It was reported in the Dental Tribune (14 – 21 July 2008) that children should brush their teeth no more than twice a day and not straight after meals.  

A survey by Sensodyne of dentists, parents and children revealed that 79 per cent of dentists are seeing the effects of acid erosion on children’s teeth at least once a week.  Fizzy drinks, chocolate, fruit and fruit drinks which are high in acid are the main culprits, as are foods covered in sauces or dressings.  

The situation is made worse by parents getting their children to clean their teeth after every meal. This is the worst time to clean teeth as the acid has softened the enamel.  

The survey found that: 

• 53% of five year olds have some form of erosion
• 9 out of 10 parents know about acid erosion but were unsure what types of food and drink contain acid
• 6 out of 10 parents said their children smothered their food in sauces and dressings

The greatest cause of acid erosion in children is through drinking carbonated drinks without a straw and the frequent drinking of soft drinks. 

What can be done about acid erosion? 

Parents should encourage children to drink acidic drinks with a straw placed towards the back of the mouth away from teeth. In addition, children should be encouraged to avoid brushing their teeth immediately after consuming acidic food or drinks as this is when the enamel is softest. Its best to brush before hand or wait as long as possible after an acidic meal.   

The General Dental Council (GDC) have said that Dental Hygienists/Therapists can now carry out tooth whitening procedures `on the prescription of a dentist if they have the necessary additional skills`.  Tooth whitening can only by carried out by dental professionals and is illegal to do so by any non dental professional.  

Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hanwell says, “Tooth whitening is a safe, effective and very fast way of having brighter, whiter teeth when administered by a dentist. With the growth in demand for Hollywood white teeth, clinics across the country have been cashing in on this trend, but many of these clinics whether it be hairdressers, beauticians, gymnasiums or beauty spa’s have been employing beauty therapists who, after a few days of training, have been applying harmful chemicals that can damage patients gums and teeth.”

A Which? Investigation earlier on in the year revealed that beauty salons were allowing unqualified staff to carry out teeth-whitening treatments and inflicting permanent damage to patients teeth. In the survey, the reporter posed as a potential client at six London beauty salons. At all six salons, the procedure wasn’t performed by a dentist and half were using dangerous chemicals, including chlorine dioxide. This chemical is a bleaching agent more commonly used to purify water and is very acidic thereby damaging tooth enamel.  Others use hydrogen peroxide in strengths above the legal limit.

Sunita says, “At Sparkle, I see all my patients for a dental examination before we carry out any teeth whitening procedures. My dental hygienist Hardip Dhillon, who is also a dental therapist is already able to carry out dental procedures such as fillings, taking x-rays and placing temporary crowns. With the new guidance from the GDC and planned training course, she will be able to carry out teeth whitening treatments by September 2008.’   

In an article in The Times (13^th August 2008), it appears that China banned a seven year child singer from singing at the opening ceremony because of her crooked teeth. 

The real singer Yang Peiyi, a seven-year-old was deemed not pretty enough to be the face of China’s most watched moment in history and was substituted by Lin Miaoke at the eleventh hour by Communist Party officials desperate to present the best possible image of Chinese youth to the rest of the world.

As Yang Peiyi sang the Ode to the Motherland behind the scenes, Lin Miaoke lip synched in front of millions in the Bird’s Nest stadium.

Chen Qigang, the contemporary composer and French citizen who directed the music for the opening ceremony said “The child on camera should be flawless in image, internal feelings and expression. Lin Miaoke is excellent in those aspects but in terms of voice Yang Peiyi is perfect.”

An Olympic lifter must use the best possible technique to lift the most amount of weight he or she is capable of. An Olympic lifter must be strong, flexible and quick. It’s all in the technique!

One of the latest techniques in the world of cosmetic dentistry is the `smile lift’.  The smile lift can change a person’s face and appearance making them look and feel younger, happier and full of confidence.

  Cao Lei of China claims her second consecutive world title in the women’s 75kg division

Dr Sunita Verma, Sparkle Dental Boutique, Ealing says, “Like an Olympic lift, the smile lift is all about technique.  As we get older, the corners of our mouths turn down or sag. Using simple techniques, we build the side tips of the teeth out. This allows the lips to roll up slightly, becoming fuller permanently”.

Sunita achieves a `smile lift’ through the combination of state-of-the-art technology called porcelain veneering — a process whereby little ceramic covers are custom-made for and attached to individual teeth — under her keen eye.

So whether your teeth are discoloured, chipped, crooked, or have spaces, Sunita can devise a plan which might include a combination of teeth whitening, laser gum contouring, and porcelain veneers.  

Sunita says, “Cosmetic dentistry has come long way. You’d be surprised but life changing smiles can be achieved in a matter of a few weeks. Our patients look and feel years younger”.

The countdown to the Beijing Olympics is on amongst much anticipation.The giant panda has been embraced as the national mascot.

The Giant Panda 

The panda is a mammal recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body.

So what kind of teeth does a panda have? The simple answer is human teeth!

The panda’s round face is the result of powerful jaw muscles, which attach from the top of the head to the jaw. Large molar teeth, similar to that found in humans and strong jaw muscles, crush through tough bamboo.

Although a carnivore, the panda has a diet which is 99% bamboo. The cuddly creatures do eat other foods such as honey, eggs, fish, yams, shrub leaves, oranges and banana’s, when available!

On a recent trip to Sicily, Mount Etna had again erupted and lava was flowing with bellows of lava dust. Back at Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hanwell a patient came in with an erupted and impacted wisdom tooth.

Mount Etna!

Wisdom teeth actually begin forming before the age of 10 and if they erupt it is usually between the ages of 17 – 21, which coincides with passage into adulthood, hence the name `wisdom teeth’. Most people do not experience pain with their wisdom teeth, but sometimes problems are progressing slowly and often silent.  The most common problems are:

Pain

You may have soreness or pain in the back part of your jaw, ear ache, sore throat or pain in the side of the face. The pain may be caused by an impacted wisdom tooth or there may be an infection associated it. 

Gum disease

This generally happens because these partly erupted wisdom teeth are difficult to keep clean, and the accumulated food particles cause the gums around your tooth to get infected.  If left untreated, the infection may cause loss of bone surrounding the wisdom tooth. This may also affect the neighbouring tooth.

Bacteria

Sometimes the wisdom tooth becomes an incubation and re-inoculation source. This happens when bacteria surrounding the wisdom tooth spreads to other teeth. The resulting chronic infection is now recognized to have an impact beyond merely oral health, and also has an impact on our general health and organ systems.

Impacted

When there is not enough space in the mouth for wisdom teeth to erupt, they then erupt in an abnormal direction or may get locked into the jaw. 

Decay

The same types of bacteria that are responsible for infections can also cause tooth decay or cavities in the impacted wisdom tooth and/or the root of the adjacent tooth.  A wisdom tooth may decay unnoticed, as they are the most difficult teeth to keep clean, being so far back into the mouth.

Crowding

An impacted or erupting wisdom tooth can push on adjacent teeth, causing them to become more crooked.