| Nell Atkins wants to know: "Why have we got such a fixation on teeth, is it the media?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
I think you are right Nell; it is the media that has increased the awareness of cosmetic dentistry due to the number of makeover shows and interest from the glossy magazines. |
|
|
| BB wants to know:” Is there such a thing as perfect teeth and how do we get them?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
I don't think anyone has perfect teeth, however if most of the characteristics of the teeth are pleasing aesthetically, then the whole smile looks "perfect". Look at Tom Cruise's teeth which appear "perfect" however his centre line is shifted to the left by about 3-4mm. |
|
|
| Danny wants to know: "I really do find Julia Roberts has the perfect smile how can I get my teeth that white?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Julia Roberts has a very wide smile due to her bone structure. However to get them that white you could do tooth whitening, either a home kit or in a surgery. If you want a wider smile then that may be achievable for you through thicker porcelain veneers, these can fill out your lips. |
|
|
| Janet W wants to know: "Is it a lot of work to have a set of teeth like J-Lo?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
It depends what you are starting from. If you have a big smile but need to change the colour or position slightly then whitening or veneers would give you a J-Lo smile. However, for some people their bone structure is too small and there is no way their smile would look like J-Lo's. However we do have a few tricks as dentists in the cosmetic field. We can make veneers up to several mm's wider which can give you the J-Lo pout. |
|
|
| A Skinner wants to know: "What celeb would you say has the worse set of teeth?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Burt Reynolds teeth are way too white for his age! Tone it down mate! |
|
|
| Joe wants to know: "What famous teeth have you worked on?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
The big A List celebrities I can't tell you because it is confidential. However, I have worked on bad boy Kane Dingle from Emmerdale (lovely bloke) and Raji James, ex Eastenders. |
|
|
| Tammie wants to know:” How can people overcome their fear of dentists?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
They can discuss with their fears with their dentist so their dentist knows how they feel. They can use distraction techniques like listening to music, watching DVD's through special glasses, hypnotherapy or sedation. |
|
|
| Rob wants to know: "I refused to have a brace when I was 16 because I didn't want to be teased at school, now I'm thirty and really regret not having one – how expensive is it to have this sort of dental treatment privately rather than through the NHS?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
It is unlikely you will be able to get it on the NHS, as you are now an adult. Privately it could cost £2000-£3000 and could take up to two to three years. |
|
|
| Tim wants to know: "Are electric toothbrushes worth the money?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Recent studies show that electric and manual toothbrushes are about as effective as each other. However if you suffer from recession due to over brushing your teeth over the years, then an electric toothbrush is great to get you into a different brushing pattern. |
|
|
| Leila Chami wants to know: "Dear Dr Ubhi, I am 26 years old. I've noticed that my teeth are not as white as they used to be when I was a teenager and with time they're kind of turning yellowy-white. I brush my teeth regularly but I don't use a mouthwash. Is there a way of preventing colour change without resorting to whitening? Thanks. Leila "
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
You need to do the three steps to Oral Healthcare - 1) You need to brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste 2) You need to floss once a day 3) You need to use a good antiseptic mouthwash. Listerine do a new flavour called 'Cool Citrus' which cuts down on bacteria by over 50%. If you can keep the plaque and staining down, your teeth will be a white as you can get them without whitening. However don't be frightened of whitening it is a very safe procedure. |
|
|
| Ruth wants to know: "Are there any good products on the market that genuinely whiten your teeth - the whitening toothpastes seem to be a complete rip off?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
The best products in my opinion are those prescribed by your dentist, either the carbamide peroxide home whitening kit or the in surgery power or laser whitening. The whitening toothpastes tend to keep the staining down but don't often lift the colour of the teeth noticeably. |
|
|
| On the same subject Elspeth wants to know: "My daughter is obsessed with her teeth and wants to have all sorts of treatment to make them as white as celebs seem to have their teeth. I've tried to talk her out of it and of course while she's so young she understands that she can't have the treatment if I refuse to pay for it, are there any natural teeth whitening products she could try? "
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
She could reduce the amount of food and drinks that have colourings in them and definitely tell her never to start smoking. Otherwise she would be best waiting until she is 18 to have professional tooth whitening. |
|
|
| Trudy wants to know: "How easy is it to replace metal fillings with white ones? I've read somewhere the Mercury is not safe..."
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
It is very straightforward to replace Mercury fillings with White ones. The general rule is that small to medium sized fillings are suitable for replacement with White fillings and that large fillings should be replaced with porcelain inlays to increase the strength. It is disputed whether Mercury is safe as a filling material, however standard guidelines tell us not to provide Mercury fillings to pregnant patients. Also Mercury poses environmental issues. |
|
|
| Sandra Fraser wants to know: "I really do need to get veneers for my teeth, I have not been able to go out and have been in my home for at least a year, I have lost touch with family and friends due to my teeth looking so awful, I am ashamed of my teeth. I brush 2-3 times a day and really need some advice on what I can do but I have little cash and no way out. Please can you help me to get my teeth and smile back?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
There is so much that can be done for your smile. Why don't you talk to your dentist for options and ideas of how much it will cost. Keep up the good work - brushing, flossing and rinsing with a good antiseptic mouthwash and just remember it is what is inside that counts. |
|
|
| Val Carr wants to know: "My front teeth stick out and wondered if it would be possible to either get them straightened or new ones put in? They seem to sit on my bottom lip and I always seem to bite it"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
There are two things that can be done. 1) Braces can move the teeth back, this might take up to 2 years. Braces would normally be the best option for the health of the teeth. 2) Veneers could be placed with some adjustment of your teeth and might move the teeth back by 2-3mm. 3) Sometimes patients need surgery to cosmetically recontour the bone in severe cases. Talk to your dentist for ideas. |
|
|
| Janet W wants to know: "I have wonky bottom teeth is it advisable to get a brace as an adult and roughly how much would it cost me?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
You have two options one is to get a brace and the other is veneers. A brace would normally be the better option and may cost around £1500. |
|
|
| Andy wants to know: "I worry that I seem to have "fangs" can you get protruding teeth filed down?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
You could have enameloplasty, which is minimal shaping of the tips of the teeth. Or you could have veneers placed after more significant shaping of your teeth. There are some examples on my website www.andreaubhi.com. |
|
|
| Some oral hygiene questions now and this just in from David: "I brush my teeth twice a day morning & evening but often want to brush after lunch too - is it possible to over-do it?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Yes it is possible to over-do it if you are brushing too hard. Using a medium bristled brush, don't scrub - but shuffle the toothbrush over your teeth. You may be better using a mouthwash after lunch, my favourite is Listerine 'Cool Citrus'. |
|
|
| Talking of mouthwash, Terry wants to know: "Should you use mouthwash before or after brushing your teeth?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
I use mine after brushing my teeth. |
|
|
| Tim wants to know: "Thanks Andrea, can you get trained in how to brush your teeth better - I always get plaque building up in certain areas..... "
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Yes definitely, find a great hygienist who is not frightened to teach you how to brush and floss properly. A hygienist will cost from £25, but you should see your dentist first. |
|
|
| Peter wants to know: "I brush my teeth before I go bed – but not in the morning, I know I should do it twice a day but is there a particular time when it is most effective?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
It is most effective brushing your teeth before you go to bed as you are doing as your mouth dries out overnight and bacteria multiply quicker. In the morning is most important for your work mates - do not go to work with stinky breath! |
|
|
| Julie Clark wants to know: "My gums really bleed when I floss, why does that happen?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
It happens because you are not flossing enough. You need to floss everyday, otherwise your gums become inflamed between your teeth and will bleed when you floss. So floss more regularly and it should reduce otherwise go and see your dentist. |
|
|
| William wants to know: "My girlfriend has bad breath but seems to have lovely teeth - how can I get her to check it out without ending up sleeping on the couch for a month?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Get her best friend to tell her she has bad breath. The main causes for bad breath are gum disease, so she needs to see a dentist and a hygienist. Other causes include the food she is eating for example garlic and also having an empty stomach causes bad breath - so feed her regularly! Reduce the amount of alcohol she drinks, other causes include sinus and stomach problems. |
|
|
| Some questions now on food and drink and the effect they have on our teeth, Teri ask: "Is it recommended to brush your teeth just after eating sweet foods or should it be any food? And what about apples?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Firstly you need to limit the amount of sweet and acidic foods that you are having. It is good to brush after eating to remove the food from your teeth. However, if you take in acid either in food or drink eg.apples, the top surface of your enamel de-mineralises, so if you brush within 30 minutes then you brush the top surface off. We find fruit eating, keen brushing patients present with erosion of their teeth. |
|
|
| Maria Hardman wants to know: "What are the real 'no no's' when it comes to food and drinks that stain your teeth. I realise this will mean giving up red wine!"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Personally, I think you should enjoy life and enjoy your food and have regular tooth whitening top-ups. |
|
|
| KBP wants to know: "Are sugar free drinks still bad for your teeth? Or should I just be careful giving them to my kids?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
There are still natural sugars present and there is a certain acidic content of these drinks, so milk and water are preferable. |
|
|
| Abbi wants to know: "Is chewing gum bad for your teeth? I like to use the sugar-free variety, but wondered if it can do my teeth any harm?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Chewing gum with sugar in, obviously is bad for your teeth. However, sugar-free gum stimulates the saliva flow, which washes away and neutralises some of the plaque and bacteria. |
|
|
| We appear to have a question from someone in the industry who has a question for a fellow professional; James Robson wants to know: "What material and method do you prefer to use to temporise your crown or veneer preps?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
I always temporise my crown and veneers using Luxatemp. It has many shades so looks great. Also, you can add to it with Luxaflow if there are any flaws. |
|
|
| Sally Gregson wants to know: "What type of smile do you like to see?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
I like white smiles but not so white they shine blue. I like smiles that suit the patient. |
|
|
| And Trudy has the final question that several of you have asked: "So who does your teeth?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
My colleague, Renee Passaris, she is great. |
|
|
| And Trudy has the final question that several of you have asked: "So who does your teeth?"
|
|
Dr Andrea Ubhi said: |
Thanks for your questions. Don't forget the important three tips - brush twice a day, floss once a day and rinse twice a day. |
|
|
Still got a question or comment about this show?
Send it to us and we'll do our best to get it answered for you.
Use the "Submit Question" button below.