This November, it’s Mouth Cancer Action Month.
 
The campaign aims to make a difference to people’s lives by raising awareness of mouth cancer and encouraging conversations around the topic. Whether it’s helping to prevent the disease, catching it early or providing support to those who have undergone treatment, it’s pivotal that we all show our support to those who need it most.
 
Risk factors
The two main causes of mouth cancer in the UK are drinking too much alcohol and smoking. Smoking causes about 60% of mouth cancer cases and alcohol about 30%, according to the Oral Health Foundation. Smoking and drinking together further increase the risk of mouth cancer.

Many recent reports have linked mouth cancer to the 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 be spread through oral sex. Research 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 you have may help reduce your chances of contracting HPV.

There are now HPV vaccines for both girls and boys. They were developed to fight cervical cancer, but it is likely that they will also help to reduce the rates of mouth cancer. These vaccines are given at age 12 to 13.

Other risks factors include too much sun exposure to the lips, a weak immune system and poor oral health.

A poor diet, low in fruit and vegetables might increase risk, as it is likely to be lower in minerals and vitamins. Poor diet is linked to around one third of mouth cancer cases.

 
Spotting it
According to the Mouth Cancer Foundation, over 8,800 people are diagnosed with mouth cancer annually in the UK. Over 3,000 lives are lost due to mouth cancer each year in the UK. While mouth cancer is twice as common in men than women, more women are being diagnosed.
 
Knowledge about mouth cancer has improved over the years, but many cases are still not being caught early enough. Its prevalence has increased by 49% over the past decade.
 
Checking for mouth cancer can be done at home, taking no more than a minute. To check for anything unusual, such as lumps, bumps, red/white patches, and ulcers that have been there for over three weeks, the Oral Health Foundation recommends:
 

• Feeling your face, head, and neck
• Checking your tongue – both sides and underneath
• Feeling the insides of your cheeks with your fingers
• Tilting your head back to look at the roof of your mouth in the mirror
• Checking your lips – top and bottom, inside and out

 Your dentist and dental hygienist can also spot the early signs of mouth cancer during a routine dental health check. This is another important reason to attend frequent dental appointments.
 
Maintaining a thorough oral hygiene routine is may help to reduce the risk of developing the disease. This routine includes brushing twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between the teeth at least once a day.
 
The effects on oral health
The effects of mouth cancer on oral health can be severe. Post-treatment, issues with breathing, drinking/eating, speaking, and swallowing might be encountered. When surgery is necessary, there may also be facial disfigurement.
 
The mental, emotional, and physical aftermath of treatment for mouth cancer can be profound. A strong, interdisciplinary support system is crucial for rehabilitation. Dental professionals, clinicians and counsellors, play an important role in improving the quality of life during and after diagnosis.
 
Supporting those who need it most
Coming to terms with a diagnosis of mouth cancer can be challenging, even debilitating. The importance of catching the disease early, and recognising the warning signs, cannot be understated. Whether it’s through educating loved ones, taking part in sponsored activities and/or fundraising, action is pivotal in the battle against mouth cancer.
 
We are here for you at any stage of your journey, and to help you catch the early warning signs. We’re here for you at Identity Dental Care and very happy to answer questions you may have about mouth cancer, so please get in touch if you’d like to know more. Call us on 01642 554299.

The sun is shining across many parts of the UK and we’re all enjoying more time outdoors. To really make the most of the summer months, it is important that we all look after ourselves – mind and body.

There are several ways in which your oral health is impacted at this hotter time of year. Knowing how to keep your teeth and gums in tip top condition is just one way you can look and feel your very best this summer!

Hydration

It’s no secret that dehydration is more common in the heat. By drinking plenty of water you can avoid dry mouth. This will reduce your risk of developing caries (tooth decay). At a family BBQ, down the beach or in the park with friends? Alternate alcoholic beverages with a glass of water to stay hydrated. Also, try not to spend too much time in direct sunlight so you can prevent heat stroke.

Diet

We all tend to enjoy more fruit, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages in the summer. Many of these contain high levels of sugar or are acidic, which can weaken the enamel outer layer of the teeth and lead to sensitivity. Enjoy these edible treats within a balanced diet and try to reduce snacking throughout the day to avoid any issues.

Chewing ice

It might seem tempting to chew an ice cube to cool down, but this can be dangerous for your teeth! It can cause the teeth to chip or crack, so it’s best to keep your ice in your drinks rather than chewing them directly.

Oral hygiene

While making the most of longer days, visiting friends and family, or even going on holiday, it’s important that your regular oral hygiene routine is not forgotten. Brushing twice daily, cleaning interdentally (between the teeth) once a day and using a fluoride toothpaste are essential for your oral health this summer and beyond.

Hay fever

If you suffer from hay fever, you’ll be familiar with the sore throat, itchy eyes and dry mouth this can cause. The latter is often the result of a blocked nose that forces you to breathe through your mouth. Treating the nasal symptoms will help you breathe through your nose once again and protect your oral health.

Got a question? Thinking about improving your smile this summer? We can help! James Robson is a full member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD) and can help you improve the function of your bite and the appearance of your smile. He is dedicated to continually updating and improving his skills and offers safe, ethical treatment to give highly effective results.

To see how we can help you enhance your smile and optimise your oral health this summer, discover the full range of treatments available by contacting Identity Dental Care today. We are very happy to answer any questions you may have about your teeth, so please get in touch if you’d like to know more. Call us on 01642 554299.

What do you need to know?

You will likely have seen the headlines by now – Turkey teeth are ruining people’s smiles across the UK! Is it true? What do you need to know if you were thinking about getting dental treatment abroad? How can you save your teeth from disaster when looking for a smile makeover?

The problem

The recent BBC documentary ‘Turkey Teeth: Bargain Smiles or Big Mistake?’ and various stories shared across social media have shone the spotlight on those who have travelled abroad for cosmetic dental treatment. There are many examples of people travelling overseas for crowns, having a significant portion of their teeth filed down in the process.

Why is this a problem? For a start, you do not always need to remove that much natural and often healthy tooth tissue to achieve a stunning result. It can be unnecessarily invasive and harmful in the long-term. This procedure can cause lasting sensitivity and pain, and can increase the risk of abscesses if teeth die.

Some of the stories suggest poor communication by the dental team who offer ‘veneers’ and then provide crowns, often in zirconia. Veneers are far less invasive as they are roughly half as thick as crowns. Veneers simply attach onto the front of the teeth, instead of needing deeper tooth preparation. This means that veneers tend to be easier to repair or replace over time than crowns. Crowns should be the last resort for most people. Orthodontics might be a better option if teeth are misaligned and tooth whitening if they are discoloured. Composite bonding might be more appropriate if teeth have become worn.

The other issue is that the quality of the dentistry provided has come into question. Not all countries have the same strict regulation and high standards that we have in the UK, so the quality of products and techniques used may not be as good. Similarly, the aftercare might not be as thorough, because this would require people to travel back to the practice at a later date for reviews. This is often not included in the original treatment plan and therefore may be an added expense.

Choose carefully

It’s important to understand that there are many fantastic dentists working outside the UK. Some of the most highly skilled and talented dentists are trained overseas, as well as in the UK. The problem is that people do not always know what to look for and are often persuaded by cost of treatment alone.

Whether in the UK, Turkey or elsewhere, your dental care provider should be chosen carefully. They must be reputable, be closely regulated and the professional team must be adequately trained to deliver the treatment they are offering. All of these things are much more important that the cost of treatment. Buying cheap often means buying again, but when it comes to your teeth, once they have been prepared, you cannot grow them back.

Ask the question

If you are thinking about improving your smile, make sure you do your homework. Speak to us before making any final decisions – you may be surprised about how much value and peace of mind we can offer while creating the smile of your dreams. I am a Full Member of the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD). The BACD membership includes some of the most skilled, educated and passionate dentists providing cosmetic dental treatment in the world. We offer an array of procedures that can help to enhance so much more than just the appearance of your teeth. Plus, you can do all this without destroying your natural teeth or risking years of pain.

We’re here for you at Identity Dental Care and very happy to answer questions you may have about your teeth, so please get in touch if you’d like to know more. Call us on 01642 554299.

Today’s blog is written by one of our regular patients Richard, here he shares with us some fun times with his first grandchild!

Hi, I’m Richard, a retired teacher with a special school background and I have been a patient with Identity Dental  Care for ages.

Today is going to be a busy one as I am to see Gill and James one after the other this morning, starting at 9.30am.  I set off early, as I hate being late, which gave me the opportunity to pay the papers at the newsagents first. Having sorted the papers I popped into the dentist and was called in to see James straight away, as I was sufficiently early that I could be seen before my hygienist appointment was due. This worked well for me as I went in to see Gill at my appointed time and was all finished by 10.00am, my delight in finishing early was because our grandson was at our house for the day.

I know we go on about grandchildren, us grandparents, but I’m still in shock almost twenty months after his birth.  You know how it goes,  a grandparent is looking all chuffed and telling you that their grandchild is coming round for the day and you think, oh that’s nice, in a kind of indifferent way.  You’ve been told how it feels and you kind of believe it in a sort of half hearted way, and then they arrive!  Well it knocked me off my feet and I’m still recovering.

When I got home he was there and I was greeted with a beaming smile, a squeal and one of those cuddles, where they push their face into your legs and then go back to what they were doing.  I’d suggested that we go swimming and he’d come equipped with towel and trunks and some time later we set off with our daughter driving. We got to the Forum, paid our way in and bought some armbands. We had a lovely time and no tears at all despite the water going over his head and face a few times.  He particularly enjoyed riding on my back as I breast stroked my way around the deep end of the learner’s pool, painfully stubbing my toe on a raised grid that someone had thoughtfully put there.

Later, once we had got changed, we went home and I thought, in my innocence, that he might like a nap.  He’d had his mum up for three hours during the night and I fancied that he’d go out like a light when we got back.  Fat chance!  We washed our towels and costumes and with his help we got them on the line and mucked around in the garden for a bit. It was one of those breezy days when the washing dries and we played in the garden blowing bubbles, pushing his truck about, lots of giggles and screams, just good fun.

As I write, my phone has just bleeped to tell me a breaking news story has arrived.  Bradley Lowery has just passed away. What a little character he was, such a shame.

We went inside as a favourite CBeebies TV show is just starting, Waybuloo.  This was just the ticket as he snuggled up to his gran and in no time started fiddling with his hair, great sign! So we popped him into his pushchair and I set out on the walk that would hopefully see him dropping off to sleep.  We have a bit of a route that we walk round and usually, with a bit of judicious wiggling of the pushchair handle, the magic of sleep overcomes him and we get about two hours of R&R, rest and recovery. I walked on, shaking the pushchair gently and noting with delight that his lordships eyelids were looking decidedly heavy,  a short time later he went off.

In one garden that I pass I have noticed one of those blue plants that look a bit like a thistle with a flattened crown of leaves around it.  The man of the house was in the garden and I commented that his garden looked great.He said that it was something he enjoyed but he had trouble with the grass, as he couldn’t push the mower. His wife usually does it but unfortunately, she has been unwell and so his son comes round to do it for them.  Just then his smiling wife appeared and noting that the boss had arrived and caught him skiving I took my leave.  Nice chap, never spoken to him before, indeed I don’t think I’ve even seen him before, but the magic of gardens is always a great icebreaker.

We finished our walk and as the weather was nice we left his lordship in the back garden and got on with dinner.  I’d better re-phrase, our daughter got on with dinner and my wife helped.  Shortly afterwards some eggy bread or gypsy toast as I heard it called on an advert once, arrived hot and steaming, I had two slices and enjoyed them.  Once we were finished our daughter suggested that we go and get on with the refurbishment of an easel she had come across.  It had a hollow plastic frame with pieces of hardboard screwed to it.  One was painted with chalkboard paint and the other was covered with painted tinplate, so you can hold paper on with magnets.  At some time it had been left outside and although the plastic bits remained unharmed the hardboard had done what it always does when it gets wet and had swelled, warping as it did so.

I’ve got to give her, her due, she is my daughter alright and delights in having a go at practical work.  We marked out a new sheet of hardboard and she set to, with a tenon saw, to cut out the required rectangles. She struggled a bit but completed the job in good time and planed and sanded the edges. In the garage, as I write, there are two rectangles of hardboard.  One has the painted tinplate bonded to it with adhesive and the other, the chalkboard is nicely painted.  You are expecting black, and so was I, and so it was a shock when we opened the tin and it was a sort of red oxide colour.  I saw the tin chalkboard paint and so I grabbed it.  Our daughter patiently noted that it says red on the front of the tin and hadn’t I noticed. Actually, no I had, but it’ll make a nice change from the usual old thing.  We will finish it another day.

After another good run around in the garden, a few cuddles and an attempt by our grandson to pull the cushions off the settee to make a camp, they went off home.  Wimbledon is on the telly and despite my dislike of the game I’ve watched a bit, sort of disinterestedly.  Teatime came and went, Lasagne, very nice.

Around 7.00pm I went round to see a chap I worked with for a number of years.  He was my technician for quite a while, and we get on like a house on fire. I drove round and with me being in the car, we had a cup of tea.  There are places where elder statesmen like us meet and put the world to rights over a couple of hours.  If only the politicians would come by and listen, the country would not be in the mess it is in today.  I’m certain that there are elder stateswomen who think we talk a lot of tosh.  Possibly true, but it passes the time and if the company is good, what more do you need.  Actually a pint or two might make it a little better. I took my leave, promising to get in touch in a couple of weeks, to sort the world out again.

I got home and watched a bit of the QVC channel, which was on as I came in.  Now one thing about that channel makes me laugh and it’s not the models wandering up and down and twirling around, although that is quite funny. It’s those before and after make up shots, someone in one looking like they are suffering from goodness knows what and what looks like someone completely different in the next one, looking like they have just won the lottery.  Soon after that the news was turned on and then Question Time.

I could have enjoyed a good shout at the telly, over question time, but my wife had gone to bed,  such is life, and then it was my time for bed.

I like a read before I fall asleep and have been re-reading some Terry Pratchett books, which I enjoyed the first time around.  I gave it half and hour and that, as they say, was that.

Goodnight.

David has been researching World War One for over thirty years and is more than happy for people to contact him should they require information regarding relatives.

IF ONLY..

The anniversary of the events of World War One,  childhood memories of mine have come into focus.

 As a young boy I went shopping with my Granny, in the main street there sat a pavement artist.  I was fascinated to look at his work but also very curious as to why he had no legs.

Once a week a couple used to visit my Grandparents to play whist. The lady was extremely kind and always brought some sweets for me, the man was well built with a great sense of humour and when he laughed his face turned red and often bouts of coughing ensued.

 At the Grammar school there was a Form Master who taught English and was very severe with errant youths sparing no one from the cane, he had an artificial left leg. A Chemistry Master was easily distracted and told stories about his war time experiences. Our Headmaster had a scarred left cheek and a glass eye, which distracted you from his kindly smiling and understanding face.   As the pieces came together in later years I realised just how much I had missed. They had all served in the First World War.

 The pavement artist lost his legs on the Somme. I visited the kindly lady after the death of her husband, she confessed that they had always regarded me as the son they never had, he had been gassed during the First World War. The stern and bitter Form Master with the artificial leg and the Headmaster had also served in the conflict,  all of them had subsequently married and were childless.

Each had an individual story to tell but like their fallen comrades they were silent. As I continue my research I sometimes pause and say to myself, “If Only…..”

Revd David T. Youngson

Here at Identity Dental Care we have a great rapport with our patients and I often chat to them about what they are up to, they are always asking me how my running is going,  I’m currently injured so the least said the better!

It got me to thinking that I could invite some of our patients to produce a guest blog, it never ceases to surprise me some of the interesting jobs people have.

One of our patients has been attending for years and it was only last week when I casually mentioned “The Saatchi Gallery” that I discovered he was a very talented artist! So I took the bull by the horns and hey presto he is now our first guest blogger.

In the coming weeks I hope to introduce you to several more interesting people,  thanks again Bob for being our first virgin blogger!

Mr Bob Marshall 10/07/2017

I glanced at the clock on the bedside table, five fifteen in the morning!! Apparently when you are old you don’t need sleep, or so I am always being told, when I complain about lack of sleep. Well, I may not NEED it but I would certainly like to have what I consider my fair share. Yes, I know, a Victor Meldrew moment. Yawn. (See that proves it, I’m STILL tired!!!)

BUT, accepting the fact that six hours is all I am getting I wander downstairs to make a cup of tea. I glance out of the kitchen window and see that the woodpecker is hanging upside down on the nut feeder, having breakfast. ‘Morning Woody’ I mumble to myself and make a ‘nice’ cup of tea. I wonder why we say that? ‘I’m just going to make a nice cup of tea!’ as if we would deliberately make a bad one.

I had started a new painting a few days previously and it was still on the dining room table (My studio) ready to be worked on again. I had been to Madrid and had loved the city as a whole and in particular the galleries and the museums. As you would expect there was a great deal of religious art around and at first I must admit I walked past most of it looking for something more to my taste, but as time went by I became more interested and lingered longer at some of the better ones, admiring what they had been able to achieve all those hundreds of years ago.

At sometime during the holiday the seed was sown to paint Mary Magdalene once I returned home and indeed, a recently started Magdalene was what was laid upon the dining room table when I sauntered in to look at it.

I stood sipping tea and looking down at the painting there was something wrong with the right side of the hood she was wearing. I had been aware of this for a couple of days but couldn’t work out what it was. Perhaps it’s just a bad painting I thought, looking out of the window to see what the weather was doing. Raining. Summer, in England. According to the radio it was ‘baking hot’ in the south, but Billingham was lost under a sky the colour of ink. I sat down, picked up a paintbrush and stuck it between my teeth, the action of doing so reminded me that I had an appointment with the hygienist the next day. More pain, I thought to myself. (Which was totally unfair because she was very good and I don’t think I ever even felt a twinge of anything remotely close to pain. But I had a manly image to keep up so I was determined to make a fuss and had even considered crying to demonstrate how much pain I was suffering but was bravely soldiering on.) 

I started dabbing away at Magdalene, altering some colour here and an outline there. Hmmm, I thought I could see some improvement, so I continued, dab, dab, alter, dab. 

After a while I heard the post box rattle and looked up at the clock on the wall. 12-45!!!!!!! The morning had gone and much worse, my ‘nice’ cup of tea had gone cold. I stood up, stretched and wandered out to see what the postman had brought. It seems, I can get a huge discount on a new roof, just because ‘someone’ is working in my area. I put it in the bin for consideration later. I could also receive a huge payout for a car accident even if I wasn’t injured. It joined the new roof in the bin. My local supermarket had so many special offers on, they were almost giving things away. This was obviously going to be my lucky day, so I filed that in the bin too and decided it was time to shower and begin the day properly. Before I went to shower I decided to have another look to see how the painting had progressed. Strange the head now looked lopsided. I sat down, picked up a paint brush and stuck it between my teeth. Dab, dab, alter, alter. The phone rang, I glanced at the clock. 5 o’clock!!!!! The day had gone. I looked out of the window at a sky filled with rain, I walked out of the room and headed for my shower determined not to look back at the wobbly headed Magdalene.

A little while later, clean and ready to begin my day albeit in the early evening, sandwich in hand I stood looking at this weird apparition on my canvas. I’m sure it wasn’t this bad when I began my alterations this morning. I thought I could see what it was, so I stuck a paint brush between my teeth and sat down, dab, dab, alter, move, shift, shuffle, dab, stroke, alter, dab. Hmmm, I thought, it’s looking more like a woman and less like a gargoyle with a tea towel on it’s head. I began to feel thirsty and thought it was cup of tea time, so I stood up and stretched. Midnight?!?! Couldn’t possibly be!!! But it was. So flushed with success, ignoring the half sandwich with the curled up edges and denying myself a cup of tea I took myself off to bed. 

I glanced at the clock on the bedside table, five fifteen in the morning!! Apparently when you are old you don’t need sleep any more last night than you did the previous night. 

So accepting the fact that five and a quarter hours was all the sleep I was entitled to because I was old, I wander downstairs to make a cup of tea. I glance out of the kitchen window and see that the woodpecker is hanging upside down on the nut feeder, having breakfast. ‘Morning Woody’ I mumble to myself. Five minutes later I was stood sipping tea and gazing down upon Mary Magdalene, who seemed to have rediscovered a lopsided, demonic grimace and had taken to wearing, what looked like a soggy dishcloth, while I slept. I thought I could see what was wrong so I stuck a paint brush in between my teeth and . . . . . . . . . . !

Anyone interested in seeing Magdalene can find it in my dustbin under an offer for half price roofing, a promise to win me thousands of pounds in a settlement for an accident I never had and food that can be purchased for less money than it takes to grow from my local supermarket.

Amyone interested in seeing some of the few paintings that DIDN’T end up in the bin can find them on my blog, www.boballoo.wordpress.com. (Even though it appears that I have a blog, I still have no idea what it is! So approach it with caution.)

Originally from Leeds, I am currently studying at Teesside University with the aim of becoming a Dental Therapist.

The first stepping stone for me was to join the team at Identity Dental Care; they have laid the foundation for the success of my professional career. I have enjoyed learning from the caring staff and patients and will surely miss them all when I finish my training later this year.

Outside of work I enjoy playing football (I am a life-long Manchester United Fan!) and spend most of my spare time studying and working out at the local gym.

We will be sad to see Prab go, he has been a great asset to the team and we will miss dearly, we wish him all the best in his future career.

The seed was planted for me to join the dental profession many years ago!

I was lucky enough to be living in Germany and went to a military school that organised work experience in a dental surgery. I worked with an Army dentist who inspired me greatly and from there on I knew it was the path for me.

I have worked as a Dental Hygienist at many dental practices in the North East and Teesside, having been at Identity Dental Care for the last 13 years. 

Lots of fabulous opportunities have come my way and I’m a great believer in grabbing every single one!

This has led me to become an Ambassador for’ The Heart Your Smile’ Charity where I supported other Dental Hygienists to organise outreach programs in their communities, hence improving awareness of good dental health.

I am hugely passionate about raising awareness of good dental health, especially with ‘At Risk’ groups  such as people with diabetes. I have enjoyed lecturing and engaging with our local Diabetes Nurses Study Group, and talking at North Tees Hospital to type 1 patients. I attended the Diabetes UK conference where my Diabetes team, which included a London based Diabetologist, received an award for Outstanding Contribution to Diabetes Care & Research 2014.

My proudest point in my career to date was winning ‘Hygienist of the Year’ at the national Dental Awards in 2016.

 When I’m not looking at gums I can be found searching for my next challenge…Skydiving for charity was my last one, that’ll take some beating!

I began my Dental Nursing journey in 2006 after completing my education and have worked at several practices since then. I have worked both on reception and in surgery having achieved several certificates along the way including Oral Health Education, Radiography, BTEC Business Admin and Customer Service.

I have been part of the Identity Team since September 2016 and have now become a fully-fledged member. I work mainly in surgery now and I am a great supporter of Facial Aesthetics and Teeth Whitening, this lead to me promoting these particular treatments at our local Wedding Fairs.

Outside of work I’m usually socialising with friends and family planning our next big getaway. I have an endless list of countries that I wish to visit and as I’m about to hit the big 30 we are off to Vegas to party in style!

( Gemma is the one with the dazzling white smile, feel free to ask her secret!)