A trip to the dentist can be dreaded for some, but we want you to be confident in your smile. With Ordo, you’ll be better informed and connected.
Ordo has a team of professionals who will share their top tips, passion, support and expertise with you.
And you will never be embarrassed by that worn out and unhygienic toothbrush ever again.
Is there no end to the benefits bestowed upon us by the multi-talented good fats?
The old saying goes ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor/ dentist away – delete former/latter depending on your generation. But there seems to be something which can knock any fruit or vegetable into a cocked hat: yes, the humble polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
A new piece of research has suggested that Omega 3 fatty acids found in foods such as oily fish, nuts and eggs will help people avoid gum disease and the more serious periodontitis.
The research examined the diet of 182 adults between 1999 and 2004, and found that those who consumed the highest amounts of fatty acids were a whole 30 per cent less likely to develop gum disease and 20 per cent less likely to develop periodontitis (severe gum disease).
Lead researcher of the study, Dr Asghar Z. Naqvi of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre in Boston, said: “We found that n-3 fatty acid intake, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are inversely associated with periodontitis in the US population.”
As a result of this research, Dr Naqvi believes that dietary therapy could become a less expensive and safer way of preventing/treating periodontitis. Currently treatment involves mechanical cleaning and the application of antibiotics. Encouraging sufferers to eat more fish and nuts would also benefit their health in other ways.
Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter, said: “Most people suffer from gum disease at some point in their life. What people tend not to realise is that it can actually lead to tooth loss if left untreated… This study shows that a small and relatively easy change in people’s diet can massively improve the condition of their teeth and gums, which in turn can improve their overall wellbeing.”
The study was published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Gum disease is caused by plaque (the film of bacteria that forms on the surface of the teeth). To prevent and treat gum disease all the plaque must be removed from the teeth every day by brushing twice a day for two minutes each time. This should be followed by cleaning in between teeth with interdental brushes or floss.
Inflammation and soreness of the gums is one of the first signs of gum disease, and often gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning. You will notice your gums look puffy and inflamed where they meet your teeth.
Over time gum disease becomes more severe and can impact the tissues supporting the teeth. The bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost and the teeth become loose, if not treated this can lead to teeth eventually falling out.
Anyone with inflamed and bleeding gums should visit their dentist to find out the appropriate way to treat it. If caught early, gum disease can be easily cured by short term use of medicated gels and mouthwash.
The British Dental Health Foundation is the UK’s leading oral health charity, with a 39-year track record of providing public information and influencing government policy. It maintains a free consumer advice service, an impartial and objective product accreditation scheme, publishes and distributes a wide range of literature for the profession and consumers, and runs National Smile Month each May, to promote greater awareness of the benefits of better oral health.
The Dental Helpline, which offers free impartial advice to consumers, can be contacted on 0845 063 1188 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, they can be contacted by email on helpline@dentalhealth.org.uk.
The Foundation’s website can be found at www.dentalhealth.org.uk
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We all know that as we get older our teeth will start to fall out. But is this one part of the ageing process we can skip?
Gum disease is currently rife in the UK, with even children in their early teens showing signs of it. Now new research has pinpointed the reason for this – the majority of adults, around three quarters of the population, spend just 40 seconds brushing their teeth! Even those who brush two times daily still have plaque on 69% of their teeth surfaces. Shocking isn’t it?
There is a further dental related concern for ladies who have just come out of the menopause. One in three post-menopausal women over the age of 50 suffer from Osteoporosis, the condition in which there is a decrease in bone mineral density. The disorder leads to bone loss and the jaw bones are not exempt from this.
The similarities in bone loss between gum disease and osteoporosis led experts to investigate whether or not osteoporosis was a significant risk factor in tooth loss. It was found that patients suffering from the condition had three fewer teeth on average than otherwise healthy control subjects (with age and smoking history taken into account).
Therefore we should all do whatever we can, especially those ladies over 50, to reduce the levels of plaque in our mouths. It will be an ongoing task for our dental health professionals to re-educate the nation on how to brush their teeth. However, the benefits of using an alcohol free mouthwash twice a day would be a much easier message to get out into the public.
We’ve been using the new Dentyl range of alcohol free mouthwash. The organisation recommends brushing your teeth for no less than 2 minutes followed by usage of their mouthwash.
1. Using a small headed toothbrush and starting at the back of the mouth work across each tooth with a circular action, making sure the toothbrush gets under the gum lines.
2. For tight spots – use an interdental brush to get to those gaps between the teeth
3. Use alcohol free Dentyl Active mouthwash twice daily…
What our reviewers thought….
The fact that your plaque comes out in the sink as brightly coloured gunk might be slightly off-putting to some but at least it shows that the mouthwash is effective in removing plaque deposits, so we like it.
Our reviewers felt the mouthwash was very effective in a number of areas – it left a pleasant taste in the mouth, helped to speed a developing mouth ulcer away and did not affect the taste buds long-term. With alcohol based mouthwashes you seem to get a stinging aftertaste which lasts most of the day and impairs the taste of food, which did not happen with alcohol free Dentyl – another plus point.
The range includes new cherry and citrus flavours which, again, are quite controversial for a mouthwash but surprisingly nice.
Dentyl Active Mouthwash
Braun Oral B Triumph IQ with Smartguide Rechargeable Tooth brush £79.99
Philips Sonicare HX631/02 Health White Delux Rechargable Toothbrush £61.18
Braun Oral Professional Care Deep Clean and Sensitive 8500 Rechargable Toothbrush £35.86
White Glo Toothpaste
Darwood & Tanner Toothcleansing Mouthwash
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Gengigel Mouthwash
As studies reveal that white teeth can improve your social, personal and work life, in this exclusive web video Suzi Perry talks to top celebrity dentist Dr. Phil Stemmer about how to get the perfect smile.
To get that perfect Hollywood smile, the top tips recommended are:
Brushing your teeth daily with a good quality electric toothbrush for at least two minutes
Flossing daily to remove the plaque where the toothbrush cant reach
Professional whitening/ veneers/ orthodontics
Watch the video below and go to www.oralb.com
The human mouth is teeming with bacteria. Brushing, flossing, and traditional dental care often aren’t enough to escape the health risks of too much of the wrong kind of bacteria in the human mouth. With oral probiotics, we may be able to prevent or at least control the growth of the dangerous organisms where they originate.
Advanced Oral Hygiene is a new oral probiotic that provides the beneficial bacteria that can help block harmful bacteria that first develop in the mouth. This sophisticated oral probiotic therapy allows the healthy and naturally occurring organisms found in the body to out-compete the harmful bacteria.
Multiple health benefits
Advanced Oral Hygiene contains BLIS K12 and Bacillus coagulans, a unique blend of two oral probiotics, which aim to triumph over many of the chronic threats to our health caused by oral microbes that may pose harm to the body. BLIS K12 (Streptococcus salivarius) and Bacillus coagulans (GanedenBC30®) organisms naturally survive in human tissue, maximizing their health-promoting potential and providing help with the regulation of inflammation and cell destruction caused by the dangerous germs that originate in the mouth.
Regular use of Advanced Oral Hygiene could make a significant impact in protecting oral health,1-3 which in turn can strengthen the immune system, ease inflammation, and help the body maintain good health.
Poor oral health is associated with risk factors throughout the entire body
Inflammation in the mouth can translate to poor health in other parts of the body. Traditionally, poor mouth conditions have a tendency to become chronic, producing a steady elevation of inflammation in other parts of the body that receive high blood flowthereby seeding the entire system with circulating cytokines. These cytokines, or chemical messengers, produce inflammatory responses in tissues far distant from the mouth, and affect cellular behavior critical to the immune system’s defense. When cytokine levels continue to increasethe occurrence of even more acute inflammation can also increase.
Advanced Oral Hygiene can offer relief and modulate the body’s inflammatory response, making these good microorganisms found in the K12 and GanedenBC30® strain the ideal candidates for preventing inflammatory conditions in the body.
Live life longer and healthier
In combination with a rigorous oral hygiene regime, Advanced Oral Hygiene provides the body with beneficial bacteria to naturally help protect the immune system and prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing throughout the body.
Buy at www.vitalityshopuk.com
GUM DISEASE
Q What is gum disease?
A Gum disease describes swelling, soreness or infection of the tissues supporting the teeth. There are two main forms of gum disease: gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Q What is gingivitis?
A Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. This is when the gums around the teeth become very red and swollen. Often the swollen gums bleed when they are brushed during cleaning.
Q What is periodontal disease?
A Long-standing gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease. There are a number of types of periodontal disease and they all affect the tissues supporting the teeth. As the disease gets worse the bone anchoring the teeth in the jaw is lost, making the teeth loose. If this is not treated, the teeth may eventually fall out.
Q Am I likely to suffer from gum disease?
A Probably. Most people suffer from some form of gum disease, and it is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. However, the disease develops very slowly in most people, and it can be slowed down to a rate that should allow you to keep most of your teeth for life.
Q What is the cause of gum disease?
A All gum disease is caused by plaque. Plaque is a film of bacteria, which forms on the surface of the teeth and gums every day. Many of the bacteria in plaque are completely harmless, but there are some that have been shown to be the main cause of gum disease. To prevent and treat gum disease, you need to make sure you remove all the plaque from your teeth every day. This is done by brushing and flossing.
Q What happens if gum disease is not treated?
A Unfortunately, gum disease progresses painlessly on the whole so that you do notice the damage it is doing. However, the bacteria are sometimes more active and this makes your gums sore. This can lead to gum abscesses, and pus may ooze from around the teeth. Over a number of years, the bone supporting the teeth can be lost. If the disease is left untreated for a long time, treatment can become more difficult.
Q How do I know if I have gum disease?
A The first sign is blood on the toothbrush or in the rinsing water when you clean your teeth. Your gums may also bleed when you are eating, leaving a bad taste in your mouth. Your breath may also become unpleasant.
Q What do I do if I think I have gum disease?
A The first thing to do is visit your dentist for a thorough check-up of your teeth and gums. The dentist can measure the cuff of gum around each tooth to see if there is any sign that periodontal disease has started. X-rays may also be needed to see the amount of bone that has been lost. This assessment is very important, so the correct treatment can be prescribed for you.
Q What treatments are needed?
A Your dentist will usually give your teeth a thorough clean. Youll also be shown how to remove plaque successfully yourself, cleaning all surfaces of your teeth thoroughly and effectively. This may take a number of sessions with the dentist or hygienist.
Q What else may be needed?
A Once your teeth are clean, your dentist may decide to carry out further cleaning of the roots of the teeth, to make sure that the last
pockets of bacteria are removed.
Youll probably need the treatment area to be numbed before
anything is done. Afterwards, you may feel some discomfort for up to 48 hour.
Q Once I have had periodontal disease, can I get it again?
A Periodontal disease is never cured. But as long as you keep up the home care you have been taught, any further loss of bone will be very slow and it may stop altogether. However, you must make sure you remove plaque every day, and go for regular check ups by the dentist and hygienist.
London: Log on to our live web TV show to find out how you can break free from unhealthy habits Show date: 2nd June Show time: 2pm (London time).
Personal hygiene bad habits can not only be hard to kick but can also lead to serious medical problems. Take oral hygience, for example: our failure to look after our gums is implicated in a higher risk of heart disease and even miscarriage.
Nine in ten people experience gum disease in their lives – which is the main cause of lost teeth – and the thought of losing one or more teeth would distress most of us….
Its clearly important that we get into good oral care habits – and by this we mean looking after our gums as well as our teeth – so how can we start to get into good habits?
The answer lies in training our brains to form different habit pathways. According to Dr Maxwell Maltzs 21 Day Theory, it only takes 21 days to replace old habits with new ones by repeating certain actions to strengthen the correct brain pathways. So if we start today, by the end of the month we could have eradicated our bad habits once and for all.
Join us in this live and interactive web TV show to find out how you can establish and maintain a regime that will help you keep on track. Theres expert advice on offer from GP Dr Pixie McKenna, Professor of Flavour Technology Andy Taylor and Dr James Russell of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, who will also be answering your questions live online.
Dr Pixie McKenna, Professor of Flavour Technology Andy Taylor and Dr James Russell of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry join us live online at Oral Health tips from the experts on 2nd June to discuss oral health care for women. If you would like to submit questions before the chat please also click on this link.
For more information visit www.gumsmart.co.uk
Liverpool: Scientists at the University of Liverpool have developed a new dental product to identify plaque build-up in the mouth before it is visible to the human eye.
The toothbrush-sized product has a blue light at its tip, which, when shone around the mouth and viewed through yellow glasses with a red filter, allows plaque to be seen easily as a red glow. The device, produced in collaboration with dental and healthcare developers, Inspektor Research Systems BV, has been designed for everyday use in the home.
Dentists currently use disclosing agents in tablet form to uncover tooth decay and plaque but these often stain the mouth and taste unpleasant. The new product, known as Inspektor TC, will be particularly useful for those who are vulnerable to dental diseases such as children and the elderly.
Children in the UK have had an average of 2.5 teeth filled or removed by the age of 15 because of tooth decay. In young people alone £45 million is currently being spent every year on the problem.
Professor Sue Higham, from the Universitys School of Dental Sciences, said: It is extremely difficult to get rid of all plaque in the mouth. Left undisturbed it becomes what we call mature plaque and gets thicker. This is what leads to gingivitis, or bleeding gums, and decay.
Early stage plaque is invisible, and so this device will show people the parts of the mouth that they are neglecting when they brush their teeth, enabling them to remove plaque before it becomes a problem.
Inspektor TC is designed so that people can easily incorporate it into their daily dental hygiene routine at home. We now hope to work with industry partners to develop this prototype so that people can use it in the home to identify plaque before any serious dental work is needed.
The team has now received a Medical Futures Innovation Award for the product a commendation which acknowledges significant innovation in science.
More information
1. Inspektor Research Systems BV is an industrial collaborator based in Norway which focuses on research and analysis to develop innovative dental and healthcare products.
2. Medical Futures Innovation Awards recognise groundbreaking ideas and products within the healthcare and business world that have the potential to transform peoples lives. Past winners of the award have secured over £80 million of funding from industry specialists for the manufacture of their product.
3. The University of Liverpool is a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive institutions in the UK. It attracts collaborative and contract research commissions from a wide range of national and international organisations valued at more than £93 million annually.
New York: Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University have established a link between gum disease and high levels of a particularly bad form of low-density lipoprotein (LDL).
In the new study, researchers focused on 12 subjects with generalized aggressive periodontitis and 12 healthy controls. Researchers found that patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis, a condition associated with chronically infected and inflamed gums, generally had elevated plasma levels of a subclass of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) called small-dense LDL. Past studies have linked small-dense LDL with a three to six fold increased risk of heart disease or stroke.
The study found that one reason the periodontitis subjects may have had an increased level of small-dense LDL is because they had a decreased level of activity of an enzyme known as platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH). PAF-AH is able to break down some of the inflammatory, atherogenic components of LDL. The observed decrease of LDL-associated PAF-AH activity in patients with severe periodontitis may increase the cardiovascular risk of these patients and be partially responsible for the increased plaque build up in the arteries of periodontitis patients.
Currently, the researchers are conducting a larger study with a greater number of patients who have different degrees of periodontitis.
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