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Posts Tagged ‘dental check ups’

The Art of Brushing Your Teeth in Central Leeds

Sunday, June 3rd, 2012

This could sound a little patronising, but do we all really know how to brush our teeth properly in central Leeds? Of course we do, we have the most dynamic atomic powered toothbrushes and pastes and things- which is great of course, but that means we can also become complacent and forget the basics and why we are cleaning our teeth in the first place. Essentially, we are trying to prevent the build-up of plaque and bacteria and brushing our teeth correctly is the first line of defence in this fight. Yes, it is vitally important we get the correct brush first- a brush that will suit our teeth and gums and do all of the work required. Some of the electric ones around are remarkable and take the work out of brushing for you, as are some of the latest hand held ones. The idea with any brush is to get to the important areas around the teeth and gums and not only remove any food deposits but to also clean the enamel of the teeth to remove any bacterial film that may have built up on the surface. It is always useful to brush our teeth in front of a mirror so that we can see what we are doing. Get this basic form of oral hygiene right from the start, and our mouths will be well on the way to a healthy life.

Flossing in the City of Leeds

Saturday, June 2nd, 2012

One of the greatest aids we have in the city of Leeds to help back-up our daily oral hygiene is dental floss or tape, as using this has become as important as brushing. When you go shopping for floss, you will notice that there is quite a range to choose from and this could be a bit of trial and error at first until you get the one that works best for you; some are thicker than others and so may not be able to fit between you teeth- again, try and see. You can also buy flosses that are already sprung between two small sticks, which takes away the need to wrap the floss between your fingers. Whatever you settle on, you are then going to have to learn a technique that ensures you are using it correctly and removing foodstuffs from between your teeth. The best way of doing this is to get advice from your dentist or hygienist who can show you the correct use of dental floss- it isn’t hard- practising in front of a mirror helps but if you persevere, it will become like clockwork to you and you will be able to do it with your eyes shut. Remember, flossing is the ultimate way to prevent bacteria developing in your mouth.

Bad, Bad Breath in Central Leeds

Wednesday, May 9th, 2012

There is nothing worse than talking to someone with bad breath- do you tell them and how do you tell them and if you don’t, are you so sure that you don’t suffer from the problem as well? The thing is, bad breath can ruin you a work and on a social level too in central Leeds, but finding the cause of it isn’t so easy and may come down to a process of elimination- you will need to get the dentist on your side here. The first thing to look at is your oral hygiene and the state of your mouth; bad breath can stem from gum disease or tooth decay- a direct result of poor hygiene. These need to be addressed, you may need treatment from your dentist and then ‘up’ the brushing and flossing each day- that goes for your tongue too, as this is often the cause of bad breath: change your products and include herbal options as well. Then you need to look at your habits and your diet. Smoking and excessive drinking are not friends of a healthy mouth, nor is a poor diet as this will affect your immune system and reduce saliva levels. Once you have given these options a good run for a month, yet still the problem persists, it indicates that the problem is internal, possibly gastric. To overcome this, you will need to run a series of tests with your doctor to get to the bottom of it as generally, bad breath caused by something internal is quite serious.

Tooth Decay is Not Something We Advocate in Central Leeds

Monday, April 30th, 2012

What is tooth decay?

Tooth decay, also known as dental cavities (or caries) occurs when the protective enamel surfaces of the teeth are worn down by bacteria. Bacteria produce harmful plaque acids, which break down the outer layers of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth. If holes are left to grow, bacteria can invade the living tissue of the tooth, known as the pulp and cause the tooth to die, until eventually the tooth will fall out.

How common is tooth decay?

Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems, affecting the majority of people. More than half of adults in the UK have one or more decayed teeth and rates of decay are increasing in children.

What are the symptoms of tooth decay?

Tooth decay does not usually cause symptoms until decay is severe and this is why regular dental checks are so important. One decay has become advanced, symptoms include tooth pain, bad breath, heightened sensitivity and spots of grey and yellow discolouration on the teeth.

How is tooth decay treated?

In the very early stages, fluoride varnish can be applied to the teeth to prevent further decay; however, if decay is more advanced, a filing may be required. Fillings are used to fill cavities and prevent the spread of decay. If bacteria have infected the pulp of the tooth, root canal treatment will be performed. This procedure involves removing decayed pulp tissue and cleaning and sealing the root canals to prevent further infection. Root canal treatment is often a very effective means of saving an infected tooth.

Preventing tooth decay

Fluoride is a very effective means of preventing tooth decay, which can be applied to the surfaces of the teeth in varnish form and is also present in toothpaste and in drinking water in some areas of the country. Fluoride helps to strengthen the teeth.

Regular dental check-ups with your Central Leeds dentist, every six to twelve months, are essential for good oral health.

 

Keeping Tabs on Your Oral Hygiene is Important in Leeds

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

A good oral hygiene regime is the key to preventing oral health diseases and keeping the teeth and gums strong and healthy.

What should a daily oral hygiene routine involve?

Dental hygiene is essential from a very early age and children should be taught to brush their teeth as soon as their first teeth start to develop. Electric and manual toothbrushes are both effective, but studies have shown that electric toothbrushes remove plaque more effectively and some people also find it easier to brush with an electric toothbrush.

Oral hygiene treatments

Our City Dental Leeds dental hygienists provide a very effective service, which can help to prevent oral health diseases and treat existing conditions. Hygienists offer intensive cleaning treatments, which provide a much deeper clean than brushing, and target areas that are prone to plaque and tartar development. Dental hygiene services also help to make the teeth look glossier and healthier and can reduce surface staining.

Why is oral hygiene so important?

Oral hygiene is essential for good oral health and studies have also shown that poor oral hygiene, which is a cause of oral diseases, can also contribute to an increased risk of serious, life-threatening health conditions, including heart disease, strokes and diabetes. Poor oral hygiene causes the teeth to look unhealthy, as well as increasing the peril of gum disease, abscesses and decay and this can have implications for an individual’s confidence.

What are the Symptoms and Treatments for Oral Cancer in the City of Leeds

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the UK today and although oral cancer isn’t one of the most well-known types, it is one of the most easily recognised and diagnosed. Oral cancer normally occurs on the tongue or in the floor of the mouth, underneath the tongue. From here, the cancer is able to spread throughout the oral cavity, the lips and even begin metastasis (the process by which cancer spreads around the body) to the neck via the lymphatic system.

Oral cancer can be recognised by patches on the inside of your mouth or lips that are either white, red or a mixture of the both. Dentists are professionally trained to recognise the symptoms of skin cancer so it is essential you visit your local practice in the City of Leeds regularly to ensure an early diagnosis of any problems. Other symptoms that you should keep an eye out for are: sores that won’t heal, earache, bleeding in the mouth, lose teeth or a lump in your neck.

The people who are at the most risk from developing oral cancer are smokers, individuals who drink alcohol on a regular basis and who eat high levels of processed foods, these all contain carcinogens (cancer causing substances) that can trigger the formation of an oral tumour.

Treatment for oral cancer will only begin once a biopsy of your tumour has been taken and the stage at which it is at has been determined. If possible, the bulk of the tumour will be removed from the oral cavity, at which stage any addition therapies may begin. Therapies include radiotherapy, chemotherapy and anti-cancer drugs. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, these tumours will also be treated and hopefully the spread will be halted.

The most important message in the diagnosis of oral cancer is to keep regular appointments with your dentist, or to visit them if you are worried about any symptoms you may have. As with any cancer, early diagnosis is the most crucial step in curing the disease.

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 Art of the Dental Check-up in Leeds

Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

If you have a magnificent dentist in Leeds, you may well be ignorant of just exactly how good they are when you pop in for a dental check-up and think it’s just a look inside and a quick clean. But any dentists worth their weight in salt will be checking for things that you take for granted. Depending on the age of a patient, they will follow a strict guideline laid down by general procedures of practice to ensure your mouth is healthy. The basic check-up will involve searching for signs of decay in the teeth, disease in the gums, erosion, and then treat if necessary followed by a clean and polish. But the dentist should also take digital x-ray as well to check for problems in other areas in the mouth such the way your mouth is ‘biting’, check the jaw joints for wear, the roots of the teeth and the gum line. They will check your fillings and any other fitting you may have had done. But the best thing of all that you get from a dental check-up is the chance to have a say about your concerns. It’s not all about axes and hammers with dentists’, they can be gentle and offer a really good counseling service to you when you have problems. Most important of all, they can give you advice about dental emergencies and what to do in a crisis. A check-up should be embraced and used constructively, after all, in general, you only have two a year.

Expert City of Leeds dentists impress upon patients the need to have regular dental check ups

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Letting the experts have a look at a problem is always advisable. If you’ve sprung a leak then you will get a plumber in and a wiring problem should be looked at by a trained electrician. Similarly, a dentist ought to have regular access to your mouth so that they are able to sort out any problems that might be occurring. Too many people neglect this vital part of taking care of their teeth and the consequences are sometimes rather unfortunate.
Seeing the dentist every six months or so allows them to have a look out for any incipient problems in the mouth. Oral cancer, gum disease, cavity formation and even sleep apnea will be looked for by your dentist. After intensive training and years of experience your dentist will be able to look at the state of your teeth and gums and identify whether your brushing and flossing technique is fit for purpose and keeping your mouth in good health.
If plaque builds up on your teeth then and becomes tartar then it is only your dentist who can remove it by using a technique called scaling and polishing. The fact is that some dental ailments are not immediately noticeable and patients might have no idea that they are, for instance, developing gum disease until it has been flagged up by the dentist.
Try to choose a dentist to register with who is either close to home or your work and therefore making and keeping your appointments will be more convenient. Many dentists in the City of Leeds offer a service whereby a reminder is sent to you informing you that it has been six months since the last check up.

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.