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Grinding to a Halt?

02 Sep

Is that constant grinding giving you a headache at work?  – Or is that headache at work initiating the constant grinding?

…According to a recent report by The Guardian‘s Health Corespondent – Denis Campbell, there has been a surge in teeth grinding.  Usually caused by stress, dentists are blaming the upsurge on job insecurity – many would link this directly to the recession.

Teeth grinding can lead to a number of issues such as constant headaches, oral pain and even eating problems; these can lie untreated for a very long time and will often result in cracking of the tooth, or the loss of a tooth or two!

But teeth grinding, known as Bruxism in the medical world, is also commonplace in children.  As many as 30% of children will grind or clench their teeth during the night and although most do eventually out-grow it, it’s the ones who continue into adulthood that need to take a closer look at things.  As an example, many people actually grind their teeth in an attempt to relieve stress – a bit like rubbing a muscle when you bruise it – but all this grinding and clenching throughout the day can put your teeth and jaw under unnecessary stress which will just lead to more pain – the aforementioned splitting headache – and maybe most surprisingly, few people realise they are doing it!

I’m not a huge fan of day-to-day stress and for the most part I manage to keep fairly relaxed throughout however, I also know all to well what working 60 hours a week and non-stop travel feel like.  So if you’re finding constant headaches a problem, or your teeth and jaw are aching, book an appoointment to find out the appropriate advice for you before things deteriorate a little too far and you really do grind to a halt!

TD.  x

 

Brief Pleasures Bestow Pain

31 Aug

We know all too well the effects of smoking on our lungs, respiratory system and other vital organs.  We also often take the health and hygiene of our teeth and gum’s for granted… that is at least until something goes wrong.  In recent years, as we wise up to the trails and tribulations life throws at us, preventative treatments are becoming commonplace throughout the medical industry.  Yet, as far as teeth are concerned; we brush twice a day as recommended and for the most part, that is where it ends.

In all fairness, this is a good place to start.  However, when gum disease (Gingivitis) takes a hold, you’ll wish you had prevented it in the first place.  Periodontal Disease is the more developed (yet less talked about) version of Gingivitis.  The bacteria from Gingivitis spreads from the gum to the root of the tooth, it looks to set up camp, and if not treated quickly, the toxins from the bacteria will actually eat away at the gum surrounding the tooth making the tooth loose.

Going back to prevention, studies have proven that smoking has a direct relation to Periodontal disease.  In fact, experts have concluded that a person who smokes is 300% more likely to develop the disease than someone who doesn’t!  It gets worse still… the state-of-the-art treatments for Periodontal disease are much less effective on a smoker than a non-smoker.

The reason being, smoking actually prevents the gum’s from defending themselves from the bacteria, while also robbing the body of vital minerals and vitamins which help the immune system.  We know quitting is tough going – and I’m sure there are studies on that too – but with a dose of will-power and a dash of support from friends, this maybe one of the best reason yet to do so…

TD  x

 

On the Economic Up…

28 Aug

You may be interested to know that the world-wide cosmetic dental industry is growing and growing.  Along with the fast growth of the worlds population; and as the developed nations baby-boomers begin to age, cosmetic dentistry is become more and more of a required treatment than it used to be.

The in demand cosmetic dentists are treating all ages now, as kids require all varieties of tooth straightening and the older generations are booking further appointments due to a longer lived life expectancy.

Studies made by the Office of Health Economics confirm that both women and men find cosmetic dentistry gives them satisfaction, consciously compared with high-end purchases.  As technological advances decrease the costs involved; and while people become more conscious of their appearance; this ultimately increases demand.  Some have even talked of choice like veneers offering more satisfaction than a summer holiday might!  Opportunities such as the Inman Aligner now also make Cosmetic Dentistry that much easier to handle.

All in all, these improvements are only for the good of the general public.

Less time + less money + more satisfaction + a higher standard of treatment = Very happy customers indeed.

Check out the link to the Office of Health Economics to read more on this topic; and have a read of the hoards of Time Dental testimonials if you would like to see for yourself and give the Time Dental team a call to find out the latest family registration offers…

http://www.ohe.org/page/knowledge/schools/fm_approach/what_is_market/cosmetic_surgery.cfm

See you soon!

 
 

The Good Cracks

25 Aug

Ever wondered how your teeth are so incredibly strong?

I recently stumbled upon this interesting article.  It tells a story of our teeth are constructed so well, top researchers are now discovering how the same micro-construction concept can be used in aviation!  I find this truly amazing and have since been doing my own research…

It seems our teeth are incredible components – certainly mine have been subject to the odd crunch on a few cherry-pips and the like in their time(!) and somehow they withstand a life-times worth of chewing and grinding, biting and munching!  It got me thinking though, if these micro-cracks are true to the success of teeth, could they also be their downfall?  – Apparently, only if they are not given their daily dose of tender loving care…

When these cracks are subject to a barrage of the same aforementioned fizzy/sugary drinks and other refined sugar madness, bacteria can attack your teeth directly and things can take a turn for the worst!  I guess this is just another testament to how tough our tender teeth are – yet how delicate they can be given the wrong conditions.

The Team at Time Dental can help with all of your dentistry needs; Cosmetic or Hygienic.  Their advice is incomparable and believe me, good advice from your dentist goes a long way!

 

The Simple Things

18 Aug

A lot of us know that drinking fizzy or sweet drinks through a straw can help our dental hygiene… or at least to some extent prevent the causes of plaque and tooth decay.

It is a fact that the amount of plaque produced is consistent with the amount of sugary and starchy foods we consume.  The reason behind this is; acid from the sugars contained in these items promote bacteria… as the bacteria grow, they produce a white film around the neck of the tooth – called plaque – which causes the tooth to decay.  But alas, this is just one aspect of tooth decay.  Fizzy drinks are acidic in their most basic of forms and can cause extra tough erosion of teeth through their use of refined sugars.  These sugars are the bacteria’s favorite and allow big bad Mr. Plaque to grow and grow and GROW!

Intrigued by different all the varieties of ‘pop’ out there – and I have to admit IF I’m feeling desperate for a Coca Cola, I always stick with the ‘worst’ kind – straight up, regular, Coke – however, I thought I’d take a look and see if buying a ‘Coke Zero’ for instance is any less harmful to your teeth..?

You may guess; the answer is (a rather mean looking) NO!

Even Coke Zero who claims to be zero – well, virtually everything – has Phosphoric Acid in it… you can look ‘Phosphoric Acid’ up in your local garden center as it’s also used for rust-removal(!!!).

My advice, and that of Time Dentals Dr. Rashid is; where possible, avoid these bacteria-promoting refined sugars.  However, understanding that sometimes life requires its own little pleasures to keep things ticking over nicely… in these rare moments, do think to drink with a straw.  Every sip counts!

TD.  x

 

Porcelain Choice? Veneerrific!!

11 Aug

I’ve been hearing about the ‘Porcelain Veneer’ option of smile rejuvenation more and more frequently in recent years.  For starters, it’s in the press with every A-List who’s-who from Jon Bon Jovi to Halle Berry… it seems those stars with perfect smiles are dreamed-up no less than the scripts that make them stars in the first place – but lets face it, they do have perfect smiles don’t they!

And so they should; how would you feel starring in front of millions of people and being made to bare all from your big toe to your gummy smile in the good name of Hollywood?  It’s even been proven that an attractive smile can make you more confident, more successful, and even more intelligent looking too.  Yet, just because these a-list stars set the standard, it doesn’t mean that they are in a league of their own.  Porcelain Veneers are one of those cosmetic treatments straddling the public domain.

Reasonably priced, wonderfully easy to fit and available with the specialists at Time Dental, veneers can also be used not just to bring back that white toothed sparkle, but to bridge gaps and cover tooth chips; whether stained, damaged or badly worn, you will leave with an A-Grade smile.

Even the technical jargon is as easy as 1, 2, 3…  Veneers are wafer-thin lamintates or shells of tooth-coloured material usually made out of porcelain due to its strength and durability.  They are “cemented” to the front surface of teeth to improve their cosmetic appearance.  A good analogy would that be that veneers are for your teeth what false fingernails are for your hands… although, they’ll last a whole lot longer, and don’t come in fancy colours(!)

Give Time Dental a call if you’d like an initial consultation and to find out more.

See you soon,

TD

 

Conference Time!

10 Aug

The annual AACD / BACD conference is coming to London in September 2010 and it promises to be a weekend packed to the brim with new technologies, new techniques and all the forward thinking you would expect to find at the forefront of the cosmetic dental industry.

‘Esthetics Meets Aesthetics’ will bring the most comprehensive cosmetic dental program in the world to the Hilton London Metropole Hotel, Edgeware Road for 3 days of discussions on hot topics like Prepless Veneers, Reviving Vitality and Laser Assisted Dentistry.  The most renowned and promising dental experts from around the world are expected to be there for this collaboration of The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) and its US counterpart The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and it is only right that Time Dental’s Dr. Rashid is there to offer his own insights.

As the world of cosmetic dentistry grows ever more global and interconnected, it is critical that these specialists share their thoughts and discuss their opinions on the rapidly evolving world of materials, technologies, and techniques surrounding the industry; and what better a platform to do so than this Atlantic-bridging conference.

We will keeping the updates flowing as we plan to be Tweeting directly from the conference itself… well, you can’t claim to be at the forefront of technologies like these without social media input can you(!) and we hope to see you there – in person or online..!

Until next Time…

 

What Dentists call Good Hygiene…

08 Aug

Every time I go to the dentist, on my way out I am given a five minute lecture of how different cleaning techniques using brushes, floss and mouthwash all help to keep good hygiene in check.  We all know what to do and yet every time I get home from the dentist my daily routine doesn’t change – and I’m betting the majority of you are the same…  The thing is, my teeth do not look like something out of a horror movie, so why bother?

Good oral hygiene is not just about your teeth giving that subtle twinkle every time you smile; it goes a whole lot deeper; and that sparkle is just a bonus.  Besides, if you really want that pop-star gleam then well, you’ve heard of Tooth Whitening… but I am talking about the deeper clean.

Tooth Whitening is great for confidence boosting but if your teeth are not getting a good daily ritual of Brush, Floss and Mouthwash then you may still be in trouble my friend.  Within a week, you can get this task down to 5 minutes once every morning and once every night and will be well on your way to preventing the dreaded gum disease and tooth decay.

I have had an insight into the Time Dental practice and have seen the way oral hygiene really works.  As it turns out, when a hygienist and dentist say “have an examination every 6 – 12 months, and try alternative healthy options instead of sugary drinks”, they MEAN it!  These people actually care about you and your teeth; they want to see you smile with all of natures natural beauty… and if you think Gum Disease and Tooth Decay is bad, just Google ‘Periodontitis’ and you’ll see what I mean!”

So I’m going to brush the dust off my roll of floss, give my teeth a fresh lease of life and start grinning that grin today.

I encourage you to take this information and do the same!

 

Take me back to 17!

03 Aug

Would you like to be 17 again!?  With responsibilities much less forgotten about, your worst worry is asking out that friend of a friend your going to see on Saturday night; and mum still pays for the dentists bill… I know I would!  Yet at the time we could barely see into next week let alone years down the line.

However, here we are.  The mortgage won’t pay itself and the kids’ baby teeth are costing the tooth fairy an arm and a leg!  Years of adverts of window cleaners drinking diet coke and Cadbury’s Milk Tray tempting teeth time after time… “my wisdom tooth is killing me!” I hear you cry… “but if I can just put off going to the dentist a bit longer, it might get better on its own and save me a hundred pounds..” – OR it might end up costing you twice as much!!

Well, it seems our friends at Time Dental have come up with a rather attractive solution.  Become a Time Member for just £17 per month which includes all of your likely yearly dental requirements from Hygienist visits to X-Rays; Check-ups to Emergency’s and more.  Furthermore, your £17 p.m. membership currently includes FREE Tooth Whitening for Life – So you can really turn back time and unleash the teen in you!

The Time Team are really pushing the boat out here.  They know the reputation dentists have had for years and this is proof of just one of the ways they are changing dentistry as we know it; with this membership you need never worry about a shock dentists bill again, and will have the confidence to treat your teeth the way they need to be treated… with time in hand.

Find out more about Time Membership here:  http://www.timedental.co.uk/membership.php

 
 

A Dentistry Revolution?

01 Aug

The American Association of Orthodontists (http://www.aaomembers.org) suggests that over 75% of the population would benefit from some form of Orthodontic treatment… the same is true in the UK, if not to an even further extreme.  But at least something can be done about it – and the whispers are telling that treatment just got a whole lot easier for both the patient AND the dentist… we all know what happens when time-scale is reduced …the price is reduced too.

The Inman Aligner is one of those revolutionary bits of kit that is taking the industry by storm.  Designed in the US, it eradicates the need for what’s commonly known throughout school playgrounds as ‘train-tracks’ – Much gentler on the eye, the Inman Aligner places pressure on the teeth using a coiled spring mechanism, while treatments; rather than lasting a dreaded 2 to 3 years, rarely last a quarter of that time – and have been known to work within as little as 4-6 weeks(!!) – although it’s best to allow up to 4 months.

Time Dental is the only practice in the area that offers this form of confidence boosting.  It can be applied to both your Top and Bottom sets of teeth and works for adults and children.

Have a look at this video to really understand the power of this product:  http://www.inmanaligner.com/HowItWorks.htm – and get in touch with the Time Dental Team if you would like to book an appointment or discuss things further.

See you soon!

TD

 
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