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Archive for the ‘dental disorders’ Category

Central Leeds dentist keeps gums healthy and prevents bad breath

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Bad breath can be caused by a number of factors. A small percentage of cases are caused by digestion problems or other internal concerns but in nearly 90 per cent of cases, it is caused by problems occurring in the oral cavity. This could be the result of poor standards of oral hygiene. Food and bacteria that are trapped in small spaces between the teeth and in the grooves of the tongue will decay and release nasty smelling sulphurous compounds, which are then expelled on the breath. This kind of bad breath can be masked by using oral products, but only temporarily. The only sure-fire cure for this kind of bad breath is to make dramatic improvements in your daily oral hygiene routine and ensure you are brushing and flossing correctly.

The other major cause of bad breath is gum disease. Dentists can often tell that patients are suffering from gum disease even before they have examined them properly. This is because gum disease lets out a very distinctive odour, caused by bacteria and decaying gum tissue. Gum disease is again caused buy poor standards of oral hygiene and insufficient brushing and flossing. Nearly three quarters of adults in the UK will suffer from gum disease at some point in their lives so it is definitely a problem that we all need to be concerned about.

Gum disease is usually mild, known as gingivitis, and can be cleared up with an improvement in cleaning techniques and some treatment from a Central Leeds dentist. However, if the gum disease is allowed to progress unchecked it may become the more serious periodontitis, which will certainly need more extensive treatment. As you might expect, the bad breath becomes more of a problem as the gum disease becomes more serious, so if you have noticed that you have bad breath it is always a good idea to go to the dentist for a check up to ensure the health of your gums.

Stop teeth grinding in sleep – Visit Central Leeds dentist

Friday, April 9th, 2010

There are many conditions that affect us when we sleep. Two of the most common are snoring and sleep apnea. Both of these affect the way we sleep and can cause associated health problems during the day. Another less common but also debilitating sleep disorder is known as bruxism.

This involves sub-conscious teeth grinding that can cause enormous damage to the tooth enamel leading to long-term dental damage. It also causes many muscular problems to do with the head, neck and jaw. Bruxism can also be very disturbing for partners who share the same bed but there are easy ways to treat it.

For years it was assumed that bruxism was caused by stress or anxiety during your waking life. In some cases this is still true but dentists have successfully proven that the majority of cases are caused by a misalignment of the teeth or jaw. Incorrect alignment can lead to great discomfort that manifests itself as sub-conscious grinding. The muscular spasms that cause the grinding can be continual and over time will wear away the protective tooth enamel on the surface of the teeth. Once this enamel has been damaged or destroyed it cannot be replaced and exposes the teeth to many problems such as infections and even permanent loss.

Central Leeds dentists can prevent bruxism by fitting a specially designed mouth guard to be worn when sleeping. This protects the teeth from further damage while dentists try to reconfigure the jaw to correct any alignment issues. This is a complex process but one that can be achieved through various dental appliances.

Using oral products may worsen bad breath – Ask Central Leeds dentist why

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Bad breath can be a very embarrassing problem, and not just for you but also for those around you. People who suffer from bad breath are also at times unaware because it can be very difficult to tell if you are suffering from the condition. This can often lead to very awkward situations where someone has to tell you your breath smells.

The question is, what to do about treating bad breath? Most people’s first reaction is to reach for the mouthwash or oral spray in an effort to beat the smell but this might be working against you. Most mouthwashes and oral products actually do little more than cover the smell temporarily, and only for a maximum of two hours but as little as ten minutes.

Bad breath is caused by bacteria on the tongue and between the teeth. When this decays it releases bad odours which are then carried out on the breath. Oral products kill some but not all of this bacteria but they can also disrupt the natural production of saliva in the mouth. This means that when the bacteria returns, and it will do quickly, your body’s natural way of defending against bad breath is affected adversely.

Central Leeds dentists advise that the best way to beat bad breath for good is to use improved dental hygiene methods. This includes more effective brushing and flossing, as well as using implement such as tongue scrapers and inter-dental brushes. By sticking to this routine you will limit the opportunity the bacteria has to remain in the mouth and feed on food particles that have not been cleaned away. Visit you dentist to find out more about how to beat bad breath.

City of Leeds dentist breaks link between sleep apnea and heart disease

Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects thousands of people as they sleep. It cause interruptions during breathing that leads to noises being emitted, similar to those of snoring but it is not the same condition as snoring.

The interruptions in breathing can last for a few seconds or even minutes, which puts a lot of stress on the patients heart. Although, breathing will start again after a matter of time. Because the condition affects sleep, many sufferers are unaware that they have the disease. Sleep apnea is a chronic condition that disrupts three nights sleep a week on average. This often means the patient is tired for large parts of the week due to poor sleep, and they are often unaware of the causes.

The condition is very hard to test for which makes it so difficult to diagnose. This means that many people live with sleep apnea for many years having a huge impact on their lives. It occurs when the soft palate at the back of the throat collapses during sleep, temporarily blocking the airwaves and preventing breathing. This is called obstructive sleep apnea but there is another variety called central sleep apnea when the brain forgets to send a message to the lungs to breath. Both conditions can be very bad for your health and have links to stress and underperformance, especially in children. More worryingly however, is the links to heart disease and heart failure. There have been many cases of sudden death due to sleep apnea as the interruption to breathing outs tremendous strain on the heart.

If you think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, make an appointment to see a City of Leeds dentist who may be able to assist you with treatment, often involving a fitted appliance to be worn when sleeping.

Bad breath, a problem no more with effective treatment by City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Bad breath, also commonly called halitosis, is usually the result of poor dental hygiene but can also be the sign of wider health problems. It is frequently made worse by the foods you eat and other lifestyle habits such as smoking.

In nine out of ten cases bad breath is caused by poor brushing and flossing. This allows food particles to stay in the teeth and start to decay. The bacteria growth that causes decay also releases foul smelling sulphur compounds, which are one of the main causes of bad breath. Brushing and flossing more effectively will remove many of these food particles removing the food source for most of the bacteria. It will also remove plaque from the surface of the teeth, which is another hot-spot for bacteria.
In some ways, flossing is more important for the prevention of bad breath as it is often in the parts of the teeth hard to clean where bacteria becomes an issue.

However, in some cases, bad breath may be a sign that you are suffering from gum disease. Periodontal disease has a very distinctive odour and cause severe damage to the gums, even resulting in tooth loss. In other cases, bad breath may be being caused by the presence of yeast infections in the mouth or possibly a condition called dry mouth, which is caused by the underproduction of saliva.

A City of Leeds dentist will be able to thoroughly examine your mouth for the cause of bad breath. They can offer effective treatment for all causes and help you to take steps to prevent the condition returning again. With the right dental care bad breath will no longer be a problem.

Links between gum disease and diabetes explained by City of Leeds dentist

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

It is a fact that people with diabetes are more likely to be suffering from periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, as people who do not have the condition. This is mainly because diabetes affects the immune system making sufferers more likely to catch infections. Periodontal disease is widely considered to be the sixth complication of diabetes by healthcare professionals.

Patients who don’t have their diabetes under control are especially at risk. According to a study in the US in the Journal of Periodontology, poorly controlled type 2 diabetes sufferers are far more likely to be at risk from gum disease as those who are in control of their condition. Further research suggests that gum disease can also make it more difficult for patients to get their diabetes under control, making it something of a catch 22 situation.

More severe periodontal disease can increase the blood sugar levels meaning there are longer periods of time when the body is functioning with higher blood sugar. This increases the risk for diabetics. City of Leeds dentists therefore encourage diabetic patients to have regular check ups on order to reduce the risk of both periodontal disease and further health complications.

It is also true that there are links between periodontal disease and heart disease. This can mean that diabetic patients are increasing their risk of cardiovascular problems if they don’t keep their gums in especially good condition. Dentists usually recommend six-monthly check up appointments but it may be that diabetic patients need to make appointments more regularly. Contact your City of Leeds dentist who will be happy to offer advice about the best course of action.

The dangers of central apnea avoided by City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects breathing during sleep. Often confused with snoring which is the sound of breathing during sleep, apnea is the actual cessation or interruption of breathing which often causes a choking, snore-like sound. Because apnea happens during sleep, many people who have the condition are unaware, unless they have been told by a loved one or friend about their problem.

There are two types of sleep apnea caused by different things. Obstructive sleep apnea is caused when the palate at the back of the throat collapses blocking the airway. This will usually right itself but can be the cause of interrupted sleep and the underlying cause of stress and lack of concentration. It can be treated at a City of Leeds dentist with the application of an oral device that will keep the airways open during sleep.

The other form of apnea is not so easily treated. Known as central sleep apnea, it occurs when the brain omits to send a message to the lungs to continue breathing. This happens in the respiratory area of the brain and the exact causes are unknown. What is certain however is how serious this can be. Repeated episodes during the night can place an enormous strain on the heart and lungs and has even been known to cause heart failure during the night. Treatment can be complex and involve the use of supplementary oxygen and medication.

A City of Leeds can help diagnose your sleep apnea of you are having trouble sleeping or think you may be affected. They can treat most forms of obstructive apnea but can also refer you should be suffering from the less common central Apnea.

Link between sleep apnea and heart failure broken at Leeds dentist

Monday, January 25th, 2010

The condition causes the actual cessation of breathing during sleep. It has two main causes which have led to two distinct varieties of the disease. The most common is known as obstructive sleep apnea and is caused in the throat when soft palate tissue collapses, momentarily blocking the airway and causing the patient to emit a choking-like sound. Apnea is often confused with snoring because the sounds are not dissimilar even though snoring is the sound of breathing when asleep.

The other type of apnea is called central apnea and occurs when the respiratory centre of the brain forgets to send a message to the lungs to breath. This again causes a temporary stopping of breathing which causes patients to choke and splutter. Although both forms of the condition are caused by different malfunctions, they can both be very serious and have long-term and even fatal consequences.

Apnea can often be one of the main causes of anxiety and stress as a lack of good sleep causes the body to work much harder without sufficient rest. This can also cause many children to under perform at school and can cause sever lack of concentration. More worryingly though is the fact that both kinds of apnea can put a lot of strain on the heart which can even cause fatal heart attacks.

Both apneas can be treated in different ways. Central apnea may need more medical advice and medication but obstructive apnea can usually be treated with an appliance fitted at a Leeds dentist. If you are concerned or thin you may have sleep apnea then make an appointment to see a dentist as soon as possible and get your sleeping patterns back to normal.