General Health

NHS Dentistry is collapsing.
Find a dentist in your area! Only one third of adults have seen a dentist since the start of COVID. This is largely due to a massive backlog at clinics across the country. Many NHS dental clinics are no longer seeing non-registered patients, even in an emergency. The problem is set to get even bigger!…

Halloween Treats That Won’t Harm Kid’s Teeth!
Halloween is just around the corner! It’s that time of year again where the supermarket shelves fill up with sweet treats and kids go crazy from all of the sugary sweets. While giving kids treats in moderation is fine, at Halloween, things can get a bit out of hand! Why not also try and incorporate…

Dentists Can Spot The Signs of Domestic Abuse
Dentists are undergoing training so they can spot the signs of domestic abuse. Our dentists are trained to recognise a whole host of problems. From gum disease and decay, to illnesses such as oral cancers or even diabetes. But Dentists all around the world are being trained to recognise symptoms of abuse. Today on the…

Protect yourself from the flu and other nasty viruses
We all want to protect ourselves from flu and other nasty viruses. Have you had the flu recently? Are you worried about other nasty viruses? Coronavirus is all over the news. Just how do you protect yourself from catching the flu and other nasty viruses? Get a flu vaccine The best way to protect yourself…

Why are gums just as important as teeth?
Why gums are just as important as teeth GUEST BLOG BY HAYLEY IRONS When you think about your dream smile, you probably focus on the appearance of your teeth. Perhaps you’ll consider the shape of your lips, but it usually doesn’t go much further than that. Why should it? Those are the only bits people…

Why you should attend regular dental check-ups
a defacto dentists guest blog from Hayley Irons Dental check-ups. They’re not the most exciting plans in your diary and you can probably think of about 10 different things you’d rather be doing instead! However, they are one of the most important errands you need to run, and it’s worth remembering why… Attending regular…

What are Your Teeth Telling You?
Your teeth and your mouth can highlight a lot of underlying health issues. You may notice some abnormalities but what are they trying to tell you? What can your mouth tell you about any underlying health issues? We’re going to delve into some common symptoms of the teeth and mouth and explain their potential health…

Natural Teeth Whitening Tips
When looked after properly, our teeth are naturally white. However, many people prefer to have whiter teeth. The attraction is that white teeth are healthy, therefore ultra-white teeth are ultra-healthy. There are a number of chemical solutions available that take teeth from their natural white to an ultra-white. Typically, these solutions will include a peroxide…

Oral Health and Your Skin – How Are They Linked?
Can your oral health really affect your skin? If you think that your oral health has nothing to do with the appearance of your skin, you’re wrong. Just like every other area of our body, everything is linked. Skin can make us or break us. It can make us feel super confident, or super self…

Can Being Pregnant Really Harm Your Teeth?
Can Being Pregnant Harm Your Teeth? Pregnancy. Some women love it. Some women hate it. Regardless, being pregnant can impact teeth and gums. As such, when women are pregnant, they should be taking extra care of their oral health to ensure there are no complications. Today on the Defacto Dentists blog, we look at the…

Too Big For Dental Treatment?
People in the UK are being forced to go to specialist treatment centres to receive dental treatment because of their weight. Is there such a thing as being too big for the dentist? Can weight really affect how you can be treated by a dentist? In short, yes. Obesity levels are soaring. Unsurprisingly, obesity is…

The Link Between Dementia and Dental Care – Defacto Blog
Preventive dental care provided in the early stages of dementia could help limit major tooth problems later, researchers say. According to Dementia UK, Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a range of progressive neurological disorders. There are many different types and Alzheimer’s disease is the most common. Some people may have a combination of…

Dentists Will Spot The Signs of Eating Disorders.
Dentists are able to spot the initial signs on eating disorders. Dentists can play a key role in the detection of health conditions including anorexia nervosa and bulimia according to new research from King’s College London. Data which has been published in the British Dental Journal has found that many of the medical conditions that…

How Can Good Oral Health Help Manage Type 2 Diabetes?
A new study has highlighted the importance of oral hygiene for those who have type 2 diabetes. This is after discovering that people with Type 2 Diabetes may have better blood glucose levels if they look after their teeth. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form, and it accounts for 90–95 percent of all cases.…

Beat Bad Breath!
Nobody wants to be told that they have bad breath! Bad breath, also known as halitosis or fetor oris, affects an estimated 25% of people, globally. There are a number of potential causes of halitosis but the vast majority come down to oral hygiene. It is unpleasant, and can make socialising and professional situations awkward…

The Truth About At Home Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a multi billion pound industry. We are all desperate for that Hollywood smile. We see the pearly whites of those celebrities that we love and it would seem that we would do anything to get a similar look, except visit the dentist! Today on the Defacto Dentists blog, we’re looking at the…

Oral Health vs Mental Health
It is often the case that people only give thought to their physical health. Mental health and Oral health are often an after-thought, but here at Defacto Dentists, we want to challenge you to think differently about the way you take care of your overall health! Poor oral health has been linked with illnesses…

E-cigarettes & Your Oral Health
E-cigarettes have soared in popularity over the past few years. More and more people are attempting to quit smoking and are opting for e-cigarettes or are ‘vaping’ instead. These e-cigs have been hailed as a safer alternative, and in some respects that is true. We all know that cigarettes are harmful on the teeth, but…

HPV & Dentistry: How They’re Linked & What You Need To Know.
HPV or the Human Papillomavirus is a group of viruses and is the most common sexually transmitted virus. But what has this got to do with dentistry? Well, HPV is most commonly attributed to causing genital warts or cervical cancer but HPV can also cause oral cancer. HPV is the leading cause of oro-pharyngeal cancers…

Gum Lifts: What Are They & Who Are They For?
Gum lifting, also known as ‘gingivectomy’, is a cosmetic dentistry procedure which improves the overall appearance of your smile. This popular procedure ensures that the gum line of your teeth is in the best possible position to show off your teeth. Usually, a cosmetic gum lift is carried out in conjunction with other cosmetic dentistry…

Extraction – What You Should and Shouldn’t Do Afterwards!
Extraction of a tooth is one of the most common dental procedures. But what should you do after you’ve had a tooth removed? As with all dental procedures, making sure you follow a strict aftercare routine is vital. Extractions need that little bit of extra care because there is essentially a gap in your mouth…

Healthy Snacks for Kids That Won’t Damage Their Teeth!
Kids will do anything to get their hands on sweet treats. We’ll admit it, sometimes handing our kids a chocolate bar is easier than dealing with a tantrum or two. Dishing out sweet treats is fine on occasion but we should try to limit how often we hand over sweets, biscuits, cakes or chocolate! Today…

Stress Could Be Harming Your Teeth…
Stress can damage our teeth just as much as a bad diet or poor dental hygiene can. Stress can really affect our emotional and physical health. It can also wreak havoc on our teeth and gums. Today on the blog, we’re looking at what you can do to help ease the harsh effects of stress…

Apple Cider Vinegar – The Natural Tooth Whitener?
Apple Cider Vinegar has grown in popularity over the last few years. Apple Cider Vinegar – eating it, drinking it, using it on our skin, rinsing our hair with it – you name it, someone is bound to have tried it. Once only available from niche stores, it’s now well stocked in our everyday supermarkets.…

Morning Sickness & Your Smile
Morning sickness is one of the major downsides of pregnancy. While some women suffer only from the nauseous and queasy feeling, some women suffer from intense morning sickness and are sick multiple times a day. Being sick can really damage our teeth, and this is something that people rarely discuss. Sick is extremely acidic and…

Make A Point of Making Appointments!
Missing dental appointments is something you shouldn’t make a habit of. One missed appointment can easily become many year’s worth of missed appointments. The problem is, too many of us don’t make visiting the dentist a priority. Unfortunately, by doing this, we open the doors to more dental problems further down the line! No…

How Do Your Teeth Affect Your Sleep?
Sleep is crucial for the day to day functioning of our bodies. Too much caffeine from coffee or energy drinks, feeling too full after a big meal, or worrying too much can cause us to have a terrible night’s sleep. But did you know that your teeth may be the reason that you can’t fall…

The Food That Is Good For Our Teeth.
The food that we eat can hugely impact our dental health. On the blog before, we’ve looked at Food that can help to whiten our teeth. We also briefly looked at the food we should pass up on to avoid tooth discolouration. Today, we’re looking at the food that is actually surprisingly good for our…

Is There Such a Thing as Bad Brushing?
Brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day is a sure-fire way to keep any dental problems at bay. But are you doing it right? Sure, you might be brushing twice a day for the right amount of time, but doing it wrong could be just as bad as not brushing at all.…

Designer Dentistry?
Designer Dentistry has a whole new meaning. When we think of designer dentistry, we think of the bright white and perfectly straight smiles. Smiles that are customised and designed by patients and their dentists with extreme precision. Now, streetwear fashion brands are giving designer dentistry a whole new meaning. As an International Fashion Branding student,…

Tooth Loss in Adults
Tooth loss in adults can be worrying and really knock your confidence. It’s a dental problem that adults never really think about but it does happen, probably more than you think. The most common reasons for tooth loss in adults are: bad oral hygiene routines, serious illness, chronic illness such as diabetes, gum disease, sudden…

Tooth Loss In Children
Tooth loss in children is expected. When a child’s first tooth falls out, it can be a pretty scary moment for both you and them but it is an exciting experience! This week, for part of our National Tooth Fairy Day celebrations, we looked at how to introduce The Tooth Fairy to young children. If…

Going Back To The Dentist
Going back to the dentist after a long period of avoiding appointments can be a daunting experience. Everyone has their own reasons for not going to the dentist – some people have dental phobia and are scared of the dentist, some people don’t feel the need to visit the dentist unless they feel pain…

Oral Health Problems and Your Overall Health
Did you know that your Oral Health can really affect your health? Our teeth and gums are brilliant indicators of our overall health. Teeth and gums can show tell-tale signs of heart problems, digestive problems and poor brain function. The human body really is amazing and our overall health truly does start with…

Can Dentists Identify Health Problems?
When we think of going to the dentist, we automatically think of our teeth – check-ups, fillings, visiting the hygienist but did you know that your dentist is there to care for more than just your teeth? Your dentist is able to identify a number of health problems. Can dentists identify eating disorders? People…

First Visit to the Dentist!
Your child’s first visit to the dentist is a big milestone! It’s a new experience for both you and them and it can be quite nerve-wracking as it’s difficult to determine how they will react. Here are some of our top tips to ensure that your child’s first visit to the dentist runs as smoothly…

Common Dental Problems in Children
As a parent, it’s crucial that you encourage your kids into a brilliant dental hygiene routine. The earlier that you instil this into them, the more likely they are to maintain it throughout their childhood, teen years and into adulthood. Unfortunately, dental problems in children are the norm due to various factors. Here are a…

Caring for Kids’ Teeth
We wanted to share some top tips for keeping your kids’ teeth healthy! The more you teach a child to take care of their teeth from a young age, the less likely they are to encounter problems with their teeth as they reach their teens and progress through adulthood. Take your child to the dentist…

Celebrities With Braces
There have been more celebrities with braces than you might think. For kids, teenagers and even some adults, the prospect of having braces can be quite daunting. Maybe they feel self-conscious about smiling or eating, or they may even feel like the odd one out but it can be reassuring to know that just about…

Invisalign: The Barely There Brace
Invisalign is a modern alternative to metal braces. Invisalign works like a normal brace but are much less noticeable and more comfortable to wear. These braces have been around since the early 2000s but hadn’t gained much popularity until recent years. Many celebrities including, Khloe Kardashian and Zac Efron, have been opting for Invisalign and…

The Dangers of at Home Whitening
Everyone wants to have a bright white smile and while most dentists offer teeth whitening at their practices, patients often do to try and get the same results from the comfort of their own home. From using at home whitening kits, to using harsh abrasive concoctions, it is certain that people will try just about…

Are You Thinking About Getting Dental Veneers?
Dental veneers. We’ve been seeing them everywhere lately! From Tom Cruise to reality TV stars, veneers are gaining popularity! If done well, you’ll have a Hollywood smile in no time but if they’re done badly, you could end up looking more like a racehorse than a Hollywood starlet. What are dental veneers? Veneers are thin…

Devices That Stop Snoring: What’s Right for You?
Snoring can be a nightmare, not only for the person who snores, but whoever shares their bed. We’re sure many an argument have been started over snoring in relationships. So, lets try and put a stop to it and discuss devices that stop snoring in its tracks. Treatments for snoring can be either surgical or…

The Toothbrushing Programme Improving Children’s Oral Health
A pilot scheme in nurseries is paving the way for improving children’s oral health. A toothbrushing programme in early years settings has made children less reluctant to clean their teeth. The programme was piloted in 68 nurseries and with 20 childminders from April. The Smiles4Children programme explores the best ways of getting children under five…