FREE CONSULTATION 0113 245 4868 Ask us about 0% Finance
Book Online

Posts Tagged ‘teeth and gums’

City of Leeds dentists advise patients to have regular dental check ups

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

Taking excellent care of your teeth begins with what you do at home, of course. Brushing and flossing at least twice a day and maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle should mean that your teeth and gums are generally healthy and optimally functional. But there is always the chance that a condition might be developing in your mouth. If you are in regular contact with your dentist then it can be diagnosed before it gets worse.
You ought to be visiting your dentist every six months so that your mouth can be examined by a trained professional who is expert in all areas of your mouth. They will take a close look at your teeth and gums and compare the state of your mouth with the records they have from your previous visits.
In doing so they can be on the look out for the development of conditions that you simply might not have yet noticed. A surprising amount of people suffer from gum disease and don’t notice that they have it in the early stages. It might just go away but it might develop into something worse. Allowing your dentist to examine your mouth gives you a chance of having one of these conditions diagnosed so that it can be effectively treated, returning your mouth to excellent health.
Dental practice has changed a lot in recent years and you might be surprised to find out that dentists are now increasingly concerned with relaxing their patients and putting them at ease. Dental appointments are usually a lot quicker than they used to be thanks to modern technology, so having a busy life is no excuse. Make an appointment for a dental check up with your City of Leeds dentist.

Guard against periodontal disease with City of Leeds dentists

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

Taking care of your teeth ought to go hand in hand with looking after your gums as well. The sad fact is that all too often gum problems go unnoticed and are actually a greater cause of tooth loss than dental decay itself. In conjunction with regular visits to your City of Leeds dentist, you should be able to recognise the signs of periodontal disease so that it can be treated before it gets worse.
Gum disease generally is caused by a build up plaque on the gum line of teeth. Plaque is formed when you eat and drink, particularly sugary and starchy substances. It can cause the gums to become inflamed and patients can then contract gingivitis, the most common form of gum disease. Gingivitis shows itself as sensitivity in the gums and reddening.
If gingivitis is allowed to take hold then the inflammation, previously confined to the gums, spreads to the bones which hold your teeth in place. This is called periodontitis and it is a rather nasty condition. Periodontitis manifests itself with sever reddening of the gums and the appearance that your teeth are lengthening. This is actually where your gums are receding. You might find that you have odd, metallic tastes in your mouth and find that eating and drinking is giving you pain because of the sensitivity of your gums.
Brushing and flossing as recommended ought to be enough to stave off periodontal disease in most cases by clearing the mouth of plaque but sometimes it develops. This is one of the many reasons why it is a good idea to get into the habit of visiting your City of Leeds dentist every six months. In that way a professional can monitor your mouth and spot the early signs of periodontal disease and treat it.

Look after your heart with better oral care from Leeds dentist

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

It seems fairly obvious to most people that looking after the health of their teeth and gums is very important. We all know that good oral hygiene can help to keep the teeth and gums free of plaque and bacteria, and that this will prevent dental problems but recent research has shown there may be a much more significant reason to keep our oral hygiene at a very high level.

Recent studies have conclusively proved what many health professionals have long suspected; namely, that dental and gum disease can cause heart disease, and in extreme circumstances, even heart attacks. This is an extra, and very important reason, why the health of our gums should be a daily priority.

Gum disease is caused by bacteria and plaque building up around the teeth and gums. If this is not sufficiently removed by correct brushing and flossing it will eventually start to cause dental problems. Acids released by the plaque will erode tooth enamel, which will cause dental decay in the long run. These acids also irritate the gums which can lead to an infection if not treated early enough. Gum disease can be very painful in its more serious form and require surgical treatment. Infected matter can then also enter the bloodstream through the gums and cause a chemical reaction that will eventually reach the heart. This can cause a blocking or narrowing of the arteries and other blood vessels around the heart which puts the heart under excess pressure. In some cases this can cause heart attacks, which we all know can be very serious and often fatal.

Therefore, it is very important that we try to keep our gums as healthy as possible with better cleaning and regular visits to Leeds dentists for check ups. They will be able to check for the first signs of gum disease and can offer treatment if it is necessary. With nearly all adults in the UK suffering gum disease at some point in their lives this is a problem that none of us can afford to ignore.

Dental check ups at Central Leeds dentist save lives

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Looking after the health of your teeth and gums is not just important for your mouth but could also make a difference to your overall health. With dental decay on the increase due to an increase in sugary diets and worsening standards of oral hygiene, and gum disease affecting nearly three quarters of all adults in the UK at some stage in their life, it is more important than ever to ensure a good standard of oral care.

Maintaining a good standard of oral health can be achieved in two main ways. The first, and perhaps most important, is making sure you are brushing your teeth and flossing correctly and effectively each day. Dentists recommend brushing for at least three minutes twice a day (ideally after every meal but this isn’t always possible) and flossing at least once a day. This will help to control plaque and keep dental decay and tooth decay under control.

However, even the most dedicated oral hygiene routine can still be susceptible to the effects of plaque and bacteria. It is often in the areas that are most difficult to clean that the problems begin. This is why the second prong of the defence against dental disease is so important. Six-monthly dental check ups will allow a Central Leeds dentist to examine your mouth for any signs of dental decay or gum irritation. Catching these conditions in their early stages make them far easier, not to mention far cheaper, to treat.

A dentist will also be able to conduct a routine examination for the signs and symptoms of oral cancer. This is a very nasty condition that can be fatal if not caught early, but treatable if it is. Book your dental check up today, especially if it has been a long time since your last. It could be the best decision you ever make.

Dental care is more than just brushing say City of Leeds dentists

Monday, March 29th, 2010

Brushing your teeth is only part of a good oral hygiene regime. Although brushing is very important for removing plaque and keeping teeth clean and free of bacteria, there are other important ways of maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.

As well as brushing your teeth twice a day for three minutes to clean the teeth, City of Leeds dentists recommend that time should be spent looking after the other areas of the mouth as dental care is more than just brushing. They recommend flossing at least once a day and using fluoride toothpaste if it is suitable for your teeth. It is also very important to clean other areas of the mouth such as the tongue.

The grooved and porous surface of the tongue can be a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. The substance responsible for causing gum disease and tooth decay, known as plaque, is a bacteria-rich substance. If the tongue is not cleaned effectively it will begin to act as a reservoir of bacteria for the tongue, which then causes subsequent damage to the teeth and gums, even if they have been thoroughly cleaned with a toothbrush.

Not only does the tongue act as a reservoir for bacteria causing decay, but it can also be the source of bad odours which are then carried out the mouth on the breath. Bacteria that decays releases foul-smelling sulphurous compounds which are the cause of over 90% of cases of bad breath. Dentists recommend using a soft-bristled brush at least twice a week to clean the surface of the tongue. Alternatively, you may wish to use a tongue scarper to remove the bacteria form the tongue. This, along with a strong brushing and flossing routine, will help to keep your mouth clean and free of bacteria.

City of Leeds dentist produces perfect veneers using digital x-rays

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Many forms of dental surgery involve the dentist having an accurate three-dimensional image of the patient’s teeth and gums. In the past this involved making several dental moulds and using them in tandem with conventional x-ray. These would take several days to develop and cast and increased waiting times for all appointments and treatments for all patients.

Technological advances over the last twenty years are revolutionising the dental industry with one of the latest developments being the wider use of digital x-rays. Also known as digital radiography, digital x-rays involve the transfer of digital images on to a computer which allows the dentist instant access to a three-dimensional image of the patient’s teeth. This has removed the need for lengthy development, reducing appointment and waiting times. It also means these x-rays can be stored on the hard drive of the computer in the patient’s file for future reference.

This more immediate access has made a whole new set of procedures and technologies available to dentists. The new level of computerised accuracy has also had positive effects on all treatments. However, by far the most important benefit is the facilitation of crown and veneer production. Using the new digital images, the dentist is able to design and manufacture veneers in as little as six minutes, making same-day treatment possible. This process, which used to take up to three weeks, can now be accomplished in a lunch hour, and it has all been made possible by digital x-rays.

Digital x-rays are the cornerstone for a whole new form of dentistry utilising the astonishing accuracy and speed of computer-aided technology. This is the future of dentistry and it is happening today. To see what benefits this cutting edge technology could have for your teeth, make an appointment to see a City of Leeds dentist.