Following our team up with the London Broncos, the players have visited our practice to get dental impressions so that they can get the perfect mouthguard for the forthcoming sesason:

Kieran Dixon with Dr. Bob Bhamra and Stella Smith

Kieran Dixon having impressions taken

Liam Colbon having impressions taken

Liam Colbon and Dr. Bob Bhamra

The British Dental Health Foundation, who organizes the annual campaign, estimate that over the next decade around 60,000 people in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease.

Although Mouth Cancer Action Month is a bleak and very serious subject, the good news is that spotting the disease early on increases chances of survival to more than 90%!

So what does mouth cancer look like? While there aren’t any signs for some people, others can detect early signs of mouth cancer: bleeding in the mouth, red or white patches, and constant soreness are all symptoms.

The causes of mouth cancer aren’t always fully understood by doctors, but they do know that factors like smoking and drinking heighten your chances of developing it.

“The lack of awareness towards a disease which has increased by nearly 50 per cent in the last ten years is truly alarming. It is really important that everyone knows the warning signs for mouth cancer. They include ulcers which do not heal within three weeks, red and white patches in the mouth and unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth.  Our message to everyone is ‘If in doubt, get checked out.’ Advised Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter,

PREVENTION IS KEY

Lifestyle choices can prevent this significant threat.

SMOKING, CHEWING TOBACCO, ARECA NUT, PAAN and GUTHKA are main risks.

• ALCOHOL can be deadly. Drinking and smoking to excess raises risk by up to 30 times as alcohol aids absorption of tobacco into the mouth.

• POOR DIET has been linked to mouth cancer. Make sure you get your five-a-day fruit and vegetables. Evidence shows that extra portions of fruit and vegetables reduce the risk still further, as can fish and eggs.

• HPV: the human papilloma virus (HPV), is a growing threat as a mouth cancer cause. Experts suggest it may rival tobacco and alcohol as a major cancer cause within 10 years.

‘If In Doubt Get Checked Out’

Early detection saves lives.

The five year survival rate of mouth cancer patients is just 50%.

BUT early diagnosis gives patients a 90% survival.

Regular visit to your dentist will ensure you are professionally screened for signs of mouth cancer. Talk to your dentists about the process and mouth cancer risk factors.

Self-examination is a simple, potentially life-saving process.

Look out for:

• Ulcers which do not heal within three weeks
• Red and white patches in the mouth
• Unusual lumps or swellings in the mouth

During the month of November the team at Jivadental will be raising awareness about the prevention of mouth cancer, they will be offering complimentary 5 min mouth cancer Screenings & will be posting information & advice on Twitter & facebook.

If you have any concerns about your mouth remember,  ‘If In Doubt Get Checked Out’ Give the Jiva team a call on 0208 546 0011 or send them a contact form today!

We are delighted to share with you “One minute with Ian Seddon” this article is in the Premium Practice Dentistry magazine.

Ian  has given so many of our patients the perfect solution for missing teeth – Dental Implants.

Click on the images to view the full page:

Our implant specialist, Ian Seddon, recently had an article published in PP Dentistry.

You can download a PDF of his article by following the link below:

Implants In Focus – Care Planning For Dental Implants: The Role Of The Hygienist

People considering dental treatments may be interested to hear about Jennifer Aniston’s unusual trips to the dentist.

The 42-year-old Hollywood star,who plays a dental professional in her new film Horrible Bosses, said her dentist usually entertains her with live music when she goes in for treatment.

Speaking to TV host Jon Stewart on The Daily Show, Aniston revealed: “My dentist plays the guitar for me when I have moulds in my mouth.”

“It’s odd, but it’s the truth.”

Asked by Stewart why the dentist does not concern himself solely with her teeth, she replied: “Don’t ask , it’s Hollywood.”

The former Friends actress said she has been going to the same dentist for the past 15 years and described his musical skills as “lovely”.

Shall we introduce this at Jiva?

How often do you have to go home early from work because of a toothache becoming worse? Or wake up in the middle of the night bombarded by a throbbing pain that originates from a deeply carious tooth?

Dental pain is usually caused by tooth decay and tooth abscess.

Tooth decay usually exhibits signs and symptoms including a sharp pain in the tooth generally occurring when you bite or chew your food. There is also a feeling of soreness and pain in the teeth, gums and jaw.

A bad taste in the mouth could be felt especially if there is already the presence of a tooth abscess or infection.

What are the signs and symptoms of a tooth abscess:

1. Severe pain in the tooth and jaw.
2. A loose tooth caused by the damage in the periodontal ligaments. Periodontal ligaments are the tissues that hold the teeth to the surrounding alveolar bone. Impaired integrity of these tissues is caused by gum disease that results to subsequent periodontal disease when left untreated.
3. Gum disease characterized by red, swollen and bleeding gums.
4. A person suffering from tooth abscess may experience fever brought about the dental infection.
5. Earache.
6. Swollen glands in the neck.

If you are suffering from toothache, it is important that you should see your dentist especially if you are experiencing the signs and symptoms of tooth abscess. Until then, you can follow these home remedies that can provide some relief from your dental pain.

1. If the pain you are suffering is caused by pressure due to trapped food bits in between the teeth, a simple dental floss manipulation can remove the irritant. You can then rinse with warm salt water.
2. If you feel pain in your gums, suck on an ice cube to numb the area or an ice pack will do the trick for a painful jaw.
3. Try to apply a heat pack if cold application is not working. Apply a hot compress on your jaw and gargle with warm salt water.
4. A wet black tea bag placed on your sore gum for 30 minutes will relieve the soreness and may even stop the bleeding.
5. You can put oil of cloves onto your aching tooth every 20 minutes using a cotton swab. This will ease some of the pain.
6. Take over the counter pain reliever but never take aspirin if you are expecting a dental procedure.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above contact us for an emergency appointment, it is always better to get a tooth problem checked sooner rather than later!