Patient Newsletter
Did You Know?.......
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ANIMAL DENTAL TRIVIA
Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the human
Dogs have 42 teeth while cats have 30 teeth.
body; however, we do NOT recommend that you use
Pigs
teeth.to open bottles!!
your have
pearly44whites
Armadillos have as many as 104 teeth.
Sharks
have an
unlimited
supply
of 48
teeth.
The average
person
spends
about
seconds per
Rabbits’,
squirrels’
and
rodents’
teeth
never stop at
daybrushing their teeth, but dentists recommend
growing.
They keep them worn down by gnawing on
least
hard
foods like bark.
2-3 minutes.
Even though whales are very big, some of them
don’t
have any
teeth.
have is
rows
of stiff
hair-than
The plaque
found
on They
your teeth
home
to more
like
combs
that
take
food
from
the
ocean.
300 different species of bacteria!
Snails are very small but they have thousands of
tiny
all lined
up in –rows.
6 is teeth
the magic
number
magic number of feet away
Minnows
have
teeth
in theirstore
throat.
from your toilet you should
your toothbrush in
A
crocodile
replaces
its
teeth
over
40 times
in a
order to avoid airborne particles
from
toilet flushing
lifetime.
making their way on to your bristles – yuck!!
Turtles and tortoises are toothless.
A mosquito
has is
47no
teeth.
snail’s mouth
larger than the head of a pin, but
An
elephant’s
tooth
can weigh
can contain over 25,000
teeth!over 6 pounds. That’s
heavier than a big jug of milk!
Fangs
are
not found with
in allbristles
snakes,
butmade
all snakes
do in
The first
toothbrush
was
in China
have
– usually
6 rows
The
teeth
are
1498 teeth
– using
hair from
hogs,worth.
horses
and
badgers
curved backwards, just like the barbs on a fishing
hook, which keeps their prey from escaping.
Issue 6 – June 2016
Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday
Wednesdays
Friday
9am – 5pm
9am – 5.30pm
9am – Variable
Emergency treatment
If you have pain or urgent treatment needs, phone the surgery
and we will try to book you in as soon as possible.
If the surgery is closed when you call and you are suffering
from severe pain, hang up and dial 111 for the NHS
emergency out of hour’s service. Calls to this number are free.
If you need to contact the emergency services, you will be
assessed as to urgency and will be advised of appropriate
options. This could be advice on self-medication, attendance
to the A&E or treatment at a Dental Access Centre, GDP,
Bristol Dental Hospital or an out of hours treatment centre in
Bath or Bristol.
Special Offer!
We are still offering tooth whitening at the
special price of £150 per upper or lower arch – a
saving of £40.00! Even further savings could be
made if you have both done together at the
special offer price of £280 – a massive discount
of £100!!!
If you wish to take advantage of this offer, or
would like more information, you can contact us
by phone, email or through our website. We will
assess that you are suitable for tooth whitening
and give you some idea of the results you could
expect.
Mr A A D Reed, BDS(Lon), LDSRCS(Eng.), MFGDP(UK)
3, Wells Road, Radstock. BA3 3RN. Tel: 01761 436279. Email [email protected]
www.wellshilldentalsurgery.co.uk
Dental Erosion
What is dental erosion?
Erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid attack. Enamel is the hard, protective coating of
the tooth, which protects the sensitive dentine underneath. When the enamel is worn away, the
dentine underneath is exposed, which may lead to pain and sensitivity.
How do I know I have dental erosion?
Erosion usually shows up as hollows in the teeth and a general wearing away of the tooth surface and biting edges. This
can expose the dentine underneath, which is a darker, yellower colour than the enamel.
Because the dentine is sensitive, your teeth can also be more sensitive to heat and cold, or
acidic foods and drinks.
What causes dental erosion?
Every time you eat or drink anything acidic, the enamel on your teeth becomes softer for a
short while, and loses some of its mineral content. Your saliva will slowly cancel out this acidity in your mouth and get it
back to its natural balance. However, if this acid attack happens too often, your mouth does not
have a chance to repair itself and tiny bits of enamel can be brushed away. Over time, you start to
lose the surface of your teeth.
Are there any medical problems which can cause dental erosion?
Bulimia is a condition where patients make themselves sick so that they lose weight. Because there
are high levels of acid in the vomit, this can cause damage to tooth enamel.
Acids produced by the stomach can come up into the mouth (this is called gastro-oesophageal reflux). People suffering
from hiatus hernia or oesophageal problems, or who drink too much alcohol, may also find they suffer from dental erosion
due to vomiting.
Can my diet help prevent dental erosion?
Acidic foods and drinks can cause erosion. Acidity is measured by its ‘pH value', and anything that has a pH value lower
than 5.5 is more acidic and can harm your teeth.
Fizzy drinks, sodas, pops and carbonated drinks can cause erosion. It is important to remember that even the ‘diet'
brands are still harmful. Even flavoured fizzy waters can have an effect if drunk in large amounts, as they contain weak
acids which can harm your teeth.
Acidic foods and drinks such as fruit and fruit juices - particularly citrus ones including lemon and orange - contain natural
acids which can be harmful to your teeth, especially if you have a lot of them often. ‘Alcopops', ‘coolers' and ‘designer
drinks' that contain acidic fruits and are fizzy can cause erosion too.
Plain, still water is the best drink for teeth. Milk is also good because it helps to cancel out the acids in your mouth.
Are sports drinks safe?
Many sports drinks contain ingredients that can cause dental erosion as well as decay. However, it is important for
athletes to avoid dehydration because this can lead to a dry mouth and bad breath.
What can I do to prevent dental erosion?
There are a number of things you can do:
 Have acidic food and drinks, and fizzy drinks, sodas and pops, just at mealtimes. This will reduce the number of
acid attacks on your teeth.
 Drink quickly, without holding the drink in your mouth or ‘swishing' it around your mouth. Or use a straw to help
drinks go to the back of your mouth and avoid long contact with your teeth.
 Finish a meal with cheese or milk as this will help cancel out the acid.
 Chew sugar-free gum after eating. This will help produce more saliva to help cancel out the acids which form in
your mouth after eating.
 Wait for at least one hour after eating or drinking anything acidic before brushing your teeth. This gives your teeth
time to build up their mineral content again.
 Brush your teeth last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with fluoride toothpaste. Use a
small-headed brush with medium to soft bristles.
Should I use any other special products?
As well as using a fluoride toothpaste, your dental team may suggest you use a fluoridecontaining mouthwash and have a fluoride varnish applied at least every six months. They
may also prescribe toothpaste with more fluoride in it.
How can it be treated?
Early dental erosion does not always need to be treated. With regular check-ups and
advice your dental team can prevent the problem getting any worse and the erosion going
any further. If a tooth does need treatment, it is important to protect the enamel and the dentine underneath to prevent
sensitivity. Usually, simply bonding a filling onto the tooth will be enough to repair it. However, in more severe cases the
dentist may need to fit a veneer or crown.