Archive for the ‘general dentistry’ Category

Replace sweets with fruit say Central Leeds dentists

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Everybody knows that eating sweet and sugary foods is bad for your teeth. This is because they contain starch, which reacts with plaque acid to speed up the process of enamel erosion. It is also because sugary foods are often very sticky and cling to the teeth and get caught in small gaps in the mouth. If you do not rinse your mouth with water or brush your teeth soon after eating, the sugar will sit on the teeth causing damage. This will eventually begin to cause cavities, which are small holes that start to appear in the protective enamel. If this is not repaired it will eventually be breached and expose the soft, sensitive inner parts of the teeth top bacteria and infection. Not only will this be painful, as the bacteria will attack the dental nerve, but it could also result in lost teeth and the need for further complicated and unpleasant dental treatment.

It is therefore important to make sure you and your family are not eating more sugary foods than is safe to do so. Obviously sugary foods are fine in small amounts. We all deserve a treat once in a while and if you have kids it is more or less impossible trying to keep them away from chocolate and sweets. However, there are measures you can take to limit the amount of bad sugar they are getting but still giving them sweets.

Fruit contains sugar, but of a different less damaging and natural kind. This means that fruits like grapes and strawberries are ideal sweet treats. Dried fruit like raisins and apricots are also perfect for treating the sweet tooth but not causing any unnecessary damage. Dentists in Central Leeds are able to provide you with much more information about which foods are the most damaging to your teeth and what possible substitutes there are to replace them.

Leeds dentist’s tips on dental emergencies

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

Dental emergencies can be extremely traumatic, especially as they are usually accompanied by a great deal of pain. We are all intrinsically aware of how important our teeth are, both to our appearance and the way we are able to lead our lives, so it can be very stressful when something bad happens to our teeth.

It is important to know what steps to take in case of a dental emergency so that you can receive the necessary treatment as soon as possible. This almost always involves seeing a dentist as soon as possible. If a dental trauma occurs during practice hours your dentist will be able to see you in between other appointments. Dental emergencies will always take priority over regular appointments as time is often of the essence. If the emergency happens outside of normal practice hours your dental practice will usually have contact information on their answering service. This will inform you how to get in touch with the on-call dentist and seek advice.

There are many types of dental emergency that can occur. These can be due either to a physical accident or as the result of a long-term problem that has finally erupted. There are a few simple steps you can learn for some situations that could increase your chances of successful treatment.

If a tooth is knocked out, it may be possible to replace immediately. Do not force the tooth back in, but if it slots in naturally you should hold it there with a wet gauze (a wet tea bag will suffice in the absence of anything else). If the tooth will not go back in, cover it with saliva or milk and see a dentist as soon as possible.

Dental pain can be treated with painkillers and often using a cold compress on the outside of the cheek will lessen the pain and numb the area. Whatever the emergency, try to reduce the pain, preserve any teeth or parts of teeth and see a Leeds dentist as soon as possible.

Prevent painful periodontitis at City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

The two most common problems that affect the health of our teeth are tooth decay and gum disease. Tooth decay is when plaque acid has eroded the protective layer of enamel, exposing the more sensitive central part of the tooth to bacteria and infection. This can result in painful and unpleasant complications and expensive root canal and crown treatment. Most early decay is addressed by fillings, which most people will experience during their lifetime.

Gum disease is slightly less obviously a problem than tooth decay but with nearly all of us standing a good chance of having it at some point in out lives it is very worthwhile to recognise the signs and symptoms and know what to do about it. Gum disease in its mild form is called gingivitis and will usually involve a slight inflammation of the gum tissue. This can be quite sensitive but gingivitis is usually easily treated with improved dental hygiene and treatment from a City of Leeds dentist.

However, if the first signs of gingivitis are not picked up by you, and you are missing your six-monthly check ups with your dentist, the problem could become the more serious periodontitis. This is a much more serious form of gum disease that involves severe inflammation, bleeding of the gums and even recession of the gum tissue. Once gum tissue has been destroyed it will not grow back, so it is vital you receive the necessary treatment as soon as possible.

In some serious cases, periodontitis may involve the need for tissue removal, hospitalisation and even extraction. It will also be very painful and require continued treatment with antibiotics. You can prevent periodontits and all gum disease with improved cleaning and more regular visits to your dentist.

Avoiding pain, abscess and disease at Central Leeds dentist

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Without the necessary dental care our teeth may be at risk from a number of dental problems. This ranges from mild tooth decay and gum disease to the more serious tooth abscess and even tooth loss. The one thing common to all these forms of dental problem is the pain that accompanies them. Even a mild gum disease could be responsible for causing irritation and pain and the more serious the problem, the more likely it is to cause significant pain.

There are, fortunately, several very easy ways to avoid these unpleasant dental conditions. Firstly, with a good standard of oral hygiene at home you can reduce the risk of suffering from one or more of these nasty dental conditions. This is because brushing and flossing, as well as other dental hygiene methods, remove plaque and bacteria, which are the main causes of almost all dental problems. The more plaque and bacteria you are able to remove with effective teeth and gum cleaning, the less it is able to negatively affect your mouth.

A Central Leeds dentist will be able to instruct you in how to properly clean your teeth and advise you on which are the most suitable products to use for your teeth. This handily brings us on to the next most important way of avoiding tooth pain and gum disease; the dental check up. It is easy to be complacent about our teeth at times, especially if there is nothing noticeably wrong with them. But this could be a very dangerous attitude to adopt. Dental problems can start slowly but escalate very rapidly. For example, minor decay could be causing little of not concern but if it suddenly becomes a dental abscess the pain will increase dramatically. This problem could be averted altogether by receiving timely treatment for even mild complaints, and this is why a regular check up is so important.

City of Leeds dentist stresses importance of parental role in healthy teeth

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

You cannot underestimate the role of the parents in good dental care for children. Just as for adults, City of Leeds dentist recommend regular check ups for children, ranging from between every three to six months, starting even before the teeth have begun to emerge. But it is the parents’ actions at home that will have the biggest impact on the dental health of their children. And furthermore, it is not just in the short term but the care you provide for your child’s oral health can affect their teeth for the rest of their lives.

Dentists are always on hand to give new parents advice on how best to look after their children’s teeth. Good oral care begins before the teeth have even begun to emerge. After all, good oral care is about more than just teeth. Our gums are equally as important and they are there form birth. Parents should wipe their children’s gums clean after feeding using a damp cloth. This will help to prevent a build up of bacteria. This should continue when the first teeth start to emerge before the dentist advises that it is ok to start brushing the teeth.

Keeping regular check up appointments means that you will never be in any doubt as to when it is ok to start the next stage of good oral care. As your child gets slightly older and is able to clean their own teeth it is very important that you try to teach them good habits. Good cleaning techniques will last a lifetime, as will the idea that looking after the teeth is very crucial. Never try and force your child to brush their teeth as this may cause resentment and lead to further dental problems. Instead, try and make it a game or even reward your child for doing it well.

As with all things in life, good oral hygiene is about good education in the developing stages. Learning the importance of dental health early will give your child the best chance of avoiding painful and unpleasant dental conditions in the future, and surely every parent wants that for their child.

City of Leeds dentist gives dietary advice for teeth

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

What we eat can have a big impact on the health of our teeth. Diets are very much in the news at the moment because of health concerns over obesity but it is also worth remembering that poor diets are also very bad for your teeth. At a time when the number of dental cavities and instances of gum disease are once again on the rise in the UK it is very important that we look carefully at what we eat, especially our children, in order to keep our teeth as healthy as possible.

The most damaging thing for your teeth is, rather unsurprisingly, sugar. Sugar not only clings to the teeth but is also very starchy which reacts with the plaque to release more acid. This speeds up the process of enamel erosion that is responsible for tooth ache, infections and even tooth loss. So try to avoid eating sugary snacks or food with high sugar content. Natural sugars in fruit are much better for your teeth but still can cause damage so it is always a good idea to brush your teeth, or at least rinse it with water after eating sugary foods.

The same is true of fizzy drinks such as cola. This will accelerate the erosion process if drunk too regularly and allowed to remain in the mouth on the teeth. City of Leeds dentists again recommend brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth with water after drinking anything with a high sugar content.

The foods that are bad for your teeth are generally bad for you full stop but everyone is allowed to treat themselves once in a while. However, even foods like nuts can be very bad for the teeth as they can get stuck in small gaps and attract bacteria. The same is true for all kinds of crisps.

There are some foods that are good fro your teeth. Anything that contains calcium will strengthen your teeth and bones. Ask your dentist for more details.

An end to bad breath at Central Leeds dentist

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Suffering from bad breath can be very embarrassing, especially as it is often very hard if not impossible to tell if it is affecting you. We’ve all tried the cupping of hands move, or even the licking the arm and smelling it. These don’t really work and often make you look quite foolish. If you know you are susceptible to bad breath this can often affect your confidence when going into certain situations and can cause you to be distracted and undermine your self-esteem.

There are many supposed cures for bad breath such as mouth wash, oral sprays and certain diets but the reality is that these do little more than mask the smell temporarily and in some cases could even make the problem worse. According to dentists, most cases of bad breath originate in the mouth (around ten per cent are concerned with digestion problems) and have to be treated as an oral problem with traditional oral hygiene methods.

The majority of cases of bad breath are caused by either poor standards of oral hygiene. This causes a build up of bacteria and food debris in the mouth, which begins to smell, or as the result of gum disease which also releases a distinct but unpleasant odour.

The best way to treat bad breath and ensure it stays away is to improve how you clean your teeth. Brushing should be carried out effectively for three minutes twice a day and should be followed by flossing. This is very important for keeping bad breath away as it removes trapped food debris form the hard to reach areas of the mouth, such as between the teeth and around the base on the teeth near the gums. Using a tongue scraper to clean the tongue once a week will also remove potential smells form the surface of the tongue. Your Central Leeds dentist will show you how to effectively clean teeth and keep bad breath away at a routine check up appointment.

Central Leeds dentists more understanding and caring than ever before

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Fear of the dentists is one of the most common phobias in the UK, with nearly nine out of ten people admitting to having some reservations about visiting the dentist either due to the fear of pain, or because of previous bad experiences. It is true that in the past, dentistry, as well as most other areas of health, has suffered from a reputation as something not quite as caring and gentle as it could have been. One only has to look at some of the almost barbaric surgical tools used well into the twentieth century to see that concern for the patient’s condition often came second to treating the problem effectively.

In recent years however, there has been a definite shift towards a more holistic care, where every aspect of treatment and its effects on the patient are considered. This has led to a new era of dentistry, one where the dentists care for you, the patient, as well as the health of your teeth.

Modern dentistry is one of the most progressive areas of health care with technological advancements constantly introducing new tool and devices to reduce the impact and pain experienced by the patient. For example, dental lasers and digital x-rays have both reduced appointment times and allowed the introduction of other painless surgical techniques.

Central Leeds dentists are fully trained not just in the skills of dentistry but also in how to manage patients and make them feel at ease and comfortable. Dentistry for them is more than about treating the teeth, but making sure that the patient is happy, comfortable and relaxed. This may be the reason why fear of the dentist seems finally to be on the decrease. The outmoded dental treatment of the past has been replaced and today dentists are more sensitive and understanding health care providers. Visit your dentist to find out for yourself.

Dental emergency action plan from City of Leeds dentist

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

There are many common dental emergencies caused by dental disease or dental trauma that can be of serious cause for concern. In times of dental trauma it is important to know what action you can take to increase your chances of successful treatment and reduce the pain you may be suffering. It is also important that you know how to get hold of a dentist even in unusual hours or circumstances.

In case of a dental emergency during practice hours, your dentist will be able to fit you in around their other appointments but should your emergency take place on a weekend or during the night you need to know what to do. Most dental practices will have telephone information about how to contact the on-call dentist during the night on their answering service. But it is always a good idea to have this information to hand in case of dental emergencies. In most cases, the sooner you get treatment, the more likely it is to be successful.

Some very common dental emergencies include knocked out or broken teeth. These can be very painful and result in the need for extensive and often expensive dental treatment. If you suffer a knocked out tooth, you can try and replace it immediately. Never force the tooth back into position but it may slot back in naturally. If this is the case you will need to hold the tooth in place with a wet gauze or tissue. A wet teabag will also suffice in most circumstances. Applying a cold compress to the outside of the cheek will help to numb the pain, as it will for other tooth aches and breaks. If the tooth cannot be replaced, cover it in saliva or milk and see the dentist as soon as possible. Even hours could be vital when it comes to replacing a knocked out tooth

For naturally occurring toothache you can try over-the-counter painkillers but it is important to see the dentist as soon as possible even if the pain has gone away. This is because it could be the result of an infection that may require immediate treatment. Your City of Leeds dentist can provide you with more information about what to do in case of an emergency.

Tips on taking good acre of your teeth from City of Leeds dentist

Monday, April 5th, 2010

924884_blogYou should never take your teeth for granted. It is important to keep up good standards of oral health and report any problems to your dentist as soon as possible. Here are some tips on taking good care of your teeth.

You should brush your teeth twice a day for at least three minutes using an appropriate brush, ideally after main meals. You should use a soft bristled brush as it is better for your gums and more effective for removing plaque from flat surfaces. Hold the brush at a slight angle to the teeth pointing towards the gums for maximum cleaning potential. It is important that your gums get clean as well as your teeth but remember not to brush too hard. Toothbrushes get worn out so remember to replace yours every three or four months. Your dentist may also recommend that you use an electric toothbrush as these can be more effective.

Brushing can’t reach all the spaces in the mouth, especially the smaller gaps between the teeth and between teeth and gums. This is why it is so important to floss at least once a day. This helps to remove plaque and small food particles from between the teeth. If you have trouble flossing your teeth you could try using s waxed floss which could make it easier and always remember to floss the back teeth as well as the front, even if it is more difficult.

Finally, always remember to report problems to your dentist as soon as you notice them. Early treatment is better fro al forms of dental treatment and outing it off could make the difference between effective treatment and unpleasant dental procedures. See your City of Leeds dentist every six months and you will be able to keep on top of any dental problems that arise.