Posts Tagged ‘dental health’

Ask a Leeds dentist how dental health could be crucial for overall health

Friday, March 26th, 2010

Your dental health can be indicative of your overall general health. The mouth is the main gateway to the body. All food goes through the oral cavity and it is also crucial for breathing. As such it is one of the most important parts of the body and keeping it healthy is important. An unhealthy mouth can indicate either that you are suffering from a wider health problem with symptoms manifesting themselves in the oral cavity or conversely that poor dental hygiene could be causing a health problem for the body.

There are a number of internal diseases that exhibit symptoms in the mouth that a Leeds dentist may be able to spot during a routine check up. This could often be the difference between effective treatment and further suffering. Catching a disease or condition early through oral diagnoses could even save your life. Bad breath in the mouth could also be a sign that you are suffering intestinal or digestion problems.

Your oral hygiene can also impact on the state of your body. Not only is gum disease very unpleasant and painful in itself but it has also been found to be a major contributing factor to heart disease and other cardiovascular problems. Bacteria that causes gum disease can get into the bloodstream and start a chemical reaction that leads to a narrowing of the arteries and ultimately heart disease. Keeping your mouth and teeth clean with an effective regime of brushing and flossing and making regular visits to a Leeds dentist can help limit the risk of causing health problems which originate in the oral cavity.

Central Leeds dentist explains the importance of the parental role in dental health

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Dental care for children is very much the responsibility of parents. Educating your children when they are young about the benefits of looking after their teeth can set them up well for a life free of dental concerns. On the other hand, allow them to develop bad habits and they could stick with them for the rest of their loves leading to a whole manner of uncomfortable, painful and unpleasant dental procedures.

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to teach your child how to brush and floss correctly. You should never force your child to do this as they could build up resentment towards it. Instead, try to make it a game or reward them for doing it well. This encourages good habits and also keeps their teeth clean in the important developing years.

It is also important that you ensure your child sees a Central Leeds dentist every six months. Regular appointments with the dentist can help to prevent the onset of early tooth decay and gum disease and will keep your child’s teeth healthier. It also means your child will learn that the dentist is nothing to fear, especially if there is no need for treatment.

Finally, as a parent it is important to make sure your child eats healthily, both for their overall health and for the health of their teeth. Try to avoid giving them food with too much sugar and make sure they eat plenty of fruit and vegetables which will make their teeth stronger. As a parent you always want what is best for your children so follow these few simple rules you can be confident that you have done the best you could for their teeth.

Foods to eat and avoid for good dental health – ask a Central Leeds dentist

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Choosing the right food is very important not just for the health of your body, but also for the health of your teeth. Good oral hygiene can be affected by the food you put into your mouth, so it is definitely worth taking into consideration how your diet is made up. It is especially important for children to eat healthy foods so their teeth develop well and they also grow up with good habits.

Food comes into contact with the bacteria and germs that live in the mouth. By not brushing your teeth effectively, plaque can start to build up on the tooth enamel and gum tissue. This happens because plaque thrives on the sugars and starches found on certain foods. When the plaque is combined with the starch and sugar it can release acid which is the main cause of tooth erosion, eventually causing tooth decay and tooth loss. This acid erosion can occur for up to twenty minutes after eating which is a long time, especially if it happens three times a day, everyday.

Obviously, foods high in starch and sugar should mostly be avoided. Sweets and sugary snacks and drinks can encourage the build up of plaque and speed erosion. But even fruit and vegetables have some starch and sugar in them, so it is important to have a balanced diet. There is no need to completely cut out any food but be aware that some may be more damaging to teeth than others. It is also true that when you eat is just as important as what you eat. Avoid snacking between meals and drink plenty of water after eating. Central Leeds dentists have more information about what foods to eat and what to try and avoid for good dental health.

Advice from central Leeds dentist on foods to eat and avoid for good dental health

Foods to eat and avoid for good dental health – ask a Central Leeds dentist

Choosing the right food is very important not just for the health of your body, but also for the health of your teeth. Good oral hygiene can be affected by the food you put into your mouth, so it is definitely worth taking into consideration how your diet is made up. It is especially important for children to eat healthy foods so their teeth develop well and they also grow up with good habits.

Food comes into contact with the bacteria and germs that live in the mouth. By not brushing your teeth effectively, plaque can start to build up on the tooth enamel and gum tissue. This happens because plaque thrives on the sugars and starches found on certain foods. When the plaque is combined with the starch and sugar it can release acid which is the main cause of tooth erosion, eventually causing tooth decay and tooth loss. This acid erosion can occur for up to twenty minutes after eating which is a long time, especially if it happens three times a day, everyday.

Obviously, foods high in starch and sugar should mostly be avoided. Sweets and sugary snacks and drinks can encourage the build up of plaque and speed erosion. But even fruit and vegetables have some starch and sugar in them, so it is important to have a balanced diet. There is no need to completely cut out any food but be aware that some may be more damaging to teeth than others. It is also true that when you eat is just as important as what you eat. Avoid snacking between meals and drink plenty of water after eating. Central Leeds dentists have more information about what foods to eat and what to try and avoid for good dental health.

Overcome dental phobia with the help of City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

Fear is something we all have to deal with in life, whether it be fear of spiders, commitment or even flying, it is something we need to conquer in order to enjoy life to its fullest. However, some fears can do more than stop us doing this. Dental phobia can seriously affect the health of your teeth and cause painful and expansive dental problems that can last for a whole lifetime.

Dental phobia is one of the most common fears in the UK and comes in a variety of degrees of severity. Most people who fear the dentist, as many as nine out of ten according to some surveys, are able to put their fears to one side in order to receive necessary treatment. But for others the fear is simply too great to overcome and they will avoid any kind of contact with the dentist at all cost. This leads to a downward spiral of dental health as the longer without treatment the more the patients requires it.

Dental phobia can be overcome with the right help. It is particularly down to the dentist to help patients overcome fears, as many cases of dental phobia are caused by traumatic experiences at the dentist in the past. Talking through your fears with a friendly City of Leeds dentist can help many people to realise there is nothing to fear. Other treatments for phobia include using hypnotherapy and self-hypnotherapy techniques in order to relax before appointments. Recent studies have also had a lot of success with using lavender oil and other aromatherapy treatments.

Some techniques may work for some better than others but it is vitally important that patients who do fear the dentist try with help to overcome their fears and get the right dental treatment.