If you’ve been following Love Island this year, you will notice that many islanders have invested in dazzling smiles. White teeth indicate good health and genes – so a great way of attracting a partner. Contestant Ekin-Su revealed that she travelled to Turkey for a full set of (bargain) veneers. But, is it necessary (or even safe) to spend so much for a seductive smile?

Certainly, as we see the return of a more ‘sociable’ summer, there is an even bigger appetite for feeling confident and looking your best. And the demand for whiter, brighter teeth is certainly not waning.

So, what if we told you that you could follow the Love Island trend, but with a teeth whitening treatment that is both safe and effective? Here, we look at whitening treatments that will help you to achieve a more confident smile this Summer.

Teeth Whitening Goals

When you look in the mirror and are faced with stained teeth, it may be difficult to decide what whitening treatment will rectify the situation as quickly as possible. Especially when faced with many options including pharmacy available products, professional in-practice treatments and take-home kits.

Also, considering the levels of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide in different treatments can be confusing. These chemicals can be harmful when used in higher concentrations, and can even damage your teeth if used incorrectly.

The best first step is to speak to your dentist. By assessing your oral health, your tooth sensitivity and the types of stains you want removing, your dentist can recommend the most appropriate whitening product for you that achieves your goal shade.

Pola Light Teeth Whitening Kit

Pola Light is a brand new at-home whitening kit product from an award-winning teeth whitening specialist, SDI. It is provided by regulated, reputable dentists like CK Dental because it is reliable, fast and easy-to-use. In fact, you can expect results in as little as five days!

One of the main advantages of Pola Light is that it is safely formulated to remove longer term stains and return your teeth to their whitest natural shade.

Some other key benefits include;

• Just 20 minutes treatment time a day
• A portable, rechargeable and comfortable cordless mouthpiece
• Returns patients smile to the whitest natural shade possible

Enlighten Evolution Whitening

Alternatively, if you are looking for long-lasting teeth whitening that is monitored by your dentist using custom-fit trays that fit snugly around your teeth, choose the Enlighten whitening option.

Also made by a technology leader and offered by CK Dental, this well-trusted whitening treatment works through the teeth enamel, so does not harm the tooth surface. Additionally, it is the only product to guarantee a B1 shade of white, with a 98% success rate.

You will receive professional-strength gel, and will certainly achieve a better result than over-the-counter products.

Discuss Your Teeth Whitening Options

If you want to feel more attractive this summer, but are not sure which teeth whitening treatment is best for you, call our friendly dental reception team at CK Dental on 0117 472 1600.

Book a consultation with one of our dentists to assess your oral health, discuss your goals and talk through your options. Before long, your confidence will be boosted and you will achieve your own dazzling smile!

Sam, the dental hygienist at CK Dental, carries out professional plaque removal and other dental services for patients of all ages that visit our Clifton dental clinic.

A Dental Hygienist and Therapist graduate, Sam is always learning and developing her skills. Recently, she trained with a leading periodontist to further improve her gum disease knowledge and treatment techniques. Sam loves empowering her patients to manage their oral health.

To support our patients, we have put together some common questions to ask your dental hygienist – with some helpful answers from Sam.

Why do my teeth feel sensitive?

It is important to check with your dentist or hygienist about tooth sensitivity as this is often something that can be easily treated. It may also indicate that there is a more serious oral health condition.

Common reasons for teeth sensitivity include:

• Brushing too hard: Brushing your teeth too firmly causes gum recession and tooth wear, leading to sensitivity, and using an electric toothbrush with a pressure sensor can prevent this.
• Acid erosion: Avoid consuming acidic foods and drinks between meals. Brushing too frequently and after meals can increase sensitivity, so brush only twice a day and wait at least an hour after eating before brushing your teeth.
• Teeth grinding: Grinding and clenching your teeth will cause tooth wear and sensitivity. Stress management and a night guard can help protect your teeth from tooth wear.

Sam’s tip: “If there is a particular area or tooth that causes sensitivity, you can try rubbing sensitive toothpaste directly on the area.”

Why do my gums bleed when I brush my teeth?

“Gums bleed when they are irritated and inflamed,” Sam explains. “This is due to plaque being left on the gum line of the teeth, resulting in gum disease.”

It is important to look after your teeth and gums and have regular dental check-ups and hygiene visits to manage plaque build-up and your home care.

Clean your teeth with an electric toothbrush twice a day and also in between teeth daily using well-fitting interdental brushes; this will maintain gum health between visits.

How often should I see my hygienist?

At CK Dental, we believe that early detection of any oral health problems is better than dealing with more extensive damage further down the line.

“Bacteria build up on your teeth every day, so by visiting your hygienist regularly, we can remove hard and soft plaque deposits and, most importantly, give you the skills you need to keep your mouth healthy,” confirms Sam.

We recommend maintenance every three to six months, depending on your level of risk. Some patients may start with an active phase of treatment to get gum disease under control. Maintenance allows us to monitor your gum and tooth health and work with you to correct any incorrect dental techniques – like missed areas and poor brushing.

Will a hygienist appointment hurt?

Professional plaque removal is usually pain-free, and we make sure our patients are as comfortable as possible. However, if we anticipate some discomfort, we provide local anaesthetic injections to make sure your treatment is painless.

For those patients that are anxious about the treatment, CK Dental offers conscious sedation.

See the hygienist – and leave smiling brighter!

Although we have covered some common questions asked about oral hygiene, it is important to ask questions relating to your own teeth and gum health. Sam can give advice on making your teeth look better – be that diet changes and brushing techniques or with a whitening treatment.

A lot can be discussed and achieved in a dental hygiene appointment – and you will leave with bright, clean teeth and fresh breath!

Give us a call on 0117 472 1600 to book your appointment with the hygienist today.

We have just launched an exciting competition on Instagram to win a free Enlighten Teeth Whitening treatment at CK Dental. This effective treatment, from the technology leader in professional teeth whitening, can remove stains and transform your smile up to 16 shades whiter in just 2 weeks!

Here, discover what you need to know about this popular treatment and find out how to enter our competition.

Enlighten Teeth Whitening

Did you know that over 75% of Brits aren’t happy with their smile? We think that everyone deserves a smile they are happy with. That is why we offer our patients Enlighten teeth whitening – a premium whitening treatment created by dentists to give you ever lasting results.

There are 3 things you need to keep an eye out for if you’re looking to whiten your teeth:

1. A safe treatment that guarantees results
2. No changes to your diet – you can even drink red wine and coffee during the treatment!
3. A lasting result

You can get all 3 at our practice with Enlighten whitening.

How It Works

Your whitening treatment journey always starts with a consultation to check that you are suitable. If you are pregnant, for example, you should avoid the treatment. After this you will have a simple scan of your teeth, so that customised trays can be made for you to fit comfortably in your mouth.

You then take the tooth whitening kit home, and it will need to be applied each night. After two weeks, you will then have a final treatment at the dental clinic. This is normally enough time to see full results, which is a B1 shade of white.

Here, Emma, one of our dentists, explains more about Enlighten Teeth Whitening treatment.

 

Win a FREE Enlighten treatment

Take advantage of our Easter offer and get the smile you’re looking for from a premium teeth whitening system!

To be in with a chance of winning, head over to our Instagram page and give us a follow. Then, like the competition post and tag a couple of friends you feel might be interested in this fab promotion. Your name will be entered into the prize draw for the Enlighten teeth whitening treatment.

For terms and conditions of our competition you can visit here – https://ckdental.co.uk/teeth-whitening-easter-promo/

 

As part of their New Better Health campaign, the NHS has launched a new app focused on improving children’s food choices. The new campaign comes as statistics revealed that more parents fed their children unhealthy snacks throughout the pandemic than before. Since the beginning of the pandemic, obesity in children has risen, affecting 1 in 4 children of reception school age.

The new app comes with a scan, swipe, and swap feature, allowing parents to scan foods and discover healthier alternatives. Here, we will look at the new app and how it might help protect our children’s oral health, as well as their overall health.

What is the new app?

The NHS food scanner app lets you scan the barcodes of foods. It then lets you swipe to discover healthier alternatives. You can then swap to the recommended foods the next time you do your food shop.

The app also comes with additional features to teach you and your children more about the foods you eat. Traffic light ratings are used to help you clearly see which foods contain high, medium, and low amounts of fat, salt, and sugar. All your scans are saved and can be accessed at any time. This allows you to go back and see which foods are the better options.

Could it really help to tackle obesity?

The NHS food scanner app could help to tackle obesity as it clearly shows healthier replacements. Often parents get stuck when it comes to choosing a healthy diet for their children. There is a lot of contradictory advice out there, making it difficult to know what you should and shouldn’t consume.

Another benefit is that it makes parents more conscious about what they are feeding their children. The app has received a lot of praise from those who have tried it. Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, states:

“As a busy working mum, I find it hard to say no to my kid’s demands and often give in to snack pressure – even though I know it’s not good for them. I had no idea some foods were so high in sugar, saturated fat, and salt – so it’s great that the app gives you alternatives.”

One of the best things about the app is that it lets you make small changes that are easy to maintain. Obesity isn’t the only health issue the new app could help with. It could also greatly benefit your oral health too.

Why it could also be great for children’s oral health

The app encourages healthier food choices, including cutting back on sugary snacks. This is great news for your family’s teeth. The rise in unhealthy snacks throughout the pandemic is starting to show, with many children requiring fillings and treatment for diet-related damage to the teeth.

Poor oral health can lead to a range of other health troubles. Eating a healthy diet is key to keeping the teeth and gums healthy at any age. Getting used to regular brushing, a healthy diet and dentist visits will mean huge benefits to a child’s health in the long run.

If your children need to see the dentist, we offer dental check-ups for children for £30. Book your appointment at our family dentistry clinic in Clifton Village, by calling 0117 472 1600.