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Archive for March, 2011

Fight bad breath with techniques from Central Leeds dentists

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Bad breath can have a serious effect on your confidence. Going to parties or business meetings can become difficult as you find yourself shielding your mouth so that people don’t smell the unpleasant odours that can emanate. Many people experience it at one time or another but it is not something that needs to just be put up with because there a number of simple ways to deal with it effectively.
For most people bad breath (or halitosis as it is known clinically) is avoided by adequate routines of brushing and flossing to remove the bacteria which cause it. You might also wish to brush your tongue because the bacteria can thrive there too. You should do so carefully though because you don’t want to damage your tongue in the process.
Using mouth washes is not always as effective as it seems to be in combatting bad breath. It can leave your mouth rather dry which is ideal conditions for the bacteria to stick to your teeth and actually cause further bouts of bad breath.
Chewing gum can be an effective way of beating bad breath if you find yourself in a situation where you have eaten but are unable to brush your teeth. The process of chewing gum not only dislodges any left over debris from when you have eaten but it also contributes to the production of saliva which keeps your mouth healthy. As well as this it can make your breath smell fresher as chewing gum is usually flavoured with something pleasant like mint.
Don’t put up with bad breath, talk to your Central Leeds dentist next time you are at the surgery and ask for advice about how to deal with it effectively.

Leeds dentists warn patients of the links between sleep apnea and heart failure

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Suffering from severely broken sleep patterns can have a serious impact on your life. If you experience such inconvenience it is possible that you have sleep apnea, a condition in which the muscles at the rear of the mouth relax during sleep and prevent adequate amounts of oxygen from reaching the lungs. There is a link between the condition and heart failure.
When the muscles at the back of your mouth relax, not enough oxygen can get through and the brain sends an automatic signal that is not receiving enough of the oxygen it needs. This causes the body to wake up. You might only wake up for a few seconds and go immediately back to sleep and some patients don’t even notice that they are waking up for tiny amounts of time in the night, just that they are extremely fatigued during the day.
This fatigue in the day can have a serious impact on the life of a sufferer. Traffic accidents become more likely and it is dangerous to use heavy machinery. Perhaps the most worrying impact though is the link to heart failure. Sleep apnea and the fatigue it causes often bring on a state of hypertension in the patient. This leaves them at greater risk of suffering from heart failure and strokes.
By allowing your dentist to examine your mouth in detail you are giving yourself the best chance of having sleep apnea diagnosed and then it can be dealt with. Often patients are given a device to wear in their mouth during the night which ensures that oxygen flows into the lungs unrestricted.
If you are worried about sleep apnea, make an appointment to see your Leeds dentist.

Flossing will help your oral health, say City of Leeds dentists

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

We all know how important it is to brush our teeth but how many of us neglect to floss? The fact is that flossing is a vital part of keeping your mouth nice and healthy and ought to form part of your routine. Not doing so is just helping plaque to keep a hold in your mouth and put you at risk of dental decay and other oral conditions.
Flossing is the act of pulling a thin piece of tape between your teeth. It is done in order to remove plaque which can easily hide there. Brushing your teeth might get rid of the plaque which is on the surface of your teeth, but it doesn’t matter how well you brush, chances are some it will still remain between your teeth.
If plaque is allowed to stay there between your teeth then it can start to break down the protective layer of enamel which keeps your teeth safe. Cavities can begin to form and the nerves inside your teeth can become compromised. Further, a build up of plaque on the gum line of your teeth can leave you open to contracting gum disease like gingivitis or its more advanced form, periodontitis.
Flossing might be a little painful to begin with if you haven’t done it before. Gums are sensitive and having tape dragged across them might cause the tissue to break and an amount of bleeding to occur. This ought to stop in time but if it doesn’t you should alert your dentist.
Talk to your City of Leeds dentist if you need any more advice about the benefits of flossing and take the next step towards enhancing your oral health.

Daily dental hygiene: get the facts from Leeds dentists

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Leading a busy life can sometimes lead you to forget just how important it is to take good care of your teeth. But the fact is that many of the activities that you take for granted depend on you having a healthy mouth. If you contract gum disease or start experiencing dental decay then eating, drinking and even talking can be rendered much more difficult. So it is best to take care of your mouth in the way that dentists advise.
First of all, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day to remove the plaque which is a major cause of tooth decay and gum disease. You ought to brush for about three minutes and make sure that you are covering all the areas of your mouth from front to back and top to bottom. As well as brushing you should floss as well to remove the plaque which forms in between your teeth.
All food causes plaque to some degree but sugary and starchy foods produce the most and you should restrict yourself in how much of these foods you eat. Sometimes you might wish to brush your teeth after you’ve had a sugary snack or a starchy meal. Activities such as smoking tobacco and drinking a lot of alcohol can have a detrimental effect on your oral hygiene too and are leading causes of oral cancer.
All of these measures should be done in conjunction with regular visits to your dentist so that your oral health can be monitored by a professional. Dentists can spot the signs of any problems early on and offer effective diagnosis before the problem gets too bad. Talk to your Leeds dentist if you need more advice about these matters.

Central Leeds dentists diagnose and treat reversible pulpitis

Sunday, March 27th, 2011

Inside all of your teeth there is a substance known as pulp. This consists of blood vessels, nerves and other cells. It can become inflamed as a result of tooth decay or a one off accident. The good news is that, in many cases, this pulpitis is actually completely reversible so you should keep your dentist up to date with what is going on in your mouth in case you develop it.
Should you contract pulpitis, you will find that a particular tooth feels especially sensitive when you are eating or drinking hot or cold substance or even when you are breathing in particularly cold air. You might find that are experiencing unexplained aches in the neck, chin or jaw area and the lymph nodes might enlarge, causing you some pain.
Any prolonged pulpitis is likely to be irreversible. If the problem has been going on for a long time then your dentist might be able to do nothing about it as the pulp has become so compromised. In cases of reversible pulpitis then the pain will not be nearly as severe.
Your dentist will be able to diagnose pulpitis by subjecting the tooth to an x-ray; often these are now digital and so are far more efficient than in the past. Usually in cases of reversible pulpitis, the tooth can be restored to health by dealing with the cavity that might be causing it. By filling the cavity the pulp will be able to heal itself. Root canal treatment might be required, or a course of antibiotics prescribed in order to deal with the infection.
Keep up the habit of visiting your Central Leeds dentist every six months and any case of reversible pulpitis should be able to be dealt with.

Dental implants from Leeds dentists effectively solve tooth loss problems

Saturday, March 26th, 2011

If you have lost a tooth or teeth then it is imperative to get them replaced as soon as possible. This is so that your mouth can function as it is intended to, with a full set of teeth. There are a number of options here, each with pros and cons associated with them. An increasingly popular choice for many patients is to opt for dental implants.
Dental implants deservedly have a reputation for their stability and permanence. Once you have had a tooth replaced using a dental implant you really won’t have to think about it again because it will function just like one of your regular teeth. The really remarkable thing about dental implants is that they end up becoming effectively a part of your mouth.
They are basically a substitute for the root part of the tooth that has been lost. Made from titanium, an incredibly light weight yet durable metal, they are placed underneath the gum and against the jaw bone. Over time the titanium and the bone begin to fuse, or osseointegrate to use the technical term. This gives the replacement tooth screwed into the dental implant an incredibly secure and durable foundation.
So secure are dental implants that one of them can actually support a set of replacement teeth using dental bridge work. The procedure for having a dental implant installed requires local anaesthetic so is too invasive for some but the fact that it is so permanent attracts many more and millions of people have reaped the benefits of such a permanent solution to missing teeth.
If you have a lost some teeth, talk to your Leeds dentist about how dental implants might be the right choice for you.

Improve your teeth with advice from City of Leeds dentists

Friday, March 25th, 2011

Your smile will be one of the first things that someone sees when you are being introduced to them and as such it forms part of the initial impression you will make on them. But having healthy teeth is not just about your looks. It is also vital in ensuring that your mouth is effective and functions as it ought to. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best ways to keep your teeth healthy.
The most important thing is to brush your teeth in the right way. You should do this at least twice a day and most people choose first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Brushing is done to remove the plaque from your mouth which forms from the food you eat. By using a tooth paste which is fortified with fluoride you can strengthen your teeth’s enamel and guard against cavity formation.
Be sure to brush for about three minutes but not too vigorously as this can damage the enamel that you are aiming to protect. Floss too so that plaque is removed from between your teeth and won’t cause gum disease. This is important because gum disease is actually a leading cause of tooth loss in itself.
Certain activities are best avoided if you want to keep your teeth healthy. Smoking tobacco and drinking too much alcohol can be bad for your mouth and obviously eating a diet which includes less sugary food is desirable to keep your mouth in good shape.
If you are worried about the health of your teeth you can talk to your City of Leeds dentist about it at the six month check ups which should also form part of your routine.

City of Leeds dentists help patients overcome their dental phobia

Thursday, March 24th, 2011

Going to see your dentist every six months is vital in making sure that mouth attains a level of healthy functionality. At the dental surgery a trained professional will monitor your mouth and examine it to see how healthy it is. Yet many people are simply too nervous about going and, in avoiding the dentist, they are putting their oral hygiene at risk.
If you are one of the many who suffer from dental phobia there might a number of different causes for your feelings. An unpleasant childhood experience can have a lasting impact on your impressions of the dental surgery. These feelings can be hard to overcome but it is worth bearing in mind that dental practice has changed a lot in recent decades. Pain free gels are extensively used to make injections less uncomfortable and the dental drill is being replaced by targeted jets of water for some procedures.
It might be the case that you had a personal disagreement with a member of staff at your regular dental surgery and are now understandably reticent about returning. Feeling that the dentist is not sympathetic to your needs can easily put you off going to see them but if you are not happy with your dentist you should simply register with another one.
Don’t be embarrassed if it is a while since your last visit and your teeth are now in a bit of a state. Your dentist will have seen it all before and probably much worse; they are only concerned with getting your teeth back into good health.
If you are worried about dental phobia, take the first step to overcoming it by making an appointment with a City of Leeds dentist. They will be able to reassure you that there is nothing to worry about and you can start rescuing your oral health.

Leeds dentists offer Inman aligners to improve the look of patients’ smiles

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

You might be thinking of getting your teeth straightened out so that you have a brilliant, healthy looking smile which you can be proud of. This is a common desire but many people are put off by the thought of having to wear an unsightly metal brace for several years. But this is no longer the only way to solve the problem of crooked teeth.
The Inman aligner works far quicker than traditional metal braces. The average time of treatment is just six months. That’s about a quarter of the two years which metal braces usually need to be worn for. Inman aligners are far more discreet as well; they only have one visible part: a single metal bar running across the front teeth. This is infinitely preferable to the metal brackets and wires of their traditional counterparts, especially for teenagers.
An Inman aligner is completely removable, which makes the issue of oral hygiene during treatment a far more manageable proposition. No longer will patients who want their teeth straightened have to endure food being trapped amongst all the metal workings. You can just remove an Inman aligner after a meal and give it and your teeth a thorough clean.
Inman aligners work using the power of a coiled spring which pushes the teeth against the bar which is front of your front teeth. This process is ideal for small alignment issues but cannot be used to rotate teeth. With the cost of an Inman aligner roughly the same as most other orthodontic treatments you might find that it is the answer to your nagging questions about how to straighten your teeth without wearing a traditional brace.
Make an appointment to see your Leeds dentist if you need more information about Inman aligners and how they work.

Central Leeds dentists offer effective diagnosis and treatment for tooth and gum disease

Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011

Taking good care of your teeth helps you to eat, drink and talk in comfort. These are activities which you can easily take for granted but if you find that you suddenly suffer from tooth or gum disease then you might not be able to carry them out as easily as you are used to. This is why it is vital that you take excellent care of your teeth in the manner that dentists recommend.
Tooth and gum diseases are primarily brought on by plaque building up in the mouth. Plaque is a substance that is formed when you eat or drink, especially substances which have a lot of sugar and or starch in them. It attacks the enamel which normally protects teeth and leaves them open to decay. Once the enamel is broken down then small holes can form in the teeth, called cavities.
Gum disease occurs when plaque on the gum line of teeth causes gums to become inflamed and reddened. If it is left unchecked the most basic form known as gingivitis can turn into periodontitis where the bones holding teeth in place become inflamed. This often leads to teeth being lost in sufferers as the gums become unfit to hold teeth in place anymore.
You can guard against tooth and gum disease by taking proper care of your teeth at home. By brushing twice a day and flossing too you should remove the vast majority of plaque in your mouth and give your teeth and gums a fighting chance. Your Central Leeds dentist plays a vital part in this too and by visiting him or her regularly they can spot any disease in the early stages so they can be effectively treated.