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Posts Tagged ‘healthy teeth’

Five New Year’s Food Swaps for Healthy Teeth

Thursday, January 18th, 2018

Many people start a new year with plans to embrace healthy eating. Usually, this is linked to improving your health and losing weight, but it can also be hugely beneficial for your dental health. If you’re on a health kick and you’re keen to protect your smile at the same time, here are 5 food swaps to try:

  1. Sugary cereals for porridge: many popular cereals contain a lot of sugar, so keep an eye out when you’re at the supermarket. Even healthy-seeming options like granola and muesli can be laden with sugar. Porridge is an excellent choice because it is naturally low in sugar and high in fibre and it releases energy slowly, so you shouldn’t need to snack. If you have a sweet tooth, add a teaspoon of honey or a handful of berries rather than sprinkling sugar on the top.
  2. Ice cream for yoghurt: ice cream season is over, but the good news is that there’s a tooth-friendly, weather-friendly alternative on offer. Natural yoghurt is a great substitute for ice cream. It is rich in calcium and you can add fresh berries, apple, pear, mango or banana to sweeten it up.
  3. Fizzy drinks for sugar-free cordial: fizzy drinks are among the most harmful products you can buy in terms of your dental health. These drinks are packed with sugar, but they’re also acidic. To cut down your sugar intake and protect your enamel, opt for sugar-free cordial, water or milk instead.
  4. Shop-bought smoothies for homemade creations: smoothies are often marketed as a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks, but if you look at the labels, you’ll find that many products you buy in stores and cafes contain a lot of added sugar. Instead of buying smoothies, make your own at home. This allows you to control the sugar content and you’ll also save money.
  5. Popcorn for almonds: popcorn has become an increasingly popular snack. Marketed as a healthy, low-calorie snack, popcorn isn’t quite as saintly as it may seem. It tends to get stuck in your teeth and the hard kernels can also break and chip the teeth. Instead of snacking on popcorn, indulge in a handful of almonds instead. Almonds contain calcium and they also have low sugar content.

Five Foods that Make a Tooth-Friendly Summer Dinner

Monday, June 5th, 2017

It’s summer, and many of us are looking forward to embracing those classic seasonal staples. When you’re planning your summer menu, take a moment to consider how your diet affects your teeth and gums. If you’re hoping to eat well and keep your smile in check, here are five tooth-friendly foods to include in your summer diet:

  1. Strawberries: strawberries are not just packed with vitamin C, which is good for boosting your immunity. They’re also natural stain removers. The rough skin of the strawberry removes surface stains, giving your smile a gorgeous healthy glow.
  2. Raw vegetables: if you’re looking for healthy picnic ideas, look no further than some chopped carrots, cucumber sticks and celery batons. Raw vegetables have high water content, which is good for cleansing the mouth, and when you chew, this also stimulates the gums.
  3. Salad leaves: salad leaves contain water and they’re also rich in fibre, vitamins and nutrients. If you’re eating acidic foods, foods that have high water content can help to neutralise acids.
  4. Cheese: cheese is a staple when it comes to preparing vegetarian barbeque dishes and it can also be added to cold pasta dishes and salads. A cheeseboard is also a popular alternative to sweet desserts. Cheese is a good source of calcium, and it also has high pH value. It’s a great idea to combine wine with cheese if you’re enjoying a drink in the evening, as this will help to neutralise acids in the mouth.
  5. Natural yoghurt: are you looking for a healthier alternative to summer puddings like ice cream, meringues and cheesecake? If so, consider filling a bowl full of natural yoghurt and then adding a spoonful of honey or a sprinkling of raspberries, blueberries and strawberries.

How to Give Your Mouth Its Healthiest Winter Yet!

Monday, November 14th, 2016

Winter is here and it’s time to start taking care of yourself. Nobody wants to spend the holidays nursing injuries or miss out on the festivities because of toothache. This winter, why not make an extra effort to keep those teeth and gums healthy? Here are some top tips to help you keep dental woes at bay.

Oral hygiene tips

Good oral hygiene decreases your risk of developing dental diseases dramatically. Take care to set aside at least two minutes every morning and evening to brush your teeth. If you struggle with timing, set a timer on your phone or watch. When you’re brushing, be gentle. If you brush too firmly, you can damage your enamel. Floss daily to remove any food debris and bacteria you may have missed with your brush. We recommend using fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride helps to strengthen your enamel and protect you from cavities.

Dental checks

If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, now is the time to call up and make an appointment before Christmas. Nobody wants to miss out on opening presents or eating a turkey dinner because they’ve got troublesome teeth. Check-ups only take a few minutes, but they’re so important. When you have a routine check, your dentist will look for any potential warning signs of dental problems, including oral cancer. You won’t feel any pain, and regular checks will reduce your risk of needing intensive treatment dramatically.

Eating habits

Winter is a time we tend to indulge, especially over the festive period. It’s good to treat yourself from time to time, but spare a thought for your teeth and gums. Always wait an hour after eating to brush your teeth, and avoid eating between meals. If you fancy a mince pie on Christmas Eve, have it straight after a meal. Use a straw when you’re drinking, and try and opt for sugar-free drinks.

The Relationship Between Oral Health and Weight Loss

Wednesday, June 8th, 2016

It may seem odd to link oral health and weight loss, but many of the foods that contribute to weight gain also increase the risk of oral health problems. Choosing to lose weight can therefore also improve your oral health as well as your general health.

Eating and oral health

Your body relies on the foods you eat to get all the nutrients it needs to function properly. Some foods are much more beneficial than others, while eating certain foods on a regular basis can increase the risk of health complications. Foods that are high in sugar increase the risk of oral health diseases, including tooth decay and gum disease, because they cause bacteria in the mouth to produce harmful plaque acids that assault the defensive enamel exterior of the teeth. Once the enamel is damaged, it cannot be regenerated and so the tooth is left susceptible to damage and decay.

Eating a lot of sugary foods also increases the chance of weight gain, as these foods are often high in calories and if you take in more calories than you use, this leads to weight gain. Foods that are high in sugar include cakes, biscuits, sweets and chocolate. Studies have also shown that poor oral health is linked to an increased risk of serious health problems, including heart disease and strokes, both of which are also associated with obesity.

Losing weight

Losing weight is notoriously difficult, but it can be done and the winning formula is very simple. In the vast majority of cases, eating fewer calories and increasing the sum of exercise you do will help you to lose weight. Healthy eating is very important as a good, balanced diet will provide your body with all the vitamins and minerals it needs. A good diet should include foods from all the major food groups, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fruits and vegetables. The bulk of your diet should be made up from complex carbohydrates such as potatoes, cereals, bread, rice, pasta, fruit and vegetables.

Most people enjoy a sweet treat now and again but it is important to keep an eye on the amount of sugar you consume, as taking in large amounts of sugar will damage your teeth and increase the risk of developing serious illnesses such as diabetes.

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6 Dentistry Awards!

Winners for National UK Award

  • > 2009 Best Dental Team

Winners for North West Awards

  • > 2009 Best Dental Team
  • > 2008 Best Dental Practice

Finalists for North West Awards

  • > 2009 Best Practice
  • > 2008 Best Dental Team

Finalist & Highly Commended for

  • > 2007 Best Young Dentist Dr Marius McGovern