Author: Dr Nishan Dixit
Why Smoking Will Spoil Your Smile
If you are a smoker, you will have heard the arguments in favour of giving up so many times that the strongest of anti-smoking messages probably makes no impact on you at all.
Most of the warnings focus on hidden parts of the body such as the lungs and heart and even though they are designed to scare you into giving up, the notion that “it will never happen to me” means you are likely to continue lighting up.
But there is one area where smoking can have a far more visible effect, and more quickly – your smile. The fact is that if you smoke, your teeth will become stained very quickly, turning yellow and then brown. In addition you will be much more prone to gum disease – the primary cause of tooth loss among adults – you are also more likely to suffer from facial wrinkling.
One of the most noticeable effects of smoking is staining of the teeth from nicotine and tar but the huge problem for smokers is gum disease with twice as many smokers being toothless by the age of 65 as non-smokers. This is due to the fact that smoking causes lack of oxygen in the bloodstream so when you gums get infected it does not heal.
If gum disease is left untreated, it will progress and in time your gums will pull away from your teeth, your teeth will loosen and eventually they will fall out.
This is why it is vital for smokers to visit our practice regularly for professional cleaning which removes hardened plague from your teeth, helping to prevent gum disease. Better still, why not consider stopping for good then you can discuss tooth whitening with our dentist which will bring the sparkle back to your smile!
Crowns, bridges and veneers
This patient from Harrow, Middlesex, was unhappy with his existing upper crowns, bridges and veneers.
After an in depth consultation, Dr Dixit replaced his old crowns and bridges. His side teeth were veneered to give him a more natural smile. The patient is a lot happier with his new smile.
Discoloured front filling
This lady came to us because she was not happy with the colour of her teeth and the discoloured front filling. Dr Dixit enhanced this patients smile by bleaching her teeth and then changing her front filling to a more natural looking filling.
” Having this treatment carried out has made a huge difference to the way I look and feel. I now smile with more confidence and it has made a great difference to my self-esteem.” SK
Close that gap with Veneers
This 27 year old man came to us as he was not happy with his protruding front tooth and the size of the gap between his teeth.
Dr Dixit improved this patient’s smile by placing two new all porcelain crowns and two veneers on his upper front teeth.The patient also wanted the gap between his two front teeth closed slightly.He is delighted with his new smile.
Keep Your Tooth Brush Working
Brushing your teeth twice a day could save you from a heart attack. Scientist say those who fail to keep their teeth clean have a higher chance of suffering heart problems
In the study, researchers from University College London analysed data for more than 11,000 people, with an average age of 50, taking part in the Scottish Health Survey.
The experts found that those who never or rarely brushed their teeth were 70 per cent more likely to suffer heart disease than those who brushed twice a day. Poor oral hygiene was also linked to low-grade inflammation in the blood.
We can say with certainty that if people brush their teeth twice a day with flouride toothpaste, visit the dentist regularly and restrict sugary snacks to mealtimes, this will go a long way towards keeping their teeth and gums in a healthy state for life
” I don’t like my silver fillings “
This patient from Wembley, Middlesex, was very unhappy with the appearence of the silver amalgam fillings. After removing the decay,they were replaced with tooth-coloured composite fillings.
The treatment was very effective and the patient is now a lot happier.
History of the Electric Toothbrush
Did you know that the first electric toothbrush was first introduced in 1939. It was first marketed in America in 1940 under the name Broxodent
The magic of Implants!
This lady from Greenford, Middx, used to wear an upper denture. Her existing teeth needed to be removed due to gum disease.
She didn’t want to wear a full denture, so she chose to have a fixed bridge on dental implants.
Najla is now delighted with her new beautiful healthy looking, white teeth.
“I am very grateful to Nishan and his team for making this transformation possible. I am so pleased with my new smile and the extra confidence it has given me. My teeth now look great – I can’t stop smiling!”
THE BENEFITS OF CHEWING GUM
I’ve heard that chewing gum after eating can help prevent fillings. Is this true, and if so how?
As long as it is sugar-free, yes, chewing gum can help to maintain a healthy mouth. This is because it helps to boost saliva flow, helps to wash away food remnants, bacteria and plague, neutralising harmful acids and so helping to reduce decay. According to gum manufacturers, Wrigleys, 80% of dentists now recommend chewing sugar-free gum after meals