so many toothbrushes on the market, it can be difficult to know what to buy. We recommend a Philips Sonicare rechargeable electric toothbrush as being one of the best toothbrushes on the market.

There are 5 simple steps that you can use for effective brushing.

1. Always look in a mirror whilst brushing. It sounds so simple but many people do not use a mirror and hence cannot see where they are brushing and so miss cleaning certain areas.

2. Use a methodical approach, concentrating on one tooth at a time.

3. Make sure that you brush the outside, inside and biting surfaces of the teeth.

4. Try to begin brushing in a different place everyday to ensure that you do not neglect any particular area.

5. Toothbrushing should last for at least two minutes (A good tip is, if you listen to the radio in the morning you should brush for the duration of 1-2 songs).

Flossing techniques

Some people say that they spend a long time brushing their teeth and therefore they do not need to floss, this is not the case. Although the bristles of a tooth brush are fine, collectively they are still to thick to get in-between the teeth effectively. It is very easy to forget that teeth have more than two surfaces and they all need the same care and attention, especially as food can get trapped in-between teeth and if left it can cause decay/ carries/cavities. The only way to remove this is by flossing.

1. Take about 45-50cm (18inches) of floss and wind the ends around your middle fingers, leaving a short distance between them.

2. Using your thumb and first finger, gently move the floss between your teeth and wrap in a C shape around the tooth.

3. Guide the floss to where the tooth meets the gum, but take care not to damage the gum by flossing too vigorously

4. Then move the floss up and down the tooth. During use the floss spreads out for more effective plaque removal.

Interdental (Tepe) Brushes

Interdental (Tepe) brushes are small pocket sized brushes that are available to buy in different sizes. A dentist would recommend what size is best for the patient, and some people are advised to use two different sized brushes corresponding to the size of the gaps between teeth.

For the ultimate feeling of a fresh mouth, don’t forget to use a tongue scraper as your tongue harbors many bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Should you need any further advice on brushing and flossing techniques, speak to one of our team members who will be happy to help you.

Dental floss makes great washing line?

Crazy, that’s what we thought when Scott Mills announced on his recent BBC Radio 1 show, that  if you’re on holiday, or anywhere where you need to hang your freshly washed clothes to dry and don’t have access to a clothes line then simply tie a length of floss between two chairs and suspend your washing until it dry’s. We’re yet to try it out ourselves, although I’m not sure the line could handle anything heavier than your swimsuit.

Of course the best use for floss is the one it’s designed for, cleaning those areas of your teeth that your toothbrush just can’t reach!