Posts Tagged ‘gingivitis’

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.

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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.

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City of Leeds dentist and parents help children beat gum disease

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Many people think that gum disease is only a problem that affects adults but studies reveal that nearly half of all children have gingivitis, the milder form of gum disease. Although it is true that cases of periodontal disease (the more serious form of gum disease) are more common among adults, it still can occur in children.

Gum disease usually happens as a result of poor oral hygiene, so it is very important for parents to ensure their children are looking after their teeth and gums. Gingivitis happens when gum tissue is attacked by bacteria and plaque acid that has built up on the teeth and gums. It causes the tissue to swell and become irritable and in some cases it can also cause the gums to bleed. In other cases, receding gum tissue or constant bad breath can also indicate gum disease.

Research has shown that gum disease may be on the increase in children due to lack of motivation to maintain good oral hygiene. Children who have been taught good oral hygiene from a young age are much more likely to keep up good habits of brushing and flossing throughout their life and suffer fewer dental problems as a result. So the parents’ role in early childhood is very important.

It is also very important for parents to be aware of the signs of gum disease as early diagnosis can limit the damage caused by gum disease and makes treatment significantly easier. It is therefore important to monitor your children’s teeth and gums and make sure they are cleaning them correctly. Making regular visits to a City of Leeds dentist with your child for check ups is also crucial in the battle to beat gum disease.

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Central Leeds dentist helps remove bacteria that cause gum disease

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

There are over 350 types of bacteria found in the average human mouth but many of these have no real harmful effects. However, about 5 per cent of these bacteria are responsible for causing gum disease if not removed by brushing and flossing.

Gum disease is characterised by the painful inflammation and loss of gum tissue because of bacterial infection. Most people will experience some kind of gum disease in their life ranging from very mild to very serious. Mild gum disease is known as gingivitis and can be treated easily with improved oral hygiene and advice form a Central Leeds dentist. More serious gum disease, which usually occurs as a result of ignored gingivitis, is known as periodontitis and can result in anti-biotic treatment, tooth loss and even emergency surgery. Gum disease can be very serious as it has strong links to heart disease as the oral infection can easily spread into the blood stream.

It is bacteria that build up in the mouth that causes the infection responsible for gum disease. This bacteria releases acid which irritates and destroys soft tissue causing the infection. Bacteria exist in a substance called plaque which clings like a film to the teeth and gums if not removed by brushing and flossing. Plaque can easily be removed but not after it has hardened to become tartar.

Most instances of gum disease are easily preventable with better dental care and advice from your dentist. Take a few more minutes each day to clean your teeth and prevent the possibility of gum disease in your mouth.

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Prevent painful gum disease with check up at City of Leeds dentist

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Gum disease is the infection of the gingival tissue that surrounds and supports teeth and occurs in two stages called gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is the milder form of gum disease and is indicated by red, swollen gums that are prone to bleeding. Most people will suffer from some mild gingivitis at some point in there life and it is often so mild that it causes no pain and requires no treatment other than improved cleaning.

Periodontitis, on the other hand, is more serious and can be very unpleasant. It causes gums to pull away from teeth leaving exposed pockets where bacteria can grow damaging the bones that support the teeth. The gums continue to shrink back as the infection gets worse leaving loose teeth that will eventually fall out or need to be extracted by a dentist.

Gum disease, like dental decay, is caused by a filmy, bacteria-rich substance called plaque. Plaque is allowed to build up by ineffectual or irregular cleaning and releases toxins which irritate the gum tissue. If plaque is not removed by brushing and flossing it will continue to attack the gum tissue causing irreparable damage. Plaque that is not removed will also harden and transform into a tough, yellow substance called tartar which will need to be removed by a dentist. Several factors increase the risk of gum disease including smoking, stress and diabetes.

A dentist will be able to diagnose gum disease fairly simply at a routine check up and recommend the best form of treatment. Treatment ranges from mild steps like improved cleaning and dental scaling to tissue removal and antibiotics. The best form of treatment for gum disease however is prevention. Effective cleaning by brushing and flossing twice a day can help to prevent gum disease and help keep your teeth and gums healthy for life. It is also important that you keep up regular appointments with a City of Leeds dentist who will be able to examine your gums for the first signs of infection.

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Prevent gum disease by visiting City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Gum disease, or gingivitis as it is also known, can be caused when bacteria is allowed to build up in the mouth which causes the gums to become infected. This usually manifests itself in painful, irritating and swollen gums that if left untreated it can become periodontitis and lead to wider infection and tooth loss.

If gum disease has become the more serious periodontitis the dentist will usually have to prescribe anti-biotics to treat the infection. In some serious cases they might even have to perform a gingivectomy and remove some of the infected tissue. Gum disease can be a serious problem that can cause months and years of pain and costly dental procedures but it is completely preventable.

The first line of defence against gum disease is effective cleaning and good standards of oral hygiene. By brushing twice a day for three minutes and flossing at least once a day you can significantly reduce the risk of gum disease. Having regular check ups every six months with your dentist is also crucial in the war against gum disease. Avoiding any kind of tobacco product also helps to reduce the risk factor from gum disease as it can prevent the gum’s natural ability to heal itself.

These preventative measures all help to prevent the build of plaque, a filmy layer of bacteria that coats the teeth and gums and causes infection. If not removed plaque can become tartar which is impossible to remove by conventional methods, and will need a dental hygienist to remove it in a process called scaling.

Gum disease can be a nasty and irritating condition that can require lengthy and uncomfortable treatment, not to mention money and stress. By remembering the easy steps to prevent gum disease you could save yourself the pain of gum disease. Brush, floss and visit a City of Leeds dentist every six months.

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