Link found between

Alzheimer’s and poor

dental health

 25/04/2016 People   with   poor   oral   hygiene   could   be   at   higher risk    of    developing    Alzheimer's    compared    with those    who    have    healthy    mouths,    according    to recent    research    from    the    University    of    Central Lancashire         (UCLan).         The         presence         of porphyromonas      gingivalis      in      the      brains      of patients   who   had   dementia   when   they   were   alive. The   bacterium   is   usually   associated   with   chronic periodontal disease. The   study,   published   in   the   Journal   of   Alzheimer's Disease,   looked   at   10   brain   samples   from   patients with   dementia   which   were   donated   for   analysis by   a   scheme   called   Brains   for   Dementia   Research, alongside   10   brain   samples   from   people   who   had not   had   the   disease.   Examination   of   the   samples revealed    the    presence    of    the    porphyromonas gingivalis   in   the   samples   of   the   brains   affected   by Alzheimer's. These   bacteria   are   usually   found   in   oral   cavities, and    enter    the    blood    stream    through    chewing, eating   and   brushing   teeth.   However,   it   is   more likely    to    enter    the    blood    stream    after    invasive dental    treatment,    where    it    is    possible    that    the bacteria     can     enter     the     brain     regularly,     the researchers   say.   Each   time   the   bacteria   enter   the brain,   the   researchers   note,   this   could   potentially trigger    immune    system    responses,    causing    the release   of   excess   chemicals   that   can   kill   neurons. The   researchers   say   that   this   activity   could   lead   to symptoms    such    as    confusion    and    deteriorating memory     -     typical     symptoms     of     Alzheimer's disease.

Blog

National Smile Month 2016-

Happy 40th Birthday!

 17/05/2016 National   Smile   Month   (16th   May-16th   June)   is   the UK’s     largest     and     longest-running     campaign     to promote good oral health. Together,     with     thousands     of     individuals     and organisations,     National     Smile     Month     highlights three   key   messages,   all   of   which   go   a   long   way   in helping   us   develop   and   maintain   a   healthy   mouth. They are:             Brush   your   teeth   last   thing   at   night   and   on   at least one other occasion with a fluoride toothpaste.             Cut   down   on   how   often   you   have   sugary   foods and drinks.                 Visit    your    dentist    regularly,    as    often    as    they recommend. The   aim   of   National   Smile   Month   is   to   ultimately improve    the    UK’s    oral    health.    Organised    by    oral health    charity,    the    Oral    Health    Foundation,    the campaign   hopes   to   raise   awareness   of   important health   issues,   and   make   a   positive   difference   to   the oral health of millions. And    this    year,    the    campaign    celebrates    a    very special landmark… it’s 40th Birthday!

The Benefits of teeth

whitening

 13/01/2017 The   perfect   white   smile   is   increasingly   fundamental to   the   image   of   a   confident   and   attractive   person. Movie     stars,     smooth     sportsmen     and     glamorous models   all   have   that   flawless   Hollywood   smile.   Teeth whitening   has   thus   grown   hugely   in   recent   years   as more   and   more   people   strive   to   have   the   lovely   white teeth    which    were    once    the    remit    of    only    the    very wealthy.      But      thanks      to      advances      in      dental techniques,   today   more   or   less   anybody   can   whiten their teeth dramatically. Tea,   coffee   and   red   wine   are   but   a   few   examples   of the   things   we   all   like   to   indulge   in   which   contribute   to teeth   staining.   That   morning   Americano   which   perks us   up;   the   glass   of   Shiraz   in   front   of   the   TV   after   a hard    day’s    work    unfortunately    come    with    a    price. Over   time,   compounds   in   these   drinks   discolour   the teeth   from   their   natural   light   yellow   colour   to   much darker and duller tones. Whitening   should   only   be   performed   by   a   registered dentist   in   an   appropriate   setting;   whitening   offered by   unqualified   stylists   in   salons   is   in   fact   illegal   and can     be     dangerous.     If     you     pay     for     professional whitening,   your   dentist   will   take   impressions   to   have bespoke   trays   made   which   fit   your   teeth   exactly.   You will    then    use    a    bleaching    gel    over    the    course    of around     one     2-4     weeks     to     whiten     your     teeth progressively    by    several    shades.    Over    the    counter home   whitening   kits   are   more   generic   so   won’t   fit everyone’s   teeth   well   and   the   concentration   of   the active     ingredient     is     considerably     less     than     in professional   systems,   meaning   the   whitening   effect   is unlikely to last as long. During   the   treatment   you   will   have   consultations   to ensure   the   trays   are   secure   and   the   bleaching   gel   is working.   Sometimes,   conditions   such   as   gum   disease or   having   multiple   crowns   make   cosmetic   whitening unsuitable,   although   it   is   perfectly   suitable   for   most adults.    Professional    Whitening    is    easy,    safe    and effective   and   any   ocassional   sensitivity   can   be   easily managed. At   ARK   Dental   we   charge   £295   for   whitening;   given the    expertise    needed    to    fit    specific    trays    and    the multiple     consultations     we     provide     to     check     the bleaching   is   working,   we   believe   our   pricing   is   very conservative   for   something   which   has   the   potential to   make   a   huge   impact   on   your   smile   and   overall confidence.

How to get straight teeth (for

adults)

 24/10/2017 If    you    are    an    adult    and    self    conscious    about    your smile   then   you   may   have   been   wondering   how   you can    get    straight    teeth.    Cosmetic    orthodontics    is    a realistic    option    for    most    people    and    has    recently grown    in    popularity.    The    procedure    is    less    invasive than   porcelain   veneers   and   can   often   be   done   in   6-9 months.