Dental Practices in North Down Nominated for prestigious awards!

Nigel Smith Dental Care and Holywood Dental Care are proud to announce that both practices have been nominated for the Northern Ireland Beauty Excellence Awards 2023!

Nigel Smith Dental Care has been nominated in two categories – Cosmetic Dental Practice of the Year and Team of the year!

Holywood Dental Care is nominated for Cosmetic Dental Practice of the Year!

The aim of the NI Beauty Excellence awards is to celebrate achievement across the entire aesthetics, beauty and hair industries in Northern Ireland. Winners will be announced at a Gala event to be held at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast on Saturday 13th May. Check out their websites below to see recent smile transformations in your area!

The practices are members of the MiSmile Network, one of the largest providers for UK’s most trusted clear aligner; Invisalign!

A treatment coordinator offers consultation and digital scan simulations for predicted outcomes; this is complimentary and there are appointments available every day! All of the dentists are Invisalign Providers and as such there are no long orthodontic waiting lists!

Both practices welcome patients to a friendly independent family clinic. Personal service is at the heart of what they do and both teams are always happy to welcome new patients.

Both practices are Denplan and Private practice and offer NHS treatment for children. Payment plans help spread the cost and start from £12.50/month to include two exams and cleans a year with a dentist! The clinic in Bangor has recently been awarded 5-Star accreditation from Curaden for their success in educating patients about importance of oral health. digital dentistry clinics. For more information contact the front of house teams, by phone or email! Tel: 028 91270657 www. nigelsmithdental.com Holywood Dental Care is at 128 High Street, Holywood BT18 9HW Tel: 028 9042 3306 www. holywooddentalcare.co.uk

Do you know your seaweed? Irish Moss aka Carrageen

Carrageen or Scientific name Chondrus crispus is a small reddish-purple seaweed which grows in small branching fans on rocky shores.

It is widely used in the food industry - and might have been used to produce your ice cream, beer or even jelly!

Growing up to 20cm this is a Common seawood and can be spotted around our local shores and estuaries all year round!

Carrageen is a common seaweed found on rocky shores and in estuaries. It is small and branching and is also known as Irish Moss. It is usually reddishpurple in colour, though is can be a greenishyellow. The fronds may appear iridescent when submerged and can turn green if exposed to bright sunlight for prolonged periods. It does not have air bladders.

Carrageen is harvested commercially for its carrageenan - a polysaccharide molecule that is used in the food industry for gelling and thickening. So, it might be in your ice cream or have been used for fining your beer or wine! It has been used since the 15th Century and is a vegan alternative to gelatin.

Seaweeds provide a vital link in the food chain for many of our rarer species. Our seas and coastline are in need of protection if we are to keep our marine wildlife healthy. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of ‘Living Seas’, where marine wildlife thrives. Do your bit for our Living Seas by supporting your local Wildlife Trust. https://www. ulsterwildlife.org/ wildlife-explorer/marine/ seaweeds-and-seagrass/ carrageen