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Five New Year’s Food Swaps for Healthy Teeth

Thursday, January 18th, 2018

Many people start a new year with plans to embrace healthy eating. Usually, this is linked to improving your health and losing weight, but it can also be hugely beneficial for your dental health. If you’re on a health kick and you’re keen to protect your smile at the same time, here are 5 food swaps to try:

  1. Sugary cereals for porridge: many popular cereals contain a lot of sugar, so keep an eye out when you’re at the supermarket. Even healthy-seeming options like granola and muesli can be laden with sugar. Porridge is an excellent choice because it is naturally low in sugar and high in fibre and it releases energy slowly, so you shouldn’t need to snack. If you have a sweet tooth, add a teaspoon of honey or a handful of berries rather than sprinkling sugar on the top.
  2. Ice cream for yoghurt: ice cream season is over, but the good news is that there’s a tooth-friendly, weather-friendly alternative on offer. Natural yoghurt is a great substitute for ice cream. It is rich in calcium and you can add fresh berries, apple, pear, mango or banana to sweeten it up.
  3. Fizzy drinks for sugar-free cordial: fizzy drinks are among the most harmful products you can buy in terms of your dental health. These drinks are packed with sugar, but they’re also acidic. To cut down your sugar intake and protect your enamel, opt for sugar-free cordial, water or milk instead.
  4. Shop-bought smoothies for homemade creations: smoothies are often marketed as a healthy alternative to fizzy drinks, but if you look at the labels, you’ll find that many products you buy in stores and cafes contain a lot of added sugar. Instead of buying smoothies, make your own at home. This allows you to control the sugar content and you’ll also save money.
  5. Popcorn for almonds: popcorn has become an increasingly popular snack. Marketed as a healthy, low-calorie snack, popcorn isn’t quite as saintly as it may seem. It tends to get stuck in your teeth and the hard kernels can also break and chip the teeth. Instead of snacking on popcorn, indulge in a handful of almonds instead. Almonds contain calcium and they also have low sugar content.

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Five Tips to Taking Care of Your Teeth Into the New Year

Thursday, December 28th, 2017

If you’re thinking about what you want to achieve in 2018, why not put keeping your smile in pristine condition at the top of your list of resolutions? There’s nothing more attractive than a bright, healthy looking smile, and thankfully, this is resolution that is pretty easy to stick to. Here are 5 tips you’ll need to take care of your teeth in the New Year:

  1. Brush twice a day, every single day: can you find 2 minutes every morning and evening? If so, use your time wisely and brush your teeth. Good oral hygiene will help you to reduce the risk of decay, gum disease and several other health problems.
  2. Check in with your dentist: if it’s been a long time since your last dental visit, now is the time to start looking after your oral health and ensuring you have a check-up every 6-9 months.
  3. Be mouth aware: with dental issues, the longer you leave them, the worse they get, so being mouth aware can be incredibly beneficial. Look out for signs such as pain, swelling, sore gums, bleeding when you brush and sensitivity and see your dentist as soon as possible if you do have problems.
  4. Floss: brushing does a great job of cleaning your mouth, but you can’t brush properly between the teeth. This is where flossing comes in handy. Floss daily to prevent plaque and keep your smile sparkling.
  5. Watch what you eat (and drink): many of us make a vow to eat well in the New Year, but losing festive weight is not the only reason to improve your diet. Diet has a major impact on oral health, so try and avoid snacking, don’t exceed the recommended daily sugar intake and ensure your diet is packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

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Three Tips to Keeping Your Teeth Clean this Christmas

Wednesday, December 20th, 2017

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for a lot of reasons, but it can also be a difficult time, especially when it comes to your oral health. If you are keen to keep dental dramas at bay, here are 3 tips to help you keep your teeth clean this Christmas:

  1. Brush twice a day: polls suggest that a large proportion of people only brush once a day, despite advice from dentists to clean the teeth twice a day. Brushing is a means of removing food debris and bacteria from the mouth and reducing the risk of plaque formation. When you brush, use gentle circular strokes, brush along the gum line and use fluoride toothpaste.
  1. Clean between the teeth: brushing is brilliant, but it can’t clean the entire mouth. It’s impossible to fit a brush head between the teeth and this is why cleaning the gaps between the teeth is so important. You can either use dental floss or inter-dental brushes, which are tiny hand-held brushes that are specially designed to clean between the teeth.
  1. Avoid snacking: it’s not just important to keep an eye on what you eat. It’s also beneficial to think about when you eat. When you eat, bacteria in the mouth start to feed and this causes them to release acids, which erode the enamel. If you eat throughout the day, this means that your enamel never has chance to recover, making the teeth susceptible to damage and decay.

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Five Tooth-Kind Christmas Food Swaps

Monday, December 11th, 2017

Christmas is a time of year when many of us tear up the diet rulebooks and go to town with edible treats. While it’s enjoyable to indulge your taste buds at this time of year, spare a thought for your teeth. If you’re keen to preserve your smile, here are 5 tooth-friendly food swaps to consider:

  1. Honey-roasted ham for salmon: ham is a traditional crowd-pleaser at Christmas, but if you’ve basted the joint in treacle, cola or honey, the sugar content will increase significantly. Instead of a honey-roasted ham this year, why not opt for salmon instead? You can use salmon as a main dish or create tasty canapes. Salmon is rich in omega oils and essential fats, which help to keep your gum healthy.
  2. Full fat for diet drinks: if you’re cracking open the pop or choosing mixers to go with spirits, opt for diet versions, as they contain very little sugar. Although diet drinks are sugar-free, they are still acidic, so use a straw and avoid drinking them between meals.
  3. Christmas pudding for a cheese board: Christmas pudding may taste great, but it’s packed with sugar and sticky raisins that will cling to the teeth. Instead, opt for a cheese board. Cheese is high in calcium and it also has a high pH value, which helps to neutralize acids in the mouth.
  4. Sugary cereals for porridge: it’s Christmas morning and you need plenty of energy to get through the day. Instead of reaching for sugary breakfast cereals, make a bowl of porridge. Porridge oats are high in fibre, they release energy slowly and they have a much lower sugar content. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, add blueberries, a banana or a spoonful of honey.
  5. Eggnog for prosecco: if you’re having a drink this Christmas, choose prosecco instead of eggnog. Prosecco has a much lower sugar content and it’s also less calorific. Try and stick to drinking at mealtimes only, as prosecco is acidic.

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Five ways to reduce bad breath in Liverpool

Friday, November 24th, 2017

Do you suffer from bad breath? If so, we are here to help! Bad breath is a very common dental health problem, but it can be easily rectified. Here are 5 ways you can reduce bad breath in Liverpool:

  1. Brush up! Brushing your teeth is the best weapon against bad breath, as it removes harmful bacteria from your mouth. Spend at least 2 minutes every morning and evening cleaning your teeth with fluoride toothpaste.
  2. Stop smoking: smoking is one of the most significant causes of bad breath. If you’d like to try and quit smoking, we have an expert team on hand to offer advice and provide support and encouragement.
  3. Avoid food triggers: many people find that they develop bad breath after eating certain foods. If this sounds familiar, it’s a good idea to keep a food diary so that you can pinpoint which foods are giving you grief. You can then avoid these triggers and enjoy peace of mind.
  4. Chew sugar-free gum: chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production, which helps to neutralise acids in your mouth, but it also helps to get rid of odours and freshen your breath. It’s a good idea to carry gum with you if you tend to get bad breath after eating or drinking.
  5. See your dentist: if you have bad breath on a persistent basis or you’re worried that the situation is getting worse, see your dentist. Bad breath can be a sign of underlying dental health issues and we can offer treatments to banish bad breath for good.

If bad breath is getting you down, call now and book an appointment!

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Four Food Swaps For Healthy Teeth this October

Friday, October 27th, 2017

When you’re designing menus or perusing the supermarket aisles, don’t just consider your waistline. We tend to focus on losing weight or being healthier, but we often forget our oral health. This October, why not try these food swaps for healthier smiles?

Dried fruit for fresh fruit: fruit contains sugar, but these sugars are natural and fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals. Dried fruits have become a very popular snack, but they’re often doused in added sugar and they’re often not as healthy as you may think.

Ice cream for Greek yoghurt: it’s chilly outside and ice cream season is over. This autumn, swap sugary ice creams and lollies for healthy, calcium-rich natural Greek yoghurt. Yoghurt is filling, it’s tasty and it’s really good for your teeth. Add some fresh berries or a spoonful of honey for flavour.

Sugary cereals for porridge: many popular breakfast cereals are laden with sugar and you can reduce your daily sugar consumption significantly by starting the day in the right way. Instead of filling a bowl with sugary puffs, balls or hoops, go for porridge. Porridge oats release energy slowly, they contain fibre and they have low sugar content.

Fizzy drinks for milk: fizzy drinks are one of the worst offenders when it comes to sugar content. Instead of coating your teeth in sugar with a can of pop, have a glass of milk or a milky cup of tea. Milk contains calcium, which is essential for healthy teeth and bones.

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Three Ways to Protect Your Braces

Friday, October 13th, 2017

If you have braces, it’s important to take good care of them, as well as your teeth. Here are 3 simple tips to help you protect your braces:

  1. Keep your braces clean: it’s essential to keep your braces clean to protect your teeth and gums and ensure your braces are able to function properly. Your dentist will show you how to clean your brace. You can brush as normal or use specially designed instruments to clean around brackets and wires. It’s a good idea to carry a small brush around with you, so that you can remove food debris from your braces after eating.
  2. Store your braces safely: if you have removable braces and you’re taking them out to clean them or before a meal, make sure you store them in a safe place. You don’t want to lose your brace or put it in a place where it may get damaged or broken. It’s best to carry a small container with you.
  3. Watch what you eat: if you have fixed braces, it’s really beneficial to keep an eye on what you eat. Some foods are much easier to eat with braces than others, but there is also a risk that eating certain foods could damage the braces. Try and steer clear of hard foods like boiled sweets and popcorn, as the kernels can be incredibly hard.

If you need any tips to help preserve your braces and prevent damage, we are here to help, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.

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Three Steps to Avoiding Bad Breath

Tuesday, September 26th, 2017

Bad breath is one of those problems nobody wants to admit to, but the reality is that bad breath, also known as halitosis, is very common. It’s very common to suffer from bad breath in the mornings or after eating certain foods that have very strong flavours, but bad breath can also be a sign of underlying dental issues. If you’re keen to keep bad breath at bay, here are 3 simple steps you can take:

  1. Maintain good oral hygiene: good oral hygiene is the best weapon you can use against bad breath. Bad breath is caused by bacteria releasing gases, which have an unpleasant smell. If bacteria aren’t allowed to gather in the first place, there’s no risk of having bad breath. Brushing eliminates bacteria and it can also help to make your mouth feel much fresher and cleaner.
  2. Chew sugar-free gum: if you’re prone to bad breath after eating, it’s a good idea to carry sugar-free gum with you. Chewing gum for a couple of minutes after eating will freshen up your breath. It’s also beneficial for your oral health, as chewing stimulates saliva production and this neutralises acids in your mouth.
  3. See your dental hygienist: if bad breath is a persistent problem, it’s hugely beneficial to see a dental hygienist. Hygienists provide much more powerful cleaning therapies than brushing your teeth and this can help to remove bacteria and prevent further problems.

If bad breath is getting you down, call us now and book an appointment.

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Five Foods to Avoid This September

Monday, September 25th, 2017

Autumn is nearly here, and it’s time to switch up your diet and swap those summer classics for some cold weather staples. Your diet plans an instrumental role when it comes to oral health, so it’s really beneficial to keep an eye on what you eat. Here are 5 things to avoid this September for a healthy smile:

  1. Popcorn: when it’s cold and dark outside, many of us swap nights out for a cosy evening on the sofa with a film and some popcorn. Sadly, as delicious as it may be, popcorn can be very bad for your teeth. The sugary coating, the hard kernels and the starchy content all spell trouble for your pearly whites.
  2. Biscuits: we’re a nation of tea drinkers, and many of us love to dunk a biscuit in our brew. The bad news is that biscuits are full of sugar, which is harmful for your teeth. If you do fancy a treat, try and stick to one or two biscuits with a meal, rather than snacking during the afternoons.
  3. Crisps: crisps are a very popular snack, and while they may not have high sugar content, they tend to get stuck in the pits in your teeth and the starch is broken down into sugars. For a healthy alternative, try whole grain toast or crackers.
  4. Hot chocolate: when its pouring down, there’s nothing more tempting than an indulgent mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream, but spare a thought for your teeth next time you’re ordering at a café. Hot chocolate is full of sugar. Healthier options include hot milk, tea, and herbal tea.
  5. Cake: if you’re having a cup of tea, it’s natural to want a slice of cake. The trouble is that cakes contain all kinds of ingredients that aren’t very good for your health. Sugary toppings, icing and butter cream are bad enough before you even think about the sugar that has been added to the sponge mix.

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Five Ways to Prevent Gum Disease in the Heart of Liverpool

Thursday, August 10th, 2017

At Liverpool Dental Spa, we’re firm believers in the saying, ‘prevention is better than cure.’ Gum disease is the most common cause of adult tooth loss, but it can almost always be prevented. If you’re eager to fend off gum disease, we can help! Here are 5 simple ways to keep your gums healthy:

  1. Brush twice a day: if you don’t already brush your teeth twice a day, now is the time to start. It’s important to clean your teeth before you go to bed and at least one more time per day. Most people brush in the morning and evening. Brushing removes harmful bacteria before it can join forces with saliva and food debris to form plaque. Set a timer to make sure you brush for long enough (at least 2 minutes).
  2. Clean between your teeth: it’s very difficult to clean between your teeth with a normal brush, so use dental floss or inter-dental brushes to achieve a more comprehensive clean.
  3. Book a dental appointment: regular dental appointments can decrease your risk of developing gum disease by up to 60 percent. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the last 9 months, give us a call today. It’s particularly important to get in touch if you’ve noticed warning signs like swollen, sore and bleeding gums.
  4. Watch what you eat: your diet can have a significant influence on your dental health. Try and avoid sugary and acidic foods and drinks to reduce your risk of both decay and gum disease.
  5. Avoid smoking: smoking increases the risk of gum disease. If you’d like help with quitting, we can help.

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