Well there is more than a slim chance that you may be suffering in central London from bad breath and what is so sad, especially if you live alone, is that unless some comely friend has the guts to point out the fact that your breath stinks, you may never be aware of the problem until you sit down again in front of your dentist- because they will certainly point it out.

Bad breath can be caused by so many factors, but the problem generally arises from two areas, the mouth and further into the stomach area of the body. The mouth relies on good oral hygiene but take this away whilst coupling it with some pretty seedy habits such as smoking and drinking, and you are already going to risk tooth decay and gum disease, which can give off some pretty pungent aromas.

Combine these with having a poor diet, and you will be offending one of your body’s greatest assets- your immune system. This can lead to your mouth drying out and leaving you bereft of saliva- the natural defence against oral decay and bacteria. This can be attacked in many ways, so you should work out a way, with your dentist, to change your habits and lifestyle.

If you have done everything and still you breathe like a shark, then the problem could be gastric, indicating more serious scenarios going on inside of you and an appointment with your doctor may be necessary.

Losing a tooth in an accident is akin to losing an appendage, but because of the wonders of modern science, such losses can be reunited with the body again. However, there is a time limit before this becomes impossible to do and of course it depends on how far from treatment you are. But let’s just say you are in the area when you lose a tooth.

Now, the socket will start to dry out once the bleeding has stopped and essentially, you have around an hour before it becomes impossible to pop the tooth back in the mouth, preferably by a dentist or doctor. During this time, the socket needs to be kept hydrated, because after an hour, the cells in the gum will die and then reject any chance of the tooth being put back in.

Then of course, there is the tooth itself. If you have managed to find it, you must at all costs avoid touching the roots and ensure that it is clean of dirt by rinsing in water or milk and then put it back into the socket ASAP. This will allow the cells to regroup in the socket and then regenerate around the tooth.

This is of course is possible if you are at home, but if you are in a street, you should place the tooth under your tongue amongst natural saliva and then get to the dentists or to the hospital.

Losing a tooth is not always a problem, as long as you know what you are doing.

Fluoride re-mineralizes the enamel and strengthens the teeth against plaque and acids that lead to tooth decay and so, it is naturally added to drinking water and you will find it in most dental products that you buy today. But for all of its boasts over the years, there is a rumbling going on that actually fluoride does more damage than good in the long run.

There are areas in the world that do not use fluoride at all, yet there are less reported cases of tooth decay and caries in these places as opposed to westernized areas. Fluoride does stave off caries, but it doesn’t prevent them altogether and its over-use can lead to fluorosis in the teeth making them weak and vulnerable to decay, making dental costs higher.

It has also been proven that fluoride is more toxic than lead and arsenic- probably a good reason to cut down on it as this constant ‘poisoning’ by using it, not only affects the teeth, but the brain and heart too.

There are alternative products you can buy as well as natural spring water, but fluoride has become popular because it helps to fend off decay from the type of food and drink we consume in the West so if you stop using it, you should also consider looking at your diet as well.

As most people will know, the most basic thing to bear in mind is that as much of the acidic substance known as plaque needs to be removed from your mouth on a daily basis. This can be achieved by effective brushing with a tooth brush that has firm bristles and the use of fluoride tooth paste that helps to strengthen teeth against further attack.

Flossing is a vital part of looking after your teeth too as it helps to guard against dental decay as well as gum disease. You should pull dental floss between the gaps in your teeth after you have brushed. This is because your brush will be unable to reach all the plaque that is in between teeth.

Allowing plaque to flourish lets it attack the enamel on the surface of your teeth and holes will begin to form. Eventually teeth can become not fit for purpose and removal might be the only option left. Gum disease is actually a greater cause of tooth loss though than the decaying of teeth itself. This is because the advanced stages of gum disease leads to the bones which hold your teeth in place becoming inflamed and unable to hold teeth in.

Keeping your West London up to date with what’s going on in your mouth is a vital part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy and free from disease.

It is important to understand how gum disease can happen so that you can stop it from doing so in the first place. Just as plaque causes teeth to decay, it is a substance that is not good for your gums either. The danger comes when plaque is left on the gum line of teeth and begins to inflame the gums. Brushing in the right fashion should be removing all of this plaque from that sensitive area and often that is the only action that dentists will take if they spot incipient gum disease: advise you to brush more effectively.

The point is that the early stage of periodontal disease (gingivitis) is nothing that serious really but if inflammation of the gums is left to thrive then the consequences are far worse. Periodontitis is definitely an ailment that is worth avoiding. The inflammation spreads beyond the gums to affect the bones which secure your teeth. The gums themselves start to recede from the teeth and the teeth themselves are at heightened risk of falling out.

Keep your London W1 dentist informed of what’s going on in your mouth and report any of the early symptoms to gum disease to them immediately.

One of the least pleasant aspects of suffering from gum disease is that bad breath – or halitosis – can occur. The emission of unpleasant smells from the mouth can make social situations that bit more awkward and can lead to embarrassment and even withdrawal. Who wants to be covering their mouth at a wedding or business meeting?

Gum disease is usually caused by a build up of plaque on the gum line of teeth, which causes the gum to become infected. This will manifest itself in greater sensitivity when eating and drinking and a change in the colour of your gums from a healthy pink to more of a red colour. Bad breath might be another symptom too.

If you have bad breath it is best to get your mouth examined by a trained professional to see if gum disease is the cause. Gum disease can usually be rectified by tightening up your home oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist. Sometimes special mouth washes can be used or it might simply be that a certain food you eat a lot of is causing halitosis.

Talk to your West London dentist for more advice about halitosis and gum disease.

The studies found that those who never or rarely brushed their teeth were about seventy per cent more likely to experience heart disease than people who brush at least twice a day, as recommended by dentists.

As well as brushing twice a day you ought to floss too, to ensure that your mouth is free from the plaque which can damage teeth and cause gum disease. The studies could not prove that keeping a healthy mouth actually reduces the risk of heart disease, in itself, because it may be that those who are regular and diligent tooth brushers might also be leading generally healthier lives.

However, by looking after your mouth you are taking the first steps towards a healthier way of looking at your routine. You might decide to alter your diet and make it more balanced so that you are exposing your teeth to less plaque. Of course this will help your general health too as the sugary foods which mainly contribute to the formation of plaque are usually low in nutritional value and often high in calories.

Letting your oral health deteriorate to the extent that your mouth is subject to infections and gum disease can compromise your general health as infections in the mouth can enter the blood stream and lead to other complications. Talk to your City of London dentist today for more advice about how to look after your teeth and gums and reduce the risk of heart disease.

One of the most virulent forms of the disease is oral cancer that affects the lips, tongue, gums and soft tissue of the mouth. Oral cancer, if not treated early enough is fatal in all cases. However, if you catch the condition in time to treat it, you stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of successful treatment.

The most effective way of catching oral cancer is to have your mouth regularly examined by a dentist. Dentists are trained to examine for oral cancer as part of a routine check up procedure. Any suspicious looking patches can be examined and tested using a brush biopsy. If the results come back positive, your Central London dentist will be able to refer you for treatment as soon as possible.

Oral cancer manifests itself as small red or white patches on the soft tissue in the mouth. These will be very painful and sensitive to hot and cold and will not disappear naturally after a couple of weeks unlike mouth ulcers. Other symptoms of oral cancer include an unexplained weight loss, bleeding in the mouth (usually from the gums) and a pain in the head or neck. Stopping oral cancer really is simple, as long as you give yourself the bet possible chance. If it has been longer than six months since your last appointment, make the call today. It could just save your life.

Perhaps the most serious of all the conditions that affect the mouth is oral cancer. This is classified as any cancer affecting the lips, tongue, cheek lining and throat. Oral cancer is a very nasty form of the disease that will be fatal if not caught and treated early enough. If the cancer is detected in time you stand a greater than 80 per cent chance of making a full recovery.

Oral cancer usually appears as small sores, lumps or patches on the soft tissue. These will be very sensitive to extremes of hot and cold and very painful. They also do not disappear after two weeks like non-cancerous sores in the mouth. They are often red or white or a combination of the two.

Your London W1 dentist will be able to examine any suspicious areas in the mouth and carry out a brush biopsy to test for cancerous cells. There are other signs of oral cancer which you need to be aware of including unexplained bleeding in the mouth and sudden weight loss. If you suspect oral cancer or are unsure about a certain part of the mouth make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible, it could be the most important decision you’ll ever make. Also ask your dentist for more information about oral cancer at your next appointment.