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Archive for September, 2011

Leeds dentists and over the counter whitening products for teeth: what are the pros and cons?

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

Teeth whitening kits are widely available at affordable prices many retail establishments in the United Kingdom. Many of these kits provide an excellent standard of teeth whitening, some even able to restore teeth to the widest shade that is possible. Read on to find out more about these kits and how they might be your ticket to a great looking smile.
The key components of teeth whitening kits are the whitening gel and the bleaching trays. The whitening gel is specially formulated to contain substances which remove stains and bleach the teeth so that they are a healthy looking shade of white once the treatment is complete. They are used by applying the gel to the trays and wearing them on your teeth, usually at night but sometimes for short periods during the day.
These over the counter kits are convenient because you can undertake the treatment in your own time rather than having to make the time to visit the dental surgery. However the occasional drawback to the over the counter method is that they don’t always provide the most even coverage of whitening for your teeth. The trays cannot take account of the unique shape and contours of your own teeth and so they might not be able to apply the gel to all of the teeth to the same intensity.
Talking to your dentist in Leeds will give you all the facts to make up your mind about which teeth whitening treatment you want to choose if you are concerned about the look and shade of your teeth.

Leeds dentists tell patients that certain herbal remedies might be beneficial for their gums

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

It is well known that a number of herbs can be used for medicinal purposes in various cases. Leeds dentists are also now telling patients that some herbs can be useful in combatting gum disease. Far from being a trifling matter, and in no way of secondary importance behind dental decay, gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss and can cause much pain and inconvenience.
Of course there is no substitute for good brushing and flossing to remove plaque but here are some of the substances which can help combat the effects of gum disease: sage, peppermint and basil. These three herbs are all commonly available in many forms and are thought to be of help when it comes to gingivitis. One can even purchase tooth paste which contains them.
Less common are substances such as calendula, extract of grapefruit and Echinacea. Rubbing these straight into the gums can help to relieve any symptoms of gingivitis like swelling and reddening. Similar properties can be found in clove and aloe vera but dentists warn that the direct application of any of these herbs can be too aggressive for some gums. It is best to seek advice about using these direct remedies.
These herbal solutions can be a great help in relieving the symptoms of gum disease but they do not address the causes. Remember that gum disease is caused by plaque being left on the gum line of teeth and the best way to avoid gingivitis and periodontitis is to brush rigorously and floss between your teeth too.

City of Leeds dentists are knowledgeable about the links between dental health and your general health

Friday, September 16th, 2011

58All of your body is linked together in one system and a problem in one part can affect the smooth running of other parts of the body. Dentists are keen to let their patients know this so that they can be aware of the added importance of maintaining their good oral health. Read on to find about some examples of the links between dental health and the general health of your body.
If you are prone to grinding your teeth during your sleep (the condition is known technically as bruxism) then you might be affecting the nerves in your neck and shoulder. This is because TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder can result, putting pressure on these nerves.
In another example, if you experience sleep apnea because of a problem with the muscles at the rear of the mouth which are restricting the flow of oxygen during sleep then there might be serious consequences which extend well beyond the area of the mouth. Hypertension can occur because the interruptions to sleep and heart attacks and strokes become greater risks to the patient.
Untreated tooth abscesses can also cause problems for bodily health. The body is connected by many miles of blood vessels and if an infection in the tooth is left to get worse then the blood can carry it around the body.
Getting regular check ups from your dentist in the City of Leeds is absolutely vital in the light of all this and not just to keep your mouth in good health. If it has been a while, book an appointment today.

Understand bad breath and eliminate the causes; Central Leeds dentists can help you with this

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

If you are aware that you sometimes suffer from bad breath, it can be very difficult to cope with. Social occasions become that much more difficult if you know that every time you open your mouth to speak, breathe or smile you are giving off unpleasant smells. Dentists can help put an end to this problem as they are able to examine your mouth, find the cause of your bad breath and then advise about how you might deal with it.
Bad breath is caused by the prevalence of a certain type of bacteria in the mouth. Known as halitosis, bad breath bacteria favour certain types of conditions in the mouth and the key to ridding yourself of it is to make sure that your mouth is not the sort of place where it can thrive.
On a basic level, bad breath bacteria find it is easy to stick to the teeth if the mouth is dry. If you are a smoker or someone who tends to imbibe a lot of alcohol, these habits can contribute to the drying out of your mouth. Mouthwashes too, although effective at freshening breath in the short term, also dry out the mouth and leave it an ideal place for bad breath bacteria to hang around in.
Think about the ways in which you can moisten up your mouth on a regular basis. Chewing gum can help and regular tooth brushing too. If your mouth is dry and not producing enough saliva then you will be more open to the invidious effects of plaque as well so it is definitely worth seeking the advice of a dentist in central Leeds.

Patients looking for advice about the effectiveness of mouthwash turn to Leeds dentists

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Super markets and pharmacies sell a wide variety of mouthwashes which advertise benefits to oral health. It is the claim if mouthwashes that they are good for stopping gum disease and freshening breath. If you are wondering about whether mouthwashes are effective when it comes to your oral health, you could do worse than ask your dentist in the Leeds area all about it.
Mouthwashes are available in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colours and are used by swilling a small amount in your mouth and then gargling with them. Mouthwash manufacturers recommend that the mouth is rinsed thoroughly with water after the mouth wash has been used.
While it is true that mouthwash freshens up the breath by perfuming it with whatever fragrance it uses, the unfortunate fact is that, in the long term, they can leave you with worse bad breath. Many mouthwashes boast that they can kill much of the bacteria in the mouth but in doing so they also leave the mouth rather dry. When your mouth is dry it provides ideal conditions for bad breath bacteria to return and thrive because the bacteria find it more easy to cling to teeth if there is less saliva around.
When there is less saliva in the mouth, your teeth and gums are less protected from plaque because saliva is actually part of your natural defence against the plaque bacteria. As such, using mouthwash often can leave you more prone to dental decay and gum disease although in some cases the occasional use of mouthwash is recommended by dentists in order to combat gingivitis.

Central Leeds dentists urge patients to do more than brushing to take care of their teeth

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

An effective oral hygiene routine should encompass a number of different activities that ought to be undertaken on a daily basis. The result of this will be a set of teeth that look good, feel good and can carry out their key functions of facilitating eating, drinking and talking without problems such as cavities and gum disease. Unfortunately, some people believe that simply brushing their teeth is all they need to do to make sure their mouth is healthy.
Dentists in central Leeds are telling patients that they need to do more than just brushing in order to a secure a long term future of good oral health. Brushing is very useful for removing plaque bacteria from the surfaces of teeth, moistening the mouth and strengthening teeth through the application of fluoride tooth paste but it has to be combined with other processes too.
Flossing is a crucial companion to brushing and should be done after every time that you brush. Brushing will not always remove plaque from the tight gaps between teeth; only flossing can do so. Dental floss is cheap and a box of it will last a long time.
Think about the foods you are eating as well as sugary and starchy food stuffs will only increase the level of plaque that your mouth is exposed to. Brushing after a sugary treat you’ve allowed yourself can be a great help as it won’t allow plaque to sit on your teeth after the snack.
Enlist the help of your dentist in central Leeds by going to see him or her every six months for a check up and reporting any problems should they arise.

Improving the health of your teeth is easy with the help of City of Leeds dentists

Monday, September 12th, 2011

Brushing and flossing should form the bedrock of good oral hygiene but there is more to having good teeth than just this. Many of the other decisions that you take and the things that you do can have a bearing on the health of your teeth. Read on to find about what else you can do to ensure good oral health for many years to come.
Given that plaque bacteria are produced when you eat, dietary considerations necessarily play a part in the health of your mouth. The fact is, certain foods lead to higher levels of plaque prevalence in the mouth. It is sugar and starch that are the main culprits so think about how much of these foods that you are consuming and whether you might want to brush your teeth afterwards.
Any activity which leads you to have dry mouth will be leaving you more exposed to the effects of plaque. This is because saliva is a natural part of plaque defence and if your mouth is dry then that means that there is insufficient plaque being produced. Smoking dries out the mouth, as does excessive alcohol consumption and the failure to drink enough water. Chewing gum can always help to moisten the mouth but think about the effects that smoking and drinking are having on the general health of your body. Oral health is not divorced from your general health and having a strong immune system means that your body can cope with things more easily.
Finally, make sure that you visit your dentist in the City of Leeds every six months for a dental check up and guarantee that problems can be solved.

Guard against the dangers of reversible pulpitis with visits to dentists in central Leeds

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

Every tooth in your mouth is a hollow chamber that contains an amount of materials that are important to the health of the tooth. In certain circumstances this material can become compromised and treatment might be required to save the tooth. This is called pulpitis and dentists in central Leeds are experts at spotting the signs of the condition and dealing with it.
There are basically two types of pulpitis and the designation concerns how far advanced the condition is. Reversible pulpitis can still be dealt with the dentist but if the condition has existed for some time then it might be irreversible.
It is common for pulpitis to occur because of a cavity in the tooth that is allowing outside elements to interfere with the pulp. You will know that you are suffering from pulpitis in one of your teeth if it is unduly sensitive to changes in temperature or even simply to the touch. It is vital that the cavity is filled and dentists usually use cosmetic bonding techniques to do so. If the pulpitis is reversible then the pulp will be able to heal itself once the cavity is filled, stopping the exposure.
Your dentist might need to take an x-ray of the tooth in order to get an appreciation of the situation inside the tooth. If the pulp is severely affected then root canal treatment can be administered, allowing the dentist to clear the pulp chamber of infected material and return it to health.

Leeds dentists tell patients that dental hygiene should be a daily concern

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

The way you look after your teeth and gums will have a major effect on your dental hygiene. Your dentist plays a part in this and keeping up the routine of having a check up every six months is absolutely critical, but the bottom line is that you should be taking good care of your teeth and gums at home, every day.
Looking after your teeth should start first thing in the morning with the first time you brush and floss your teeth. It is a good idea to do this when you wake up (or after breakfast) because during the night the production of saliva plummets, your mouth is dry and exposed to the effects of plaque and bacteria. Use a tooth paste that has fluoride in it so that your teeth are strengthened from the exposure. This brushing will help to moisten the mouth as well so that plaque won’t be able to hang around.
Floss once you have brushed so that plaque is eliminated from the tight gaps in between teeth. Gum disease will follow if plaque is left on the gum line of teeth where it can cause inflammation. If you r gums bleed a little when you floss for the first time, you should not worry about this as your gums will build up a tolerance to the process of flossing.
Make the right dietary decisions so that you are not exposing your teeth and gums to excess levels of plaque. This means thinking about when you are eating sugary snacks and considering brushing your teeth afterwards. Let your dentist in Leeds be an ally in this process by asking him or her for advice when you need it.

Central Leeds dentists treat gum disease and ensure that patients keep all of their teeth

Friday, September 9th, 2011

Gum disease has fairly high rates of prevalence in the United Kingdom but dentists up and down the country are able to treat the symptoms or, even better, make sure that patients take care of their mouths in such a way that gum disease will not even occur in the first place. Read on to find out how gum disease can be avoided or treated.
Just like dental decay, gum disease is caused by the plaque that springs up in the mouth after eating and drinking. Plaque that is left on the gum line of teeth will eventually cause the gums to become inflamed. You can spot this happening in your own mouth if you find that your gums are not the healthy shade of pink that they ought to be. You might also find that they are a little swollen and that consuming food and drink like hot tea or ice cream, induces feeling of great sensitivity.
These early stages of gum disease are called gingivitis and often don’t really need to be treated at all. The inflammation will be light at this point and can be stymied by improving the way that you look after your teeth. Brushing might need to be improved so that you are cleaning all of your teeth including the gum line and you will need to start flossing so that plaque is cleared from between your teeth where brushes have difficulty reaching.
If gum disease progresses to the stage that is known as periodontitis then treatment may well be required. This stage happens when the inflammation that has affected the gums becomes sever enough to spread to the bones which hold teeth in place. Some sort of gum surgery may be required to stop the teeth from pulling away from the gums any further. Let central Leeds dentists help