August 21st, 2010
We have all seen what happens to a smile when a tooth is missing. A gap in the dental arc is pretty much the first thing that you notice when somebody smiles at you, but it is not just the aesthetic damage that is cause for concern. Missing teeth leave hollows in the gums that provide the perfect place for bacteria and plaque to build up. This hollow area is very difficult to clean with a conventional brush and can lead to damage occurring to other teeth in the dental arc. This process will repeat itself over and over until ultimately the teeth are all under threat.
Like any solid defence, your teeth need to be at maximum strength to successfully battle dental disease and decay. This is why your City of London dentist will always recommend that you try and replace missing teeth as soon as possible.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is to have a dental bridge designed and fitted. Just like it sounds, a dental bridge spans the gap created by the lost tooth with an artificial tooth. This tooth, known as the pontic, will be very realistic and match the other teeth for maximum cosmetic effect.
The pontic is normally held in place by dental crowns on either side of the gap. Small resin strips attach the pontic to the crowns to restore both the appearance and functionality of the tooth. Dental bridges are very effective and also the most affordable of all the dental substitutes. If properly maintained, a dental bridge from a City of London dentist can last as long as twenty years, although the average lifespan is between ten and fifteen years.
August 17th, 2010
You have probably all heard of dental crowns but you may not know exactly what they are and what they can do for your teeth. Our teeth are constantly under attack from plaque and acid and bacteria that lives in the mouth. The mouth and surfaces of the teeth are the perfect warm and moist place for bacteria to thrive and the acid they release will eventually begin to erode the teeth. This will cause cavities that can lead to the development of an infection on the inside of the tooth. If the dentist catches this decay early enough it may be possible to fill the cavity with dental bonding in a procedure called a filling. However, if the tooth is damaged beyond this state you may need a root canal treatment to remove the infection from the sensitive area at the centre of the tooth.
After this treatment has been carried out, the tooth will then need a dental crown to protect it from further damage. A crown is a specially designed cap, made of porcelain or porcelain and metal, that is cemented over the top of the tooth covering all the area exposed above the gum. This will then act as barrier to further decay and allow the tooth to function as normal.
Dental crowns are also used to repair teeth that have been damaged during an accident. Dental trauma such as breaks and chips can be very serious and a dental crown may be the only option to prevent a great deal of further pain and treatment. Dental crowns from London W1 dentists are also used in cosmetic repair work such as dental bridges.
July 18th, 2010
The role of the dentist: to repair our teeth when something goes wrong or when we are suffering pain. That seems to be the conventional opinion of the dentist but over recent years a new form of dentistry has emerged that has revolutionised the way we think about our teeth. Working on the premise that prevention is better than cure, this new kind of preventative dentistry aims to stop dental and periodontal problems occurring in the first instance.
The first stage of preventative dentistry is to book yourself an appointment with a West London dentist. At this stage the dentist will examine your teeth for any signs of damage or disease. At your next appointment, the dentist will make any necessary repairs, fill any cavities and restore any broken or chipped teeth with dental bonding. They can also repair any discolouration with dental bonding. Once the teeth are fixed and adequately protected against the elements which damage them, it is then the turn of the dental hygienist to clean and restore the appearance of the teeth.
They accomplish this using a series of treatments called scaling and polishing. This involves scraping the teeth to rid them of any bacteria and plaque that might still be hanging on. The teeth are then polished so that it is harder for bacteria to stick to the teeth.
Your dentist and hygienist will have worked together to come up with a plan to keep your teeth clean that involves sticking to a hygiene routine. This, if followed well and with regular check ups should keep the teeth clean and free from plaque and protect them in the future. Don’t wait until it’s too late to do something about your teeth, prevent the problems in the first instance.
May 3rd, 2010
Unlike your GP, where you are only really need to visit when you are ill or concerned about your health, it is necessary to visit the dentists every six-months for a check up as routine procedure. This is because our teeth are constantly being attacked by plaque and bacteria in the mouth from food, which will ultimately cause damage to the teeth unless your teeth are clean and regularly checked by a Central London dentists.
The key to keeping your teeth clean starts at home with effective dental hygiene. This will mostly be in the form of brushing and flossing, but may also involve using a tongue scraper and mouthwash, if recommended by your dentist. Brushing is vital to your dental health as it removes plaque from the surface of the teeth. If plaque is allowed to remain, it will release acids, which erode tooth enamel. This exposes the teeth to infection and ultimately tooth loss. Brushing is also very effective against gum disease, if you are brushing correctly and with an appropriate brush. Flossing removes plaque and bacteria from between the teeth, areas that are hard to reach with conventional brushing.
However, even the most rigorous home hygiene routine can not always prevent the onset of tooth and gum disease. Everyone’s teeth are different and some are more prone to enamel erosion and infection than others. It is also very hard to tell if you are reaching all the necessary areas of your mouth when you are cleaning solely at home. Your dentist will be able to highlight any problem areas and treat any signs of decay or disease that may already be occurring. They are also able to check for the signs of other unpleasant conditions such as oral cancer.
Having a check up every six months will significantly reduce your chances of having problems with your teeth.
April 23rd, 2010
Flossing is a method of cleaning in between the teeth to get rid of food debris, and keep down the build up of tartar says a West London dentist. Imagine your house having a clean floor with dirty skirting boards, which would look so out of place that it would be very obvious. Well that’s exactly what flossing is, it is the cleaning of the areas that the main method of cleaning miss, you wouldn’t vacuum a carpet and leave dirt around the sides, so why clean your teeth and not floss? It’s not as if it’s even a hard or time consuming exercise. Tartar will build up around the sides of your teeth if flossing isn’t done on a regular basis, this is generally chipped off the tooth when we get our 6 monthly check up, but to prevent the build up in the first place is the sensible thing to do. Flossing is as important as brushing and rinsing properly, even more so, as brushing and rinsing does not remove most of the food residue in between the teeth. This food is attacked by bacteria which feeds on it and then as a by-product, produces harmful acids that damage the enamel on the front of the teeth. Bacteria can then penetrate deep into the tooth and cause infections, if the problem continues we either end up losing the tooth or getting a root canal treatment, neither of these are worth avoiding a few minutes a day that flossing requires. Washing the mouth with water throughout the day will also help to keep down acid build up, but be sure to have a little floss first. Flossing isn’t just for the morning and the evening, it should be done after each meal throughout the day to be fully effective and keep diseases of the gums at bay.
March 20th, 2010
Many of us may think we are taking good care of our teeth because we brush them thoroughly for three minutes every day like dentists recommend but we could be giving ourselves a false sense of security because effective dental hygiene involves a lot more than just brushing.
Although brushing is obviously very important in keeping your teeth clean and free from plaque and bacteria, it is often the hard to reach places that cannot be cleaned with a brush that are the location of decay and gum disease. That is why it is so important to floss at least one a day. Flossing cleans the small gaps between teeth where bacteria and food debris can accumulate. The gaps are too narrow to be properly cleaned with a brush and require regular flossing to prevent decay.
Flossing also cleans the areas around the bottom of the tooth and underneath the gum line where bacteria gather in the small pockets. This can lead to both tooth decay and gum disease which can cause toothaches, infections and ultimately tooth loss. West London dentists also recommend using a tongue cleaner to remove bacteria form the grooves of the tongue. It is also a good idea to use a smaller inter-dental brush.
The most important factor in good dental hygiene however, is the regular six-month check ups you should be having with your dentist. Even the most regimented hygiene routine can still be under threat from disease and decay and only a dentist can help you to completely protect your teeth.
March 14th, 2010
Brushing your teeth is by far and away the most important way of keeping them clean, healthy and free from decay. Effective brushing is the first line of defence against a whole series of nasty and unpleasant dental health concerns that could cause you a lot of pain, embarrassment and expense throughout your life.
London W1 dentists recommend that you brush your teeth at least twice a day for three minutes. It is recommended to use a soft-bristled brush, unless told otherwise by your dentist for specific reasons, as they are the best at removing plaque and ultimately that is the number one aim of tooth brushing. Plaque is the sticky, filmy substance that coast teeth and releases acids which eventually break down enamel and cause cavities. If left untreated, dental cavities will worsen until the enamel is breached and the sensitive inner part of the tooth including the dental nerve is exposed to bacteria and infection. This can be very unpleasant and the source of severe pain and ultimately tooth loss.
When brushing it is important to angle the brush at 45 degrees to the gums so that they are also gently cleaned. This helps to keep plaque off the gums and prevent gum disease, the number one cause of tooth loss in the UK. Using a small-headed toothbrush is also recommended because it allows easier access to more parts of the mouth.
Although brushing is very important, it is also still a good idea to floss your teeth at least once a day as this helps to remove plaque and food debris from between the teeth. As well as this, it is also highly important to make sure you keep up six-monthly appointments with the dentist as even the most rigorous brushers can still be affected by decay and disease.
March 13th, 2010
The food we eat can have a big impact on the health of our teeth. Just as certain foods can have a very bad impact on your teeth, others can actually be beneficial. By making small changes in your diet you could help to protect your teeth from disease and decay that could be very painful, costly and even embarrassing.
Starting with the foods that are not so good for your teeth, as you might imagine they are the fairly obvious ones. Anything with lots of sugar can cause damage to teeth as the presence of sugar in the mouth accelerates decay. Other foods such as crisps, which are high in salt, can also be damaging for the teeth. Basically, the simple rule to follow is that if it’s not good for your body, it’s probably not very good for your teeth.
Other foods and drinks can also have other negative consequences for the teeth. Red wine, tea and coffee can all cause tooth enamel to stain, which is irreversible. In fact all dark liquids can cause the teeth to stain. Other drinks such as fruit juices and squash can also be very bad for the teeth because of a high sugar content. The best thing you can drink for your dental health is water, as this cleans the mouth and washes plaque and food stuff away from the teeth. Drinking water after eating food bad for your teeth can also limit the impact it can have. Closely behind water is milk, which can also be very good for your teeth because of the calcium it contains, although most dentists would always recommend water.
Eating healthy food like fruit and vegetables is best for your teeth. They contain vitamins and minerals which benefit your teeth and bones and are less likely to be the cause of decay. Although it must be stated that after eating any food it is always a good idea to drink water or even brush your teeth as food particles get stuck between your teeth and begin to decay. This is a breeding ground for plaque and bacteria which can then further damage the teeth. Ask a City of London dentist for more information about healthy eating for your teeth at your next appointment.
February 22nd, 2010
Everybody knows that sweet and sticky foods are bad for your teeth. This is because the sugar sticks to the teeth attracting bacteria that form plaque. When this bacteria decays it releases acids, which are the main cause of dental cavities. Because sweet food is often sticky due to the sugar it clings to the teeth and is difficult to remove. Sticky foods also get stuck in the gaps between teeth and decay releasing foul odours that cause halitosis. The main problem is that sweet foods are very difficult to resist, especially if you have a sweet tooth but there are alternatives.
Firstly, eating anything with a low sugar content is going to be better for your teeth than high sugar content food. There are many low sugar snacks available on the market that will be less damaging to your teeth. However, the reality is that most food will cause damage to your teeth eventually so the key to keeping your teeth healthy is damage limitation. By trying to eat foods with low sugar and replacing sugary sweets with natural sources of sugar you will be doing a lot to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
Foods like raisins and grapes make excellent sweet snacks and are less damaging to your teeth. It is also possible to buy sugar-free chewing gum that is still sweet and will satisfy your cravings. West London dentists will also be able to advise you what foods are less damaging for your teeth but still allow you to enjoy the odd treat. It is important however to remember that whatever you eat, cleaning teeth thoroughly by brushing and flossing daily will help to prevent damage form dental cavities.
February 17th, 2010
Tooth abscesses are extremely painful and unpleasant things that can be entirely prevented with more effective teeth cleaning. Proper brushing and flossing can usually prevent dental infections that cause abscesses but if it is already too late then it is imperative that you see a dentist as soon as possible, as a burst abscess can cause further health problems.
Abscesses occur when tooth enamel has been eroded by plaque acid. When the dental cavity penetrates to the centre of the tooth, bacteria can get inside and cause an infection that surrounds the dental nerve causing a toothache. The body’s natural response to this is to create more white blood cells to bombard the infection and kill it. These white blood cells mix with the infected matter to form a substance called pus. This builds up in tissue around the tooth either beating the infection or making it larger and larger until it can no longer withstand the pressure and bursts. This can then spread the infection around the mouth and even into the bloodstream causing heart problems and other complications.
Abscesses can be treated by dentists who can also offer relief from the pain that they can cause, which can often be extreme. Obviously the best cure for an abscess is prevention but dentists can also carry out minor surgery or prescribe antibiotics to defeat the infection.
If tooth abscesses are not treated by a London W1 dentist and left to get worse they can also be responsible for the actual death of the tooth as the infection will eventually kill the dental nerve. This may result in tooth loss and many further associated problems.
