Tooth decay is a great enemy of the teeth in Leeds from as early as when they first break through the gums as a baby. Residues of food and drink cause bacteria in the mouth that can leave films of acid on the teeth. If left, the acid will start to eat away at the enamel of the teeth and cavities or caries will form and decay the inside of the tooth. An x-ray at the dentist can always determine if you suffer from any tooth decay and also how bad it is. In its mildest incarnation, tooth decay can be reversed with a filling, but at worse, you will need more extensive work like root canal treatment. It’s easy to avoid if you stick to your daily routine of brushing and flossing, and make regular visits to your dentist. For some people, especially children, the dentist can apply a thin plastic coating over the teeth to protect the exposed enamel of the tooth. But if you don’t avoid it, the decay can spread and affect the health of your mouth, the treatments can become precarious if you want to save your tooth, and the costs can spiral- for you will need to reconstruct to tooth to maintain its functionality, and that means splashing out on a crown.
Posts Tagged ‘tooth decay’
The Perils of Tooth Decay in Leeds
Monday, June 13th, 2011The need for Root Canal Treatment in the City of Leeds
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Some people in the city of Leeds still fail to understand the destructive nature of tooth decay and its dangers to oral health. In as little as 24 hours, bacteria goes to work on destroying your teeth, leaving films of acid on the enamel, and it isn’t long before the enamel starts to break down. Now if you’ve been good and visited your dentist, an x-ray will have picked this up and you can get off with a filling. If you’ve been bad and not gone to the dentist, serious tooth decay can set in and if you don’t want to lose your tooth, then the nasty root canal treatment monster is coming to get you! But seriously, this is the only way to keeping the tooth healthy, and those around it- and forget what you’ve heard about the treatment, because it’s all rot! This treatment isn’t painful. The dead pulp has to be removed from the inside of the tooth in order to remove the roots; there are many new techniques to do this. New drills are much more refined, some dentist use lasers which cause no vibration or damage to the tooth at all and is done under a local anaesthetic. Once this has been done the tooth is restored with a crown- it wont save the tooth forever, but you will get a good 15 more years out of it.
City of Leeds dentists make sure that dental phobia no longer affects their patients
Saturday, May 28th, 2011
In spite of the stereotypes which one can still find pertaining to way that dentistry is carried out, it has actually changed a lot in recent years and patients are finding dental surgeries far more pleasant placed to be than they ever thought possible. Many procedures are swifter than they used to be and far less painful. This will all be welcome news to any of the many people who suffer from dental phobia, a condition that renders it impossible to visit the dental surgery out of fear.
There are a number of causes of dental phobia, the most common of which tends to be a fear of the physical pain that sufferers feel will befall them when they are in the chair, so to speak. This fear can have its roots in childhood and so can be especially difficult to shift from the minds of patients, some of whom are by now terrified of going to the dentist. Other causes include embarrassment at the state of their teeth and even a refusal to visit the dentist because of disagreements or personality clashes in the past.
It is very important that dental phobia is overcome and without delay. Dentists need to be given the chance to examine your teeth so that problems like tooth decay and gum disease can be dealt with before complications can set in. Even a seemingly simple act like the removal of the common substance known as tartar can only be carried out in the dental surgery and so if you have tartar you will not be able to rid your mouth of it without going into the surgery.
If you are suffering from dental phobia then book an informal appointment with your City of Leeds dentist and explain the feelings that you are having.
The Battle of Tooth Decay and Gum Disease in Central Leeds
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
At some point in our lives, at least half of us in central Leeds will come up against gum disease and though it can be stopped, it’s not considered to be reversible. Usually caused by poor diet and oral hygiene, or a poor immune system, gum disease is a very destructive agent to the mouth and the rest of your body (it’s linked to blood disorders and heart disease). When plaque and tartar build up around the teeth, the gums can become infected. Early signs are bleeding, weeping or receding gums, and loose teeth. Gum disease can be tackled at home through general oral health care, antibiotics or herbal remedies. But it may require help from your dentist to deep scale around the teeth to remove plaque, and plane to remove bacteria from inside the root; whatever you do to treat the problem, it requires constant attention, as it can easily return. If the problem is allowed to go further though, it can lead to tooth decay and even tooth loss. This again, depending on how bad it has become, is normally treated at the dentist, with fillings or root canal treatment. One of the sure fire ways of fighting gum disease and tooth decay, other than regular brushing and flossing, is to make sure you see your dentists at least twice a year. They can pick up on any problems quickly and then treat them.
City of Leeds dentists help patients in improving their teeth with expert advice and handy hints
Sunday, April 24th, 2011
Everybody wants to know the secrets to looking good because, for better or worse, image is important in the modern world. Hair, clothes and skin play a major part but one thing that people often overlook is how their teeth look. This can have implications for the health of the teeth as well. When you meet a new person or address a meeting of your colleagues, eyes will be drawn to your mouth as you smile and talk so it very important that your teeth look the part, like the rest of you.
By taking simple steps you can make your teeth look fabulous and stay healthy. Brushing properly is, of course, essential. You should use a pea sized amount of fluoride tooth paste on the head of a brush that is comfortable to hold and has a set of good, firm bristles. By brushing for about three minutes at a time, twice a day, you will be going a long way to removing the plaque which can cause teeth to decay. When plaque hardens it becomes tartar which gives your teeth a yellow tint; not an attractive quality most would surely agree.
If you find that staining is ensuing then you can always ask your City of Leeds dentist about the various options available in terms of teeth whitening. This can be administered in the surgery by the dentist or at home via a kit that is not hard to find in supermarkets or pharmacy stores.
Don’t delay in making your teeth look as good as they possibly can. You won’t regret taking the time to do so when you find that you have a smile that you are proud of.
Central Leeds dentists help patients to overcome problems with reversible pulpitis
Sunday, April 17th, 2011
Your teeth are complex things and not just solid blocks. In fact they contain a hollow inside each of them which is filled with a mixture of substances known as pulp. Pulp comprises blood vessels, nerves and an assortment of other cells which are vital to the health of your tooth as a whole. Tooth decay and accidents affecting your mouth can cause the pulp to become inflamed and you will experience pulpitis. Thankfully it is usually reversible and your dentist will be able to restore the tooth to good health and functionality.
The symptoms of reversible pulpitis manifest themselves in feelings of increased sensitivity. This will show itself when you are eating cold things like ice lollies or other frozen desserts or hot things like tea or coffee. Sometimes even breathing in the air on a very cold day will cause pain in a tooth that is suffering from pulpitis. In severe cases the pulpitis is so bad that aching can occur in other areas of the body near the head like your neck and shoulders.
It is vital that these symptoms are reported to your dentist should you experience them. If it persists too long then it might become irreversible because the materials making up the pulp have become so badly damaged. Your dentist will x-ray the tooth which is under suspicion of having pulpitis so that he or she may get a view of what’s going on inside.
It might be the case that a cavity in the tooth is what is causing the pulpitis by allowing alien materials inside the tooth and causing a problem. If so then the cavity will have to be filled. Sometimes root canal treatment is required to sort out reversible pulpitis. Your Central Leeds dentist will be an expert on the inner workings of your teeth and will be able to help should you have a case of reversible pulpitis.
Central Leeds dentists diagnose and treat reversible pulpitis
Sunday, March 27th, 2011
Inside all of your teeth there is a substance known as pulp. This consists of blood vessels, nerves and other cells. It can become inflamed as a result of tooth decay or a one off accident. The good news is that, in many cases, this pulpitis is actually completely reversible so you should keep your dentist up to date with what is going on in your mouth in case you develop it.
Should you contract pulpitis, you will find that a particular tooth feels especially sensitive when you are eating or drinking hot or cold substance or even when you are breathing in particularly cold air. You might find that are experiencing unexplained aches in the neck, chin or jaw area and the lymph nodes might enlarge, causing you some pain.
Any prolonged pulpitis is likely to be irreversible. If the problem has been going on for a long time then your dentist might be able to do nothing about it as the pulp has become so compromised. In cases of reversible pulpitis then the pain will not be nearly as severe.
Your dentist will be able to diagnose pulpitis by subjecting the tooth to an x-ray; often these are now digital and so are far more efficient than in the past. Usually in cases of reversible pulpitis, the tooth can be restored to health by dealing with the cavity that might be causing it. By filling the cavity the pulp will be able to heal itself. Root canal treatment might be required, or a course of antibiotics prescribed in order to deal with the infection.
Keep up the habit of visiting your Central Leeds dentist every six months and any case of reversible pulpitis should be able to be dealt with.
City of Leeds advise patients about scaling and polishing
Sunday, March 6th, 2011
Even the most rigorous and careful brushing at home cannot reproduce that feeling of having had your teeth cleaned by the dentist. They use special equipment that will leave your teeth feeling incredible clean and help to maintain your oral health.
This technique of cleaning by dentists is often referred to as scaling and polishing. In the process of scaling, dentists scrape away plaque and tartar that has built up on your teeth. To do this a small, sharp hook is used. Getting rid of plaque and its hardened form, tartar, is vital in the fight against tooth decay because if it just left there on your teeth then it can cause tooth decay.
In fact tartar cannot be removed by brushing at home, only dentists with their specialist equipment can manage it. Removing tartar has the added benefit of making your teeth look better too because tartar can give your teeth an unsightly discoloured appearance. It is not a particularly painful business and modern dentists go to great lengths to relax their patients while they are in their care.
An electric polisher is then used to buff the teeth, making them look whiter as any further stains are removed. The added smoothness that polishing achieves actually makes it harder for plaque to cling onto teeth, leaving your mouth in a better position to cope with plaque once you leave the surgery.
If you are interested in scaling and polishing you should make an appointment to see your City of Leeds dentist. The benefits of having your teeth professionally cleaned will leave you with a healthy smile, free from the plaque and tartar which can cause damage to your teeth and gums.
How to Clean Your Teeth in the City of Leeds
Friday, February 4th, 2011
It’s probably safe to assume that most of us know how to keep our teeth clean in the city of Leeds, but it’s also a fact that, cases of people suffering from tooth decay, throughout the country, is on the increase. If you want to keep your teeth healthy, it’s essential to maintain a program of good oral hygiene and if your have any doubts about this, you should consult your dentist. The basic principles have never been in doubt- clean, twice daily with a suitable brush and a fluoride based toothpaste, rinsing and flossing after eating, and a bi-annual dental check-up. But this is only scratching the surface of keeping your teeth clean. It’s also important to understand what we are putting in our mouths- some foods are acidic and sugar based, and are the main causes of tooth decay. It’s important to make sure these foods are removed from mouth correctly. Small brushes, flossing, dental gum and mouthwashes are a great source of back-up to the general cleaning process and are always useful to have at your disposal- especially as we get older and gaps appear between the teeth. As well as all these tips, it is also handy to remember that over cleaning can be detrimental to teeth and should be cleaned in moderation Once you have mastered a technique and regime that suits you, you shouldn’t have a problem keeping your teeth clean.
Arrange a dental visit with your Central Leeds dentist to safeguard the health of your mouth
Friday, January 14th, 2011
Brushing and flossing your teeth effectively and making sure you have a balanced diet are, of course, very important in ensuring lasting oral hygiene but you should combine this with regular visits to your dentist. Having your mouth checked by a professional is immensely helpful in making sure that your teeth and gums are healthy.
Even if you are extremely vigilant at home and are on the look out for signs of plaque build up, tooth decay and gum disease, you might miss something. This is where your dentist comes in. Get into the habit of visiting them every six months so that they can give your mouth a thorough check.
Using their expertise and specialist equipment, dentists can look at every corner of your mouth to determine the state of health of your teeth and gums. They will be on the look out for excessive plaque which can cause tooth decay and gum disease. They will also examine your gums themselves to see if you are developing gum disease, a common condition amongst British adults.
It is far better to spot any of these conditions early so that they can be dealt with effectively and without invasive procedures. What is most likely to happen at a dental visit is that your dentist will advise you on your home oral hygiene routine so that you can maximise your oral health through your own practices.
If you are anxious about seeing the dentist, rest assured that modern dentists take great pride in putting their patients at ease. Make an appointment today to see your Central Leeds dentist for a check up and avoid unnecessary complications with your oral health.