Posts Tagged ‘gum disease’

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City of Leeds dentist gives oral health tips for child’s healthy smile

Friday, March 12th, 2010

Tooth decay and gum disease affect children more than any other chronic infectious disease. It is therefore very important for parents to ensure that their children’s teeth are as clean and healthy as possible. The alternative is a lifetime of pain and discomfort caused by having bad teeth.

The most important thing a parent can do is to instil good oral hygiene methods on their children early on in life. This will stand them in good stead for a lifetime of healthy teeth. When your child is very young, it will be necessary to clean their teeth for them but as they get older, try to encourage them to brush their teeth as effectively as possible. Try not to force them to do it as this may build up resentment to brushing. Make it a fun game or offer rewards encouraging good teeth cleaning. Also try to teach your children the importance of flossing.

What your children eat is also very important for their oral health. Try to limit the amount of sweet or sugary snacks or drinks they have. This can encourage plaque growth leading to premature decay. If they do have sweets or drinks, keep them to meal times and encourage them to drink water immediately afterwards. This helps to clean the teeth by washing away any sugary remains. Brushing after meals is even more effective.

There are other technical ways parents can help their children’s teeth. Using fluoride toothpaste can help to protect teeth, as can dental sealants. City of Leeds dentist will be able to offer more advice about the benefits and suitability of these treatments. Giving your child the best start in life is very important and this also includes their teeth. See what more you can do by visiting the dentist.

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Central Leeds dentist recommends six-monthly dental check ups

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

A large part of your dental hygiene routine will be carried out at home with brushing and flossing. This is undoubtedly the most crucial part of keeping your teeth clean, as it is effective daily hygiene that keeps your teeth and gums free from plaque and bacteria. However, even the best brushing and flossing isn’t always enough to prevent gum disease and tooth decay.

It is therefore very important that you also make sure you have a dental check up every six months with a Central Leeds dentist. Dental check ups are so vital because it is only the dentist that can spot the first signs of disease and decay. There are parts of the teeth that it is impossible to see without the right equipment and the earlier you catch gum disease and tooth decay, the easier it is to treat and prevent further long-term damage.

Dentists are also trained to spot the first signs of oral cancer, one of the most virulent forms of the disease. This can manifest itself as small white or red patches on the lining of the mouth or other soft tissue and again, earlier treatment is crucial to give yourself the best chance of beating the disease.

Dentists will also be able to recommend improvements in your oral hygiene routine and highlight areas of the teeth and gums that need particular attention. Although many people don’t like visiting the dentist or feel they haven’t got the time, it is a fact that the more regularly you go for a check up, the less likely you are to need any unpleasant or expensive dental treatment in the future.

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Cure embarrassing bad breath at Leeds dentist

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Bad breath is a very unpleasant condition for both the sufferer and those around them. Worst of all, there is often no way of telling if you are suffering from unless someone tells you and this can be very embarrassing.

There are a number of causes of embarrassing bad breath. It may be being caused by digestion problems, which will probably require wider medical attention or a radical change in your diet. It may also be being caused by gum disease. Many dentists can tell if a patient is suffering from gum disease before they have even conducted a proper examination because of the distinctive smell. This kind of bad breath can usually be treated and cured along with the gum disease.

However, in 90% of cases, bad breath is caused by nothing more than poor oral hygiene and is easily remedied. Inadequate and ineffectual brushing and flossing allows bacteria to build up on the teeth and gums. Food particles can also get trapped in between teeth and in pockets between the teeth and gums. Bacteria acts upon this food breaking it down and releasing nasty smelling sulphurous odours which are then carried out of the mouth on the breath.

Using mouthwash and other products may only make the bad breath worse. The only sure fire way of treating embarrassing bad breath properly is to improve your dental hygiene and visiting a Leeds dentist for more information. They can offer advice on how to improve your dental hygiene and also make sure that the problem is not being caused by any of the more serious measures.

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Leeds dentist offers dental care to treat dental abscess

Saturday, March 6th, 2010

When dental problems arise they can be very unpleasant if not treated quickly and efficiently. One of the most unpleasant dental conditions is a dental abscess. This is when pus collects in certain areas around the teeth and gums as a result of a bacterial infection.

Bacterial infections are caused dental decay allows bacteria to penetrate to the inner part of the tooth or when the gum tissue is eroded and becomes infected. Not only can this be very bad for your overall health, but it can also result in tooth loss. Once the infection has taken hold in the tooth or gums, the infection spreads to within the soft tissue. The body’s natural defence against infection is to produce more white blood cells to fight it. These cells bombard the area trying to kill the bacteria and pus is formed. This collects in one area and forms an abscess. There are two types of abscess that can be formed: periapical and periodontal.

Dental abscesses can be very sensitive and painful and in extreme conditions can rupture releasing infected material into the mouth and body. This is why it is extremely important to have them treated by a Leeds dentist as soon as possible. Effective treatment and increased dental care can help to fight dental abscesses. Tooth pain and gum disease. This may include a treatment of antibiotics to fight the infection or in extreme circumstances some minor tissue removal.

Prevention of dental abscesses is much preferable to treatment. This can easily be achieved by more effective brushing and flossing and maintaining six-month check up appointments with your dentist.

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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.

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Get rid of bad breath caused by gum disease at Leeds dentist

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Bad breath is an unpleasant and embarrassing dental condition and social problem. The worst thing about it is that it is very difficult to tell if you have bad breath without being told about it. There are a number of causes of bad breath including oral bacteria living on food trapped in between the teeth, digestion problems and also from gum disease.

The smell coming from a person’s mouth who has active gum disease, or periodontitis as it is otherwise known, is so distinctive a Leeds dentist can correctly anticipate the problem before they have even started to examine the patient. Gum disease is typically more of a problem the older we get, with patients over the age of 35 being particularly at risk. This means that bad breath caused by gum disease is also a risk factor the older we get.

Gum disease is a bacterial infection that takes hold in the gum tissue that surrounds the teeth. It forms in the pockets that exist between the teeth and the gums and can cause irritation, bleeding and even tooth loss if not treated early enough. It is the bacteria that cause the infection that are responsible for the bad odour that causes bad breath.

Gum disease that causes bad breath can be treated with help from the dentist and with improved cleaning and oral hygiene. Better brushing and particularly flossing can help to remove bacteria, even from the small pockets that exist at the base of the tooth and gum.

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Protect your teeth with good oral hygiene and check up from Leeds dentist

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Oral hygiene is one of the only aspects of our health over which we have almost total control. No matter how fit and healthy we are we are always at risk of any number of internal or external health conditions. But when it comes to our teeth it is our own actions that determine how healthy they are.

The two main threats to the health of our teeth are tooth decay and gum disease. Both of these conditions can be particularly nasty and incredibly painful, as anyone who has suffered a toothache can tell you. Yet they are both completely preventable by sticking to a disciplined oral hygiene routine. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft bristled brush will remove plaque, the substance responsible for much of the inflammation in gum disease and for the erosion of tooth enamel that causes tooth decay. Backing up this brushing with flossing will remove the plaque, bacteria and trapped food particles that may be lodged or hiding in the difficult spaces in between the teeth. These spots are especially important to clean, as they are often the place where decay or disease first starts.

Cleaning and brushing effectively will also prevent bad breath, of which nine out of ten cases are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene. Dentists also recommend that some patients can benefit from a special tongue cleaner to remove bacteria from the warm and moist groves of the tongue.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, always remember to make a regular six-month visit to a Leeds dentist. Even the healthiest teeth still need to be checked regularly for signs of decay and infection. This will back up all the good work you do at home and help to keep your smile looking beautiful for years to come.

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City of Leeds dentist spots and treats first signs of periodontal disease

Friday, February 26th, 2010

Periodontal disease, often commonly referred to as gum disease, is seen in two degrees of severity. Milder gum disease is called gingivitis and involves a mild inflammation of the gum tissue. It is estimated that three quarters of all adults in the UK will experience some gingivitis at some point. It is usually easily remedied by improved oral hygiene and some treatment from a dentist. The other more serious form of gum disease is called periodontitis and requires much more substantial treatment. It usually stems from a failure to address or treat the milder form of the disease and can cause significant dental problems such as infections and tooth loss. In fact, periodontitis is responsible for more tooth loss in the UK than tooth decay.

Gum disease is caused, like tooth decay, by plaque. This is a sticky substance that forms in the mouth and coats the teeth and gums. Consisting of food debris and bacteria, plaque releases acid that gradually erodes enamel and destroys gum tissue. Proper brushing and flossing can usually remove most plaque keeping the teeth and gums safe but if this is lacking the plaque begins to harden becoming tartar which is much more difficult to remove.

It is important that you make regular visits to the dentist every six months who can examine teeth for the symptoms of gum disease. Catching periodontitis early gives the patient a much better chance of successful treatment and avoiding any of the more unpleasant treatments for serious disease such as tissue removal and even extractions.
Gum disease has also recently been linked to heart disease which means there is now more reason than ever to have your gums checked by a City of Leeds dentist.

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Central Leeds dentist highlights need for more than just brushing for healthy teeth

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

With gum disease and tooth decay on the increase amongst children and adults in the UK, dentists are keen to stress the importance of effective teeth cleaning. For many people, cleaning their teeth simply involves giving them a quick brush in the morning when they get up and before they go to bed but a thorough dental hygiene routine should be so much more than that.

Looking after your teeth is very important and something that will actually make a real visible difference. Dental care is one of the few aspects of the body where we have almost complete control over the diseases and disrepair that affect it. As well as brushing for three minutes at least twice a day (after every meal is desirable although not necessarily always practical) patients should be flossing at least once a day. The importance of flossing is to remove plaque, bacteria and food debris from hard to reach areas such as between the teeth and in the gum pockets below the gum line. This helps to limit gum disease and tooth decay, both of which are caused by plaque acid.

Dentists also recommend the use of tongue cleaners to remove bacteria from the soft grooves of the tongue. This can help to lower plaque production limiting decay. Cleaning your tongue with your toothbrush is often not that effective as the bristles are too soft to remove the bacteria. Chewing gum and using mouthwash do have a place in dental hygiene but it is always best to check with your dentist first as they can also have adverse side effects such as destabilising the bacteria levels.

Most importantly of all however, is the need to visit a Central Leeds dentist every six-months, to monitor the teeth and keep an eye open for the first signs of decay and disease.

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Protect your body with appointment at City of Leeds dentist

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

The oral cavity is the gateway to the rest of the body. Air, water and food are all taken in through the mouth so it is fairly obvious that the mouth is going to have an affect on the rest of your body. In fact, the mouth can act as an indicator for overall bodily health as many medical conditions manifest symptoms in the mouth. In a similar way, oral conditions can have an affect on the rest of the body.

One of the most significant ways this can happen is through the recently discovered link that gum disease is closely related to heart disease. Gum disease is caused by the irritation and infection of gum tissue from acids caused by plaque in the mouth. Most gum tissue is mild and can be easily treated with improved hygiene and minor dental treatment. But more serious cases of gum disease can lead to infections that can easily enter the bloodstream. These then travel the short distance to the heart from the mouth and clog up blood vessels, putting strain on the heart.

The same is true of dental infections caused by cavities. When the dental nerve is under attack from infection the body will respond by producing an excess of white blood cells and antibodies to fight it. These can accumulate in tissue around the mouth causing painful and often unstable abscesses, which are prone to bursting. This spreads infection not only around the mouth but also into the bloodstream with similar results as before.

There are countless indicators in the oral cavity that provide clues about or affect the overall health of our body. This is why it is important to keep up your regular six-month check ups with a City of Leeds dentist as they are rained to spot the first signs of any health problems in the mouth.

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