Your dentist has all sorts of things to look out for in your mouth when you go and see him or her for your six month check up. Things like tooth decay and gum disease are obvious but many people don’t know that dentists can also spot the signs of sleep apnea, a debilitating condition which interrupts sleep. Read on to find out more information about it.
Sleep apnea occurs when muscles at the rear of patient’s mouth relax too much during sleep and oxygen is unable to get into the body. The brain will send a signal to wake up the body every time this happens so patient’s sleep can be severely disrupted. In some cases patients are unaware that they are actually waking up, they are more drifting into a lighter state of sleep but feel very tired during the day.
All of this means that sleep apnea patients have an increased risk of hypertension to contend with. Heart attacks and strokes become a greater concern too as well as the general fatigue they will experience. Leeds dentists can help to diagnose sleep apnea by examining the muscles in question during one of the six months check-ups which should be part of your routine.
Sleep apnea can be combatted by the wearing of one of several inter oral devices during sleep. In their various forms they ensure that oxygen get flow into the lungs unimpeded. Sometimes it might be a case of recognising what is causing your sleep apnea in the first place and then making the necessary changes to your lifestyle. Drinking alcohol before sleep can be a contributing factor and smokers are more prone to sleep apnea.
Archive for July, 2011
Leeds dentists warn patients that sleep apnea can lead to heart failure
Sunday, July 31st, 2011Leeds dentists tell patients that oral products like mouth wash can make their bad breath worse
Saturday, July 30th, 2011
Patients who suffer from bad breath will go to all sorts of lengths to stop the condition from happening. It can really inhibit your social life and make things such as business meetings and job interviews into nightmare scenarios. One of the most obvious ways to rectify the problem is to use mouth wash to freshen the breath. The advertising states that mouth wash kills bacteria and freshens breath so it is a common method for people to use. But the story is not that simple.
Mouth wash is taken into the mouth, swilled around, gargled with and then spat out. It does indeed kill bacteria but it kills all of the bacteria in the mouth, some of which is good bacteria. Mouth wash also makes the mouth very dry and, as a consequence, bad breath bacteria can thrive in these conditions because the surfaces of teeth are easier to ‘stick to’.
In the short term you breath might be freshened up by the flavour of the mouth wash but bad breath can quickly come back. Often people like to chew gum after using mouth wash because it moistens up the mouth quickly. This is not to say that mouth wash should always be avoided; sometimes dentists advise patients to use certain mouth washes on occasions because they can be helpful in the fight against gingivitis, the most basic form of gum disease. It is better to deal with the root causes of bad breath which might be found in the types of food that you are eating or the fact of having a dry mouth generally. Brushing properly and flossing too are effective general methods of combatting bad breath and brushing your tongue is also advisable because bad breath bacteria thrive on the tongue. Talk to a Leeds dentist for more handy hints.
Invisible Aligners for you in Central Leeds
Friday, July 29th, 2011
If we are all totally honest ourselves, none of us like the idea of having to wear a brace or an aligner, whatever our age. But then none of us like the idea of going through life having ugly, crooked teeth either….what to do eh? Well not to worry, because our American friends have come up with the solution- Invisalign and it’s available here in central Leeds right now. Invisalign has revolutionised every aspect of wearing an aligner. Its greatest advantage is that it is made from a completely transparent material, that once in the mouth, is almost impossible to detect from the outside- imagine the freedom that that affords to the wearer. Another delicacy of this device is that it is removable; most fixed braces are a nightmare to clean but with this, you can take it out, clean your teeth in the normal way and then pop it back in your mouth again, thus ensuring a healthy oral hygiene program throughout the treatment. Okay, this treatment is not suitable for everyone, it tends also to be more expensive compared to others, but if you need any-more carrots dangled in front of you to just how good Invisalign is:- though treatment times vary for each individual person, on average, this whole procedure takes around a third of time to complete compared other aligning methods on the market today.
Dental Implants for you in Leeds
Wednesday, July 27th, 2011
We do our up-most best to look after our teeth throughout our lives and there are enough products around these days to ensure we do. And of course if they don’t work we’ve always got the dentist to fall back on for help. But, there will always be instances where we will lose a tooth or two at some point in our lives and for the general status-qua of the mouth, it’s generally good to try and replace these missing teeth, and by far and away, the most precise and efficient way of doing so is by having a dental implant fitted. The theory of the implant hasn’t changed: it has always involved fitting a titanium root into the jaw bone, but the methods by which it is done have advanced tremendously. Laser surgery has changed the whole nature of dental implants. Such precise placement of the implant by the use of lasers and computers has made the treatment incredibly easy for dentists to carry out and because of this, healing times have fallen radically too; in some
cases, some implant treatments can be done in a day. Such a shift in the use of these new, advanced technologies has meant that the treatment has become commonplace around the country, causing the costs to have it done to drop within a price range that all of us can afford; and once in, an implant will last you for life, ensuring that retain you a healthy and youthful smile forever. Once, you had to leave the country for this treatment, now you can get it in Leeds!
Leeds dentists cover unsightly teeth with beautiful porcelain veneers
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011
Being able to smile with confidence can easily put a whole room of people at ease; soon they’ll all be smiling along with you and the atmosphere will be welcoming and warm. But if you have a chipped, cracked or severely stained tooth then you might be reluctant to show your teeth. You may not even notice that you are subconsciously shielding your mouth but other people will.
Porcelain veneers are the modern way to cover up teeth that you don’t like the look of. There really is no need to put up with a few teeth that make you cringe when you look in the mirror. Your dentist can quickly and easily fit thin strips of porcelain over the culprits leaving you willing to show off your teeth once more.
Porcelain veneers are very strong and durable even though increasingly small amounts of porcelain actually needs to be used. They are also resistant to staining because they are like glass in the sense that pigments can’t take hold on the surface.
If your dentist has access to the latest computer technology then he or she might be able to fit you with a stunning porcelain dental veneer in just one short visit to the surgery. Computer aided technology (CAD/CAM) allows dentists to take a three dimensional image of your mouth which is used with an online machine that makes the veneer by itself.
Ask your Leeds dentist about porcelain veneers and take the first step towards having a great smile. Before you know it you will be one of those people who can walk into a room and put everyone at ease with an easy and great looking smile.
City of Leeds dentists reassure patients who are suffering from debilitating dental phobia
Sunday, July 24th, 2011
Certain phobias are more well known than others. We probably all know someone who suffers from a fear of spiders or a fear of heights and many people don’t like the thought of being in confined spaces, known as claustrophobia. A phobia that is far less talked about but very common nonetheless is dental phobia. People who suffer from dental phobia have a fear of going to the dentist. The causes of this can be complex and varied.
Childhood memories form very powerful stimuli in all of our brains and if we remember an unpleasant experience at the dentist from our youth, this can easily become an adult dental phobia. For some people it is the dental drill and that feeling of being confined to the dental chair for what seems like hours as a drill probes your mouth.
The good news is that dental drills are not even used for some procedures now that Waterlase technology allows for the same results but using jets of water instead. Generally treatments have become far more comfortable for the patient thanks to pain free gels and so on. Treatment times too are far shorter because of the technology that dentists are harnessing. Modern dentists strive to make their surgeries relaxing and friendly places by playing music and taking care of their appearance.
It might seem like the last thing on earth that you want to deal with but it will very much be worth your while to do everything you can to overcome dental phobia. The truth is that many oral hygiene issues are so easy to solve if only they are tackled early, but for this to happen you have to go to your City of Leeds dentist in the first place.
Leeds dentists solve the problem of tooth loss once and for all with incredible secure dental implants
Saturday, July 23rd, 2011
Human beings have long sought out the best way of rectifying the problem of lost teeth. Teeth can get lost for a variety of reasons, from dental decay to the advanced stages of gum disease to a one off trauma affecting the mouth, maybe in a game of a physical sport. Having a full set of teeth, even if some or all of them are not natural, allows you to talk properly and eat and drink much easier.
A comparatively recent solution to tooth loss that has been honed by dentists over the past few decades is called dental implants. These very clever devices replicate the function of the root of a tooth. Essentially they are sockets which are fixed into the mouth and into which a replacement, false tooth can be screwed.
The real genius of dental implants is that they are made from titanium which naturally osseointegrates. What this means is that it fuses with living bone so the implant, to all intents and purposes, becomes an actual part of the mouth. The stability of this foundation should not be underestimated; once an implant is in place you won’t even have to think about the fact that it is there anymore.
Although costs are gradually coming down, dental implants are still not a budget option for many patients, but they are permanent and effective. The invasive nature of the surgery puts some people off too but it is worth stressing again how permanent a solution dental implants are. If you are interested in getting a dental implant then your Leeds dentist will be happy to talk through it all with you to see if it is the right procedure for you.
Central Leeds dentists are the best people to help with your oral hygiene
Friday, July 22nd, 2011
You only get one set of natural, healthy teeth so it is very much worth your while looking after them to the best of your ability. Thankfully oral hygiene is not rocket science and by following a simple set of advice you can look forward to a lifetime of having a set of healthy teeth.
The first and most basic thing to remember is that your primary aim is to remove as much plaque from your mouth as possible with your at-home routine. Brush with a tooth brush that has firm bristles on a small head and a comfortable handle. Try to do this every morning and night and after sugary snacks too. Use a fluoride tooth paste so that your enamel is strengthened in the process. Flossing too will make sure that plaque is eliminated from the hard to reach places between your teeth.
Going to see your Central Leeds dentist every six months is advisable too because they are the real experts. They can monitor the health of your mouth using their well of experience and diagnose any problems early before they become real issues to you.
Pursuing a generally healthy lifestyle helps with your oral hygiene too. If your diet is poor then your teeth will begin to suffer. Smoking decreases the production of saliva which is a natural defence against plaque and can also cause oral cancer. The same is true of alcohol so you should try and limit the amount you drink in order for your mouth to stay healthy.
Having a healthy mouth means that you will be able to eat, drink and talk in comfort and, perhaps even more importantly, your teeth will look great and you’ll want to smile more!
City of Leeds dentists tell all their patients that they need to get into a routine of dental check ups
Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Hopefully you are pursuing the requisite routine of keeping your teeth clean and healthy at home. You should be brushing and flossing at least twice a day to stop plaque from damaging your teeth and making your gums inflamed. Pursuing the right diet and restricting your sugary snacks are also important things to bear in mind too. But it is always worth keeping your dentist in the loop about the state of your mouth too. This requires a visit to the dental surgery every six months or as otherwise directed.
City of Leeds dentists have trained for years to get the highest standards of excellence when it comes to knowledge about human mouths. The fact is that many dental complaints are easily rectified if only they are spotted early. On the obverse side of things, the consequences of, say, allowing your gums to deteriorate can mean that you will lose teeth.
There are also things that dentists can do at the surgery which are not achievable by only taking care of your teeth at home. If plaque hardens into the substance known as tartar, it can only be removed with the specialist equipment at the dental surgery. Dentists are also trained to spot the signs of oral cancer, a very nasty condition that actually has quite high survival rates if it is treated in its early stages.
Don’t be intimidated by the thought of going to see your dentist. Modern surgeries are welcoming places and dentists are concerned about keeping patients relaxed and at ease with what’s going on. Book an appointment for a dental check-up today.
Central Leeds dentists help patients improve their appearance with cosmetic dentistry
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
Just how do the Hollywood stars look so terrific all the time? Part of the answer, as many people now know, is that their photos are frequently airbrushed! But there is a serious point though and it is that many of them opt for cosmetic procedures to help them enhance their appearance. Cosmetic procedures do not have to be dramatic changes that involve surgery; you can improve your looks by getting some cosmetic dentistry from your local dentist.
Your smile is just one small part of who you are and the way you look but it has a big impact when you meet people. It’s probably the first thing that a new person will notice about you and it is an excellent tool to use to put people at ease in social and work situations. But those little imperfections that you might have had since birth can stop you from utilising your smile fully.
With cosmetic dentistry procedures you can iron out the imperfections once and for all. Whether you decide to have a brace fitted to straighten crooked teeth or choose one of the newer aligners, you can rest assured in the knowledge that your smile will look better. Stained, chipped or cracked teeth are easily concealed behind a discreet yet stunning porcelain dental veneer. If the problem is more serious, a porcelain crown is equally effective.
Advances in technology not only mean that many of these procedures are able to be carried out with great speed, but the costs are actually reduced in some cases. Have an informal chat with your Central Leeds dentist about the different options that are available for you to improve the look of your smile through cosmetic dentistry.
