Far too many people in the United Kingdom suffer from gum disease and usually suffer in silence. The reasons for this are perhaps that people are more concerned about the state of their teeth or that some do not visit the dentist regularly enough where the experts can diagnose gum disease. But gum disease is worth taking seriously, if not for the fact that it can be rather painful and inconvenient even in its early stages, but also because it leads to more cases of tooth loss than actual dental decay does.
Many patients want to know exactly what they can do to put a stop to gum disease (professionally known as gingivitis in its early stages) or at least relieve the symptoms. Usually dentists will tell their patients that gum disease is easily dealt with by changing the way that they take care of their teeth. Sometimes patients are advised to use an electric tooth brush because it removes more plaque, sometimes patients are told that they need to floss with greater dedication. Certain mouth washes are available too which have been clinically formulated to deal with gingivitis.
In terms of relieving the symptoms, there are herbal remedies which can help patients. Herbal remedies are a controversial issue for some, with a number of people believing that they simply don’t work. But many independent studies have shown that substances like Echinacea, garlic and cloves can actually reduce the swelling and redness that comes with gum disease. It is always best to seek advice from your Leeds dentist before your pursue any home treatment as some of these can actually be rather abrasive on the teeth, but it is always worth keeping an open mind.
Posts Tagged ‘gum disease’
Leeds dentists tell patients that herbal remedies can be used in the fight against gingivitis
Saturday, April 23rd, 2011Gum disease: Causes, diagnoses and treatments with Central Leeds dentists
Monday, April 18th, 2011
Gum disease is all too common in the United Kingdom and dentists are anxious to something about it, with your help. The unfortunate and painful fact is that gum disease actually leads to more cases of tooth loss than the decay of teeth through cavities. The reasons for the prevalence of gum disease can be put down to many people not recognising the signs of it and also people neglecting to go to the dentist as often as they should.
Gum disease need not get to the stage where tooth loss becomes a concern. In its early stages, gum disease is known as gingivitis and it is not a particularly serious business in and of itself. It will lead to greater sensitivity when eating and drinking and maybe a little soreness. But it is very easy to sort out.
It is often the case that it is caused purely by the patient not quite taking the very best possible care of their teeth and the dentist will advise them to change their routine some way. Sometimes specially formulated mouth wash is suggested and in some cases, antibiotics can be taken to rid the gum of the inflammation.
It is vitally important that the disease is sorted out at this stage though for, while gingivitis is relatively benign and more inconvenient than anything else, it can be a harbinger of worse. The next stage of gum disease is a far worse proposition. Periodontitis actively causes tooth loss because the bones holding teeth in place become inflamed and can no longer do their job properly.
Stop periodontal disease in its tracks by brushing and flossing properly at home and going to see your Central Leeds dentist at regular intervals.
How to improve your daily dental hygiene routine with help from Leeds dentists
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
Taking care of your teeth properly needs to form an integral part of your every day routine in the same way that you have a shower, eat your meals and go to bed at night. If you don’t take care of your teeth properly then you could lose them and they are the only natural set that you have. Don’t put yourself at the mercy of dental decay and gum disease, follow the simple suggestions set out below and you should have nothing to worry about when it comes to the good health of your mouth.
Twice a day – first thing in the morning and before you go to bed at night are recommended – you should brush your teeth with tooth paste that contains fluoride. Make sure that your brush has firm bristles otherwise it won’t function as well as it might. Brush all corners of your mouth, including the inside of your teeth, which can sometimes be missed out in peoples’ routine.
Once you have brushed, get into the habit of flossing as well. By doing so you are removing even more plaque because the bristles of your tooth brush cannot get into the tight gaps between your teeth and clear those areas of plaque.
Pursue a healthy, balanced diet as well and keep sweet snacks to a minimum. Sugary foods contribute to greater production of plaque which is the major cause of both decay in teeth and disease and inflammation in gums. By following these simple routines then you should be giving your mouth the best chance of staying free from disease. Keep your Leeds dentist abreast of what’s going on your mouth by attending an appointment with her or her every six months or as directed.
Put an end to periodontal disease once for all with help from City of Leeds dentists
Thursday, April 14th, 2011
There are many good reasons to go and see your dentist every six months. If you have been recently then you will know about how they administer scaling and polishing to get rid of troublesome tartar and that they look out for signs of dental decay, oral cancer and sleep apnea. But your dentist is also keeping a close eye on the state of your gums. And thank goodness they are because gum disease actually causes more cases of tooth loss than decaying teeth themselves.
Gum disease (clinically termed periodontal disease) is not something to be especially fearful of if you take certain simple steps with your home oral health care routine. Brushing your teeth is beneficial not just for the teeth themselves. The removal of plaque from the gum line of teeth is key in beating periodontal disease. Plaque can inflame the gums, leaving them sensitive and reddened if a condition called gingivitis occurs.
Gingivitis can progress into something much more insidious: periodontitis. This where the danger of tooth loss become palpable. If the inflammation spreads to your bones that hold your teeth firmly in place then you might undergo the extremely painful experience of losing some of your teeth.
So make sure that you are not only brushing your teeth but also flossing. If you are a smoker, think about giving up because it stymies the production of saliva which naturally combats plaque in the mouth. These simple measures, carried out in conjunction with regular visits to your City of Leeds dentist, should leave you free from the potential problems of periodontal gum disease and you won’t have to worry about tooth loss.
City of Leeds dentists help patients out with their flossing techniques
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
You should always make time in your daily routine to take care of your teeth. First thing in the morning and last thing at night are the best times. When you sleep your mouth doesn’t produce much saliva so plaque and bacteria can thrive there. Most people brush their teeth as a matter of course but too many people don’t get around to flossing as well. If you are one of those people then you should consider how you might be endangering the good health of your teeth.
Brushing alone cannot reach every single corner of your mouth where plaque exists. It is crucial that you remove as much plaque as possible though, so that dental decay and gum disease can’t take hold. Plaque causes cavities to form in teeth and gums to become inflamed, with an associated risk of tooth loss if the inflammation is not dealt with.
By flossing you will be removing the plaque from between the teeth where your brush is unable to reach. Flossing can be a little painful to begin with as it can cause small lacerations in the gums between your teeth but this should cease after a few days. If bleeding continues then you should seek advice from your City of Leeds dentist.
The thought of having to remember something else to add to your shopping list might give you a small sense of dread but flossing is eminently worth doing if it saves you from having to go through the problems that are caused by dental decay and gum disease. It is always preferable to avoid these things rather than having to deal with the consequences which can be painful and inconvenient.
City of Leeds dentists advise patients about how to prevent gum disease
Tuesday, April 5th, 2011
Your gums should be just as important in your mind when you are thinking about taking care of your mouth. They are a greater cause of tooth loss than dental decay itself so it is well worth paying attention to how well you are looking after them. Rather than having to go through the pain and indignity of suffering from gum disease and then having to have it treated, it is best to look after them in the first place to do your best in making sure that gum disease doesn’t occur.
Your primary concern should be plaque, a substance which is produced in the mouth when you eat and drink. Making sure it is removed is not only so that your teeth don’t start to decay; plaque also causes the gums to inflame and gingivitis can result. This is fairly easily dealt with and is common but if it is left to progress it can turn in to periodontitis where the jaw bone itself becomes inflamed.
By brushing and flossing effectively you should be removing the maximum amount of plaque from the mouth where it can harm the gums and cause them to become diseased. You should brush and floss at least twice a day and maybe again if you have eaten a sugary snack or a starchy meal.
Be sure also to visit your dentist every six months so that your mouth can be checked by a professional. Report any problems you think might be developing; it is better to be safe than sorry, even if your dentist says that there is no problem with your gums. Your City of Leeds dentist has all the information about how to prevent gum disease from occurring.
City of Leeds dentists advise that dental problems can affect your general health
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011
We all know how important it is to keep our teeth clean and healthy so that eating, drinking and talking can be undertaken with ease. Brushing and flossing stops plaque building up so that teeth stay free from plaque which can cause them to decay and lead to gum disease. But dental health has implications for the rest of your body too and ought to be seen in those terms. By looking after your teeth you are also looking after your general health.
Conditions like gingivitis can actually affect the general health of the rest of your body. It involves your gums becoming inflamed because of a build up of plaque. Infections from this can enter the blood stream and cause complications for the rest of your body. The same can be said of periodontitis, the more severe form of gum disease where the jaw bones become inflamed. The nerves serving the head and face can become compromised in this case, as with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
If you are experiencing sleep apnea, where you wake up in the night because not enough oxygen is being taken in, this can have an impact on your general health. It can be caused by the muscles at the rear of the mouth relaxing to the point where air stops getting past. The hypertension caused by the lack of quality sleep can heighten the risk of heart attacks in strokes in sufferers.
Keep up the habit of taking good care of your teeth at home and visiting your City of Leeds dentist every six months for a check up and there shouldn’t be any problems. But the fact that dental issues can affect the health of the rest of your body is just another reason to be vigilant.
Daily dental hygiene: get the facts from Leeds dentists
Monday, March 28th, 2011
Leading a busy life can sometimes lead you to forget just how important it is to take good care of your teeth. But the fact is that many of the activities that you take for granted depend on you having a healthy mouth. If you contract gum disease or start experiencing dental decay then eating, drinking and even talking can be rendered much more difficult. So it is best to take care of your mouth in the way that dentists advise.
First of all, you should be brushing your teeth at least twice a day to remove the plaque which is a major cause of tooth decay and gum disease. You ought to brush for about three minutes and make sure that you are covering all the areas of your mouth from front to back and top to bottom. As well as brushing you should floss as well to remove the plaque which forms in between your teeth.
All food causes plaque to some degree but sugary and starchy foods produce the most and you should restrict yourself in how much of these foods you eat. Sometimes you might wish to brush your teeth after you’ve had a sugary snack or a starchy meal. Activities such as smoking tobacco and drinking a lot of alcohol can have a detrimental effect on your oral hygiene too and are leading causes of oral cancer.
All of these measures should be done in conjunction with regular visits to your dentist so that your oral health can be monitored by a professional. Dentists can spot the signs of any problems early on and offer effective diagnosis before the problem gets too bad. Talk to your Leeds dentist if you need more advice about these matters.
Central Leeds dentists offer effective diagnosis and treatment for tooth and gum disease
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2011
Taking good care of your teeth helps you to eat, drink and talk in comfort. These are activities which you can easily take for granted but if you find that you suddenly suffer from tooth or gum disease then you might not be able to carry them out as easily as you are used to. This is why it is vital that you take excellent care of your teeth in the manner that dentists recommend.
Tooth and gum diseases are primarily brought on by plaque building up in the mouth. Plaque is a substance that is formed when you eat or drink, especially substances which have a lot of sugar and or starch in them. It attacks the enamel which normally protects teeth and leaves them open to decay. Once the enamel is broken down then small holes can form in the teeth, called cavities.
Gum disease occurs when plaque on the gum line of teeth causes gums to become inflamed and reddened. If it is left unchecked the most basic form known as gingivitis can turn into periodontitis where the bones holding teeth in place become inflamed. This often leads to teeth being lost in sufferers as the gums become unfit to hold teeth in place anymore.
You can guard against tooth and gum disease by taking proper care of your teeth at home. By brushing twice a day and flossing too you should remove the vast majority of plaque in your mouth and give your teeth and gums a fighting chance. Your Central Leeds dentist plays a vital part in this too and by visiting him or her regularly they can spot any disease in the early stages so they can be effectively treated.
Leeds dentists answer patients’ queries about mouth washes
Sunday, March 20th, 2011
As part of taking care of your teeth, some people turn to mouth washes. But the picture is not that clear as to how beneficial they actually are. If you want some answers about mouth washes and whether they are the best choice for you then you should read on.
Mouth washes are clinically formulated substances designed to be swilled around your mouth after brushing and then gargled with. They usually have bacteria killing properties and are available in a variety of flavours so that your breath will take on certain aromas after use.
The problem with the fact that they kill bacteria is that not all bacteria in your mouth is actually bad. Some of it is highly beneficial to the way that your mouth works. Mouth washes are unable to discriminate and they just kill all of it, leaving you lacking the good bacteria that has to be formed all over again.
Further, particularly mouth washes containing alcohol can actually create ideal conditions for plaque to flourish. These mouth washes make the mouth rather dry and then plaque can stick to teeth far easier than they would normally be able to. Increasingly alcohol mouth washes are becoming rather rare but mouth washes generally have this tendency.
Sometimes your dentist might advise that you use a certain type of formulated mouth wash as part of the treatment of gingivitis but this should be done sparingly for the above reasons. It would be an irony indeed if by using mouth wash you actually created conditions ideal for plaque to thrive and cause further gum disease!
Whether you use mouth washes is your choice and they can be effective at freshening breath in the short term but you should talk to your Leeds dentist for more expert information.