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Posts Tagged ‘enamel’

Spellbinding Sonicare Will Blast Away That City Leeds Plaque

Saturday, October 11th, 2014

464425_blogPlaque is a major problem for dentists and we strongly recommend the Sonicare brushes to keep dental disease at bay and blast bacteria. With good oral hygiene, you can significantly reduce your risk of running into dental troubles and Sonicare makes brushing easier than ever before.

Why Sonicare?

Sonicare brushes have been developed using the latest design concepts and technological breakthroughs and they offer functionality and innovation, as well as proven results. Electric toothbrushes are proven to remove plaque more effectively than manual brushes and the Sonicare range has attracted plaudits from all over the world. There are brushes to suit all budgets and you don’t need to pay the earth to reap the rewards.

Brushing tips

When using an electric toothbrush, you don’t need to put in any additional effort and you should avoid pushing the brush, as brushing too firmly can actually damage the enamel. Simply guide the brush head around your teeth, taking care to cover every surface of every tooth and angling the head to brush along the gum line. We recommend brushing for 2-3 minutes and you can buy brushes with a built-in timer; if you don’t have a timer, try brushing along to a song instead.

Flossing

In addition to brushing twice a day, we recommend flossing. Flossing is important because it covers the corners, the gum line and the gaps between the teeth, which are tricky to reach with a toothbrush. Flossing can help to reduce the risk of gum disease and decay by decreasing the risk of plaque development.

If you have any questions about choosing a toothbrush or you’re unsure which toothpaste to buy, we are always happy to help; don’t hesitate to give us a call or have a chat when you next have an appointment.

Grinding And Gnashing Can Cause Dental Damage While You Sleep

Wednesday, June 11th, 2014

863081_blogMany people grind their teeth during the night without even knowing that they are doing it, but if you have a partner who grinds their teeth, you’re probably longing for a peaceful and undisturbed night’s sleep. Teeth grinding, also know as bruxism, is a subconscious action, which can cause damage to the teeth. If you grind your teeth, we can provide treatment to protect your teeth and help you and your partner to enjoy a restful night.

Why do I grind my teeth and what are the implications?

There are different reasons why people grind their teeth, but most commonly, bruxism is linked to stress and anxiety. Other possible causes include orthodontic issues, which mean that the teeth are not aligned properly.

If you grind your teeth, you may damage the enamel and increase the risk of chips. Grinding the teeth can also increase the risk of headaches and migraines, which may be associated with temporomandibular joint disorder. TMJ disorder is a term used to describe pain and other symptoms, which affect the TM joint, the joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull.

What can be done?

If you grind your teeth and it is affecting your oral health or causing your aches and pains, we may recommend wearing a bite guard. This is an appliance, which is similar to a mouth guard used for sport, which helps to prevent the teeth from clashing and clenching together. The bite guard is custom-made to ensure a comfortable fit. If you think that stress may be causing you to clench your teeth, we can also recommend stress management techniques.

Eliminating Teeth Erosion in Leeds

Wednesday, February 9th, 2011

The erosion of the teeth, like most teeth problems in Leeds, is not always obvious at first. It’s caused by a repetitive attack of acids over time that reduces the enamel on the teeth; a process that is irreversible. These acids can attack the teeth in two different ways. Firstly, it’s down to what we expose our mouths from the outside (extrinsically). Fruit juices, carbonated drinks and soft drinks have a very high acidity level that attack the enamel of the teeth if not cleared away effectively. Certain medicines also contain a high acid content, as do chemicals found in swimming pools, such as chlorine, Secondly, acids that attack our teeth can be produced from inside the body (intrinsically). Poor diet, eating disorders, gastric acids, excessive vomiting from excessive alcohol abuse and bulimia. It’s important to be aware of the symptoms in order to stop the problem progressing. Teeth sensitivity, transparency, discoloration and cracking are all signs that you may be suffering from some form of erosion, and any of these can expose the teeth to decay. It is not impossible to treat however; getting a good diet and by laying off the booze, are the obvious starters. But a dentist will also be able to recommend certain fluoride treatments and toothpastes if the problem is caught early on. If the problem is a lot more advanced, you may require certain cosmetic procedures to restore your teeth.

Teeth whitening you can afford at City of Leeds dentist

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Your smile is one of the most noticeable aspects of your appearance and can have a big impact on how people perceive you and how you make a first impression. Therefore it is very important that you are comfortable with your smile and feel confident about showing off your teeth. However, many studies show that few of us are actually completely happy with our smiles. This is mainly because there are a number of factors that can spoil the appearance of a good smile.

This could be to do with the alignment, the condition of the enamel or even simply due to the colour of the teeth. As we get older, our teeth tend to naturally discolour. This happens at different rates for different people as all teeth vary but it can leave teeth looking old, tired and unhealthy. Thankfully, the rise in cosmetic dentistry procedures over the last few years has meant that treatments to correct these problems have become more affordable. Nowhere is this more true than with teeth whitening treatments.

In the past they have been prohibitively expensive and only really affordable to the wealthy. However, improvements in technology and an increased demand has seen many more dentists offering teeth whitening as a genuine option to improve the smile for most people.

Teeth whitening works by applying an active gel, containing hydrogen peroxide, to the surface of the teeth. This infiltrates and bleaches the enamel, returning it to a more healthy and whiter shade. This works on the enamel surface as a whole but also targets stained and discoloured areas.

Teeth whitening systems such as enlighten and Zoom are capable of lightening the colour of teeth by up to ten shades depending on the type of treatment you opt for. City of Leeds dentists are offering teeth whitening as an affordable and effective treatment to all patients. Ask how it could benefit your teeth at your next appointment.

Central Leeds dentist explains why you should be flossing daily

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Central Leeds dentists are always stressing the importance of flossing to all patients at dental check ups. This is because despite all the evidence that points to the benefits of flossing, there is still only a relatively small percentage of people who actually do it. Nearly everyone brushes their teeth, but many people are perhaps wrongly convinced that this enough.

Just what is it that makes flossing so important? Whereas brushing cleans the flat surfaces of the front and back of the teeth, removing plaque and bacteria that build up after eating, there are many areas in the teeth and around the gums that are very difficult to reach with a conventional brush. This particularly applies to the areas between the teeth and around the base of the teeth in the gap between the gums. These areas are very susceptible to attack from bacteria and plaque, which if not removed will eventually begin to erode the enamel and irritate the gum tissue.

If this is allowed to happen, tooth decay and gum disease will usually follow and this could result in a series of very nasty dental problems. These will then require treatment, which can be unpleasant and very expensive. By brushing, and importantly, flossing correctly every day for a few minutes, you could help to make this a significantly less likely possibility.

Flossing at least once a day with an appropriate floss will help to remove food particles stuck between the teeth. These are breeding grounds for bacteria and can also cause unpleasant bad breath. Flossing around the base of the teeth stimulates the gums and removes trapped food from the small pockets between the soft gum tissue and hard tooth enamel. Ask your dentist at your next appointment about the importance of flossing and ask them to demonstrate the correct technique to avoid damaging your gums.

Leeds dentist uses porcelain veneers to completely transform teeth

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Veneers can have one of the most dramatic effects on the appearance of teeth. Modern porcelain veneers are incredibly lifelike and completely transform the appearance of damaged teeth. Modern veneer technology is also making the design and fitting of veneers significantly easier and less time consuming. It is also reducing the levels of discomfort the patient may experience during the treatment.

Veneers are ideal for restoring the appearance of teeth damaged by discolouration, staining or enamel damage. The veneer itself is an extremely thin porcelain case that fits over the existing teeth, restoring the colour and even size of healthy looking teeth. The veneers are attached using a bonding made of composite resin which will also be tooth coloured for maximum effect. This also provides another protective layer against further damage.

Leeds dentists are skilled in the manufacture and application of veneers, especially using the latest chair-side technology, which can produce veneers in a fraction of the time. Although veneers may be expensive, especially in opting for a total overhaul of both dental arcs, the results attainable are second to none in the filed of cosmetic dentistry.

Porcelain veneers look so realistic not only because they can be chosen to closely match the original teeth colour, but also because modern veneers can be made to be so thin they even have the particular translucent quality of tooth enamel. Thin veneers also don’t require the removal of any enamel that used to be the case with older treatments.