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More than 6,700 people in the UK were diagnosed with mouth cancer last year. The disease has increased by a third in the last decade, and remains one of the few cancers predicted to rise in the future. Mouth cancer claims over 2,000 lives every year – more than cervical and testicular cancer combined.

There are factors that increase the chance of developing the disease, but mouth cancer can affect anybody – that’s why raising awareness of this silent killer is so important.

Mouth Cancer Action Month

Throughout November, the British Dental Health Foundation aims to get more mouth cancers diagnosed early. When caught in the early stages, there’s a 90% chance of surviving the disease. But late diagnosis slashes the survival rate to just 50%.

Take action on mouth cancer

Check your teeth and gums when you clean your teeth. If you notice anything unusual, see your dentist. Regular dental checkups are essential. When examining your mouth, your dentist can see problems in their early stages that you can’t see yourself – including mouth cancer.

The key things to remember are:

• Don’t leave a mouth ulcer unattended for more than three weeks
• Don’t ignore an unusual lump, swelling or red and white patches in your mouth
• If in doubt, get it checked out – early detection could save your life

What causes mouth cancer?

Understanding the risk factors that can lead to mouth cancer will help everyone make better choices that can help avoid the disease:

Poor diet

More than half of cases in the UK are linked to a poor diet. Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, especially those rich in rich in vitamins A, C and E, keeps the body body fit and healthy and reduces the risk all cancers, including mouth cancer.

Tobacco and alcohol

Tobacco and alcohol are behind most cases of mouth cancer. If tobacco and alcohol are consumed together the risk is even greater.

Tobacco in all its forms is harmful to health: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and chewing tobacco with substances such as betel quid, gutkha and paan. If you smoke or are addicted to tobacco products get help from your doctor to stop.

Drinking alcohol to excess is linked to around a third of all cases of mouth cancer. To protect yourself, cut down the amount you drink. Moderate drinking, such as a glass of wine here and there is much safer than consuming a whole bottle in a single evening.

Sun damage

Over-exposure to sunlight increases the risk of cancer of the lips. Use a specialist lipscreen alongside your sunscreen if you’re going to be out in the sun a lot and avoid sunbeds.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer and affects the skin that lines the moist areas of the body. HPV can spread through oral sex, and research now suggests that it could soon rival smoking and drinking as one of the main causes of mouth cancer. Practicing safe sex and limiting the number of partners may reduce the chance of contracting HPV.

Get involved – #bluelipselfie

As part of Mouth Cancer Action Month, the BDA have launched the Blue Lip Selfie campaign. So if you want to support mouth cancer awareness, all you need to do is:

1. Wear blue lipstick or a set of blue lips and take a selfie of yourself or alongside family, friends or colleagues
2. Share your selfie on your Facebook or Twitter account using the hashtag #bluelipselfie
3. Make a donation to the British Dental Health Foundation

If you’re worried about mouth cancer, please call Sharoe Green Dental Practice on 01772 981201.

Many people are unhappy with the way their teeth look when they smile. Crowded or gappy teeth, cross bites and protruding teeth can make you feel self-conscious. And have an impact on your confidence that you’ve lived with for years.

Getting braces once meant having fixed metal retainers – not a viable option for many adults. Now orthodontics offers discreet options that fit into your lifestyle. Invisalign can give you beautiful straight teeth. And hardly anyone will know you’re wearing them.

How does Invisalign work?

The Invisalign system is a series of clear aligners that are custom made to fit your teeth. You’ll wear each set for 20 – 22 hours a day for 2 weeks, then switch to the next one. Little by little, your teeth will move towards their new position.

5 questions to ask your Invisalign provider

Invisalign is an investment of your time and money. So it’s natural that you want to have confidence in your Invisalign provider. Here are some questions to ask when you’re thinking about getting Invisalign braces:

1. What experience do you have in using Invisalign to treat patients?
Share Green is a Platinum Invisalign Provider. This means we are a leading practice for Invisalign in our area.

2. Have you treated cases like mine in the past?
Having successfully treated many patients with Invisalign, it’s very likely some of them were cases similar to yours. We can discuss this in detail at your appointment.

3. Can I speak to patients who have had Invisalign treatment with you?
Yes, we will gladly put you in touch with some of our patients who have been treated with Invisalign at Sharoe Green Dental Practice.

4. How long will my treatment take to complete?
We will give you an estimate of how long your treatment will take using our 3D virtual treatment plan. As a rough guide, treatment often takes between 9 and 18 months.

5. Do you offer flexible payment plans?
Yes. Please ask us for more details at your appointment.

Invisalign reviews

Marie had felt self-conscious about her gappy teeth her whole life. She’d always wanted to do something about it. But, as a teacher, wearing fixed braces under the scrutiny of her students was not an option.

When Clare’s sister asked her to be her bridesmaid, she was thrilled but also dreaded the idea of the wedding photos. She wanted to be able to smile without worrying about people seeing her crooked teeth.

How much does Invisalign cost?

Feeling good about yourself is something you can’t put a price on. But in the real world, we are all bound by budget. The cost of Invisalign depends on your teeth and the length of treatment you’ll need. Invisalign starts from £1500 depending on how many aligners you need. Come and see us at Sharoe Green Dental Practice in Fulwood, Preston for a free of charge consultation.

It’s National Smile Month (May 19 – June 19), and the spotlight is on the UK’s teeth and gums. This massive oral health campaign by the British Dental Foundation aims to get everyone thinking about their oral health. The campaign has 3 key messages:

• Brush your teeth for 2 minutes twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks
• Visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend

Brushing our teeth, using a fluoride toothpaste and visiting the dentist regularly are easy steps we can take to protect our teeth. But cutting down on sugary foods and drinks is easier said than done. Modern life means we often have to eat and run. And it’s not always easy to work out which foods and drinks are better than others.

We all know that sugar, fizzy drinks and sweets are bad for our teeth. So when we reach for “healthy options” are they really better for our teeth?

“Healthy” snacks that harm teeth

• Citrus Fruits: Lemons, limes and grapefruits are fine in moderation. But being acidic, eating too much too often can spell disaster for tooth enamel.
• Dried Fruit: Sweet and sticky dried fruit makes a satisfying snack. But it also gets stuck all over our teeth and feeds the bacteria that leads to cavities.
• Carbs: Surprisingly, rice, pasta and bread can be bad for teeth. It’s because enzymes in saliva break carbohydrates down into sugar, which helps form acid. Eating wholegrain is better than refined white carbs, but both have the potential to harm tooth enamel.
• Fruit juice: Even unsweetened natural fruit juice contains lots of (natural) sugar. Some fruit juices, such as cranberry, can be as acid as vinegar.

When we snack really matters

Recent thinking suggests it’s not just what we eat, it’s when we eat it that matters. Strategic snacking could help protect our teeth and allow us to eat the naughty things we enjoy – in moderation.

• Eat 3 meals a day
• Have no more than 2 snacks each day
• Have sugary foods around mealtimes

Healthy snack swap guide

How to limit the damage

We’re all human, and there are times when we just won’t be able to resist a sugary treat. Eating and drinking sweet things at mealtimes – rather than in between meals – is better for teeth. It might seem like a good idea to brush teeth straight after eating or drinking, but it’s actually better to rinse your mouth with water. Or eat a piece of cheese to neutralise the acid. And if you have to have fruit juice or pop, drink it through a straw to help keep the drink away from your teeth as much as possible.

We hope these tips help you keep our smile happy. If you’d like more advice about oral health, please get in touch with our friendly team at Sharoe Green Dental Practice.

Anybody who has ever had a toothache will testify that it’s one of the worst pains imaginable. When you hear the word ‘tooth pain’ it sounds pretty harmless. It isn’t until you actually experience a toothache that you realise just how unbearable it can be. So what exactly is it and why does it occur?

Understanding tooth pain

Tooth pain can affect the teeth and the jaws and it is considered to be the first sign of tooth decay. It affects people differently. Some will feel constant pain, while for others it will come and go. You may also find that eating or drinking something makes the problem worse. This typically occurs with foods that are either really hot or really cold. Many people also notice the pain is worse at nights than at any other time of day.

You’ll get tooth pain when the dental pulp located in the innermost layer of the tooth is inflamed. Dental pulp basically refers to delicate tissue that contains numerous blood vessels and sensitive nerves. There are many potential causes of inflamed dental pulp and the main ones include:

• Tooth decay
• Damage to the tooth
• Broken or loose fillings
• Periapical abscess
• Receding gums

When you suffer with tooth decay, it causes small cavities in the hard surface of your tooth. You may also have some damage to the tooth, such as a small crack. Often these cracks are extremely tiny and difficult for the naked eye to see.

If you have a bacterial infection, it can cause pus to build up at the end of the tooth. A Periapical abscess can be extremely painful.

Finally receding gums can expose the softer, sensitive roots of a tooth and that can lead to a lot of pain and discomfort.

Other causes of tooth pain

While the majority of tooth pain is caused by a problem with the dental pulp, there are a few other causes that could be to blame. These include:

• Ulcers
• Periodontal abscess
• Swollen gums
• Joint injury in the jaw
• Sinusitis

A collection of pus could form in the gums if you have a bacterial infection. If a tooth is breaking through, you could also experience pain and swelling in the gums surrounding it. Or there could be a problem with the joint in the jaw.

If you are planning on getting away for some sun in the final few months of the year, you may be interested to learn more about some of the facts surrounding holidays and how particular types of holiday can have implications on your oral health.

Beach holidays and trips to hot countries are understandably a very common choice of holiday for British people. These types of holidays are not quite as popular with dentists, however, as the warmer climates often encourage a short but intensive change in dietary habits for the duration of the holiday.

Spending time on such holidays more often than not leads to an increased intake in food and drink products that have a high sugar content and/or are highly acidic. Such products include ice cream, candies, carbonated soft drinks, ciders, red wines, olives and vinaigrettes.

Maintaining a conscious effort to eat healthily whilst on holiday and with the recommended eating routine of three square meals a day will limit the vulnerability of your teeth to attack from sugary and acidic products.

If you would like an assessment of your oral health, or further advice on how to keep your teeth and gums healthy, please do not hesitate to contact us via our website or directly by telephone at the practice.

Below are several useful tips that may help ease your concerns about making an appointment to visit the dentist:

• Speak to people you know who have had dental treatment. Ask them about how comfortable their dentists made them feel, and how they felt about the treatment they received. Consult as many people as you feel necessarily, and select your dentist from the recommendation you either trust most or were most impressed by. If possible, ask the person who referred you to your new dentist to attend your appointment with you.
• Prior to making a firm booking with a dental practice, ask the practice you are thinking about visiting about coming to see them so that they can show you around their premises and introduce you to their team. Explain to them that the reason for this is that you are not feeling very confident about visiting the dentist, and this should prompt them to do everything in their power to make you feel at ease.
• Something to remember when you come to book your appointment is to try to book it as early in the day as possible. It sounds simple, but by booking an early morning appointment you will spend less of your day worrying and will be far less anxious by the time you see your dentist.
• Essentially, there is genuinely nothing to worry about in terms of your first appointment. Your first trip to the dentist will merely be a consultation, and if any further treatment is required, it will almost be certainly scheduled for a different day. It is highly unlikely that any of the dental treatments you dread will be performed during your initial consultation.
• If it is cosmetic dental surgery that you are ultimately interested in, then it would be a good idea to try a less intensive treatment first (such as polishing or teeth whitening) in order to allow you to become accustomed with receiving dental treatment. From here, you may feel more willing to approach the prospect of the treatments you are more interested in which require more work.
• If you do require a procedure or treatment that you feel worried or anxious about, then discuss this with your dentist before it commences. If possible, ask him if there will be opportunities for the dentist to allow you to stop him when you feel it is necessary. This is usually done by some form of physical signal (for example, raising of a hand).

Approximately 25% of the population admit to feeling nervous and sometimes even afraid of a visit to the dentist. What is important for such patients to keep in mind is the dentists nowadays are made very much aware of statistics such as this, and are trained to make their patients feel more at ease and comfortable to undergo dental examinations and treatment.

There is an association made in many people’s minds between a visit to the dentist and needles/injections. For people whose fear of the dentist stems from this type of relationship, it may be worth while learning that the technology used in the dental wand now allows anaesthesia to be administered at such a methodical rate that it minimises pain. A numbing gel is also available prior to injections which will nullify the feeling in the gums so that if a needle injection is required, it can be performed without being felt by the patient.

Teeth are vital to our overall health, helping us to bite and chew food. How much do you know about them?

Milk teeth

Babies’ teeth begin to develop before they are born, but in most cases don’t come through until they’re between 6 and 12 months old. Most children have a full set of 20 milk or baby teeth by the time they’re three years old. When they reach five or six, these teeth will start to fall out, making way for adult teeth.

Adult teeth

By the age of 12 to 14, most children have lost all their baby teeth and have their adult teeth. There are 32 adult teeth in total, 12 more than in the baby set. The last four of these, called wisdom teeth, usually emerge later than the others, generally between the ages of 17 and 21.
Wisdom teeth removal

If wisdom teeth don’t come through properly, or at all, it may be necessary to have them removed.

What are teeth made of?

The part of the tooth that you can see above the gum is called the crown. This is covered in hard, shiny enamel. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body and protects the more sensitive inner parts of the tooth.
Underneath this is the dentine, a sensitive substance that makes up most of the tooth. Dentine is a hard substance, though not quite as hard as enamel.
Dentine protects the inner part of the tooth, called the pulp. The pulp is where each tooth’s blood supply and nerve endings are found. The blood supply is what keeps the teeth alive and healthy. The nerve endings send messages to the brain, such as whether you’re eating something hot or cold or if you have a decayed or damaged tooth.
The pulp goes all the way into the root of the tooth, which is hidden under your gum. Cementum covers the root of the tooth, and periodontal fibres connect the tooth to the jawbone.

Types of teeth

There are four different types of teeth:

Incisors: These are your four front teeth on the top and bottom jaw. They’re used for cutting and chopping food.
Canine teeth: These are sharp, pointy teeth. You have one on each side of your incisors on your top and bottom jaw, making a total of four. They help to tear food.
Premolars: Next to your canine teeth are your premolars (also called bicuspid teeth). You have eight premolars in total, four on your top jaw and four on the bottom. They are bigger and wider than your incisors and canine teeth, and are used for crushing and grinding food.
Molars: You have eight molars, four on top and four on the bottom. These are your strongest teeth and work with your tongue to help you swallow food, mashing it up until it’s ready to be swallowed safely.

There are many misconceptions surrounding how often people believe they need to visit their dentist for a routine check-up, and that is because the frequency at which a person needs to see their dentist is relevant to the individual. For example, a dentist may wish to see a patient again after three months if a problem or condition has been identified, whereas a patient with good oral health may not need another appointment for up to two years.

The main reason that dentists recommend routine check-ups is so that any dental issues or conditions that could conceivably arise are not left untreated and therefore allowed to cause significant harm to your oral health. As with many medical or health conditions, the earlier the point at which they are identified, the more efficiently and effectively they can be dealt with.

A standard dental appointment should involve:

a) a discussion of any problems a patient has been having with the teeth, gums, or mouth.

b) a thorough examination of the teeth, gums, and mouth.

c) a discussion about how general lifestyle and dietary habits may be affecting your oral health.

d) advice on effective tooth brushing and cleaning, and which methods and products would be best suited to your needs.

e) a clear recommendation on a recall period and how soon you should be soon for your next dental appoint.

We are running Invisalign open days on the 4th and 18th March, where patients can save £1000 on the cost of Invisalign Full treatments, reducing the cost to £2750. Patients need to phone the practice to book in for a free of charge consultation. We have also created an only form so you can book anytime of the day. Why not book your appointment today!