Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday dates back several centuries to when the English prepped for fasting during Lent. Strict rules prohibited the eating of all dairy products during Lent, so pancakes were made to use up the supply of eggs, milk, butter and other dairy products.  

Pancake Day is traditionally celebrated in London with pancake races. Runners have a frying pan and have to toss the pancake, similar to a thin flat crepe, in the air as they run! The events take place in various locations.  

If you don’t fancy running, you can indulge in eating a tasty pancake or two. The traditional topping is sugar & lemon or if you’re really up for a treat try chocolate spread!!!

It’s coming up to Valentine’s Day and people are puckering up for that special Valentine’s kiss… as everyone wants to be kissing a beautiful smile!

Dr Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique knows all about the perfect smile. `In a recent survey’ she says, `96% of adults said that they believed an attractive smile made a person more appealing to the opposite sex and most people surveyed said that the things that made a smile unattractive were discoloured, yellow, or stained teeth; missing and crooked teeth;  decaying teeth and gaps’.

Cosmetic dentistry and orthodontic procedures can definately provide an answer for you if you are looking to improve your smile, self confidence and your prospects for romantic success this Valentines Day. 

10 tips for kissing with confidence 

• Transform your uneven or crooked teeth with beautiful porcelain veneers

• Say goodbye to discoloured and stained teeth with revolutionary Zoom2! teeth whitening  

• Visit your dentist every six months for professional cleaning and oral exams

• Brush your teeth twice a day and clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner

• Banish bad breath with the use of a good mouthwash

• Eat a balanced diet and limit between meal snacks

• Maintain healthy gums and teeth with a visit to our hygienist

• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months

• Close crooked, uneven and gappy teeth with invisible braces (Invisalign)

• Have the smile of your dreams with our interest free payment plans

On 6^th July its National Kissing Day, a time for you to pucker up and share some love.

Getting involved in National Kissing Day may be more beneficial than you realise. A kiss boosts the level of ‘happy hormone’ oxytocin and burns off approximately around 26 calories in a one minute smooch!

The question is does your kiss leave someone breathless or do you find people turning their cheek when you kiss them goodbye? Well it may be as a result of bad breath.  Bad breath is a very common problem and there are many different causes - from eating strong smelling foods like garlic and onions to bacteria surrounding your teeth and gums. The more serious side of bad breath is that it acts as an early warning sign for gum disease.   

If you do have bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth then you need to start a good oral hygiene routine, to keep your mouth clean and fresh. At Sparkle Dental Boutique, Hanwell we look out for any areas of concern and we show you how to clean those difficult to reach areas to give you a confident healthy smile.  After all a good kiss is more than just a kiss, it can be the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

The British Dental Health Foundation has revealed that it will be focusing on the link between oral health and overall body health in this year’s National Smile Month – an event that will run simultaneously in the UK and the USA. 

Dr Sunita Verma from Sparkle Dental Boutique, Ealing says, “We have always supported National Smile Month and this months theme ‘Brush for Health’, which runs from 18 May to 17 June emphasises the importance of good oral healthcare to our general well being’. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that people with gum disease are more at risk of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and, in the case of pregnant women, giving birth to underweight babies. Gum disease is caused by poor oral healthcare and is, therefore, totally preventable. Around 19 out of 20 people suffer with gum disease at some point in their lives, but with a good oral healthcare routine they can easily prevent it from developing into something more serious. For good oral health:

• Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste 

• Cut down how often you have sugary foods and drinks

• Visit us at Sparkle regularly

• You should also clean between the teeth once-a-day using floss or interdental brushes, change your toothbrush every three months and check your mouth regularly for any lumps, non healing ulcers or red/white patches in the mouth - as these can all be early signs of mouth cancer