Posts Tagged ‘gum tissue’

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.

Lifelike dental restoration with dental implant from Leeds dentist

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Dental implants are the most realistic way to restore a missing tooth as they replace the whole tooth including the root. Unlike some other dental restorations like partial dentures and dental bridges, which although are more affordable, do not offer the same degree of anxiety-free results.

Dental implants themselves are the small titanium screws that dentists screw directly into the jawbone. This replaces the natural tooth root, which is attached to the bone by cartilage. This small screw then bonds with the bone and gum tissue forging it solid so that it can be used as a stable base for a dental crown or artificial tooth.

Dental implants from Leeds dentists can cost a lot more than other restorations but then they will also last significantly longer. A successful dental implant will last a lifetime if properly cared for making it the ideal for any patients keen to avoid the hassle of replacing restorations every ten years or so. The success rate for dental implants is also higher than almost all other dental treatments. For both upper and lower dental arcs the rate of successful treatment is around the mid 90% mark.

Possible problems can involve the chance of infection but all these issues can usually be spotted and dealt with good post-operative care from your dentist. If you are considering having a dental replacement due to a missing tooth then ask your dentist to further explain the benefits of having a dental implant.

Dental implant from City of Leeds dentist looks and feels like real tooth

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

One of the main problems patients have experienced with dental replacements over the years is that they never quite look or feel like real teeth. Dental bridges and partial dentures serve a purpose in restoring to some degree the appearance of missing teeth and enable the patient to eat slightly easier, whilst protecting the position of the remaining teeth. But they never quite feel natural. This is mostly because they only replace the part of the tooth visible above the gum. A real tooth has a root that is anchored deep into the bone and gum tissue of the face. This is what makes a tooth sturdy and gives it its strength.

One dental replacement however, replaces the whole tooth including the root and offers an incredibly lifelike replacement. Dental implants are small metal screws, usually titanium, which are anchored into the jawbone itself to act as a base. The surgery is quite straight forward and once complete will require several weeks rest in order to allow the implants and bone to fuse together. Once this has happened the implant has essentially become part of the bone and plays exactly the same role as the missing root.

Onto the implant is attached a post and finally a porcelain crown which is designed to look exactly the same size, shape and colour as the lost tooth. Because there is not need to attach anything else to the tooth once it is screwed to the post from underneath it will look incredibly lifelike. Dental implants from City of Leeds dentists last a lifetime and do not need replacing like many other dental substitutes.