Five surprising items of food and drink that are bad for your teeth

We all know that a healthy diet is important for our overall well-being as well as our oral health. But your teeth are under acid attack for approximately an hour every time  you eat or drink something sugary. Acidic foods as well as drinks such as wine can also result in decay. The general advice is to cut down on sugary foods and drinks and have them with your meal.

Dr Uchenna Okoye, clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group and Oral-B’s smile director, lists the worst offenders:

Sports drink
“Usually sipped, meaning they are regularly swished around the mouth and are often full of sugar for plaque-causing bacteria to feed on and also contain acids that can damage our enamel.”

 

Beetroot
“One of the worst offenders for staining. Reduce this by drinking water or milk after eating it.”

Smoothies
“The high level of naturally occurring sugar and its thick consistency mean drinking one is heaven for bacteria which can lead to gum problems. They also contain a lot of fruit acids which can damage our enamel.”

Citrus fruits
“Oranges, grapefruits, etc are all very acidic, so avoid brushing your teeth 30 minutes after eating them to reduce causing enamel erosion.” [The British Dental Foundation recommends not brushing your teeth until at least one hour after eating.]

Hot drinks
It’s not just cold food that can cause teeth to be sensitive, hot drinks also cause the fluids in the holes in the dentin to expand and contract creating sensitivity. 

By Daralyn Danns

The perfect smile part two

I asked Dr Uchenna Okoye, clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group and Oral-B’s smile director, to tells us about some of the most common ways of perfecting your smile.

Dr Uchenna Okoye

Braces

“There is a big increase in wearing braces, especially as invisible braces are getting more effective. This means that I can create beautiful smiles without having to do any drilling and it is less long-term maintenance. Veneers generally need replacing after 10 years, with braces, once it is done, it stays put,” she says.

Veneers

A veneer is a thin slice of porcelain which fits over the front surface of the tooth. Some of the outer surface of the tooth may have to be removed beforehand. They are often used to treat discoloured teeth or unsightly teeth and can also be used to close small gaps between teeth.

“There are times when veneers are the only option, especially if speed is important, but the skill is in making them look natural and 'disappear'. It is one of the reasons, at the moment, I am teaching American dentists in the States, how to create more natural smiles,” says Dr Okoye.

I asked her in what situation she would recommend veneers over anything else.

“If a person’s teeth are too short e.g.if someone grinds their teeth and has worn their teeth down. I’m doing more of these as I have seen an increase in bruxing (grinding) due to more stress. They’re also good if someone is in a hurry e.g. a wedding where they have crooked teeth but no time to wear braces.

“I tailor the type of veneer to different situations e.g. the type of veneer I would use for someone who grinds their teeth needs to be stronger [than other types],” she explains.

Dr Okoye also points out that you need to have enough tooth to support them; a big filling is not a deterrent. “The only proviso is that the mouth needs to be healthy, especially no gum disease.

Crowns

A crown fits over the remaining part of a tooth like a cap, making the tooth look natural. Crowns encase the entire visible part of the tooth. These are used to restore the tooth to original shape when it is broken or weakened by decay or large fillings. Your dentist will advise what is right for you. Dental implants could provide the solution if you lose a tooth or all of your teeth.

When are crowns better than veneers? “If the teeth are very broken down,” says Dr Okoye. “In the same way that you use a thimble over your thumb to protect it, crowns work in the same way.”

In the current economic climate, according to Dr Okoye, people are looking for long-term solutions that are cost effective. “This can range from investing in braces to maintaining the existing colour with whitening toothpaste.”

Dental implants

Dental implants could provide the solution if you lose a tooth or all of your teeth. 

Oral-B  TriZone 5000, £199

Looking after your teeth

Plaque is the major cause of tooth decay and gum disease so ensure you floss once a day and brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes using a fluoride toothpaste as it helps fight decay. Change your toothbrush every three months. 

Whether to use a manual or electric toothbrush is down to personal preference. My favourite is Oral-B Professional Care Triumph Toothbrush 5000 with wireless SmartGuide (£199.99). I use the Precision Clean brush. If you are using a manual brush and want to try an electric try the new The Oral-B TriZone brush head.

By Daralyn Danns

Perfecting your smile part one

Finding a good dentist is hard. If you want to turn to cosmetic dentistry to improve your appearance, then you have to do plenty of research.

Dr Uchenna Okoye

According to Dr Uchenna Okoye, who qualified at the highly-respected Guy’s Hospital London, and is now clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group as well as Oral-B’s smile director, word of mouth is always the best way to find recommendations. She also advises ensuring that your dentist is a member of the BACD (British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) or AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry).

There are plenty of options on offer to whiten, straighten, or repair your teeth. Here, over the next two posts, is a look at the most common.

Whitening treatments

How many of us have hankered after gleaming white teeth? Firstly, you have to consider your colouring, not everyone suits bright, white teeth, it doesn’t look natural. It is all too tempting to be seduced by pictures of celebs with perfect smiles but you need to be careful before undergoing any whitening treatment.

“Don't be fooled by cheap offers, there is always a reason,” says Dr Okoye. “At the end of the day you need to invest time and money to stay safe, otherwise it is best not to do it.

“It should only be done by a dentist or a hygienist under dentist supervision. Anyone else doing it is illegal and dangerous. The General Dental Council is actually prosecuting people as we speak.”

By Daralyn Danns

Destination Beijing, China

Red Square and the Forbidden City

The phrase “made in China” took on a whole new meaning for me when I arrived in the capital city, Beijing.

The dull, grey, buildings that once were the embodiment of China have been replaced with skyscrapers that are works of art in themselves. Modern shopping malls have sprung up. Gucci and Louis Vuitton stores – the originals – are almost as common place as Starbucks. Most of the old hutongs, once overcrowded slums, have been converted into high-rises or luxury homes that anybody would be proud to own.

Beijing

The Chinese, renowned for their ability to copy almost anything, have gone into creative mode to produce a no expense-spared futuristic-looking city that will sweep away any preconceived ideas you may have of this country.

There are so many cars clogging the roads that it makes driving through New York seem like a picnic. Bicycles are a convenient way to dodge the traffic which constantly snarls up. I stuck to taxis – a cheap and convenient way to get around the city – and the subway, when I was with my Chinese friend. In the city itself, I tended to walk everywhere – the best way to discover the hidden small pockets where China’s traditional way of life, almost oblivious to modernity, still continues.  

As for the pollution haze that hangs over the capital. Well, I didn’t feel compelled to wear a mask before I hit the streets. Walking around of Beijing felt safer than London. However, not everybody speaks English so don’t go out without having your hotel name and destination in Chinese, especially when taking a taxi.

Standing in Tiananmen Square, Beijing’s pulsating heart, watching the red flag of China fluttering in the breeze, I began to comprehend China and its people. 

Ready to climb the Great Wall

Mao Zedong, whose giant portrait still hangs over the gate of the Forbidden City, might have been dead for decades, yet he continues to draw in crowds that a pop star could only dream about. The longest queues I have ever seen snake past his embalmed remains.

Not wanting to join them, I headed to the Forbidden City, so called because only the emperors and their servants were allowed to live there. Like a scene from a film, this labyrinth of rich red walls and bright yellow roof tiles played out a bygone era. 

The next day I took a three-hour drive to The Great Wall of China. This jaw-dropping sight is more inspiring in reality than in pictures. Avoid touristy Badaling and go to Jinshanling.

View from the Great Wall

The climb maybe arduous, but it is extremely rewarding as you can see the sentry stations at the top and the wall zig-zagging across the mountain ridges stretched out in front of you as far as the eye can see.

Getting down is the hardest part. When I encountered some steps where the gaps were so wide, that my short legs couldn’t reach the next one, half of me wished I had taken the cable car. Necessity… as they say, so I ended up sliding down on my backside. Mao said you are not a hero until you have climbed the Great Wall. I now know why!

Getting there

British Airways (www.britishairways.com)

I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Beijing (www.hyatt.com)

Secrets of a beautiful smile

A smile can get you anywhere, well almost. Not only can it boost your mood but also that of people you come into contact with. So, it is important that our teeth look their best.

If you want to avoid mammoth dental bills, prevention is better than cure, so it is important that you take good care of your teeth.

Start with a good tooth brush. Over the years I worked with many hygienists and dentists who swear by Oral-B. Dental nurse, Tanya van der Merwe, tells me that at Oralon, the practice where she works, they like the oscillating and rotating precision clean brush head as it fits the shape of the tooth and does a good job of cleaning the teeth. The new Oral-B TriZone (prices start from £49.95 oralb.co.uk) is ideal for those who prefer the shape of a manual toothbrush or are still using one but want to try an electric brush. 

Dr Uchenna Okoye

Of course, even having the best brushes won’t help the health of your teeth if you are not using them properly. Dr Uchenna Okoye, who qualified at the highly-respected Guy’s Hospital London, and is now clinical director of London Smiling Dental Group and Oral-B’s smile director, says that a lot of a lot of people do not know how to brush their teeth correctly, which can often result in plaque build-up and tooth and gum decay.

“Oral-B have developed a new toothbrush called the TriZone which is fool proof and simple to use – It doesn’t matter which brushing style is used, the TriZone will still remove up to 100 per cent more plaque than an ordinary manual toothbrush,”  she adds.

One of the biggest mistakes people tend to make, according to Dr Okoye, is to brush too hard.  “Generally, people think brushing harder gives teeth a more thorough clean however, it actually just damages gums and may erode the enamel of the tooth,” she says.

“You should also ensure that you change your toothbrush or toothbrush head, every three months. A worn toothbrush is less effective at removing plaque.

Oral-B TriZone 5000, £199.99

Here are some of Dr Okoye's tips for correct brushing:

“Brushing teeth too quickly is a bad habit that a lot of people tend to do. We should all be brushing our teeth for at least two minutes twice a day. Brushing your teeth well takes time, and doing it for at least two minutes will help to eliminate the build-up of plaque on the teeth.”

“It is crucial to rinse your toothbrush well. It is common sense to give it a quick rinse, but it is important to be thorough in order to wash away the bacteria that have just been removed from your mouth. If you don’t rinse your toothbrush well, the next time you use it the bacteria will go straight back inside your mouth and on to your teeth and gums.”

“Skipping teeth is a common problem people do when brushing. It usually occurs when you flip your toothbrush to brush the other side of your mouth, which would cause plaque and bacteria to build up in this area. Once you’ve brushed your molars at the back of your mouth, make sure you brush right round into the middle of your mouth before turning the bush around – this will help avoid missing a tooth at the front.”

By Daralyn Danns

Time to go back to Daniel Galvin

“Your hair has lifted in the front,” said Liz Edmonds, colour director at Daniel Galvin, as she carefully examined my faded tresses. “It needs to be richer. I’m going to put some darker pieces through it. You will find as your highlights grow out, the condition will get better and your colour will hold better.”

Colour correction is a lengthy business, yet it takes so little time for a colourist to get it wrong. They move on to the next client and you have to live with it for weeks or as in my case, months.

Even though my hair had lost its lustre and gone a tad too light, it hadn’t turned the colour of a pumpkin. I know that I still have a few sessions to go to get my hair perfect, but I am quietly confident that Liz will get there in the end.

As Liz started work on my transformation, we started to talk about how you should adapt your hair colour with the seasons.

“Your skin tone changes from winter to summer. In the chillier months it tends to be ashier, so your hair needs to be slightly warmer. At this time of year, generally, you can go a little bit cooler and lighter,” says Liz. “Your colourist should look at your colour each time you go to the salon and adjust it.”

Final result

The more time you spend outside in the summer, the more likely your hair is to fade, unless you cover it up all the time. Also the heat can rob your hair of moisture, Liz recommends using heated appliances as little as possible. Use accessories to liven up your hair. If you are on holiday, fresh flowers look gorgeous on a hot, balmy night.

Beautiful hazelnut locks

Liz suggested that I try Daniel Galvin Salon Clear Gloss (£24) to keep my tresses looking glossy. I now keep a bottle of this miracle worker in my bathroom to use when my hair loses its just done look. There is nothing worse than dull, dyed hair.

My final result was beautiful hazelnut locks. My hair looked more luxurious and brought the colour of my eyes out.

Afterwards, I met up with a friend who remembered the days when my hair resembled a bag of mixed peppers. She told me: "This colourist has made your hair look so natural, nobody would guess, it’s been coloured.”  That was music to my ears!

By Daralyn Danns

Daniel Galvin (www.danielgalvin.com)

Are sulphate-free shampoos better for coloured hair?

This is always a hot topic. I often get asked are sulphate-free shampoos better for coloured hair.

While Liz Edmonds, colour director at Daniel Galvin, was doing my colour, we got talking about shampoos and sulphates, the most common being sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES). They have received a bad rap, with rumours on the internet that these are potentially carcinogenic, but that has not been proved. However, some people think that they do strip the colour from the hair.

Daniel Galvin Extra Care Shampoo

Liz told me washing your hair will inevitably lead to colour loss, no matter what shampoo you use. “Water, especially hard water, will cause hair to lose colour, as will being out in the sun or overexposing hair to heat.”

So, if you want to see whether sulphate-free shampoos really do work better on coloured hair, do a test and wash one side in a sulphate-free shampoo and the other in one that contains sulphates.

L’Oréal Paris Hair EverSleek Smoothing & Moisture Shampoo

If you have sensitive skin, you may find that sulphates, which tend to lather well, irritate you. Try a sulphate-free shampoo – I like the Daniel Galvin Extra Care Shampoo (£12.50). It contains collagen, which helps moisturise and strengthen the hair, and protein to make the hair soft and keratin for repairing damaged hair.

Another good one is L’Oréal Paris Hair EverSleek Smoothing & Moisture Shampoo, (£5.99), which uses a non-sulphate cleansing system. It’s particularly good if your hair is frizzy.

By Daralyn Danns

A visit to Nicky Clarke’s new Mayfair Salon

Nicky Clarke

An invitation to go to join Nicky Clarke, regarded as one of the best hairdressers in the business, for a glass of bubby and see his new salon was one that I couldn’t pass up.

After 21 years on Mount Street, Nicky agreed a deal with the Duke of Westminster, his landlord  to relocate round the corner to Carlos Place, near the Connaught hotel. Designer Oscar de la Rente will be occupying his old premises.

Personally, I think this was a smart move in many ways. This new two-storey salon is far more compact and cosy than the original one. The décor, dark wood floors and carpeted stairs and lighting reflect the architectural style of its Georgian townhouse surrounds. There is a touch of the old establishment: a wall featuring covers of magazines that showcase the maestro’s work. Nicky pointed out that there are still finishing touches to be done. The salon is operating with a temporary reception desk, for example. Although, I  have to admit that I didn’t feel that this deterred from the general ambience of this buzzy place packed with people from all walks of life. 

Styled by Craig Pellowe

My stylist was Craig Pellowe. We decided to go with a style that worked with the movement of my hair as the weather was atrocious and a sleek blow-dry would have been ruined the moment that I stepped out of the door. Craig placed some Velcro rollers on the crown for volume and pin curled the bottom.

We got talking about fringes as so many celebs such as Zooey Deschanel and Lea Michele have been seen supporting blunt bangs.

“I prefer classic fringes as they are more versatile. Heavy ones usually look better on 19 or 20 year-olds,” Craig said.

There are downsides to thick bangs, they can be hot in the summer (if we get any sun) and they won’t work if you have curly tresses, a low hairline or a cowlick in your hair. Craig suggests looking at the movement and hair line before cutting the hair (not too short) wet, then rough- drying it to see how the hair falls, so that you can tweak the final shape.

Side-swept fringes can soften a square or long face. If you don’t feel as if you want to take the plunge, Craig’s solution is to try a fake one.

By Daralyn Danns

Nicky Clarke (www.nickyclarke.com)

Fixing hair colour disasters

 

I’m sure I am not the only one who has had a hair colour crisis. The sun-kissed tresses that make you look like you have gone into competition with a traffic light, the few highlights you love turn into a whole head. You want to be brunette, but it ends up looking so dark and dreary people think you are going for an interview for the part of the wicked witch. And so it goes on.

Even putting your tresses in the hands of some so-called masters doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get a disastrous concoction. Been there… Good colourists really are a rare breed.

So, what do you do when it goes wrong? If it is the first visit to a salon, go back and tell them. Give them a chance to fix it, unless you feel that they can correct the mistake. If they are not getting the colour right, or at least moving in the right direction after a few visits, go for a few consultations at different salons, before making a decision about what you want to do. It can take several visits for colour to be put right, so don’t dismiss it when a colour specialist tells you that it may take six months to achieve your perfect hue.

Too orange

Liz Edmonds, colour director at Daniel Galvin told me that usually, when she has to do colour corrections, they are the result of botched home jobs. “A common mistake is taking the colour through to the ends each time it is applied,” she says. “Hair gets darker and darker until it is too dark.”

But, don’t despair, this can be put right. Louise Galvin’s Hair Colour Removal system (£150, Daniel Galvin) may be the answer to your prayers. It shouldn’t damage the hair as it doesn’t contain ammonia or peroxide. Your hair is taken back to its natural state, so you can instantly recolour it. 

Another method Liz uses to take the heaviness out and soften the colour is a detox treatment. This pure vitamin C solution won’t harm the hair either. “For really bad hair we use a technique called white washing which removes some of the colour,” says Liz. “The drawback is that it can make the hair colour warmer as you are drawing out the red pigment. If the hair is too warm, we then have to neutralise it with a “flat” colour or ash shade.”

Getting there

If your hair is porous, it will soak it up dye like a sponge, especially on the ends and, therefore, if you or somebody has not taken this into consideration, your end result may not be what you hoped for.

Over-processing can cause damage to the hair making it look like a bed of hay. So, go easy on the highlights. “If you keep adding lowlights to the hair, it will eventually look too muddy,” says Liz. “If this does happen, go for a warmer shade.”

Liz also suggests using vegetable colours to perk up hair that has gone too yellow or flat. “It will even out the shade. A colour bath is a good remedy for tangerine-like locks, but it is a slow process. “However, quick fixes will cause more problems,” she explains. “This way your hair will get into a better condition so the colour holds well.”

By Daralyn Danns