Summer is in full swing now and most of us have upped our liquid consumption to help us cool down and avoid dehydration on hot sunny days. We all know by now that water is the healthiest choice – it has countless benefits for our general health and can help us stay looking slimmer and younger for longer – but did you know that drinking water is good for your teeth, too? Here at Bristol dentist practice CK Dental, we try to encourage our patients to drink as much water as possible. Here’s why:

Sugar free

It may seem obvious, but being free of sugar of any description means water offers a great alternative to juices, squash, fizzy drinks or even milk when it comes to your teeth. Sugar has an acid effect on teeth, eroding away the enamel and eventually causing plaque and tooth decay. Drinking water instead of sugary drinks can help avoid this.

Flushing away food

If you drink water after eating, it helps to wash your teeth clean of any food or sugar residue. Obviously drinking water is not an alternative to toothbrushing, but if you are out and about and unable to brush your teeth, drinking a glass of water after eating sugary foods can help limit the damage to your teeth.

Drink more!

With all its health benefits, you would think we would all be drinking water whenever possible, but studies show that very few of us manage the recommended two litres a day. If you want to up your water intake and enjoy the positive effect this can have on your teeth and general health, try starting each day with a large glass of water – often, this can encourage you to drink more over the course of the day.

If you want to find out some other tricks to keep your teeth healthier, make an appointment with Bristol dentist clinic CK Dental today.

Alternative dental care can show us various options to look after our teeth differently. A study published in the Daily Mail has shown that swilling your mouth with coconut oil as part of your oral health routine can benefit the health of your teeth and gums. The report – originally published in a Nigerian medical journal – claims that the practice can reduce plaque and gum disease, whiten teeth and boost the immune system.

Is it just hype?

Here at Bristol dentist practice CK Dental, we are always interested in anything that can help improve oral health. However, we would advise our patients against using coconut oil in place of their usual brushing and flossing routine.

The study was very clear that participants performed the ‘oil pulling’ ritual as part of their usual oral hygiene regime – alongside brushing and flossing. Although the results were positive, more studies would need to be seen for us to recommend this as everyday oral healthcare.

What’s the best thing to do to keep my teeth healthy?

The most important things that you can do to ensure that your teeth and gums remain in the best possible health are to visit a dentist regularly and to brush and floss your teeth twice a day.

At our Bristol dentist practice we are aware of all the fads that come and go in the dental world, but brushing and flossing have never wavered! If you really want to make a change and invest some money in your teeth, the best thing you could do would be to sign up to our Denplan scheme (click here to get in touch for more info), to ensure you never have to miss another dental appointment for cash flow reasons.

Long-term gain

One other important thing to remember about oil pulling is that whilst this study does show an improvement in the short term, the long-term effects of the practice have not been investigated. Until more evidence is forthcoming, we here at CK Dental recommend sticking with what you know: brush and floss twice daily, and visit your dentist regularly!

Looking for tooth whitening in Bristol? Summer is finally just around the corner, and while many people will be worrying about slimming down to look good on the beach, it is worth remembering that a bright, beautiful smile can hide a multitude of sins.

Multiple surveys have shown that the smile is the feature that most attracts the opposite sex, so why not make that top of your to-do list when it comes to getting beach ready? Here at Bristol dentist clinic CK Dental, we offer a number of treatments that can help, from basic check-ups and hygiene appointments, to cosmetic dentistry. Perhaps the quickest fix for a sparkling smile is teeth whitening.

How does teeth whitening work?

Here at CK Dental, we use a home whitening kit that works over a period of about two weeks – perfect as a last-minute treatment before heading off to exotic climes. At your first appointment, Bristol dentist Mr Krause will take an imprint of your teeth, which will be used to create your customised whitening tray. You will then be given this tray to take home with you, along with some whitening solution, and will use this overnight for two weeks.

What sort of result can I expect?

Results from tooth whitening treatment are usually predictable, and Dr Krause will be able to tell you at your initial appointment what sort of whitening you can expect to achieve. Additionally, if at the end of the fortnight you wish for an even brighter smile, it can be topped up to maximum whiteness over just a couple of nights, and at minimal cost.

Is it safe?

Yes, tooth whitening is extremely safe and effective – this particular treatment has been in use for over 10 years and millions of people have had their teeth whitened, with complications being extremely rare.

If you think you’d like to concentrate on getting your smile ready for summer – meaning you can slow down on those ab crunches! – give the team at CK Dental a call to book in your initial consultation.

Dental phobia treatment options in the uk are limited. The newspapers have been full of stories over the past week about Angie Barlow, the mother who superglued her own teeth in place because she was so terrified of going to the dentist.

Angie’s fear stemmed from her mother’s throat cancer, which was picked up on by a dentist at a routine dental check, but dental phobia is a very real problem which can have many causes, or indeed no cause at all – the definition of a phobia is ‘an irrational fear’.

The result of Angie’s DIY dental treatment was that 90% of the bone in her jaw was lost and, when she did finally visit the dentist, they had to remove most of her remaining teeth and insert titanium pins to attach implants to her skull – a prospect that even the most dentist-friendly of us would find less than appealing.

What can be done about dental phobia?

Here at CK Dental, Bristol dentist Cornelius Krause is passionate about helping patients to overcome dental phobia. This can be achieved in many ways, the most important of which is to acknowledge the fear and try to make patients feel as comfortable as possible – by talking through the phobia and offering reassurance.

Conscious sedation

Another, practical way in which we can offer reassurance to dental-phobic patients is to offer conscious sedation when dental work needs to be undertaken. This is a form of sedation where patients are in a semi-conscious state throughout treatment.

Unlike with a general anaesthetic, recovery is quick and you can return home shortly after treatment, but it allows you to relax fully for the duration of the procedure. Patients often have only a very faint memory of the procedure itself, which makes for minimal anxiety in the future.

Relax – you’re in safe hands

If you suffer from dental phobia, and are worried that your dental problems may be getting out of hand as a result, give the team at our Bristol dentist clinic a ring today to find out how we can help.

Fantastic programme on BBC 1 last night called The Truth About Your Teeth. It took a look at how the latest scientific breakthroughs can change/help how we look after our teeth.

There were a couple of points that were particularly interesting. The journalists looked at over-the-counter teeth whitening products which have become incredibly popular in recent years. As dentists, we have been aware that these products – despite their promises – are not supported by clinical evidence or research. The programme researchers carried out tests and found that no products actually whitened your teeth.

This was a powerful message as DIY teeth whitening kits are big business in the UK and many consumers think this is the cheap and effective option but, as the programme proved, if you want pearly whites then you need to see a dentist. At our Bristol dental clinic we offer Enlighten, the only product on the market that guarantees a new shade of whiteness.

They also discussed the importance of dental hygiene. They reviewed a number of products on the market, but the outcome was that the best way to protect your teeth is to simply brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.

Part two next week and we’ll definitely be tuning in.