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Archive for the ‘oral hygeine’ Category

Looking After Your Oral Health in Leeds

Sunday, March 11th, 2012

One of the things we try to do on a daily basis is to look after our health. Now that isn’t always the easiest thing to do in a busy, vibrant city like Leeds and it is very easy to let up on our overall and dental health.

However a balanced, healthy diet will give our immune system the chance to keep all of our body in fine fettle and that works for our mouth as well- a healthy body also means healthy teeth and gums. This will help the saliva levels to be high and fight of bacteria.

Bad habits like smoking and drinking can break down the saliva, so it is imperative that we maintain an impressive daily oral health regime to continue the battle against plaque and avoid further problems from tooth decay and gum disease.

It may sound silly, but it is vital that we choose the right brush and change it regularly, choose the right toothpaste and ensure we floss as often as we can during the day to remove any food caught up between the teeth and around the gums. This can also be followed by a good mouth-wash, with plenty of products available  to help win the war on plaque.

We also have the luxury of regular visits to the dentist for a thorough check-up, and if need be a cleaning session with a hygienist, to ensure that our teeth are given the best overhaul and cleaned at least twice a year.

Maintaining good oral hygiene and eating the best foods for our teeth and gums can ensure a life time of beautiful, healthy smiles.

All-Round Dental Care in the City of Leeds, Brushing Alone Isn’t Enough

Saturday, March 10th, 2012

When somebody mentions dental hygiene, the first thing that comes to most peoples minds is cleaning their teeth. Obviously, this is a routine that features as a big part of our lives when we are growing up and stays with us as we become adults. However, this is the limit to most peoples knowledge of dental hygiene, they assume brushing your teeth twice a day is enough to avoid any nasty diseases or complications. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Dentists in the City of Leeds have been trying to educate the city on what constitutes good dental hygiene. They include the avoidance of some lifestyle habits, such as smoking and drinking coffee or red wine, as a way in which to prevent unnecessary treatment  in the future due to conditions such as gum disease.

They also stress the importance of maintaining regular appointments with your local dentist. The recommended frequency of check-ups is twice a year, or every six months. This allows for your dentist to keep an eye on any problems you may be having, or any treatment you might be needing (scaling and polishing for example). It is important to remember that bacteria and plaque are not visible to the naked eye, we cannot see the damage they are causing. Your dentist however, is professionally trained to recognise the symptoms of such problems and can offer you the best care and equipment to treat them with.

Finally, in order to maintain good oral health, it is important to avoid foods than can be harmful to your teeth. Sugary foods turn to acids in your mouth and these acids are the cause of cavities and the reason we need fillings. In order to prevent cavities, avoiding chocolate and sweets is essential. If you have a sweet tooth, you can replace these foods with sweet fruits such as raisins as these contain natural sugars that will not cause damage to your teeth.

 

Avoid Sugar to Avoid Gum Disease and Bad Breath in Leeds

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Fighting the cause of gum disease and bad breath can be difficult when there are so many known factors that contribute to the conditions. It has always been known that sugar can increase the risk of gum disease, but it is knowledge that seems to be being ignored in today’s society.

Gum disease and bad breath are both essentially caused by the build up of  bacteria in the mouth. Bacteria is known to feed on sugar, so when the sugar intake of an individual is elevated, their buccal content of plaque and tartar will also increase, possibly leading to periodontal disease and bad breath.

In order to lower this risk, it is important that we find alternatives to sweets that are heavily laden with sugar. It is not just children who are at risk from eating too many sweets, adults also consume far too much processed food, all of which contains extremely high levels of sugar.

In order to combat gum disease and bad breath, the people of Leeds should limit the amount of sweets and chocolate they eat, substituting them with fruits such as raisins and cranberries. The healthy properties of fresh fruits such as these include anti-oxidants and a high water content. This means that although they contain natural sugars, they are diluted by their own concentration of water and so are harmless to the teeth and gums. Water also helps wash away the build up of bacteria and food in the mouth and around the teeth, so foods with a high water content will contribute to lowering the risk of developing gum disease and bad breath.

 

Suffering from an Abscessed Tooth in Central Leeds?

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

An abscessed tooth is a painful experience, as anyone who has ever suffered from one would know. Abscesses are caused by an infection in the root of a tooth, or between a tooth and it’s surrounding gums, the infection is normally brought on by a severe case of tooth decay or tooth trauma.

The symptoms of tooth abscesses are mainly pain when chewing, running a fever, extremely sensitive teeth, bad breath, swollen neck, swollen glands and redness or swelling of the gums. If you are unsure about your symptoms, it is wise to consult your dentist in Central Leeds as they will be able to confirm or advise you on your condition. Even if your pain subsides, if you have experienced any of the above symptoms you must consult your dentist as the tooth decay that caused the abscess may have caused the tooth to die, but the infection will not yet be healed.

A common treatment for abscessed teeth is to drain the abscess of fluid, this is achieved through a process known as a ‘root canal’. Following this surgery, it may be necessary to cover the infected tooth with a crown. Antibiotics may be given to fight the infection and pain-killers may be prescribed if the patient is complaining of severe toothache.

Preventing an abscess is by far easier, and less expensive, than treating one. The importance of good oral hygiene is paramount in reducing tooth decay and its resulting complications, cleaning your teeth and regular trips to your dentist all play a role in avoiding abscessed teeth. In addition, if you experience any tooth trauma, chipping, knocking or loosening, you should seek professional advice straight away.

Fight the Cause of Gum Disease in Leeds Today

Sunday, March 4th, 2012

Gum disease or periodontal disease is a nasty condition of the oral cavity in which an infection attacks the gums and the surrounding area causing them to swell, bleed and even begin to recede.

The infection is caused by bacteria which accumulate in the gums due to a build up of tartar on the surface of the teeth that provides a perfect breeding ground for infectious bacteria.

The disease is characterized by the discolouration of the gums from a coral pink to a red, raw colouring and the swelling of normally smooth tissue. If your gums are bleeding when you are brushing your teeth, you will certainly have some form of the disease, whether it be a mild or severe form. In addition, if you notice that your gums are painful, inflamed or have even begun to recede then you know you have to visit your Leeds dentist for a diagnosis.

Diagnosis of gum disease will result in some form of treatment, whether it be the superficial scraping of the diseased tissue and bacteria, or a surgical procedure to remove diseased pockets from the gums. The latter process can be painful and can result in a loss of gum tissue, leaving your teeth more exposed.

The best way to prevent gum disease is to maintain good oral hygiene and ensure you do everything possible to prevent the build up of plaque and the formation of tartar in your mouth. Good oral hygiene is achieved by the proper brushing of the teeth, regular visits to your dentist, flossing at least once a day and avoiding tobacco (cigarettes).

Find Out from a Central Leeds Dentist Why Some Oral Products Worsen Bad Breath

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012

Bad breath is one of the most common yet feared dental problems you could suffer from. Bad breath can lead to a decrease in an individual’s self-confidence and an awkwardness in social interactions. Seeking advice from your Central Leeds dentist on how to avoid this embarrassing condition may provide some news that might just surprise you.

As it turns out, many of the commercial products on offer that promise to fight your bad breath do exactly the opposite. It is the ingredients within them that cause the mouth to dry out and to harbour more of the bacteria that causes bad breath,

For example, many toothpastes contain either baking soda or peroxide as these are materials that are known to increase the whiteness of teeth. However, using these products when you suffer from bad breath will prove to be detrimental to your condition, as both baking soda and peroxide are drying agents that will dry out your mouth and make it even harder to remove the stubborn bacteria that is causing your problem.

In addition, many mouthwashes contain alcohol, another drying agent that will dehydrate your mouth and turn it into the perfect environment in which bacteria can grow and thrive. In order to prevent this problem, it is essential that when using an alcohol based mouthwash, you rinse thoroughly with water afterwards to moisten the mouth and remove any remaining bacteria.

 

Prevent Gum Disease with Good Dental Hygiene in Leeds

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Gum disease is a condition associated with the build up of tartar on the surface of the teeth and gums, which provides the perfect environment for the growth and replication of infectious bacteria.

Bacteria invade the oral cavity through the air we breath and the food or drinks we consume, they can also be transferred by the interactions between our hands and our mouths. In order to avoid gum disease it is essential to reduce the build up bacteria around the teeth and the gums

Preventative dentistry is the optimum way to ensure periodontal disease is kept at bay, it includes the proper cleaning of teeth, flossing, the avoidance of tobacco and the adoption of a healthy diet.

Cleaning your teeth is as natural a routine as any that has been picked up during childhood. However, many people forget that it is not just an absent-minded technique, it should involve thorough cleaning of the teeth, tongue and gums with a fluoride toothpaste and a clean toothbrush. Flossing should always follow the brushing of teeth, dentists in Leeds say, as this can remove any debris or plaque that are out of reach in the crevices between the teeth.

Smoking should be avoided in order to prevent gum disease as the tobacco found in cigarettes can help reduce the flow of oxygen to the gums and can aid the introduction and colonization of bacteria into the area. In order to lower your risk of developing periodontal disease, giving up smoking is a step in the right direction.

Adopting a healthy diet will reduce the amount of sugar you consume and will strengthen your teeth against the harmful side-effects of gum disease such as tooth loosening, loss of enamel and tooth breakages or loss.

Finally, the best form of preventative dentistry is regular check-ups with your local doctor. Only they will be able to tell you if you are suffering from gum disease, if you are at risk of suffering, or if you need treatment for your condition. Neglecting to attend these appointments could lead to a painful and expensive dental condition.

 

The Importance of a Daily Dental Routine in the City of Leeds

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

Ever since childhood, we have all been conditioned to brush our teeth twice daily. For many of us though, the importance of this morning and bedtime ritual is lost as we grow up and develop our own, busy lives. Dental hygiene however, should always remain a priority in the overall health of an individual. The mouth is the way in which most substances, good and bad, enter the body; neglecting to take care of this delicate gate way can lead to detrimental consequences.

In order to avoid painful conditions such as gum disease, abscesses and tooth decay, daily dental hygiene must be followed. This includes brushing your teeth morning and night, and after any meals you may consume during the day. Bacteria builds up over time, and coupled with food debris can lead to bad breath and gum disease. Thorough brushing of the tongue and teeth with a  fluoride toothpaste will remove any plaque and food from the mouth and will reduce the risk of any diseases or dental problems.

Flossing is overlooked or forgotten by too many people in this day and age. In the City of Leeds, dentists insist on their patients using dental floss at least once a day, in order to remove any build up of plaque between the teeth.

As nutrition is also important for maintaining good dental health, an individual should ensure that their daily diet is low in the sugary foods that turn to acid in the mouth and cause cavities in the teeth. The governments recommendation for eating five portions of fruit and vegetables everyday should also be followed as this can improve dental health. The sugar in fresh fruit is diluted by the water content, thus the acids these foods produces are much less harmful to the teeth.

 

 

Recognise and Combat Gum Disease in Central Leeds

Sunday, February 26th, 2012

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, can be a painful and sometimes embarrassing condition for many people. Caused by an accumulation of harmful bacteria, it can cause inflammation, recession and bleeding of the gums.

Recognising the symptoms of gum disease is relatively easy, the first sign to look for is a change of colour in the tissue. Healthy gums should be a shade of coral or pink, whilst diseased gums will become redder in colour and will appear slightly swollen. In addition, bleeding gums is a sure sign of periodontal disease. Your gums should not bleed when you brush your teeth, if they do, you most definitely will have some form of gum disease. Bad breath can be caused by gum disease as the bacteria that build up in the mouth give off a foul smell, similar to rotting eggs. Receding gums are a sure sign of gum disease, this is caused by a lack of oxygen and nutrients reaching the tissue, resulting in damaged and dead tissue. As a result of many of these symptoms, the teeth themselves will become extremely sensitive, loose and may eventually fall out.

There is however, hope for sufferers of periodontal disease in Central Leeds. Dentists are able to treat the problem from their own clinics and the process is relatively quick and simple. If the infection is purely superficial, the damaged tissue, and the bacteria that caused it, can be removed by mechanical scraping during a process called ‘root planning’. If the problem goes deeper than the surface, a therapy can be used that eradicates the diseased pockets, removing more of the gums through a surgical procedure.

Prevention is better than a cure in the case of periodontal disease. Brushing of the teeth and tongue can prevent the build up of bacteria around the gums and flossing can be equally as important in removing stubborn plaque. In addition, the tobacco found in cigarettes can actually cause or increase the severity of gum disease and the use of such substances should be stopped immediately to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

 

 

Tips for Parents from a Dentist in the City of Leeds

Saturday, February 25th, 2012

Children hate brushing their teeth, rebelling against it is the perfect way to challenge the authority of their parents. Although they do not fully understand the implications of neglecting their dental health, it is up to their parents to educate them on the dangers of poor oral hygiene.

The first step to keeping a child’s smile happy is proper, regular and thorough cleaning of the teeth. This involves brushing the teeth, the tongue and flossing at least once a day. Children may moan, they may try to avoid their toothbrush at all costs, but parents must persevere and maintain discipline in order to instil the healthy habit during childhood and to ensure it follows them into adulthood.

In the City of Leeds there are many dentists who will tell parents that regular trips to their local dental practice are essential when looking after their children’s teeth. Not only can dentists discover any problems your children may be experiencing with their teeth (cavities, decay, fillings), regular trips also lower the feeling of anxiety that accompanies dental appointments. As a child becomes comfortable with their dentist and (hopefully) learn they have nothing to fear but a quick check-up, the feeling of terror will diminish and they will be happier to go in the future.

Finally, for parents to take care of their children’s teeth, they must adopt a healthy diet and ensure the consumption of sugary snacks is kept to a minimum. Processed sweets and chocolate can cause cavities at any age, but children are known for eating a high proportion that adults. It is therefore essential that parents limit the amount of sweets and sugar-laden foods available to their children, this way reducing the risk of tooth decay and the need for fillings in the future.